Rate your struts...
02-07-2006, 06:54 PM
#1
Supporting Maxima.org Member
Thread Starter
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Location: Houston, TX
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Rate your struts...
I am still deciding what kind of struts I want to go with my eibach springs. On a scale of 1 to 10, rate your struts if you own kyb, tokico, or koni. I want something that will substantially improve handling and am torn between tokico and koni. However if I decide on koni, I may very well have to wait 6-8 weeks if I get them from Brian...Haven't checked with other distributors yet. More specifically, I'm wanting to know if tokico will live up to my expectations, or if konis are REALLY worth a 2 month wait and almost double the price. And yes, I've already done some searching.
02-07-2006, 06:59 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: BFE, UT
Posts: 3,194
I've been on here for awhile, and it's been consistent that Tokicos and KYBs have blown seals with lowering springs.
As far as waiting for Konis, I only have to wait on the rear set as they're currently out of stock in the U.S. I have a feeling that if you order soon, you might get in on the same shipment that mine are coming on.
As far as waiting for Konis, I only have to wait on the rear set as they're currently out of stock in the U.S. I have a feeling that if you order soon, you might get in on the same shipment that mine are coming on.
02-08-2006, 11:08 AM
#7
Trust me because I've had both ToFreakos and Konis.
When I pulled my used ToFreakos out, 3 out of the 4 were blown. This is after only 40-50k miles at most.
I put in USED Konis adjusted to about 1/2 stiff. WAY better handling than the Tofreakos.
For reference I was on Eibachs that are stiff but lower the least.
When I pulled my used ToFreakos out, 3 out of the 4 were blown. This is after only 40-50k miles at most.
I put in USED Konis adjusted to about 1/2 stiff. WAY better handling than the Tofreakos.
For reference I was on Eibachs that are stiff but lower the least.
02-08-2006, 04:57 PM
#8
i have kyb's and ebiachs. great combination. i would give it about a 6 for the ride. but the cost and not waiting thing probably helped my decision. i also had blown rear factory struts.
and the headache of installing. Use the time after you order to buy a drain pan, a drill, and some cutting tools.
02-12-2006, 10:35 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: BFE, UT
Posts: 3,194
The struts are actually strut Cartriges. You have to cut out your old struts from the housing, and insert the new cartriges inside. You have to drill the bottom out to bolt the cartriges.
There's a How-to somewhere, I'm just trying to find it.
http://www.koni-na.com/pdf/boltstrut.pdf
It's only the front struts that you have to do it.
There's a How-to somewhere, I'm just trying to find it.
http://www.koni-na.com/pdf/boltstrut.pdf
It's only the front struts that you have to do it.
02-17-2006, 03:57 PM
#13
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 47
Blue Tokikos, stock GXE springs, suspension techniques swaybars. The mods made a very huge improvement over old stock soft/worn out stuff, but getting the Tokikos instead of springing for the Konis was a huge mistake, I know what a good set of shocks feel like and these are just average. I'd rate them at 4-5 out of 10. They do not contorl the car very much in transitions like the Konis can with their stiffer low-speed valving.
02-17-2006, 05:45 PM
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 47
Originally Posted by tripleGmax
youre on stock springs what do you expect?
I have autocrossed many cars in SCCA Solo2 stock racing class in which the springs aren't allowed to be altered, but any shock absorbers can be used. In these classes, good quality shock absorbers are absolutely vital for competitiveness.
02-17-2006, 06:21 PM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Im rolling on
KYB GR2 struts all the way around
Arospeed 1.75inch Drop Springs.
Rides MUCCCCCCH better then stock!
No bounce, smooth ride. and it take hils and awesome.
1.75inch drop is perfect. I dont scrape much. If it was any lower I might have clearance problems
KYB GR2 struts all the way around
Arospeed 1.75inch Drop Springs.
Rides MUCCCCCCH better then stock!
No bounce, smooth ride. and it take hils and awesome.
1.75inch drop is perfect. I dont scrape much. If it was any lower I might have clearance problems
02-17-2006, 06:21 PM
#18
go konis.... i just replaced my tokikos, all 4 absolutely gone, wished i had never ignored the orgs reconmendation. and yes i must have put in 40k or less of totally brutal pounding and they are destroyed. i had the intrax springs but now i have the konis /eibachs ( both used) and adjusted to full stiffness (from the kid before). i love them, not too soft like the tokikos were. those drove me nutts cause i ended up bottoming out alot, wiped out the upper strut mounts, and constantly scraped my sway bar all the time. that probably help kill the struts but oh well. dead is dead
05-24-2006, 09:09 PM
#25
koni makes great performance shock but idiotic in a senses that it's overpriced and too much hassle to mess with. as one poster pointed out, you'll have to cut your fronts houses for fitting. if you lost your orginal factory houses, you're screwed. those struts are impossible to find, even at most junkyard. once they go bad, people just replace them with aftermarket. if you're lucky enought to have your org struts, go for koni. otherwise, cutting most gas operating struts will kill you. careful!
05-25-2006, 05:45 AM
#26
Originally Posted by bvtran
otherwise, cutting most gas operating struts will kill you. careful!
05-25-2006, 10:54 AM
#29
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Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by bvtran
koni makes great performance shock but idiotic in a senses that it's overpriced and too much hassle to mess with. as one poster pointed out, you'll have to cut your fronts houses for fitting. if you lost your orginal factory houses, you're screwed. those struts are impossible to find, even at most junkyard. once they go bad, people just replace them with aftermarket. if you're lucky enought to have your org struts, go for koni. otherwise, cutting most gas operating struts will kill you. careful!
~Alex
05-25-2006, 11:21 PM
#31
Taking my Maxima to the Max!
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$100 more? Where were you ordering from? From what I've seen the Konis or twice as much as the Tokicos. Besides don't all struts ware out over about the same time (50-60,000 mi.)?
05-26-2006, 08:17 PM
#37
I miss my VE
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NY
Posts: 2,553
Originally Posted by mrkanda
I wasn't talking about warranty. I was wondering how many miles a set of Toks would last with the Eibach springs, and how many miles would the Koni's last?
05-27-2006, 12:24 AM
#39
Originally Posted by mrkanda
I wasn't talking about warranty. I was wondering how many miles a set of Toks would last with the Eibach springs, and how many miles would the Koni's last?
ummm average life span for tokikos = 1 year. for most people that dont do all their own work this is very costly. yes you have a lifetime warrenty but what about all the labor cost of replacment once a year or more. its just better to wait rather than rush to get on a suspension for cheaper. id rather pay more for it once compared paying less twice or more times
05-27-2006, 02:17 PM
#40
Taking my Maxima to the Max!
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1 Year!? You mean about 12,000 miles? That's rediculous! That can't be right. How long (mileage wise) do OEM struts last? Of course, we are talking about with lowered suspension (1.2"), but still that seems awfully short! The roads here in Florida aren't bad, at least if you stay on the pavement. The limerock roads can get a little rough, but still aren't that bad. So, I'm sure they would last for longer than 12,000 miles.
I would like to hear from someone who has direct experience. Anyone out there?
I would like to hear from someone who has direct experience. Anyone out there?