I just had some Tokicos installed on my car. Ive had Eibachs since the car was new(May 2000) and I kept the stock shocks on the car(19,000) miles. I thought the stocks were OK but I wanted to try something new. I decided to get the Tokico Blues. All i can say is WOW!!!!! What a differance! The ride is not any stiffer than before, but the car handles so much better!!!! Ive been doing some spirited driving the last couple of days and the car is flat in the turns. I strongly recommend this set up for your Maximas

 

Dave--
I've been waiting for someone to post a tangible account of suspension upgrading like this one. Thanks!

I'm trying to absorb as much info as possible in order to "fix" my 2k2 suspension as well. Aside from the obvious mods that I plan to do ASAP (FSTB, RSB, & new tires) I've really been confused by the posts regarding spring/shock combos on the board, and what works best.

I've read alot of posts saying that the Tokicos do not STIFFEN the ride like YOU said, but I'm confused; how can you improve the handling characteristics of these cars WITHOUT stiffening the ride??
I've always thought that the two were inversely proportional (or disproportional!).
Can you clarify?? Sounds like you solved the million dollar question....

Also - which Eibachs are you using, and how much did it lower your ride??



Thanks,
G.R.

 

Ghost Rider, I had the same thoughts as you regarding.....STIFFER RIDE EQUALS BETTER HANDLING. My gut feeling tells me that because the Tokicos are GAS filled it softens the ride a bit. For whatever reason,it also prevents the car from LEANING as much on the turns. I cant explain it any other way. I was dreading having a stiifer ride with the Tokicos but that is NOT the case. The ride quality is definatly stiffer than stock but not bone jarring. Im running the Eibach Pro Kit springs. I believe they lowered the ride height by 1.3 inches. I hope this answered your questions.........DLO

 

And why do you recommend Tokicos for our Maximas? Have you ever ride KYB GR2's or KYB AGX's before??? Glad that you like them, but they are not the best out there. They take time to adjust to the road and they will handle better when they get older...good luck.

 

This has been discussed a few times and Tokicos are nice, but some members have had problems with them. Others have had them on for years without problems, but I'd guess they don't drive their cars as hard as the guys who had problems. I (and others) think a good combination would be Tokico Blues for the front and KYB AGXs for the back. Some people have noted that the Tokico struts used for the rears don't hold up to heavy use, and the AGX rear struts from the 4th gen are a direct fit for the 5th gen.

 

Tanman when you say direct fit.....the 4th gen rear AGX is not a direct fit for all 5th gen rear Springs. I know for a fact it will not fit on the 5th Gen Eibach springs, unless you take it to a machine shop to have them compress it onto the shock seat. They may be some springs that it may work on, but again it is not a DIRECT FIT. what setup do you have and what mods was done to have it working?

 

My personal recommendation for suspension upgrading is to start with shocks first and install them in tandem with your STOCK SPRINGS. Alot of people don't realize how stiff an aftermarket spring is until its too late. Its better to buy the shocks you think you want and install them first. That will take alot of the "float" out of our suspension. b/c the shock controls spring movement. If you get more spring, you will eventually need more shock. But not necessarily the other way around. I am probably going to bolt on some KYB's and leave it at that. That way you don't have to have your car lowered and you will still have improved handling with adjustability.

Jesse

 

I don't totally think this is true about your statement. Yes handling would be improved, but if you have for e.g an SE you already have a stiff shocks/struts for your OEM springs, so putting on KYB AGX is making it worst. now your car will ride like a truck...they are high performance shocks even if you used them on the lowest settings. You may want to consider the KYB GR2's on OEM shocks/struts instead of adjustability--AGX. and we do know how stiff the aftermarket springs are that's why we are using the correct shocks/struts for them..

.

 

congrats on the install...I was going to pick tokicos then I realized that the crappy road condition here will shorten its life.

 

Direct fit as in no modification to the strut mount is required. As far as springs is concerned, I don't consider having to compress a spring a "modification". I'm still on stock shocks and springs, but I plan to use H&Rs with Tokicos in front and KYB AGXs in the rear. No personal experience, but a few other org members have done this without problems. According to them, the rear AGXs are a direct fit for the 5th gen.

 

This statement is totally false.

Aftermarket Strut/Shock manufactures design their equipment to go with the OEM suspension, not aftermarket. Thats why they void the warrenty if you use them with lowering springs. Some of them let you get away with about a 1 - 1-1/2 inch drop. After that, your on your own!

Ever drive a Maxima with OEM springs and KYB AGX's? The ride is amazingly smooth and the handling is off the wall. Much MUCH better then stock. I ran this setup for over a year. Everybody who drove in my car complimented on how awsome it rode. I have since switched to H&R springs, I gave up just a little bit of comfort to get rid of the wheel gap in my 4th gen Max. The AGX's do handle the H&R spring nicely, but the ride isn't as smooth as with OEM springs.

The best ride ANY shock/strut will give you is on OEM suspension, NOT aftermarket!

 

Ok -
I agree with the fact that aftermarket items are generally matched to OEM fittings, but you're missing one thing:

ALOT of guys with 5th gens (esp. 02's) are realizing that the spring/ shock rates are not as aggressive as they were on the 4th gens.
I know, because I had a '98 SE with bone stock set-up and GYear RSA's - and that thing far out-handled my brand new 2k2 SE.
I wish my 2k2 was a nimble as the '98, but dang this thing is SOFT!

I also wish I could apply your logic on your '99 to my 2k2, but I'm affraid I can't. I don't think the newer models are suspended nearly as aggressively as the prev gen., and I think it's going to take some serious upgrading to make this thing handle like a true sports sedan.

