RS*R Super Downs Installed (tons of info)
 

I installed Super Down springs on my RWD 350 F-sport last weekend and wanted to share some thoughts, information, and pictures.

The drop - measured from the floor to the fender:
front left = 24.68 (2.13 drop)
front right = 24.75 (2.18 drop)
rear left = 24.56 (1.75 drop)
right rear = 24.68 (1.75 drop)

Suspension travel - I took the springs out of the car and raised the suspension to check the max suspension travel. This is the point where the bump stops are fully compressed far enough to raise the car. After taking a few measurements, the front suspension has .75 travel from static height to max suspension travel and the rear has 1.25. Keep in mind, this is not to the point where the bump stops hit, but to the point where the bump stops are fully compressed. BTW - the bump stops are on the shock assembly. RSR does not recommend cutting the bump stops.

When looking at the Super Down vs Down spring specs, I was shocked the SD springs had a softer rate. I called RSR and asked about this and they said the specs are correct. I commented that it didn't make sense for a shorter springs to have a softer rate, however, I believe that I understand what's going on. Due to the info listed in the previous paragraph, I'm certain that the bump stops are in full contact all the time which in turn makes them act like a spring. This would be a reason why the SD springs are softer than the down springs. I might be completely wrong, but it's my theory. I could have verified that by taking a few more measurement, but it's too late now. :(

Alignment
There is no camber adjustment on the front or rear of the RWD cars. I subscribed to the Toyota Tech Info System (TIS) and it's stated plain and simple. There is, however, camber adjustment in the front for the AWD cars. So, all I had to do was check and adjust the toe which made the alignment process a lot easier. My rear toe was in spec after the drop (shocker), but the front needed to be adjusted.

front camber = 1.7 and 1.7
rear camber = 2.4 and 2.6
I don't like the rear camber but the only way to fix it is to raise the car.....that sucks!

My thoughts:
The drop looks absolutely bad a$$!!!! The ride isn't too harsh, but I'm not going to say more about that until I've put more miles on the car. I don't like the scenario of riding on the bump stops (if that is the case), and I don't like the rear camber.

My setup:
Stance SC-6 wheels with Conti DW tires
235/35/19 on 8.5+35 wheels
265/30/19 on 9.5+40 wheels
Here is some info about tire sizes I posted yesterday. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...wered-3is.html

Last but not least:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-s...o/DSCN2035.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-X...o/DSCN2036.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I...o/DSCN2044.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h...o/DSCN2048.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v...o/DSCN2039.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-g...o/DSCN2027.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5...o/DSCN2030.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P...o/DSCN2032.JPG

Looks great! I just ordered my springs yesterday and can't wait to get them installed! I had to get the down springs because i am going to be running 20" wheels and I don't want to modify my fenders to prevent rubbing :sad:

Nice drop and wheels jaznraz! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Looks good! I really like those wheels! :thumbup:

any rubbing issues with that tire and wheel set-up??

No rubbing in the rear even at full suspension travel - the tires will not hit the fenders. The front tire just barely rubs the fender liner at full suspension travel. Here is a post that talks more in depth about that. https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...wered-3is.html

During actual driving, I've only noticed the front rubbing when pulling out of my driveway. Since my driveway is sort of steep, I have to position the car at an angle to keep the front end from dragging and when doing this, it compresses the suspension heavily on one corner and causes the slightest rub.

That is badass! thank you for sharing the information...can''t wait to install mine!

sweet! just lowered mine on the super-downs also...love em! perfect drop in my opinion! mind sharing your wheel set-up as im lookin for the proper fit and urs looks really good! LOL :thumbup:

Car is looking sharp bud!...I like! That drop really is perfect

I guess that I'm rubbing more than I thought on the front. This shows where the tire has started to wear down the liner. BUMMER.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L...o/DSCN2114.JPG

I'm also not enjoying the ride. I can definitely feel that the front suspension only has .75" of travel. BUMMER. I think my days on Super Down's may be numbered.

