Is there someone out there that has had experience with Tokico illumina's, koni reds and yellows and bilsteins ( KYB AGX??) that can compare them in terms of performance ( high speed chassis control) ride quality (high speed damping, or how well they handle bumps) and longevity. I have been using Tokico hp's with an eibach prokit, they rode great and handled well when new but 1 year later they wallow and bottom all over the road.

I would also like to know why all the readily available adjustable shocks on the market only allow rebound adjustments. it seems that compression would be more important.

 

My personal preference are Bilsteins, best combination for these cars, especially with Eibach springs. The Koni's are nice too, but a little harsh for the street. Just my opinion.

The Tokico 5 way adjustables are a really nice set up as well, if you feel you need/want the adjustability.

Steve

 

Gonna have to go with Steve on this one. I'm running Bilsteins all around and just put his SFCs on the car. It handles unbelievably well now. I'm getting the Eibach Pro-Kit on in a few weeks...I can't wait.

 

I'm using the Tokico Illuminas with a Sportline kit with no complaints. Most of the time I run the shocks/struts at 2 but occassionally I bump it up to 3 when I feel like a little aggressive driving. BTW,thanks laiky for the tip on the 9 bolt splines. Cured the problem.

 

Ground Control has some written opinions on all the shocks and struts you're interested in...

Ground Control

THey're also just released their own 'Advance design racing strut'. Might be worth checking out.

 

the GC units look great, but i couldn't justify the price tag.

i also have tokico illumina's, i drive around with them on 2 front 3 rear (subs in back ) so far i am happy with them, but have only had them on for about 3 weeks now, so not exactly a long term test. although i did run an auto-x even with them in, and they held up.

 

I've had my Tokicos on for just over 4 years now.

 

I like my Tokicos too, usually I like them set at 3 for a nice sportier feeling. I think I've had them for about 3 years with Hotchkis springs.

 

I'll agree with Steve on Koni "Sport" shocks being on the stiff side for the street - but if you want a more "comfortable" ride you should definately consider the "Special" or red Konis. They are designed more for the street with resonable dampening rates - but of course they are adjustable if you want to do some weekend Auto-X or canyon carving. The other attractive feature of the Konis is that they are re-buildable - so if you buy the reds, and after a while you decide you want a more performance type ride that the adjustment does not provide, you can send them in to the Koni race shop and they will re-build them and re-valve them to pretty much whatever you want. You can also have them made double adjustable (independant compression and rebound adjustment).

Just more fuel for the ongoing "Great Shock Debate"

 

Now there is an idea i like. I used to have race tech gold valves on my suzuki. i love the idea of being able to rebulid and revalve a damper to my liking. Do you have any idea how much a koni double adjustable conversion would cost?? I guess in reality i just got a bad set of tokico's. I have had good experiences with them in the past. I would like to get them warranteed and put them on the shelf in case my next set of whatever i buy goes south. Does anybody know how to go about getting Tokico to warrantee a set of struts? They seem to be unreachable, and the place i bought them from went out of business.

My big hang up is that i need some level of compliance because NYC roads just plain suck (i understand why so many new yorkers buy SUV's) but at the same time i want a taught and responsive suspension. With the 383 i find my self running into large bumps and ruts at much higher speeds that really get hairy with my quickly fading HP's My suspension bottoms badly and frequently with the softer struts. But then i need to stay planted in bumpy corners that would otherwise have the wheels airborne. If i knew one ofthe big three was better than the rest i wuld just buy them, but i don't. If i go soft, i save my chassis and spine while risking a high speed misshap. if i go firm i have good feel and control while giving up cornering ability ( bumpy that is). I really don't know what to do.

 

When lowering a car 1-2 inches do any considerations need to be made to what shocks you run?

 

sure, it will depend largely on the rate of the springs you install. The lowering springs will usually be quite a bit firmer to stop the suspension from bottoming with its reduced travel. You will need a firmer shock to damp the firmer springs

 

laiky, I got my Tokicos from a place called shox.com, very helpful people so I'm sure they would help you get them fixed.

Another thing to consider is that the rear Tokicos get adjusted from inside the car, just like the fronts. So that means you don't have to jack up the car to let the shocks hang in the fully extended position like the Konis.

 

Thats good to know, definately a selling point. I'm not in a rush so i will shop around. I would rather buy from one of the sponsors though.