My car is SERIOUSLY in need of new shocks - friggen thing rides like a horse-drawn carriage.

So, here's my question - replace with stock, Koni, Tokicos, or what? What's the real difference, other than price? Not autox, racing, etc., just want good ride, handling, etc.

Educate me...

 

If it's JUST a daily driver, and new shocks are called for, I recommend you forget about Konis or Tokicos - those would be overkill for your car and wallet.

Look into going to that boneyard near Sacremento and see if they have any GSL-SE corpses laying about. A common swap is the SE suspension (including springs, not just the shocks & struts) to give you a firmer ride, better cornering, etc. By buying used you could save a bundle.

The other alternative is just buy some decent stock shocks and struts. It is a sports car, after all, and the stock components were meant as a compromise between holycrap handling and daily driveability.

Whichever one you go with, I also recommend you swap out your front swaybar for the Racing Beat swaybar & bushings. It makes a big difference in cornering confidence. If it's too pricey, again you could get the stock bar and bushings off a wrecked SE.

 

I've had the tokico adjustables w/eibach springs on 1 of my cars and loved them they did ride good on the soft settings but were very stiff when on #5

my other se has new stock shocks on the rear and rebuilt struts on the front with heavyer oil in them its firm but not bad (also very cheap)

 

Don't even consider replacing the worn out shockies with second hand ones from a junkyward as they're most likely just as bad. It's not like new shocks are that expensive anyway.

The non-adjustable Tokicos or KYB's (in that order)are a good choice if you're on a budget. If you want to spend more money on a really good shock then get the Tokico Illumina's or Koni's. Once again the Tokico's are the way to go as they're fully adjustable whereas the Koni's are adjustable for rebound only.

 

The standard replacemnt Tokicos are good street shocks. I have the blues and I don't think most people who do normal street driving would like them. They are equivalent to the Illuminas set on about 3.5-4.

 

Tokico Blues (non-adj) are supposed to be on par with the illumina's at a setting of 3. I'm going with Blues. Soon dammit.

EDIT: What the? Hmm didn't see that last post a minute ago.

 

Are the blues good for autocross and daily driving? Like somewhere in the middle?

~brian

 

I just got in my tires (Sumitomo HTR 200, 205-60 13's)tokico blues, and eibachs. but unfortunatly I havent got em on yet, cause well.... my car is in the shop . I'll make sure to let you guys know how everything works out, compared to my 17 year old stock suspension. Right now all i can do is hop up and down on the front progressive springs, which gets old after awhile

 

My tires are in the mail, the blues are being ordered in the next few days and it will all be in by mid may. I'll be giving a full report on Sloppy stock suspension with bald Comp T/A's VS RB springs, Blues and AVS intermediates. I'm thinking it'll be a slight improvement.

 

I recently put on KYB performance shocks which are much better than the previous Koni and stock. The information I was given was KYB have a range of shocks and the latest are much better than the 20 year old design that were original gen 1 specs. They are similar to those on the 2003 Suburu WRX.

 

I like the look of the Nanaimo logo, is it a Canadian ear muff?

 

I put blues on the 83 last summer and they are nice: corner very well - very secure in bumpy corners. But a little too much residual bumpiness for long distances. I'll put stocks on the 85 (my 'sedan', as I explain it to the wife).

B

 

What KYBs were these?

 

im looking for the best handling suspension an fb can have, i dont give a crap if it feels like im running over potholes driving on flat pavement... i want to be able to corner at high speeds and not worry about losing control or rolling

-greg

 

Aico- the KYB part numbers numbers are K363010 heavy duty and K 343064 heavy duty,

 

Tokico Illumina's
Eibach Springs
Poly bushings
Racing Beat Swaybar

Equals PERFECT.

My old suspension thread

 

ohhh my aching back! I replaced my stockers with Tokico Blues in my GSL-SE and the front feels allright, but the rear is awefully stiff. I deal with it though, it's rideable, but if the bump is just right, I catch air off my seat. lol.