The Guide to Scion tC Coilovers. The Scion tC’s acceleration and straight-line speed may be lacking. However, it weighs between 2,900 and 3,100 pounds, which aids in handling. When all of this is considered, a set of Scion tC coilovers is one of the best upgrades. Coilovers are a great mod if you want better handling, stance, lowering, or a combination of the three. This guide discusses some of the best Scion tC coilovers kits, as well as price, spring rates, lowering, and other factors.
Coilovers for Scion tC
If you want to learn everything about coilovers, this is not a quick topic. There are numerous variations in design, spring rates, damping adjustments, and other factors. In this article, we’ll go over the majority of the fundamentals.
Anyway, coilovers are the same as standard shocks, struts, and coil springs. The main distinction is that coilovers allow for ride height adjustment. Many Scion tC coilovers also include damping adjustability, which allows you to change the stiffness of the shocks. We’ll return to this information in a few sections. For the time being, let’s look at some of the advantages of upgrading to a tC coilover kit.
The Advantages of tC Coilover Upgrades
Many people associate coilovers with better handling, which is often true. However, that isn’t the only advantage of coilovers. They’re a versatile upgrade that can do a variety of things. Some advantages of Scion tC coilover kits include:
- Ride height can be adjusted (lowering or stance)
- Damping can be adjusted
- Improved handling
- Increased comfort and ride quality
- Replace your old suspension.
Of course, you’re unlikely to get all of these advantages from a single set of tC coilovers. If you want the best handling and performance, you’ll have to give up some comfort. If you intend to slam or stance your Scion, send the same message. However, there are inexpensive street coilover kits that can provide many of these advantages. If you only want a minor street upgrade and are replacing older suspension, you will most likely notice improved handling and comfort.
Finally, coilovers open up a plethora of new possibilities. It’s critical to know exactly what you’re looking for in Scion tC coilovers. Do you want the best possible handling? Simply replacing worn-out suspension? Perhaps you’re looking for a good street driving balance of handling, comfort, and lowering.
Depending on the end goal, different coilovers may be better for different people. However, there are a few key features to look for in a set of coilovers. In the following section, we go over the fundamentals of what to look for based on your objectives. If you need more information, refer back to the previously linked article.
What To Look For When Buying Coilovers
There are a few key details that influence handling, comfort, and other factors. The primary coilover topics are as follows:
- The shock design (twin-tube vs monotube)
- Damping (compression & rebound) (compression & rebound)
- Rates in the spring
- Height of the ride
We’ll skip the technical details in this article and get right to the meat of the matter. Monotube shocks have the best response, damping, and handling characteristics. They are the best option for handling, but they are generally more expensive. Twin-tube shocks are more popular because they are simple, inexpensive, and provide a good ride quality.
Certain coilover kits provide varying degrees of damping adjustment. Some are simply factory presets that cannot be changed after the fact. In any case, damping adjustable Scion tC coilovers are ideal for both track and street use. Adjustable kits aren’t necessary if you plan to set it and forget it.
The ride height is straightforward, but make sure the coilovers meet your lowering or stance goals. More aggressive street or track coilovers frequently do not allow for as much lowering. Car slamming is not good for handling. The following topic is spring rates, which has its own section below.
Rates for Scion tC Coilover Springs
The springs are responsible for supporting the entire weight of the vehicle. They are arguably the most important component of any suspension system. It’s no surprise that coil spring rates are one of the most frequently discussed topics.
Spring rates, for example, are commonly quoted as 500 lbs/in. In this case, 500 pounds of force is required to compress the spring 1 inch. A force of 1,000 pounds compresses the spring 2 inches. Kg/mm is the metric unit of measurement, and it is commonly abbreviated as ‘K’.
The important thing to remember here is that higher spring rates result in a stiffer spring. In some cases, stiffer springs help reduce weight transfer and body roll, resulting in better handling. However, stiffer does not always imply superior. On less smooth surfaces, such as public streets, a spring that is too stiff is undesirable. Stiffer also implies a reduction in ride quality.
However, if handling or tracking is the ultimate goal, going stiffer is usually a good bet. The same is true for stancing, as a stiff spring is required to keep the shocks from bottoming out. Moderate spring rates, on the other hand, can provide a good balance of comfort and handling, while the softest springs provide the most comfort.
