What is the story on the Tokicos?
I installed them and one of the front burst when I let the car down off the jack stands. I had a coil over kit on them and thought it may have been the cause. I steeped up and ordered a new one. I just jacked up the rear set it on jack stands an let it down slow. The right rear shock blue chunks, so whats up here. ???

 

Where exactly did it "blow"?

 

The shock piston. The gas and some oil just leaked out of the o-ring. There are only about 300 miles on the shocks. I jacked it up and let it down. I always let the car down slow as a habit.

 

how much is the car lowered?

 

The car is lowered about 1-1/2 inch. I have the bump stops on the back and had them on the softest setting (1). This is the second time this is happened in the last month. They seem fine on the car and driving is so much better but I guess I have to be extra carefully lowering down off the jack stands. Its not like I just drop the car like a rock. I bet the angle of the tires coming down pre-loads the strut sideways and boom. This should not happen but thats my guess. I don't have it too low. The shock piston will recoil all the way into the housing, so bottoming out shouldn't be an issue. Surely not by lowering down off jack stands. As I said I drop the floor jack slow. I am wondering If there is some other guys who have had similar issues. The tires are stock size along with the rims. The fender-well is above the tire so its not lowered unusually.

 

Was it at the top? If you over tighten the upper nut, you'll break the Tokicos. The torque spec for the stock shocks in the FSM are too high for the Tokicos.

 

I personally saw a rear Tokico fail at the bracket where it bolts to the a-arm. Let the car off the jack and "fushhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh". Green oil hissing out everywhere. Somehow the shock body itself failed where the mouting bracket was welded on.

 

Good lord....

I guess I'm glad I got rid of my Tokicos, as I didn't like their adjustment rates and overall characteristics. Went with coilover Koni Sports and have been fully satisfied with their performance...

 

good post .. was gonna get me some tokicos off ebay .. but now im looking at going a different route

 

I wouldn't go that far... I know several people tracking their cars for years on them (some with Ground Control coilovers, myself with the Tein S-Tech springs) all without issues (myself included).