I recently purchased TTE lowering/sport springs for our RX350. I am really confused whether to install them or not. I know you're wondering why I bought them if I was confused. Well here is what happened.

We bought our RX350 about 2 months ago and when I was first getting used to driving it, I didn't like how soft the suspension was. It felt unstable with the lean on the corners. Now I have really become accustomed to the RX350 and can feel it's handling limits much more. I actually am now used to the lean and feel comfortable with it. I have realized that the RX350 is pretty stable, it just takes getting used to. On the plus side, the ride is incredible. It is very silky and smooth and the minute I sit in any other car I realize how good the ride is on the RX350.

Now here is my problem. I don't want to install these springs and take away that ride. I wish I could drive an RX with the TTE springs just to see how rough it is. If the change isn't too much, I would still like to install it. Otherwise I may even think about selling my brand new unused TTE springs.

I also thought about installing and if I didn't like it, switching back. The problem is, I am getting quotes of $600-$700 to install and re-align the car! That'll be a $1400 experiment if I don't like it!

What should I do?

Kan-O-Z

 

Since RX330 has almost the same suspension, perhaps find another RX330 owner who has installed springs, make a short test drive, and take out the guy out to lunch?

 

I say go ahead and install them. If you have the stock rims you probably will not notice too much difference in the ride quality. If I didn't tell my wife I had changed the springs she probably wouldn't have noticed. That is with the stock rims though. I personally felt the larger rims and lower profile tires and the largest impact on ride quality even when I had stock springs.

 

Do it. Then let us know what came out of it.

 

Because the RX is rather tall, it has a fairly high CG and will tend to roll a bit in the corners. I drove a rent car last week for the first time in quite a while, and was surprised at the difference. I think what amazed me most was that going back to the RX; while I noticed comparatively more body roll, the actual cornering limits are at least as high as those of an ordinary sedan, if not higher.

I'm still not a fan of the optional 18" rims that probably do more damage to ride quality than they increase cornering power. At least down here below the snow belt, you seldom if ever see an RX without them.

If you've determined you like the stock handling/ride quality trade-off, by all means stay with it. Installing the new springs will be expensive, and if you decide to go back to stock, you will pay that installation all over again - plus have some "used" springs to try to sell. Consider cutting your losses now. If you decide later to firm up the suspension, you can always buy them again.

 

Anybody else with opinions on this?

Kan-O-Z

 

If you love the silky smooth ride now that you've become used to the car, I wouldn't change the springs. Just sell them. I don't expect my RX to corner like it's a sports car since it's a SUV. I got it for the comfortable ride and to haul the family around. I personally think the upgraded 18" rims make it a little harsher than I originally wanted.

My GS350 coming in on the other hand will most likely get springs.

 

Have you thought about a strut tower brace and maybe some larger sway bars?

 

Main goal for springs is to lower cars, e.g. improving looks. Handling improvement is only an indirect effect.
If RX350 has a beefer and properly designed sway bars, the handling and cornering would be night and day.
But if you already bought Springs, why not install it yourself? All you need is spring compresser, a few common hand tools, and an alignment.