I bought my '91 TA with white Tokico Illumina adjustable front struts, and rear shocks. Although the handling is awesome (outcorners my buddy's '00 Z28), the ride is really harsh... punishing my back and creating a HELLA lot of rattles esp the rear hatch. I already have Spohn SFCs which made a world of handling difference and minor noise dampening, and I'm running Kumho 245/45/16's.

Will switching to KYB GR2s make a big comfort difference? Cornering pro/con sideeffects?


Thanks yall

 

How do you have you shocks adjusted?

 

... my shocks are on the #2 setting out of 1-5, 1 being softest, 5 being the hardest. :lala:

 

what springs do you have?

 

I don't know what kind of springs I'm running, but it's at stock ride height. The guy before me also had the car slammed, so I'm guessing at least a 2'' drop... is there a way to find out what kind of springs I have in back just by looking?

Even still.. for $450 installed, will KYBs make a vast improvement over Tokicos? I've heard the Tokicos are some of the hardest shocks around...

 

well, the KYB's will have less of a dampening effect then the shocks/struts you have now, possibly, if they are still to firm , you might try adjusting them to full soft. you would have to contact the manufactors to find out the exact valving for the shocks, it may be that the KYB's are not any "softer" then the tokicos are on full soft.

also if you have stiff springs, the harshness of the ride may be coming from the stiff springs. you may notice an improvment in going to a progessive sping, that way when you are just drving around the spring will feel softer, but when you want to push it, as the spring compresses it gets harder.

 

sounds good... I think I'll take a look at the springs, but I don't think I would be able to tell from the outside besides the color and shape heh... maybe a shop can tell me...

any recommended 'progressive rate' springs?

thanks for all the help

 

I'll buy your Tokiko's if you dont want them.

 

$450 installed? That's WAY to much. Parts cost should be around $150 for the front struts and rear shocks. No way is $300 labor justifiable. You can do it yourself. They are easy to do even with just common handtools.

 

Yea, I'm thinking of installing the rears by myself but people say disassembling the front suspension is a bit tricky? Either way, if I replace the Tokicos, they are indeed up for sale (CrazyHawaiian). I had a shop check the struts/shocks out and they said they're in good condition.

hopefully a smoother ride soon

 

I sent you a PM. For springs I highly recommend the Eibach Pro-Kit. Revlimit helped me install those in my 92 B4C when I used to own it. The ride was almost the same as the 1LE stuff but it handled better with less body roll. And it didnt scrape on speedbumps or driveways. Good Stuff (and progressive rate).

 

I have the Pro Kit in my GTA. It rides firm on the street but doesn't rattle your teeth over bumps or anything. I would have to recommend them to you as they really seem to fit your wants/needs perfectly from what you are saying. I have run my car on the track as well and wouldn't mind a bit stiffer spring in the front but they perfermed pretty well. And you can't go wrong with their cost factored in.

Oh, I would have prolly taken the Tokicos too.....

 

The Eibach pro-kit is nice, just don't put four people in your car, then you will scrape everything, especially the front tires on the wheelwells.

 

... scrapage? uh oh, thing is, I drive a lot of my friends around every week and they're already complaining about the ride. But hey, it aint supposed to be a Caddilac, right? But if the Eibach's are lower (1'' approx right?), then I dunno if they're the way to go for me.

Btw, how do I access the upper bolt for the rear shocks? I undid the trunk panel and turned up the carpet but all I get is metal. I want to see if I can adjust the shocks any softer like I did in front... then go from there.

 

I believe it is the panel by where the seat belts retract, you have to take off the panel and more the carpet to reach the bolts.