Are Tokico HP shocks any good for a cheap replacement. I really just need to get new shocks and springs, but I'd like to get something a little better than stock. There's a full set of Tokico HP shocks on eBay for $184 by it now with free shipping. They are brand new I believe. Are they worth it? Here's the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33590

 

The Tokico's are excellent replacement shocks! Go for it!

 

There are also 5 way adjustable Tokico Illuminas on eBay but they are $369. Still brand new and still free shipping. I just need to know from those who have the HPs if they are good enough or if I should go with the Illumnas. Thanks for the input.

 

I have the HP's and really like 'em. They made a world of difference with the handling and ride of my car. I've never tried the Illuminas so I can't tell you if they're $185 better than the HP's.

 

Did you get new springs? If so what did you get. I figured I'd go with Racing Beat springs since RB has been good to me so far, is respected, and is cheaper than say... Eibach. I don't think I'll ever do the GSL-SE suspension swap. I think I'd rather get a GSL-SE in it's entirety. So anyways. What springs do you have?

 

I installed the Eibach pro-kit springs along the HP shocks. The ride is tight/firm and the tires stay firmly planted to the road even over washboards. I have also driven bizarro's GSL-SE with HP shocks and Suspension Techniques springs. The ride is softer and is probably closer to stock with that shock/spring selection.

 

How much were your Eibachs? Do you know how much the Suspension Techniques are? The whole Racing Beat set of springs will probably be $250 with shipping.



Anybody else wanna join in? please?

 

I've got RB springs and Tokiko HPs, they're great!!!

 

yeah i bought the Illuminas off Ebay for $369. I have both the Racing Beat springs and the Eibachs. I personally like the ride on the Eibachs better. it just feels a lot smoother for a daily driver like my GSLSE. i like the Racing Beat springs for Autox or Drifting

 

I also run the Tokiko blues with Eibach springs.Over the years its stayed very firm, but not punishing.I did increase rears from 135 to 175lbs though, after going turbo.The fronts are the regular 175lb Eibachs.Got the setup from Rotary Performance online.Cant remember the cost,but I think it was around 350-400.
Unless you want the very best(Illuminas,adjustable coil overs) its a very good streetable setup.I see no reason to change it everything handles great,and my car can dish out brakes,Gs and horsepower to the suspension like theres no tommorow.

 

When inittab and 82transam first drove my car the first thing they said to change was the entire suspension...to bring the ride upto a newer tighter feel. Here is what I did and the results now are a new car feeling ride...i'm very happy with this setup although I haven't ridden many other setups except for a few on the forum...

tokico hp shocks and struts from ebay for $140
suspension tech springs from from shox.com for $189
poly bushings from suspension.com for about $150
Sumitomo HTR 200 tires from tire rack for about $200
new inner and outer tie rods with adjuster and nuts from VB for about $250
new brake calipers from ebay for $60
new ss brake lines from ebay for $80

As a result the ride feels really updated, like a new sports car feel. The brakes are hard, the steering is tight and the suspension is firm.

I'm also thinking of getting either the RB swaybar or the Suspension Tech swaybar, 82transam convinced me after riding his car with the front RB swaybar

 

How much did you spend on the whole setup? And how was the install? Is it the usuall cutting the front struts and sliding the new ones inside the old ones?

 

For the install, I called inittab and 82transam over since they already had experience with this.

They did most of the work and did it fast. For the front struts, they were removed and taken to a tire shop where they had a spring compressor to make the strut swap quick and safe.

Otherwise and entire suspension change like i did was estimated at about $1500...just for labor!

