I just put made myslef part of a group deal to buy Tokicos, to add to my new HRs. I have heard from this board that Tokicos tend to wear out pretty quick for some reason. This gave me cause for concern. But then I remembered some observations I had with my stock SE setup (running Nissan Tokicos and Stock Springs).

You see, in winter, I change to Gen 3 Maxima 15" rims, 205-65-15s so that I can get better grip in the wet and snow. It really helps. Then, 1st sign of winter officially being over, I switch back to my 17s, 225-45-17. Last winter I noticed that when I had my 15s on, the car bounnced a lot, indicating that my suspension was shot. I still have the stock 98 SE setup. But when I put my 17s back on, the bouncing went away.

So this makes me wonder, do the reportedly softer aftermarket Tokicos (compared to Koni,KYB etc) not work well with Hi profile tires?? Could that be the case of those saying that Tokicos suck??
To this day, with my 17s on, my car does not bounce on the stock suspension. I do know that I have to replace it because body roll has increased and the well planted feel at hi speed is a little more floaty.

So, to those that don't like the Tokicos, what size rims are your running on?? Maybe that's the issue with the Tokicos.

DW

 

The problem with the Toks is they are not valved properly and stiff enough to last over the long haul, ESPECIALLY if you live in an area with poor roads. I also attribute the rear beam to making matters worse, since the shocks have to absorb EVERY imperfection, regardless of which side of the car it's on. The tire/wheel combos you mention have little impact on wear.

My advice: run FAST from the group deal and be patient for the KYB AGX adjustables: easy to install, easy to adjust. They'll be out by the end of August.....

Otherwise, you'll probably regret the Tok decision in about 18 months....it's up to you.

 

OK Maybe I should re-phrase the question. How many people out there have had bad experiences with aftermarket Tokicos, and what was your wheel size when you had problems with 'em??

DW

 

Before people blast the Tokicos, maybe someone should compile statistics for unsatified Tokico owners. I think the majority have been using the stiffer Eibachs, which really trash the struts. Most people who have H&R's have not complained about Tokicos, and neither have I.

 

I have about 50K miles on my Tokicos with no problems.

 

I would wait for the KYB adjustables. They aren't much more expensive than the tokicos and i bet they last longer.

 

do they have KYB adjustables for the 5th gen?

 

I have about 16K on my Tokicos and they still work as good as new.

 

I have had a set of TOKICO Blues for 4 years with an EIBACH prokit. At forst they were great. that feeling lasted about a year. Then they started to get rough. that was year 2. Year 3 was about the same but seems to be a harsher progression. Year 4 however is a nother story.
They still manage to even out the dips, but bumps and eneven roads are hard to take now. they are very harsh.

So as you can see, I got a good 1.5-2 years out of them.
Do your self a favor, get KONIs yellow adjustables. lifetime waranty.

 

I have had a set of TOKICO Blues for 4 years with an EIBACH prokit. At forst they were great. that feeling lasted about a year. Then they started to get rough. that was year 2. Year 3 was about the same but seems to be a harsher progression. Year 4 however is a nother story.
They still manage to even out the dips, but bumps and eneven roads are hard to take now. they are very harsh.

So as you can see, I got a good 1.5-2 years out of them.
Do your self a favor, get KONIs yellow adjustables. lifetime waranty.

 

the Toks come with lifetime warranty.
the Konis come with '10' year warranty..which is as long as you'd own your car...guess you can call that a life time warranty....

by the way, in response to the earlier post, 4th gen shocks will fit on a 5th gen without a problem....

 

Thanks for the update. I tried a WARRANTY issue with TOKICO on my 85, RX-7, and 91 MAXIMA. I had a front strut on each go out with in 4-6 months of purchase. It's not FUN. cheaper to buy a new one, as I did.
So I went with KONIs on my 97 COBRA. Then I decided to put TOKICOs on a truck that was in the family. Blown out in 9 months. No telling what my relative was hauling, but TOKICO would not warranty them. Notice on the warranty label. If the piston is scratched, it will cause the piston seal to colapse. Obviously they never thought about drive way mechanics installing them. I just think TOKICOs are cheaply made, but decent for a stock replacement.
KONIs: no worries MATE, hard driving, drag racing at the track, autocross, pot holes, 3 years old.
Never buying TOKICOs again

 

Well, driveway mechanics shouldn't scratch their new parts. That's no different from any car audio manufacturer. They warranty the equipment for 2-3 years if installed by an authorized installer, but only about 90 days if installed by someone else.

