so here it is. im gettin Tein S-Tech springs in a few weeks, and i need to decide on what shocks to go with. right now im really leaning towards illumina's, but GR2s are close second. so what do yall think....

 

illuminas!
best for our cars...IMO

 

Yes Tokico's are stronger and stiffer but they do not allow the springs to get worked properly so you do not see pr feel the full potential of the springs. While imo the kyb-agx allows for more spring travel which allows you to work brand new spprings in better so you get the full potential of what their drop is suppose to be.

So to conclude if you have springs that are broken in already get the Tokico's but if you have brand new springs get the kyb-agx's.

 

BUMMER! Is this really true? I'm getting S. techs and I was really hopin to get the Illuminas, but if it's not the best with S.Techs...

 

Are Tokico HP Blues pretty much as soft as OEM's? Is that why noone talks about them as being performance parts? (sorry to piggyback on here... )

 

yeah from what i hear the blues are nothin special and really simialr to stock

and im not looking for shocks that give a lot. i want a stiffer sportier feel to my car

 

 

I'd say AGXs. Thank goodness I have them. I want to upgrade to S-Techs from my H&Rs very soon.

 

i just bought the tein s techs with the illumina's . haven't installed them yet. i'll do somebefore and after pics. but right now i'm trying to get all the bearings,bushings,etc..

 

Tokico Illuminas---------dont know anyone with these and never rode in a car w/these Warranty?

KYB- GR2---------these are crap, they blow on cars all the time

AGX-----------good adjustable shock but they blow for no apparent reason, 1 year warranty

Tokico HP/Blues------------stay away from these, I trashed a set they blew on my 95 two times and know alot of people that have blown. 1 year warranty

JIC FLTs very expensive & ride pretty good
warranty?

Koni---adjustable and rears have two spring perches to choose from, lifetime warranty

stock--------they wont last too long with aftermarket springs

 

from my understanding the konis are good but not as adjustable (Should say as easily), im just looking for a drop that will last, im not really looking for a stiff ride so ive been really up in the air in looking at this. I like the stock ride just not height.

 

Thats the most ridiculous statement I've ever read.

Springs don't break in, only the camshaft in your engine breaks in.

You get the stupid post of the day award.

 

^ ^ ^ can you say -burn

 

checked the tokico site- limited lifetime warranty- 1 year one the electronics. so whats electronic on a shock?

 

Yeah, once there in, make sure to reply on how the ride is right away and if it settles in much over a few weeks or so. This is the exact setup that i'm planning on. Oh, and by the way, is there anyway that you can kind of compile all of the bushings and plates and extra things that you had to or decided to replace, as well as maybe where you got them...etc??? I know it's a lot to ask, and I would like to do it on my own, but I haven't done any suspension work and would probably end up forgetting something. If you have the time, i guess.
Thanks

 

http://maxmods.dyndns.org/index.php?MaximaShocks

I would only use Illuminas, AGXs, or Koni Yellows with s techs. Anything else will blow eventually and probably not handle well. Out of the three Illuminas are supposed to be the best. AGXs are too harsh especially in the winter and the konis are not direct bolt ons and have to be fitted into stock strut housings, a PITA if you ask me.

Springs sometimes settle. They don't break in really. Don't really worry about it too much.

JIC doesn't make struts for our cars only coilovers. If you want really low you probably should just get a set of these in the first place.

To my knowledge there is NO difference in suspension travel between struts. Some have tried to use 3rd gen koni yellows in grinded down stock strut housings or something to get a little more, but if it was designed for a 4th gen then it will have the same length as the stock housings. In summary struts do not change your suspension travel.

GR2s are only recommended on stock or one of the softer aftermarket springs (h&R, tokico, etc.).

Save yourself the trouble and either get illuminas or look into some coilovers if you really want low and want some suspension travel.

 

I know that the drop for S-Techs is 1.77 inches in the rear, and 2.2 inches in the front. does this drop look uneven or does it seem to come out looking good and flat? I've seen pics, and most look purty good, but just wan to hear from any personal experience. Thanks

 

Basically the illuminas do not allow the spring to compress to their full potential that is what I menat by broken-in. I helped two of my friends swap springs a couple of weeks ago. One with a Tokico Illumina +S-tech setup and another with KYB-AGX +H&R setup. The S-tech and Illumina gave the car a very nice and noticeable drop but when we swapped it onto the KYB-AGX the drop was even better. When we put the H&R onto the Illuminas it was a good drop too but it was not better than when it is sitting on the KYB-AGX 's.

 

illuminas for everyting baby

 

illuminas..

 

The strut has absolutely nothing to do with the vehicles ride height.

 

for realz...struts control dampening ability not height of the car.....prings and weight are the only thing that will effect ride height

 

what ive seen from pics of the s techs, is that it drops the front a little more than the back, but the back is so much lower to begin with it seems to even it out, or if anything have the front be a little lower than the back, for kind of a catted look

 

You will have NO travel in the front, and very close to NONE in the rear with suck Techs.

I say shortened Konis in the front and any adjustable in the rear with bens rear mounts.

 

Konis since lifetime warrenty for illuminas don't apply to drops over 1.7, buy at your own risk. And for the money you spent for springs and are going to pay for struts you should have just gotten k sports.

 

how the HELL are you comparing H&R with S-techs? are you kidding me? completely different drops and springs!

also from my knowledge, AGX are more stiff than illuminas... also once again, SPRINGS DONT BREAK IN

Back on topic, for the S-tech drop i would say go with illuminas, they have been tested and approved by many .org members, where the AGX have shown to have some problems. With a drop that big, i would just go coilovers

p.s. JAY25, jic does not make struts that i know of... and im pretty sure you're thinking about the coilover system as a moderator you should know this haha im just playin

 

holy **** this is an old thread. well i didnt get my drop in the time i said i would and i've kinda swayed from the s techs. im thinkin i want h techs now. better ride, not quite as drastic of a drop, sounds like what i really want, but im waiting til spring for rims and a drop. but thanks for the input guys