I need to get a new suspension. I just got the quote back from shox.com. I think I'm going to get the Eibach Pro-Kit Springs ($219.00). What I'm not sure about are the struts. I don't know if I should get the Tokicos, KYBs or the Konis. People are saying the Tokicos go bad really quick. And some people say the KYB GR2s are just as good as the Tokicos. Anyone have more than 10K on their KYB/Eibach setup? The KYBs are only 299 for a set. The Tokicos are 319. Konis are 469 a set. The thing is, it seems like a lot of work for the Konis. Having to cut the strut and all. I would go with the Konis just because they are suppose to last. But the amount of work installing them turns me off to the idea. So, Tokico, KYB, Koni???

Thanks..
ZuM

 

Konis in the front. Whatever you want in the back. With a 4-gen, I can't see shelling out for the Tokicos and taking that chance.

 

I would agree with Jeff. I have konis all around and if you don't mind the extra cost for four Konis they are perhaps the best ones out there especially you can change the setting from soft to harsh with just a turn of a ****.

 

...At least for the fronts... rears are a pain...

Zum... the extra work for the fronts isn't too bad... just a little cutting and drilling... Plus the rears have a 2 position perch...

 

Thanks guys. I'm going to have to really think about it. I'll have to get something that can cut the struts if I go that route. Do they make KYBs for the fronts? If so, how do you think those will stand up to the Eibach springs?

ZuM

 

From what I hear, the order goes like this.

Stiffest = Koni or at least adjustable to be stiffer and ajustable to account for wear.

tokico = Intially stiffer but seems to soften w/ time(faster then lotsa people like) Rumor is that Tokico revalved their shocks to be stiffer but...

Kyb: nice stock replacement shock. According to shox.com, the KYBs were not recommended for performance springs. (at least for the 3-gens they were not)

According to Keven97se, his recommendations were to go ahead and spend the bucks on the Koni fronts for their durability and easy adjustability and go w/ cheaper non-adjustables for the back(ie.. stock new, KYBs) Koni rears are too much of a pain to adjust and an adjustable rear swaybar would probably be enough to turn the rear suspension to your liking anyway. Since the Koni rears shocks have to be removed to adjust, how many times do you you realisticly think you would be playing around with them? The Stillen RSB is alot easier to fool with from what I hear.

 

I, like Zumble, was wanting to upgrade my suspension, but I'm having the same dilemma. I like the idea of doing the Konis in the front, but wouldn't you notice a difference in having 2 different brands of shocks? I can't help but think of it working together like tires (please forgive me for my loose comparison). I know the front and back parts of the suspension are under different stresses, but it has to affect something. I was considering H&R over Eibachs, but who knows what I'll end up with. Another thing to consider is that even though you probably won't adjust the rear shocks much, if you take it to the track it's worth the adjustability to make the rear compensate for our FWDs I don't know how much of a difference it would make, but theres a lot of weight transfer during a launch. Just a thought.
-hype

 

The H&Rs being softer. Would they be easier on the Tokicos? Maybe the Eibach springs are too much for the tokicos? Just a thought. Anyone with the Tokico/H&R setup and have the Tokicos go bad? This is crazy. Not having a choice of non adjustable struts.

ZuM

 

Good thought Zumble. Maybe even if we got Toks we could squeek out some extra mileage Also does anyone know whether the KYB AGXs will be out for summer <i>for sure</i>? I wouldn't mind waiting if the shocks are good, and I don't even mind being a guinea pig, but if they aren't going to come out then I may not wait.
-hype

 

I have the H&R/Tokico setup in my max for over a year now. The car at first did seem really stiff but broke in very nicely. It has a very smooth ride at a cruise on the highway, over 80 hehe, but just cruising around town it is a hard ride. I dont care what anyone says, my setup is still hard and not really close to stock. Plus iam riding on a 45 series tire wich dont help at all.
Ive been in a car with the Eibachs and they were wayyyy to stiff for me. Intax are harsh and too low for me.

My reccomendation is go for the adjustable struts and the H&R springs. You wil lbe happy with the performance of the springs around hard turns. So far the fastest off ramp i have taken had to be at around 60+mph and the car didnt make a single noise and took it like I was on rails. The only other suspension mod i have is the Stillen FSTB. I will soon have the Stillen RSB and will have even better control on turns.
Also the tire do make a big difference. Im riding on 225/45/17 Sumitomo HTRZ I Z-rated tires at a $150 each.

 

Thanks for the reply ny96maxse. I have 18" wheels with 235/40/18, so I'm trying to be very careful about what suspension I add. I want to do Konis, but I've never done a spring/shock install before so drilling/cutting doesn't exactly sound fun. H&R/Tok was my original intent, but the more I hear the more I want Konis.
-hype

 

I have Tokico/Eibach setup with a FSTB. Great combination. I don't care what people say about the Tokicos being crap. My car has almost no body roll and I have yet to stress her out. She takes pretty much whatever I throw at her.

 

I believe that everyone who had problems with Toks had a 4th gen. I don't see why it would make that much of a difference, but to some it does. I don't have that much of a problem with Tokicos, but I wouldn't mind having Konis either. Either way I think H&R is the way to go.
-hype

 

I talked to daryl today from shox.com and asked him what setup i should go with. First i suggested koni's all around and he quoted me for 462 shipped to my door, then i asked him about koni's in the front and kybs in the back, he then perceded to tell me that kyb's were more of a direct OEM replacement and that I should just go for toks in the back for three dollars more a piece. I think the price was like 350 something i forget. I just went with the koni's all around, cause i figure I'll dish out the extra hundred bucks now if it saves me time and money down the road incase the TOK setup in the back fails and I have two useless struts.

 

I've had the Tok/H&R set up for over a year now. Here is my experience with the various set ups. Cheston had the Eibach and Toks. For me, the Eibachs were way too harsh. Also, his toks went soft very quickly. with my setup, the Toks are definitely softer than when they were first put on, but they have not gotten as soft as Cheston's were. Perhaps this is a function of the springs? Eibachs being more aggressive and H&Rs being more forgiving?
Anyways, I have purchased the Koni fronts and will leave the Toks in the back. Cheston now has the Koni and Eibach setup which is much better than what he had before. Not quite as harsh but still gives excellent response.

 

I have the H&R/Tok combo, and it has been fine over the past 20k miles. Handling is excellent in my opinion. The thing that ruins the ride is not so much the spring/shock combo, but the low profile tire. My 17's absolutely killed my ride, and I can't imagine how still Eibachs would be.

The BEST combo would be to get KYB AGX Adjustables, but unfortunately they do not make them for Maximas.