Glad I got inittab and 82transam close by...they only costed me a case of beer and some non-cafinated coke

Here is my post about the whole experience

 

The RB front bar is great,along with the stock rear bar.Anything stiffer out back will make the car squirrly.Unless you have lots'a power,this setup will give you a bit of understeer which makes the car more controllable.If you like/prefer a tailhappy handler,then upgrade the rear bar or lay on the throttle mid-turn;-)

 

i bought my Illuminas for 369 off Ebay. theyre great!! the HPs are cool too but i just like the adjustability. i have the racing beat and eibach spings. i usually ride on the eibachs though cuz i drive my car everyday and i love the nice smooth spring rate. i usually just put on the RB springs for autox or drift

 

Okay. Shocks and struts are the same thing in my mind. So did the new shox go inside the old ones like they do on Acura RSXs? If so then I know what I have to do all ready and shouldn't have any problem with the install. I shouldn't need to compress anything if I get springs to go with the shox should I? This all may be weeks away but it's good to get info ahead of time. Carb rebuild is this week.

EDIT: I don't think the roughness of the springs will be an issue for me. The ride is all ready rough and my car wobbles form the shox being worn out. I think I'll go with the RB springs. I'll be running on a road course in about a year hopefully. Just for fun. I figure I'm not gonna be getting much power out of her for cheap. I might as well make her handle better.

 

still need more input. i want to be totally sure about this and could use all your opinions...

 

if you are taking your car to the track then i'd suggest the rb springs...they give you the stiffness you need for the track...for street i wouldn't recommend them though

you'll need the compressor to take the old springs and struts out and put the new ones in...you can either buy them from ebay or any auto store or just take them to a shop to have it done...it cost me $15 each to swap it out...

 

Dammit. I don't wanna take my car somewhere else. I think I can get em out. We have plenty of tools around. Maybe even a spring compressor. I won't be going to the track much. So I guess I'm gonna have to find cheap Eibachs. Bah... We'll see what happens. What aobut hte Suspension Techniques springs? Are they soft or hard or what?

 

if you get the spring compressor just be careful with your fingers...personally i like my fingers...hence why i went to the shop

suspension techs are nice...they are closest to the stock spring rate...firm but not teeth rattling...eibachs are stiffer and rb are stiffer yet...if not the suspension techs i would go with eibachs...only if i'm not going to the track...

will you be doing the other stuff like the tie rod ends and the bushings?

 

Not right now. Maybe if my car audio sells for enough. I have quite possibly the smallest budget ever. Ever. How much would those be?

 

What exactly would be the purpose of getting new tie rod ends and bushings? Besides just being new. And how much was shipping on your Susp. Tech. springs? And how long did it take to get them?

 

both the tie rod ends and bushings, being old get sloppy, you should replace them, it will tighten everything up. As for your shock/strut question, I didn't read all the stuff said here, but they are very different pieces. A shock has mounting points on both sides, while a strut is held in a tube (spindle assembly on macphearson strut type suspension) and the spring coils around the whole assembly and the whole thing is held together with a top plate. If you don't have a spring compressor don't even try to change the front struts, you can kill yourself quite easily. Take the whole assembly out, and have a shop do the rest, trust me. Since the spring must be removed to change the strut you might as well change it at the same time. I suggest Eibachs, as thats what I have and like them a lot. HTH

 

Thanks for the info on the shox/struts difference. I helped put shocks and springs on an Acura RSX Type S a few months back and we didn't have to use a compressor at all. Nothnig was TOO tight to get on or off. And it looks liekt eh same setup as my car on the front. So what exactly is the problem with the springs needing to be compressed? How hard would it be to replace the bushings a little after I get the shox/struts and springs in? I may have to wait a while for the cash to buy the bushings. Also... the Eibachs are going to be over $100 mroe than the RB springs. And RB says their springs are streetable. I don't mind a rough ride. As long as they won't kill me or my car. Suspension is turning out to be more expensive than the Holley kit from RB which is what my original plans were. Why does everything have to cost so much?

 

I'm running Tokico HP's and RB springs on my 82', they are perfect for street and autocross. I will go Illumina's and stiffer springs for my 83' drift monster with the 13b bridgeport. HP's are cheap and of good quality.