I am planning on using Progress springs, as well as their sway bar kit on my EF, and I'm wondering which shocks would be best with them. I e-mailed them and I asked about the Tokico Illuminas(since I've heard good things about them) and the person said they would be good and many customers are using those and are happy with them. Here's the problem, I don't know if that guy has any technical knowledge or experience with the Progress springs and Tokico Illuminas and is just trying to make a sale. There coilovers look nice, also, but they're a lil' pricey. http://www.progressauto.com Anyone with any experience with the Illuminas, any other good/great shocks with similar springs, or progress springs, please help me out.

What about the Koni yellows, or should I just go with a different spring and shock application. I can't afford coilovers, otherwise I would be going with some of those. Performance is most important, but I don't want to give up total or close to total ride comfort with whatever application I choose. Quality(an application that is proven and will last)>Performance(decrease body roll, and brake dip/sag>Ride(I don't want to feel every single bump, or have a bouncy ride)>Looks(minimize wheel gap)-[although it's the least important, it still a lil' important]

Thanks in advance for your assistance in this matter.

 

Right now I have Progress springs that were made for an EF with a B series. Front shocks are stock and I need to get them replaced now. The rear shocks are the GR-2's and it feels great, no problems with them whatsoever. So I think any decent shock would be good for you, these springs won't dump your car.

 

Well i have the progress springs made for a bseries as well with konis and the thing is on the ground so i guess some are different. I like mine alot too. Good luck.

 

If you can afford Koni Sports, buy them. Best off-the-shelf damper you can get for the money.

 

kyb agx would be my suggestion then you can control the ride comfort weather you are cruising or racing.

 

You are speaking of the Koni Yellows, right? Then I should probably get the ones from neuspeed-- http://www.neuspeed.com/produc...=1137 "Developed by NEUSPEED Race Engineering and working with Koni engineers, we have developed a fully externally adjustable gas shock absorber for Acura and Honda applications. These shocks are exclusive to NEUSPEED and fully adjustable in seconds with just the turn of a ****. The NEUSPEED/Koni shocks also feature an adjustable spring perch to level the car (5 machined grooves on the shock body for 5 positions of adjustment) - the most desirable handling position, as well as, a 20mm shorter droop length for use with lowering springs."

 

$600 for the Neuspeed/Koni sports, dang!

With that plus the price of the Progress springs, I could probably get some coilovers.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nov!ce &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a 20mm shorter droop length for use with lowering springs.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Keep in mind that with the Neuspeed Koni Sports, the shock body itself is not shortened - only the shaft (so there is no increase in travel). This is so that the suspension won't droop as far when you jack up the car or when a wheel leaves the ground, which helps keep the spring seated on its perch when you use short race springs without preload (such as with Ground Control coilovers). While the car is sitting on the ground, there is really no difference. I personally think this is more of a marketing thing than anything else, at least for our Hondas' coil-over-damper suspension. With a BMW or VW that has the coil separate from the damper, I could see where this would be more important.

I went ahead and bought regular Koni Sports for my race car; I havent had any problems with the springs on my GC coilovers becoming unseated, even with short 6" springs in the rear. I plan to send the fronts in eventually to have the shock bodies shortened though.

 

What do you guys think of Tein Basics? There's a sale at a local shop, and I think the pricing on them is $700

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nov!ce &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What do you guys think of Tein Basics? There's a sale at a local shop, and I think the pricing on them is $700</TD></TR></TABLE>
They're okay if you're just looking to set your ride height where you want it and want a comfortable ride for the street. Not really a performance solution, more focused on looks and ride quality. The spring rates are stiffer than a lot of aftermarket standalone springs though (448f/224r), so is not like they're all show . . . just might not as performance oriented as you're looking for. The front bias will understeer heavily too, especially if you don't have a rear anti-roll bar.


Modified by Targa250R at 10:28 PM 12/3/2004

 

Targa you seem to know alot about EF suspension setups. Thanks for the info. What do you recommend other than the Koni Sports? The next in line, so to speak.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nov!ce &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Targa you seem to know alot about EF suspension setups. Thanks for the info. What do you recommend other than the Koni Sports? The next in line, so to speak.</TD></TR></TABLE>
The next thing down from Koni Sports IMHO would be Tokico Illuminas. Not quite as great or versatile as the Konis, but still pretty good and a little bit cheaper.

If you're looking into coilovers, you may want to take a look at the Omnipower full coilover setups. Similar to Tein Basic, but the springs are stiffer and damping is more performance oriented. The Street spring rate option is more than enough for any street car; the Sport spring rate option might be a little too stiff for a street car. You can get them for $650 shipped, too.

I have to admit that I don't have any personal experience with the Omnipower coilovers, but they have received good reviews and the specs appear pretty good to me.

 

Man, there was a big sale at a local speed shop today, and I missed out, 'cuz I didn't have any funds at the time.

There was Nuespeed Sport/Race springs for $100, Skunk2 Stage2 cams for $500, a Tein basic kit for an EF for $600, Skunk2 camgears for $160, AEM brake pads for $35, Apexi exhausts in the $300s, I missed out. And I would've probably bought the Tein basic kit, but I remembered this thread, so at least I didn't waste my money there, or did I?

 

So, in your opinion, the best shocks on the market are Koni sports. What about Bilstein? And the second best is Tokico Illuminas. Check. Coilovers, would be the Omnipower coilovers. What about Progressive's coilovers, I haven't really heard much about them for the EF, but I've read good things about them for the DC5. I'm trying to narrow down my choices/options. I would like to get into auto-xing or road/track racing, but there aren't any tracks close by. So, I'm wondering if I really need coilovers that have dampening adjustablility. I guess, it would be nice to have it, just in case something comes up, + here and there I like to do a lil' spirited driving on the street.

From what I heard the Tein SS was a good application and the Flex even better(only difference is it goes lower and is better protected against corrosion, and comes with pillowball mounts, but the SS can come with those, too.) I've never heard of these Omnipower coilovers, I will have to do some research on them, as well as the Progressive coilovers. What about Skunk2 coilovers? Targa, help me out here. Thanks.

 

you've got im

 

i've used the setup you mentioned (progress w/ tokico 5ways and the progress na rear bar) on my street crx for a few years. performs and rides well. never any problems. a little searching will find you the (scc? super street?)feature article on a del sol w/ the same setup that got great reviews.

the koni ots yellows are a better shock overall, but at the spring rates we're talking about you'd be hard pressed to find a difference for the money.
tokico 5ways are a much better shock than the agx's

 

Props to targa for knowin his stuff.

 

Check. Thanks.