Anybody with a 5th gen. care to back me up on this???? I'm all ears if anyone has any better suggestions......

G.R.

 

Ghostrider - It's to bad the AGX's aren't a direct fit for your 5th gens. I've read the posts regarding the softer suspension in your cars. I still don't understand why Nissan did that. Your only real choice is to replace the stock struts with Tokico Blues or the KYB GR2. I think GR2's are out for 5th gens????

The floaty feel is from the struts and shocks, not the springs. Springs in general float or bounce. The ability to stabalize them is all in the shock/strut. Upgrading only the shocks/struts in your car will give you much better handling and ride control while maintaining a smooth ride.

When you change your springs and put in a more agressive strut, your now looking at high performance handling capabilities along with the look of a lowered vehicle. Us 4th gens have that horrable gap, you 5th gens aren't that bad. For us 4th gen owners, we wanted to make the car look better. This comes with a price of losing some of the ride comfort, there's no way around that.

You can make your car very nimble and keep the ride smooth as well. You just need to find the right strut for the job! AGX's do just that for the 4th gens and I'm sure will do exactly the same for you 5th gen owners. Perhaps the Tokico Luminas will be out soon for you guys. I'm sure they'll be a step up from the Blues....

 

konis are always there....a lot of people turn it down because the price and the extra step of the inserts.


nissan tuned down the 2k2 suspension where all three trim shares the same struts (someone checked the part no. and turned out to be the same) whereas the SE of 2k and 2k1 uses different struts than the GXE and GLE. If u are looking for serious suspension upgrade, you will prob. need 2k for shocks/spring/tires/RSB/install.

 

...You don't need to spend $2k, you just need to learn to install a few things yourself... My car handles 10x better than it used to, with the following:

H&R springs (paid $400 total for springs and install)
Courtesy FSTB (paid $75 and installed myself)
Addco RSB (paid $115 and installed myself)

...All in all that is less than $600, and if you spread it out over time its not that bad. I would do it in this order, springs/rsb/fstb, and of course I haven't switched out my stock struts/shocks yet, but the H&R's are very civilized and gave a nice drop. They have been handling my stock struts/shocks nicely, but eventually (in like 20,000 mi.) I will go with something new, hopefully once there is a direct-fit KYB AGX for 5th gens... Good luck.

P.S. I HAVE heard that if you are going w/ Tockico Blues instead of something more aggressive like Konis or KYB, then H&R is definitely the lowering spring that complements the 'Blues rebound damping the best...

 

Here's my setup:

5th gen Maxima
4th gen strut mounts
4th gen Progress springs
4th gen KYB AGX's
5th gen FSTB

I love it.

 

Like some others here, I really do not want to change my springs to aftermarket nor does the wheel gap bother me in any way. I do not race but do drive in a spirited fashion. I have a 2k3 SE and would, however, like to get rid of the floaty or bounciness over dips, in and out of turns, etc.
I am thinking of replacing the stuts and shocks only and would prefer a direct replacement. From what I can discern, my choices are the Tokico Blues, the KYB ABX perhaps the KYB GR2(but their web site does list them as available for 2k+ yet). What is the difference in 'stiffness' and ride characteristics between these shocks? Pros/Cons?
I think some more info on a direct strut/shock replacement would help many of us who don't race, etc but just wanted to tighen up and elininate the bounciness of the 2k2/2k3 suspension; for perspective, my '99 SE with a fstb was just great.
Would appreciate some guidance from those who know the ins and outs of the above struts/shocks brands.

 

and how much are u going to pay for the struts replacement and install when the time u need to replace the stock struts? another 140 + 380 for the AGX? and that will bring us on the same boat. my suggestion would be...if u r going to upgrade ur suspension....do the whole thing at once.

this is my list
koni - 550
eibach -219
4th gen strut mount - 70
install - 120 (for the shocks and spring)

DIY stuff
---------
stillen RSB - 100
OBX FSTB (just for the look ) - 70

total - 1009

and another 1000 is for the tires/alignment/install....grand total will be somewhere close to 2k.

what I need now are 4 good tires...I had ride in Jan97se's Car with GC/koni/s03 and Keving did a fast turn on a 20 mph on-ramp with 4 ppl in car. it was just awsome!

 

i think it's fair to say i abuse my car(although i wash it and take care of its needs) when i drive...i take my car to road racing, drag racing, i don't slow down that much for turns in twisty canyons...but my Tokicos are still as stiff as the first day i got them...

yeah, the Tokico's aren't the best shocks out there, it's not the most pricy shocks out there...but it does what it is suppose to do. if you're not a really serious road racing or weekend racing goers, there's not a real need to buy more expensive shocks like KYB AGXs or Konis...sure they're more stiffer and all..but that also makes for more bone jarring ride..but i do think that combining Tokico fronts and AGX rears is a good idea!

Dave, glad you like Tokicos...if there's anything else you need for your car, let me know.

 

dang!! $140 for install???

 

Thanks Hoon! I guess I started a debate. I know that there are other options for shocks. I did alot of research before I decided to go with the Tokicos. I read some the ORG's posts and weighed the pro and cons with these available aftermarket shocks. For my personal taste, my choice was the Tokicos. I dont race my car, although one day I would like to take it on a road course, so therefore I dont think that I need HIGH end shocks. For those of you that do more SPIRITED driving than I do, then some of these other shocks may work. All that I was trying to convery was that, after having these Tokico shocks for a few days, Im very happy with them. I guess the debate will continue

 

he said he paid 400 for the HR and install....HR is 260, so that's how I figure out the cost of install.