I paired my tokico 5ways with rs-r race springs they were the highest springrate i could find with the most minimal drop the spring rates are 460lb/in front and 390lb/in rear i got a 3/4 in drop all around and suprizing enough the car acctually ride smoother with the race springs than the stock ones. also have virtualy no body roll with stock sway bars.

 

Tokicos shocks are a budget adjustable shock. While they are better than 15 year old worn out stock shocks, there are much better options. By the time you buy the shocks, springs, and the upper mounts which almost always are shot, you might as well buy a decent set of coilovers. If you don't replace the worn upper mounts, the car will sit too low. I have also seen Tokicos put on a shock dyno, and every single one out of a set of 4 read something different even though they were all set to the same setting. That was enough for me to not buy them. A lot of people will say that they are fine, but I think their opinion would change if they drove on some decent coilovers.

 

So, you say coilovers even if I am not tracking the car and I don't want "Formula 1" ride quality?
I am just trying to learn here.

 

Yeah like me, Just would like to lower the car and keep a safe/reliable set-up.

 

I was thinking about doing Tokico instead of Koni's I have. I want nice ride and stayed away from koilovers just because they mount metal to metal.

I don't really like Koni's with my stock springs (94) I get bumpy ride, more on rebound. I do not say it's "rough" It's just bumpy on softest. When I set it to hard - it's even worse.


If you tell me that Tein Flex will ride better - I'm willing to try.

 

Listen to Mahjik.

 

Personally I think Tokicos have crappy ride quality. A quality coilover on the softer settings should ride better. The stock springs are relatively soft so pairing them with a stiffer shock doesn't work very well.

 

Are the Tokico Illumina's at around $500 going to compare/compete with $1500-2000 set of coilovers? Nope. If you pair stock or close to stock springs with the Tokico Illumina's, they are just fine. With stiffer springs, the Tokico's don't have the adjustability as the higher end dampers. Springs like H&R and Eibach work very well with the Illumina's.

Also, Tokico has a new damper out on the market to better compete with Koni:

https://www.raceinspired.com/p-6678-...1993-1996.aspx

I have not tried these as they are fairly new, but I haven't heard anything bad about them on other cars (yet). IMO, if you aren't ready to spend at least $1500, go with a decent damper and spring combo. The worst thing you can do is get a cheap coilover setup which would be worse than the stock damper/spring combo.

In the end you need to pick what fits with your budget and your use. IMO, if you aren't tracking or competing with the car, buying an expensive coilover setup is a waste of money. However, people waste their money on worse things these days....

 

even though Bilsteins are non adjustable, they are superior quality and fine for the street

 

A decent set of coil-overs can be had for $1200 these days, and you'll end up spending $800 on shocks/springs, plus the replacement mounts, which aren't cheap. If I had it to do over, I would have just "sprung" for the coil-overs, but it seemed like they were more expensive four-five years ago

 

That depends on what you call "decent". I would wager that a Koni + GC setup would out perform coilovers less than $1500. However, I don't care to play "internet racer" so it's just all opinions.

While not on the FD specifically, I've had some friends test some of the cheaper ones like the Tein SS (not just on the street, track time with lap comparisons). I'll just say they leave a lot to be desired. If all you care about is ride height adjusting, they fit the bill.

 

Who can tell me which setup will make FD handle close to BMW? Ride quality and cornering?

 

Nothing will. Different cars have different characteristics. My M3 is probably the easiest car I've ever driven on a road course. You really have to mess up to do anything bad in the car. The RX7 is trickier.

You need to figure out what your car is used for... Are you building a dedicated track car, dual purpose car, autox monster or just a plain street car with a little sportiness?

 

Plain street car with a little sportiness.
Here is what I did to my 540 to get setup I really like:
M5 sways, Bilsteins and OE sport springs. I tried H&R springs and took them off.
I hated H&R's with bilsteins on my UrS4 even though I did custom valving for Bilsteins. I tell you those things so you can get idea on my preferences.

I really like E46 M3 suspension

If I can get similar type of street ride in FD - will be perfect.

Koni's don't do. I feel like there is not enough travel. When I increase firmness it's like riding on a rocks, remove it - they bottom up. I can't explain better then that.
Also I have somewhat heavy wheels - 17" 99' RX7 wheels 255 on back and 235 upfront

 

Go with:

Tein Flex: http://www.rx7store.net/product_p/teinflex.htm
EDFC: http://www.rx7store.net/product_p/teinedfc.htm
Suspension Techniques Sways: http://www.mazdatrix.com/h93-95a.htm

That would give you something sporty which you could dial back for the street and dial up for some autox/road course action. If you are looking for something cheaper, let me know.

 

how would you compare the Rx-7 vs your M3 on a road course?

M3's handle quite well and Im going to a track event with my buddy who has a m3 with H&R+konis as I have Tein s-techs with Konis. It should be pretty fun as the chassis and weight facots takes over the suspension.

 

who sells the upgraded mounts for the front sway bar?

 

Basically, the FD is trickier to get around the course. The M3 is very easy but comes with some stock understeer. An E46 M3 doesn't need a whole lot to turn it into a fun track car. Your buddy won't be working nearly as hard as you getting around the course but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be faster.

There are several around, however, I would recommend the Widefoot mounts.

 

I thought the Widefoot mounts were no longer made (?)

 

Cheaper would be nice

 

I have toks with gc coilovers. I drive around in brooklyn and manhattan alot I can tell you, Im not to pleased. Every time I drive over a bump it feels like someone is punching my *** cheeks. NOT COOL. Im sure it has alot to do with the poor road conditions where I drive and it will be alot better some where else but it still sucks. I will be looking for new shocks in the future. On nice roads though, the car handles like a dream.

 

Just email him. He makes them based on demand (i.e. he doesn't do one-off's). However he typically has a few laying around.

Are you also looking to lower the car?

 

Nope. Maybe little but I don't care about lowering as much as I care about ride.

 

blisteins... you can get them for about 500.... thats the route i will be going with...

 

Right now, if I were looking to do a similar setup I would go with:

Tokico HTS shocks
RSR Down Springs
Suspension Techniques Swaybars

RSR Down springs have spring rates very similar to Eibach, but they give the car a more even drop.