Scion tC Coilovers at Their Finest
With the fundamentals out of the way, it’s time to get to the fun stuff. Which Scion tC coilovers are the best? This section will go over some of our favorite coilover kits for the tC. Please keep in mind that this is far from an exhaustive list, and there are many other excellent options.
We’re just going to highlight a few of our favorite Scion tC coilovers that offer a good balance of price, quality, and performance. Remember your desires and goals before making a purchase. The best coilovers for all-out handling aren’t necessarily the best coilovers for daily street driving, and vice versa.
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1) Coilover Kits from tC Raceland
Price: $419-449
Tier: Basic street and stance
Lowering: 1-4′′ (1-3′′ for Scion tC 2011-2016)
We end up writing about Raceland coilovers in almost every coilover guide we write. Some people may be put off by the low price and assume they aren’t a quality upgrade. That, however, is not the case. To be completely honest, the Raceland coilovers aren’t a great choice for all-out handling and performance. They’re entry-level Scion tC street and stance coilovers.
Raceland coilovers perform exactly as expected. They produce high-quality kits at reasonable prices, with excellent customer service and very low return rates. What more can you ask for in a full tC coilover kit for under $450? Nothing comes to mind.
There are two options for the 2005-2010 tC. The Classic or Ultimo coilovers provide 1-3′′ and 2-4′′ of lowering, respectively. Scion tCs from 2011 to 2016 only get the Classic coilovers. They are all twin-tube shocks with no damping adjustment. Again, not the best option if the end goal is handling.
Finally, Raceland provides an excellent product if you only want a minor upgrade, stance, or are simply replacing old suspension. They’re hard to beat at this price point, and they get a lot of positive feedback.
2) Tein Coilover Improvements
Price: ~$650-800
Entry-to-mid-level street
Lowering: 1 to 2.4′′
Tein Flex Z coilovers are a popular option for the Scion tC. They’re pricier than the Raceland options, and we’re less confident in their overall construction quality. Scion tC Tein coilovers, on the other hand, add damping adjustability. The Flex Z kit can be adjusted in 16 different ways. It’s about the cheapest adjustable coilover kit you’ll find.
In any case, the Tein coilovers aren’t as good for stancing or lowering. Depending on the model year and specific kit, you’ll get a maximum of 2 to 2.4 inches of lowering. For those looking to stance their Scion tC, this is insufficient. However, there should be plenty of lower-priced options for those looking for something more modest.
We’re not sure how we feel about Tein in general. They made the list for a reason: the adjustable features at this price. However, if handling is the ultimate goal, we would probably move on to something a little more capable, such as the BC Racing coilovers.
3) BC Racing Coilovers for Scion tC
Price: $1,030 – 1,800+
Mid-high level street and track
Lowering: 1-3′′ or more
BC Racing has some of the most customizable coilover kits available. Their most popular Scion tC BR-Series coilovers start at around $1,030. It’s a monotube shock with 30-click compression and rebound adjustability. Those looking for the ultimate handling setup are already off to a great start.
You can also customize the spring rates on the BC Racing Scion tC coilovers. With an additional $320, you can get a Swift Spring upgrade. They’re widely regarded as having some of the best coil springs available. Once again, you can select your own spring rate based on your goals and needs.
Those looking for even more can opt for the DS or RM series coilovers, which will cost you more than $1,500. Regardless, BC Racing produces some fantastic Scion tC coilovers that are highly customizable. If you want to build the ultimate street or track handling package, look no further.
Summary of Scion tC Coilovers
The tC’s straight-line performance is unlikely to impress anyone. However, it is a very light and nimble car with excellent handling right out of the box. Scion tC coilovers can take the vehicle to the next level. They also provide numerous opportunities for lowering, stance, and other modifications.
Some important topics to consider are spring rates, damping, ride height, and shock design. Determine your objectives and then select the coilover kit that best meets those objectives. You’ll probably want a stiffer setup for aggressive handling at the expense of ride quality. Otherwise, look for some more affordable kits that provide a good balance of street comfort and handling.
By far our favorite budget coilovers kit for the tC is Raceland. They provide excellent quality and customer service for less than $450. At this price, it’s difficult to ask for much more. Tein is a low-cost option with dampening adjustments. Otherwise, BC Racing creates some incredible customizable kits.
