I just purchased and installed the Tokico HP kit just under a month ago and one of the rear shocks already sounds blown. It's virtually new and it's already clunking loudly and when you compress the rear it makes a loud hissing noise. Now I'm wondering if I should even bother keeping the kit on and replacing the shock or just go with a different set-up. I was originally planning on getting Eibach's sway bar set, so now I'm thinking of just getting their sport system plus. Anyone have any experience with this system? I'm also wary of getting some more Tokico manufactured shocks if this is the kind of quality I can expect. Anyone know for sure who manufacturers the Eibach dampers?

What should I do????

 

Is there any fluid leaking out? Does it feel bouncier then it did before it was "blown"? Could the clunking noise be something loose from an improper install? Or could it be when the suspension is at full droop sometimes shorter springs unseat from their perches and clunk when they reseat. Could the hissing sound be coming from your hatch support struts when you bounce the rear of the car?

 

what springs are you using?

 

If it is in fact blown, I would contact the place you bought it from or Tokico directly to get you a new set.

 

Thanks for all the feedback. I've checked torque on the bolts and that all seems to be good. The rear end does have a lot more movement than since they were first installed. The springs are the ones that come with the Tokico kit and fit perfectly when I installed them. I know the hissing is not the lift support because I don't have a hatch.

I've decided to get some AGXs for the back for now. I use the car everyday and can't afford any down time, plus the rear adjustability appeals to me (but if I had known this was going to happen I would've just bought the Illumina kit to begin with ) I will definitely be taking advantage of Tokico's awesome warranty, though. It never hurts to have a spare set of shocks, right.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Leets &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> The springs are the ones that come with the Tokico kit and fit perfectly when I installed them. </TD></TR></TABLE>

really.. interesting. hmm... send em over to tokico for warranty and see what they say about the condition of the shocks. please report back. im curious. thanks.

 

Sounds like that place has good customer service, and they sure treated you right. A lot of shops would really put up a hassle to exchange broken parts. I hope you recomend them to your friends...

 

just thought I'd leave an update... I ended up pulling out the shocks and sure enough one was completely blown... wouldn't even rebound. It appears as if the upper seal just completely gave out because there was fluid all over the shock and it seemed to be coming from where the rod exits the housing. I never got an official explanation on the cause of failure because I just took it back to where I bought it from and they just gave me a straight exchange.

 

thanks for the update.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 00R101 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is there any fluid leaking out?</TD></TR></TABLE>

do tokico gas shocks leak fluid?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by shogun-dc2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

do tokico gas shocks leak fluid?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes. They're still full of oil in addition to being gas pressurized.

 

^

ahh.. thanks for clearing that up

 

Do the Tokico BLUE Series gas shocks have stonger seals and/or shorter strut rods then an say, OEM GSR Shocks? My rear shock did the same thing as LEETS did. And there about 6months old. My car is lowered to the tire which makes it flush. Is that too low for tokico HP's? Does anyone know how low you can lower your car with HP sturts on a GSR?

 

Tokico suggests for the longest possible life that you don't lower them at all. However, they claim that the stocks should still work well up to 1.5" lower than stock. According to them anything lower than that will put the shock at risk. I expected them to last awhile considering I purchased a match set, but apparently Tokico's Chinese factory isn't quite putting out the quality its Japanese factory is known for.

 

which shocks are made in china? HP's?