Is the ride too stiff for you? Love the way your car looks and i was thinking about doing the super downs, but i don't want to rub too much when i eventually do some 19's... what alternative were you thinking about doing?

I wouldn't say that the spring rates are too stiff but when you hit a large dip (or bump), the front suspension only travels .75" and then it fully compresses the bump stops which creates a solid stop. When this happens it causes the front of the car to stop moving downward and then rebound quickly which creates a "porpoise" effect. For reference, the stock suspension has nearly 3" of travel before it fully compresses the bump stops. Its not a terrible feeling, but I don't really like it.

Agreed - the drop looks great. I'm currently looking at other springs (less drop) and coilovers as an option.

Would either adding more camer or a smaller tire like 225, you think help in lessening the damage to the fender in that part?

rsr coils... you wont regret it :-)

thanks for the info. I prefer the drop of the super downs more than the regular downs and other springs out right now, but i want to run 19s when i eventually get some wheels. i was also wondering if possibly a 225 up front would help with the rubbing since its stretched a little more. i'm not sure if i want to pick up the rsr coilovers just because i had coilovers on my last car, and it rode super stiff, where the lexus stock rides so much better and don't want to lose the ride quality completely.

A 225/35/19 would probably help due to the overall diameter being a little bit smaller than the 235/35/19. Keep in mind that all tires are not sized equally on their width: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...wered-3is.html
The 235 Conti DW has a very rounded profile and a narrow tread which helps fender clearance by a large margin. I compared it side by side with a 225/35 Michelin Pilot Super Sport and the PSS was MUCH wider than the 235/35 Conti.

Almost forgot...the camber is NOT adjustable on the 3rd gen RWD (front or rear).

Maybe???? Or it could be J5 for less money????

I echo your thoughts completely. I love the drop of the SD springs much more than the Down springs which is why I bought the SD's. I had some custom valved KW Clubsports on my last STI and they were pretty stiff. Add in the fact that I replaced all of the soft rubber bushings with harder urethane bushings , the car quickly because something that my wife absolutely hated. I don't want to lose the nice Lexus ride but I know there will be some give and take.

Exactly, i had BC BR coilovers on my 05 WRX and then eventually switched to air suspension. I guess now im back to square one figuring out what suspension i want on my IS... one things for sure the stock ride height has got to go :p

So getting 225/35 in the conti dw would be better then? And I have an awd, I would be able to adjust the front camber a tad bit more to help with clearance you think?

check your pm bro

Got it, replied back

check again lol

The Conti DW is not available in that size. Due to the location of the area that's rubbing, I doubt that adjusting camber would help.

So just a skinnier tire would help then your saying?

A skinnier tire, a tire with a smaller diameter, a tire with a rounded edge, a wheel with a different offset, and/or a higher ride height would all help the issue. As much as I hate to say it, I think the latter might be the best option.

You think also being awd will help a little? Rsr website says that awd has more of a evem drop of 1.6 all around, compared to rwd of 2~ and 1.8~

Yes, that would help. I wish my front was dropped 1.6 instead of 2.12. That would also help the bump stop situation since you'd gain another. 5" of suspension travel. Well, I'm making an assumption that the shocks, bumps stops, and travels are the same on the AWD - who knows for sure. I wish that RSR made springs that were in between the super down and downs. That would likely be a good compromise.

I had to drive into work today (200 miles round trip) which let me gain some more thoughts about the springs and the ride. Half way to work, I began to think that everything felt pretty damn good until I hit 3 large dips/bumps that bottomed the suspension heavily. It hits hard....I don't like it. Other than those 3 instances, it was okay.

I still don't like the appearance of the rear camber. I desperately want to fix this....sketching some ideas now. Camber adjustment devices on multi link suspensions are not simple.

Ahh, I see. Good luck. Whenever I get a chance to get them installed ill post some info if needed to compare to the rwd

Did you not cut any bit of the bump stops? Per Tein, I trimmed mine. The extra travel might help. My friend's e92 M3 has even less travel than you stock. My s2k on coilovers even moreso but you don't get the bone jarring feeling from hitting the bump stops.

