Okay, a year ago I had Tokico Blues and H&R springs installed. After a year, I think my front struts (or at least one of them) are going bad, so I ordered a set of Tokico Illuminas for the front. (I'm guessing struts because my tires are having a hard time keeping on the ground when going over bumps or water puddles).

Anyway, any suggestion as to what I should set my Illumina's to in the front? I'm not changing out the rear and this is my daily driver (although I like to take corner's hard because it is fun to do so. lol) My hope is that these Illumina's are better equipped to handle the car being lowered.

Also, when I had my struts installed last year, I replaced the boots and strut mounts. Should I replace those again if it has only been 1 year?

 

IMO...3 in the front. If you decide to do the rears...set that to 4.

The front are the easiest to adjust so just drive around and see which suits you. Start at 5 and work your way down to the lowest which is the softest setting on the illuminas.

 

I have a question, where did you get two struts for the front individually?

I just bought a set of Blues but I'm tossing around the idea of going with illuminas in the front and blues in the back.

How was the ride with blues & h&r springs?

 

Idk if they still sell it but I got mine from this place a while ago.

http://www.performancepeddler.com/

Click log in and type in Maxima to get discounted prices.

 

I'll do that. Thanks!!

 

As Maximized2000 suggested, I ordered mine from performancepeddler.com. Just use the code "maxima" when ordering. They were part # BB3188 and BB3189. It was back-ordered but it only took 3 extra days. I ordered them March 18th and they were sent out today.

As for the ride w/ the H&R and the Blues, I like it. The drop isn't as big as what you'll get with some of the other springs, but I didn't want a ricer look. I just wanted to drop it a little and stiffen the suspension some. That coupled with the Tokicos gave a stiffer ride that wasn't too rough. Put it this way... my wife was able to drive it without major complaints!

I should have these installed in about a week. I'll try to remember to come back and post the difference (if any).

 

i have them on 3 all four corners...

 

Cool, that helps. I'll start with 3 up front and go from there.

 

4 up front is where the fun begins, I actually never set the rear softer than the front, so Im not sure how it may feel when you have the somewhat softer blues in the rear.
i ride 2F/3R winter months and 4/5 summer months on H&R

 

do you lose a lot of the smooth disconnected from the road luxury feel on the highway?

 

Hard to say... mine is the SE so it was kind of stiff anyway. I would say you definitely feel more of the road though (regardless of SE or GLE).

 

x2. yup yup to the definite more road feeling.

 

Yeah, you definitely do feel the road more. I had blown front struts on OEM GLE springs, and the car felt like a boat. Even small dips in the road were catastrophic. I put in H&R's and tokico illuminas and noticed a much better ride (obviously since I finally had working struts haha). I've had them in the car sine august of 09, and have no complaints about them at all. Plus with the Illuminas you can adjust them to whatever suits you.

 

DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO ADJUST THE REARS ON THE ILLUMINAS?

 

pull out the trunk liner and get in there with a precision flat head its a pretty tight spot and not easy, I found if you put the rear seats down and lay on your stomach it makes it slightly easier.

I ran mine 2/3 in the winter and 4/5 summer w/ Vogtlands

 

I'm running H&Rs in the front and SE OEM rear springs. I usually run 2f1r. I tried 1f and it was super smooth but a bit disconnected. If I end up with some 18"s this summer Ill prolly go back to 1f. I don't drive aggressive with this car so lower setting as good with me.

 

how did it feel having it softer in the rear? I like to do the opposite and have it softer in the front.

 

Honestly not bad at all. The whole time I ran Eibachs ran 3f5r. I just assume OEM SE springs are softer than any lowering spring thus the lower setting. I may try 2f2r tomorrow.

 

RIGHT ON JOHNNY D! I FIGURED IT WAS SOMTHING LIKE THAT. DIDNT WANNA JUST START TEARING STUFF UP

 

i run 4f/5r in the summer on 18's

and 2f3r in the winter on 16's

 

I got my H&R and Illumina setup installed about a week ago. Still tweaking the settings. Went with 2f/2R and it was smooth, but on some big bumps it hit pretty hard. Freeways are still chewed up from the winter. On 1f/1r, I am wondering how the dampers will handle the bigger pot holes...

 

what is a good setting for htechs?

 

I usually keep my Tokiko's at 3 in front 5 in back. works out okay

 

I'm riding H-Techs 3 all around.

 

I have mine set at 3 on all corners.

 

I ran 5f 5r when I had mine =]

 

Was running 5/5 but after a few trials, 3F and 5R is a descent setting for summer.

Since I will end up with 17' inches steelies for the winter, Ill try 1F/2R.

Still running OEM springs.

 

I have H-tech springs sitting at my house and after research decided the illuminas are the best route. How is the ride with the h-techs and illuminas as far as bottoming out and how smooth with 3's in front and rear?

 

3F/5R all the time

Eibach/Illuminas

 

Progress 2F/3R super smooth!

 

so from what I have read, everyone agrees the illuminas perform well with a drop. However, and I know this is not the "norm" ... I am considering illuminas on all 4 corners on stock springs. With this setup, the ride has to be amazing, am I wrong? Has anyone run this setup?

 

It'll still work w/stock coil springs