 

Thanks for all the resppnses guys. Mr. Rose, what size rims were you running on when you had the bad experience with Toks?? I'm hoping to find a pattern here. Once I do I'll let everyone know. Thanks.

DW

 

I don't think the size of the wheel really matters. I had Tokicos with Intrax (which are very soft lowering springs), couldn't tell the difference from when I had stock struts with Intrax. It was a very small difference. That was with my 17" Borbets. Then I had ground controls with Tokicos, that was also with my 17"s. The ride was a joke. My car is stiff on small bumps due to the stiff spring rate, then it floats and wallows on large bumps and dips due to the underdamping. Now I have 19"s with the ground controls and Tokicos, and it's still the same. I seriously think that the Tokicos were a big waste of $300. I should have just spent the extra $200 and gotten Koni's. I'm hopeful about the KYB AGX's though. They do a wonderful job on my girlfriend's Integra with ground controls.

 

Beleive it or not, but your observations follow along with what I'm trying to get at.

DW

 

The palce where you need to hold the piston is at the top of the piston. This way you'll literally have to do the impossibel and compress the spring so far as to get that scratched part to actually enter past the valve seal. If I were to hold it with a clamp at the bottom near the valve seal during assembly, then definately I would have been at fault. Not to mention the valve seal would break quickly. I have no idea what the issue of damage was with these 2 struts. They simply busted. Neither car was invloved in autocross or damage inflicting driving, they just broke. I do take very carefull care of my parts, and my vehicles. To this day I wonder what made them bust like that. Could have been any thing. Will I ever buy TOKCIOs again? Not if I can help it. Do I suggest that others do; sure, if that is what you are willing to pay. Is there another way with out an impact wrench to install them with out clamping the piston? What do the instructions say? they should make an alen wrench head internally like HONDA stock struts so this problem does not occur. I also remember that They come with a warning, "do not scratch piston as it will cause failure of strut" or somethin to that effect. So just about any road debris or particel of gravel would do that.
From new to now, what do your TOKICOs feel like? Would you buy KONIs having had the TOKICOs now?

 

I'll let you in on all the details. This car was originally my Mothers car. New from 91. She and I with a Prayer in mind ventured out to find a MAXIMA To find the best deal from the right person. WE went to a dealer that was literally trying to railroad us. On the way home we stopped into this NISSAN dealer and decided to give it another try.
they were about to close. A sales lady came out to us, and it was perfection from their on. She had been praying for a sale that week, and we of course were praying for the right MAXIMA. Momz purchased the MAXIMA in winter of 91' for $17,5xx I think. Totally loaded, no leather or CD, but had BOSE. From that day on the MAXIMA has never broken down or given us trouble. When things needed to be replaced on it, I did what I could to do the work. when suspension came to pass I put EIBACHs / TOKICO on there. She always drives the car, but it is my responsibility to take care of it. So my mother drives the car. Nothing I've ever done to it has gone bad except the front Tokicos. she drives well, and missed potholes. I don't rag on the car. The car does not even leak fluids!!! A true divine RIDE you might say. BTW, the stock 15" wheels were on there. the 17" COBRA rims came in year 3 of the suspension swap. anyhting else? LOL.

 

I second that motion. KONI / SPRINT, here I come.

 

I haven't had any problems with my Tokicos. I was fully planning on buying another set eventually, but the thought of the KYB AGXs is pretty enticing. I think I'll wait until those become available, if other people have decent luck with them.

 

Dude it's the damn tokikos.. THEY SUCK!!! I'm on set # 5 in 75K mies on my se-r only cause with the warranty theyy're free. Someday when I can blow money on the cars again I'll replace those with KYB/AGX's on the se-r and maxima

 

shox.co quoted me $127.40 ($509.60) a piece with free shipping for KONI,
KYBs were $229.00+ shipping. Of course that is for a 3rd GEN.