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Old 09-04-2008, 08:37 PM   #21 (permalink)
whokilledthejams
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredonia, NY
Posts: 322

Boxy Brown - '04 Scion xB
90 day: 35.48 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf View Post
In my case, it would probably give me worse mpg, averaged over a year. The Insight's pretty low already, and if there's more than about 4-5" of snow on the roads, it becomes a very ineffective snowplow - which really kills fuel economy :-)

OTOH, I really wish I could figure some way to lower my Toyota pickup about 6", just to make loading it easier. Any mpg gain would be a bonus.
If it's a 4wd, you have torsion bars up front, and leaf springs in back. The torsion bars have adjusters, so you can lift/lower the truck by several inches either way. Leaf springs can be lifted/lowered with blocks. If your rear axle is below the springs, you can remount the axle above them, and get about 4" or so of drop out back.

If it's a 2wd, your best bet is lowering springs in front, with blocks in back.

I intend to lower my xB more (it's currently about an inch below stock), since A) I want the look, and B) another inch and a half in front (between Tanabe DF210 springs and Echo struts) provides all the benefits of an air dam without increasing the frontal area. Sure, I'll face more challenges in terms of terrain I can drive on, but it will be awesome, and cost 1/4 what air suspension does.

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