This past weekend I just spent time with my girlfriend (Thank you so much!!!) installing the Tokico Illuminas to my car. Previously I was running the Eibachs with OEM struts for about 3 years. Both rear struts and one front developed a leak, so my ride was bouncy and the car didn't track the road to well. Installation required removal of the OEM struts and swaping them with the Illuminas. During this time, my girlfriend and I did a complete breakdown and cleaning of each component on the setup. Lots of grit and oil everywhere. Once all the components where cleaned, assembling the system was not very difficult. The only thing I replaced was the OEM dust boots/bump stops with KYB dust boot/bump stop from Cattman. Total time was 9 hours.

As for the settings on the Illuminas, I am using 4F/5R based on 2KGLE's excellent review on his car. I wanted a setting where the car feels balanced, minimal understeer, good trackability, and ride comfort. After couple of days driving the car on this setting, the car has more control than I every could imagine. On the average, I noticed that my speeds around turns were much greater and the car felt very stable without the understeer feeling. For basic ride confort, on smooth roadways, the car was fine, but with some minor road inperfections, you'll definately feel them without a doubt. So far the car seems to be aligned well, but I will take it in for an alignment once the struts settles in after a few more days of driving.

As a side note, my rest of my suspension setup up includes the following:
Courtesy Nissan FSTB
Stillen RSB
Stillen RSB
18" Rims with Sumitomo HTR+ (235/40R18)

 

I'm planning to get Illuminas soon and was wondering whether when you put in the new boots/bumpsotops you cut and inch off the new bumpstop?

 

The KYB dustboot/bumpstops I used need not to be cut because they are already shorter than the OEM ones. The cool thing about the KYB dustboot/bumpstops is that it is one integrated part for both front and rear. The front strut OEM bumpstops and dustboots are in two seperate pieces, and the rear OEM bumpstops and dustboots are one integrated piece. If you do use the OEM bumpstops you do need to cut that extra inch off. To help you also, the front bumpstops are found inside the dustboots. You need to pick them out in order to cut them. For the rear, you just need to cut the upper portion off. I hope this helps. If you need more information, feel free to ask.

BTW, this is what the KYB dustboot/bumpstop looks like. I bought them from Cattman and these pictures are from his website.
http://www.cattman.com/img/prod/thumbs/dust%20boots.jpg

steve...

 

Sorry for the newbie question, but what's the purpose of cutting the bumpstops??

 

The purpose of cutting the bumpstops is to compensate for the loss strut travel due to the lowing springs. For example, in my car I am using Eibach Progressive Springs which lowers the front by 1.3in and the rear by 1.0in. Since the travel distance is decreased by that many inches, the chances of the car hitting the bumpstops increases, even though the springs are able to handle that particular travel distance. So by cutting the bumpstops that extra inch off, you'll will give the entire spring and strut system the ability to work at its optimal performance range without hitting the chance bumpstops. Of course if you do so happen to go over that mother-of-all pothole or speedbump you'll will still bottom out your strut by hitting the bumpstops.

steve...

 

ahhh i c. i'm gonna install my tein/illumna combo soon. i got another newb question... correct me if i'm wrong. my options are to either cut the stock bumpstops & dust boots or buy the kyb dustboot+bumpstop from cattman.com... right? if i use the stock bumpstops & boots how much should i cut?? would it be easier just to get the kyb parts or would i have to cut that too with my tein/illumina setup?

 

You are correct in your two choices. If you do use the KYB dustboot/bumpstop, I don't think you need to cut them, because they are already shorter then the OEMs. If you use your OEM bumpstops, then you need to read your installation instructions provided from your Teins. My Eibach instructions says to cut 1" if I were to use the OEM bumpstops. I don't know if different makers of springs have different lengths to cut off. I guess if your drop is somewhere near my Eibachs (1.3" front/1.0" rear), 1" cut should be fine since that is the rough average distance loss from the lowering springs.


steve...