I have been reading and researching the best option for replacing my OEM electronicly controlled "Sonar Suspension II" struts on my 1989 GXE. They are 16 years old now and ready to be replaced. I want to keep the adjustability but don't want to pay the outrageous OEM replacement prices. Plus, I want to lower my Max, so I was considering the Koni reds. I didn't like the idea of only having off-the-car adjustability or having to pay an arm and a leg to get them modified for external adjustment by Koni. But, finally, I think I have found a solution.

I just happened to find this website during a search through some of the threads here (on the .org). I wonder if anyone else who has Koni's has seen it or used the tool they are selling. Please let me know if you have and how it works. Thanks a lot!

http://www.928motorsports.com/parts/shocktool.html

-Mrkanda Fitch

 

Wow great find! Why didn't we think of this!

 

best n00b evar..
oh and this won't work for the rear due to lack of clearance....fronts only.

 

Yeah. Unless you make some type of threaded tool that you can twist/telescope longer.

 

Thanks! Just doing my homework. I'm still debating on spending the bucks and going for the Koni external modification, but I think for now I'll just go with this. The best, of course, would be to have an in-car control box like the Tien Flex system. Maybe someday ("dream-a-little-dream".. ;-) )

BTW, How long do the konis last with lowered springs?

-Mrkanda

 

koni's are over priced, try tokico's

 

What if I put Koni's in Tokicos?

 

toks are great new...after a few years they tend to wear out. konis seems to stay strong.

 

Mr gone "you are a piece of work"

 

Mark, have you ever been in a car set up with Tokicos and compared them to a car running Konis?
until you have, then you shouldn't speak. The Konis are lightyears beyond the Toks.


As for the tool Mrkanda linked above, they won't work on our cars unfortunately. that tool requires there be a 6mm hex head on the top of our shocks- which we don't have.

 

any particular reason?

 

Why do you insist on spewing misinformation? Tokicos don't have jack diddly on Konis

 

Sounds like the old situation of having one bad experience, and basing the whole company on that experience.

See it happen a lot in car audio... guess I shouldn't really be surprised it's happening here.

 

I wish I knew about the 100 dollar thing before I installed mine.

 

Larry, it's more like $250 per shock for our Maximas. been there, done that, talked to Koni tech support about it myself.. kept my money and dealt with the problem.

some of their shocks are easier to convert to external adjustable, and only cost $100 or so. ours are not.

 

That's where you come in at

 

I could probably rig something that would work

 

Less typing more rigging.

 

Sure.. it's possible, but I don't feel like messing with it.

It would be easy enough to drill out the upper mount to make more room, and modify the top of the shock somewhat, but then you have the fun of redoing all of them like that.

 

i have koni reds on my 92 and the are the best thing i got on my car they are about 500.00 .

 

I would encourage you to do some research on this topic. The inability of Tokico struts to last beyond 15k - 20k miles on our cars in well documented in our archives as well as on numerous other car forums. I have already worn out my second set in under 2 years and I am not alone.

 

Sounds like the way to go. Where is the best and least expensive place to get them? I am ordering a set of tires from tirerack and they have them for $133 each. Is that about the best around? I thought I saw someone on here selling them for $450 for all 4. Also, should I get all new mounts and dust boots at the same time. And if I'm adding lowering springs (Eibach Pro-Kit) do I need to get the camber adjustment bolts? Thanks.

-Mrkanda

 

Which begs the question: Why did you repurchase them?
I am too bored.

 

I sure would like to hear why.

 

me!
$125 ea.
may not be the cheapest though

 

he didnt repurchase them. The were replaced under warranty. That is the good think about the toks...they have a lifetime warranty.


Of course its a huge hassle having to warranty them every 25-30K. Then again that is a long long time for me as little as I drive my car.

 

OK. What would shipping be to 20740 and how long would it take. What about pricing on the bellows and mounts? Also, can you answer the other questions in the previous post? Thanks.

-Mrkanda

 

the eibachs really don't need the camber bolts.
but i definately agree to do the mounts and boots at the same time.
check my website for the specifics on shipping etc.
www.internetautomart.com/3rdgen.html

 

I didn't. I wasn't at a point where I could spend $500 on Koni's so I bought a new set and warrantied the old ones. It took about 2 months but I got a check for $375 in the mail. That exactly covered the cost of my replacement set.

 

You don't have a choice. It's how they handle warranty claims:

You have a claim. They require you to purchase a new set. Then you replace the shocks and then send in the defective units for Tokico's inspection. If it found they are defective, they issue a refund though the supplier you purchased them from.

It's a pain but it's smart. You have the shocks faster to get your car going. And the maker can be assured you continue to use their product. VS just getting essentialy a refund and buying Konis etc...

You could buy Konis now and install them. Take off the Tokicos and do the warranty replair but you are still out another $300 until you receive your warranty refund (if your claim holds). THEN after that, you can maybe sell the brand new Tokicos for whatever you think. But that's alot of hassle

 

Or you could have a badass salesperson like Adam Hume that took care of all the red tape for me, and sent me a set of Konis after I blew up my Toks... sent the Toks in and he refunded me the difference.

 

Wish I knew this before just giving my old Toks away. But they had like 40k on them. But they were worn out. Seems premature to me.

 

www.shox.com also did the same for me....no problems. got a check from them after i purchased the konis.

 

hey matt i have had experience with all three struts, depending where you live depends on how long your struts will last, in new york there are lot of potholes and dips in roads, and no matter what strut you buy they will blow quicker because of the road condtions, and it doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money on something that you won't get the full use out of it. so i gave my opinion, and you gave an assumption.

 

Actually, your statement was a broad generalization because not everyone lives "in new york where there are a lot of potholes and dips in roads".

 

mark u used konis on the max?

i've beat the crap out of the konis and they still are pretty firm. where as the toks i been through 2 sets already.

 

hey miz you are right i didn't clearify, where you live does matter
dannt yes before they did the belt over i was on there on a regular basis, and you know the belt was bad, and then you add the local streets, it can be rough on a car, not to mention cracked rims etc.

 

i meant danny not dannt sorry

 

wow u blew up the konis on the belt pkwy?!? i'm through NYC twice a day and it's no picnic.

 

still waiting