Amur_

This past December I bought a set of 4 Tokico shocks to replace my long-since-dead shocks. I put them in myself without any problems and instantly noticed an improvement in the ride and handling, except... a thump from the rear right wheel when going over bumps. I figured it might be the shock mount, which I had been told might be dying. And it wasn't a massive thump and it only happened over rather bad bumps.
The one thing I didn't have when I put the shocks on was replacement dust boots - I didn't know that I'd need them. When I saw that the old ones on the rear were all but gone (the front ones were in great shape,) I ordered replacements.

I finally went to put those new boots on tonight. I pulled the left-rear shock, put the boot on and all was good. I pulled the right-rear shock, compressed the spring, removed the top shock mount and watched bug-eyed as the piston sank down into the shock.

It's fucked.

It's not like the shock had a harsh introduction to the car. I've barely been driving her for the last 4 weeks. I doubt that I've put more than 800 kilometres on it since these shocks went on. Seems like I got a dud.

I still have my receipt and I'm pretty sure that the shock has a 1 year warranty. But this is a major inconvenience.

I thought that Tokico had an excellent product. Anyone else have probs like this with Tokico shocks?

CarmonColvin

Are you using them with factory springs?

Generally Tokico's are a bit higher quality than OEM shocks and I would of expected them to last just as long as an OEM shock with stock springs and no competition use. It is possible that some trash got into the shock with out a good cover boot but I would think it would take more time/driving to do that much damage it more sounds like you got a bad shock in the first place.

Amur_

None of the old shocks that came off had their pistons sink like this one did.

Yup, factory springs.

HAILERS

No problems. Tokico Blues and Eibach springs. Do wish now that I'd gone stock. They're a little bit harsh on the roads around the hood.

Evil Aviator

First of all, you may want to test those springs to see if they are worn. That could be what killed your shock.

Secondly, Tokico has a lifetime shock warranty for street cars, so just get a replacement from your dealer.

Finally, fix that thump problem!

Amur_

I'm pretty sure that the thump is from the dead Tokico.

Springs appeared straight and solid when I had them off the car.


I don't mind the firm ride - I like to throw my 7 around sometimes and it's nice to have less body roll.

Amur_

Went to the store where I bought the shocks. They know me there - one of their guys also drives a 7 (but the poor thing is parked for now cuz he can't afford the insurance.)

I walked in, showed one of the guys the receipt, told him about discovering the dud strut, he asked me to wait a moment, walked off and then came back two minutes later and told me that the new strut would be in by Tuesday.

How do ya like that?

Evil Aviator

Just as long as you don't race or lower the car, those shocks have a warranty that lasts as long as you own the car.

Amur_

I won't be lowering the car.

And exactly how do they define race?

Evil Aviator

They will know by the damage. Technically, I think the warranty wording includes abuse, racing, off-road use, etc.

KiyoKix

No problems at all...tokico at all 4 corners shocks and springs. Your problem is most likely more than just the shock in that corner. Yep...damage tells everything (same with all those tool guarantees from my boys at craftsman and snap on, damage tells a story even if you don't). I personally LOVE tokicos...once again though I must say check out everything in the suspension to see WHY the shock just up and died.

Amur_

Forensics Guy I'm not.

There is nothing remarkable nor substantially different about the setup on that corner.

The only explanation that comes to mind is that neither of the rear shocks had a dust boot for about 6 weeks. But... the old shocks that I pulled didn't have dust boots and they were on there for two years plus.

Any comments on how common dampener failure due to dirt/dust contamination is?

Jahoo88

My rear tokicos have no boots on them for the whole winter and all is good.

Amur_

The dud strut...

Amur_

The new one...

88IntegraLS

How do you adjust the blue Tokico shocks?

My NA came with them and Eibach springs when I bought it from an ex-racer.

Amur_

These aren't adjustable. You put them in and leave them alone.

88IntegraLS

Amur_

Why the sad face? Unless you're hardcore into autox or racing I doubt that you'd need a better (adjustable) shock...

88IntegraLS

I am obsessive and want to adjust everything , as part of my self-defining quest for perfection in everything I do. I was hoping to fine tune my understeer / oversteer with shock adjustment but the car is so damn good anyways I should not be sad. Owning 99% of the cars on the curves is really fun . . . thinking they (ricers)are all bad and then an RX7 is taking them from behind!

Amur_

So buy a strut tower anti-sway bar for the front end. And check all your bushings front and rear - chances are some or most are worn out/trashed and need to be replaced (mine are, but I'm having a hella time finding replacements locally.) You should see a marked improvement just for having done that.

jon88se

the thump is the shock, its toast...i noticed mine did the same thing a couple weeks ago (KYB, drivers rear) but that was after 40k hard driving w/ GC coilover conversion and i got it replaced under warranty. now i just have to swap it out...

Amur_

WTF!?!?!?!


I got into the rear wheel wells today, cut out all the rotted steel and welded in fresh stuff and hit it with fibreglass. Been waiting since the day I put her on the road 2 summers ago to do this.

Anyway, I'm midway through chopping out the rotted steel in the driver's side well when I happen to look directly at the shock for the first time.

It had a slick of dirt-laden oil all down the base. The bottom of the dust boot is also soaked and you can see the oil on the spring as well. I remember working under the gas tank earlier this week and noticing oil on the driver's side muffler and wondering where the hell it came from. Now I now.

The goddamn strut is blown. It's not thumping or anything bad, but it appears to be pissing out fluid.

I don't race this car, I haven't even been pounding on her this year nor have I even been on dirt roads.

WTF!?!?!?! Two struts go bye-bye out of an original order of 4? I still have my receipt, but holy cow! I thought that Tokico had an excellent product?

I wonder if it's too late to trade these duds in and get KYBs...

88IntegraLS

Wow, that is really weird. Time to get another free one from the dealer.