I talked to RSR prior to the install and they said not to cut the bump stops. If I were to cut them to get more travel, it would increase the front tire rubbing on the fender liner. :(

Does Tein include installation instructions? RSR does not.

Yes, but just basic instructions on the springs (e.g., bump stops).

After spending a few weeks on the super down's, I must admit they are not for me. The lack of suspension travel just doesn't cut it, large dips and bumps are bone jarring and also cause the dash and windshield to creak upon impact. I don't like this.

The actual ride height and ground clearance has NOT caused me any problems - I am surprised since it was my biggest concern initially. However, the front tire to fender clearance is somewhat of a problem. When pulling into driveways you pretty much need to have the wheels pointing straight forward or you will rub - the pics below show why.

I'll be switching to the J5 AVS compatible coilovers when they come in. The introductory price is a steal for a 7075 aluminum alloy coilover that allows you to use the existing AVS.

Wheels straight
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-R...o/DSCN2229.JPG

Wheels turned half way
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-C...o/DSCN2227.JPG

Wheels turned all the way
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7...o/DSCN2223.JPG

My current setup is:

Wheel: Vossen CV5

Front: 20x9
Rear: 20x10.5

Tire: Toyo Proxes 4 Plus

Front: 225/30/20
Rear: 255/30/20

It's obviously a bigger wheel than yours but it is also a smaller tire size. I'm not sure how the rubbing would be on my car since it is different. I have heard a few things from multiple people and I keep getting different answers. People tell me it won't rub at all, it only rubs on bumps, and it sometimes rubs on turns. All I want is people who are running the same setup to show me or tell me exactly what I would be dealing with by running superdowns with my wheels.

Your front tire diameter will be nearly the same as mine and the width should be narrower - this is good. What is the offset of your front wheel? I hope it's 38 and if so, the outer edge of your wheel will only stick out 3mm further than mine. If it's a 32 offset, it will stick out 8mm further (this could be bad).

Your rear wheel has a 45 offset which will make the outer edge of your wheel stick out 8mm further than mine. Your rear tire will be .8" taller on diameter than my tire. Both scenarios may cause issues, especially the offset. Your massively stretched tire will help...I hate stretched tires btw. :(

There is only one way to find out for sure if your super down setup will work.....try it. I still don't recommend it though - get the down springs or J5 coilovers.

This is a great wheel offset calculator:
http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Wheel...ulator#Results

Do you scrape constantly on your front lip? I have to hit driveways and dips at a sharp angle and I'm on stechs. Otherwise I scrape all day. I'd imagine hitting driveways straightaway you're scraping badly.

Surprisingly, I've only scraped one time and that was in my driveway when I was testing the limits. However, I HAVE to enter all driveways and entrances at an angle and make sure my wheels are pointing forward when I'm doing it. If I had to enter them straightaway, I'd scrape like crazy.

When I get the coilovers, I plan to raise the car 1/4" to alleviate some of these problems.

I'm on Super downs and i love the height. I'm looking to get 19x9.5+22 all around. I'll be rolling my fenders as well. My question is, what would be the best tires with not too much stretch, but not too thick. I was thinking 235/35?

Isnt the fenders on our is already factory rolled?

I understand that they are, but with +22 i pay be poking more than i want, so i'll probably have to roll/stretch more, so i was wondering what semistretch tires would be good

Looks great and thanks for the in depth write-up.

Team RSR FTW !!!!

I can't help you with that question, I'm not a "poker" or a "stretcher". :) You might check out juvi22003's build thread. If I remember correctly, he's aggressive and bagged. TheShaddix has an aggressive fitment too..he has a build thread.

Personally, I don't know how you're going to pull off a +22 wheel with super down's. Your front wheel would poke out 26mm (1") further than mine. Your rear wheel would poke out 18mm (3/4") further than mine.

Good luck.