When I did the swap with Troy I installed his IS300 shock assemblies in my IS200. The ride height is around 715 - 720mm measured from the ground to the top of the wheel arch. Went for a good drive to see if they would settle but they didn't. Thought maybe the springs as the IS300 are slightly stiffer, so I got a set of stock IS200 springs and put them in and the ride height is the same. I have no idea what else it could be. Does anyone know if the actual length of the shocks is the same. Failing that I'm open for any ideas because at the moment it's giving me the S****S.

There are a bazillion part numbers applicable to shocks, not sure what the differences are (height, damper rate etc) but there certainly are differences.

Were the springs the same height? As I know the Altezza SXE10s use the shortest springs compared to the IS200 or IS300, and the shock part numbers are all different too!

Genuine shocks or coilovers are the way go to!

(Genuine ones are fairly cheap for the VIPs though @ $119+ NZD each!)

The springs are the same height just slightly different spring rate, the IS200 are a bit softer, and the shocks are genuine from Troy's IS300.
Do you know of any links that may have the spec's and part numbers for different factory shocks.

No specs, but part numbers here:
http://www.toyodiy.com/

Thanks, I'll see if I can cross reference things.

I just did an experiment. The car is on stands with the wheeks off. Measured the height with it just sitting. Then jacked the hub assy up until the car just cleared the stand and remeasured the hub height. It moved only 23mm up before the car started to lift. This doesn't seem right to me, I thought there would be a lot more compression before the car statred to lift.
I cross referenced the part numbers and there are some differences but don't know what they are.

Man i feel bad!!
They should be fine, they weren't trashed at all (prev owner was a old guy) but yeh the stock height was always really high on the stock lex

It could be a dampener length difference but that shouldn't change the height if the springs are the same?

there isn't a random plate or anything on the top of the shock assembly is there? because from memory some models came with and some without

I can't see anything that would make the car sit 50mm higher.
No need to feel bad Troy, I as well as everyone I have spoken to believe that everything is interchangeable. Apparently something somewhere is different, I just have to try and figure it out.

Surely the ride height difference will be in the length from the hub up to the spring base, if its not in the springs.

So the important thing will be where they weld the spring base onto the strut tube.

There might be a market for sending SXE-10 ones over if guys who are buying coilovers in NZ are willing to let the stock Altezza ones go for cheap. No reason to drive on stock IS200 ones even if you don't want aftermarket coilovers...

Are these measurements the same between shocks?

A - Free standing length of spring from top-hat to spring seat
B - Length of shock from spring seat to centre of mounting hole

If they are then its either spring rates or something to do with the lower suspension arm mounting hole's at different points or heights

I have just in the last 10mins asked a guy selling some stock SXE10 struts on Trademe if he can get me that dimension. Also asked him how much to send them to Sydney. I also think it has to be something to do with the length.