my stock shocks are destroyed (especially the rear; the *** of the car skitters around when i encounter rough stuff) and after reading the long technical posts about OEM shocks i'm looking to put higher quality shocks in my 88 hatch. the tokico blues look like the most common replacement...but are these strictly a performance shock?

i don't race nor do i have any intention to. i would just like shocks that improve the handling and comfort of my vehicle beyond what the stock shocks can offer. i mean, are these strictly RACING shocks in the sense that i'd be in for a rough, jolting ride?

if so, what should i get?

 

I would highly NOT recommend Tokico Blues/HP's. Ive used them a year with H&R Race Springs and the shocks were blown after 9 months. They would probably be alright for a mild drop (anything less than 1.5").

 

it really depends on the springs you are going to use them with, but i'd have to recommend the KYB GR2s they seem to be good OE replacement shocks, and it wont break the bank.

 

what have people found to be the best springs to go with the KYB GR-2's ???

(preferably 1.5" or less drop)

 

or, you know, absolutely no drop at all

 

ahhh all cheap shocks blow. buy them replace in about 3 yrs, but im sure you wont even have the car that long, youll sell it by then or wreck it, so i would do it because you only put quality stuff on things that you really beat the **** out of. .. kinda wierd isnt it.

buy them and just drop moderately would be my suggestion 1.5" max, or call the company for exact information

derek

 

it isn't the drop that kills the dampers, it's the spring rate. HP's would be more than fine for a stock rate spring. they are marginal for my 400/300 springs. although the front could use a little more rebound control.
get HP if you don't mind a little harsher ride, great shocks, taking above in consideration, IMHO.
stan

 

can you put tokicos on and NOT drop?

also, i don't mind buying the good stuff because basically when something happens to this car i'm just gonna buy another EF hatch anyway, preferably a real one this time (coughcough5speed). so anything good i put onto this car i am putting on with the intention of transferring over to my next EF if still good when the time comes.

 

yes you can, but make no mistake, you will not get a smooth ride with them, they are rough, and stiffer than stock.
go with bilsteins or monroe's for stock-like ride.
stan

 

cool, thanks i'll look into the bilsteins. sometimes it's tough to figure out what's a high quality part and what's a "performance" part. i'm a daily driver, not a racer

 

I've had my tokiko blues with RSR Down springs for 4 years now. My B17 hatch is doing just fine. By the way , my car is purely a daily driver too.

 

you guys are full of ****. i've had tockico blue's/HPs on my car for almost 4 years now, and i've never had a problem with them whatsoever. they are NOT stiff by any means. if anything they're a bit too soft.

you'll be fine if you use them and don't lower the car. they ride ALOT better than stock struts.

 

A quality of ride is purely objectional. i resent you telling me that my opinion is full of ****. they ARE stiffer than stock, hence will give harsher ride, compared to stock. now if you, or i find them too soft, that is our objective opinion. too many people here take standarts for the track or strip and apply it to the street.
stan

 

I've had both the Blues and the GR.2's, and the GR.2's are a way better shock. More comfortable, better control at the limit and cheaper. KYB all the way.

 

I have the Tokico Blues (unlimited or million mile warranty I think) and Eibach pro-kits. It was pretty harsh until I put the Neuspeed front upper and Skunk 2 rear upper tie bars in. The ride is actually quite nice now. You have to be careful when dropping the car a lot, because suspension travel is severly shortened. The reason the one guy may have blown his blues I think is because of his limited suspension travel. If you check Tokico's web site, they say this "Caution: Excessive lowering or slamming can damage your car and void your shock absorber warranty.

Proper lowering can improve handling and the fun factor in your car. Excessive lowering reduces ground clearance and suspension travel. It can cause a number of problems including:

* Stress cracks in the body or chassis.
* Damaged suspension parts (such as shocks).
* Reduced adhesion - causing poor handling and braking.
* Severe tire wear.
* A harsh ride."

Sorry to go on so long here, but I didn't want you to get the wrong idea about Tokico. If used properly they will last for a long, long, long time.

 

I have the blues on the front in my CRX and I love the way they ride. I cant really compare them to stock cause my stockies were blown all to hell. My car isnt lowered at all.

 

i have the blues and h&r race on my prelude. they have held though for a couple months now...tokico blues are a very nice strut...plus its the only ones i could get for the lude.

 

I believe this guy is keeping it stock height, so yes blues will do fine. But let me tell u from experience, blues and illuminas like to poop when u 'slam' a ride, like mine(3.25" drop) What I mean is they are soft and mushy after while, in my case at least. But thats my fault for going so low with the car, tokico tells u that the shocks cant handle it.

 

I have tokico struts, and springs on my 89 dx, with front strut bar, and rear lower tie bar, it rides very nice, not even bouncy. Compared to my 93 Del sol's KYB adjustables, and Neuspeed race springs, the ones on my civic ride excellent! And cheap too!

 

i've heard good stuff about bilsteins if you are keeping it stock height. i'd go with the bilstein HD struts. they should be a good stock replacement.

 

hey stan what's happenin? i still think you're full of ****.

you just said yourself ride quality is an "objective" subject. so if you say it's harsh, that's an "objective" statement.

 

there are no hard feelings, i am, as well, very opiniated in my believes and knowledge.
to conclude my point of view, i personally think HP's are on the soft side for my tastes. but in the spirit of purely unbaised advice, for the originator of this post, in MY opinion , HP's would be a little too harsh. just giving him/her a few options and a variety of opinions.
cheers
stan


[Modified by 90crxsi, 1:37 AM 2/13/2003]

 

insted of making a new topic ill use this one, what shocks preform good with a eibach sportlines?....and wont break the bank? (its for a 91 civic dx)

 

I was using the sportlines all around with tokico blues. I found that they worked great on the rex. They were noticibly stiffer than stock, and I was running a 2" drop.

I switched to a pair of standard nuspeed springs on the rear. Same drop. Made the front end stick a little more. I would suggest that setup.