springs,coilovers,struts shocks,AHHHHH

[rafael]

wat does it all mean. i wanna eventually lower my car,wat do i need coilovers,srpings... wat? or camber things? i don't want to so low that i scra driveways,or curbs wat should i get thanks

[scapamouche]

Springs lower the car. If you keep the stock shocks with the car lowered, they wear out quickly.

Coilovers allow you to adjust the ride hieght over a band by combining a shorter spring with a threaded collar.

Some coilover kits (ground control) fit over other shocks to give the height adjustment, other kits build the threads right into the shock body (Hotchkis, Tein)

The big advanteges of coilovers like Tein or Hotchkis is that they allow you to lower the car and supply shocks that can handle the reduced height without premature wear. But they cost a lot more.

I have the Tein coilover kit on my car, with about a 2.5" drop. i autocross the car regularly, and I have not seen any indications of shock problems after over a year and 15,000 miles.

I have occasional problems with really steep driveways, but i don't have to stop and creep over every obstacle like many lowered cars. I am helped by the fact that I don't have a lowered front airdam, nor do i intend to install one...
AS for what to get, it depends on your needs. If you only drive on the street, and you're willing to accept the shock wear, just get springs or something like the Ground Control kit.

If handling or autocrossing is your goal, look for the TRD Sportivo kit (a lowered suspension kit with redesigned shocks, but no stiffness or height adjustibility) or the Hotchkis or Tein coilover kits which include adjustible stiffness shocks. You could also get springs or Ground Controls and aftermarket shocks, like Konis.