I was all set to buy a set of AGX's for my del Sol, but an expert MR2 autocrosser tells me that on MR2's, AGX's are bad news, and that he's driven a well-behaved '96 Civic on Tokicos.

The search function here suggests that most people prefer the AGX's, but usually people are talking about high spring-rate applications which the Tokicos apparently can't handle. Since I autocross in HS, I'm using the soft stock springs, so I'm not really concerned about durability when used with high-rate and/or lowering springs.

So, does anyone have any real advice on AGX vs. Illumina on stock springs for autocross? "Buy Koni yellows instead" is not going to help this starving grad student. Thanks.

 

Either would be just fine for those uses, but the AGX's are better built and last longer IMHO (based on experiences with my past cars.)

The one person around here who can fairly comment is probably going to agree with your impossible option, because he works for Koni, and he can tell you EXACTLY why Koni's are worth the extra $$$. Lee, are you reading this?

Jon

 

I will suggest AGX no matter on Honda/Subaru. I've tried civic and Impreza RS on the street. And the owners of those cars have great feedback on auto-x with those KYB AGX shocks.

Tried a set of Tokico damper kit on a Civic EK SiR hatchback when I was in HK. Drove it in city and some winding roads. I can't tell which model it is. It is a lil bumpy in city and once I go up to the mountain it doesn't hold as well as the KYB can do. And from what I've been told in Hong Kong that Tokico doesn't last as long as KYB's products.

FYI KYB is one of the biggest hydraulic system manufacturer in Japan, who makes OE shocks for lots of Japanese cars.

 

With stock springrates I think the AGX would be a great deal since they are noticeably less expensive than the Illuminas and will work great with stock springs. But if you go with higher springrates, like 300-400 lbs per inch, then I'd say you'd probably want the Illumina's. Many of the roadracers on here have Tokico Illumina's on their racecars (with 400-500lb springrates), hardly any have KYB AGX's (actually none that I can think of right now, but I'm sure there is a few). Tokico dampers also have a lifetime replacement warranty (though voided if you race with them of course...).

Vracer111, who is a very satisfied Tokico Illumina user... and a Bilstein HD user.


[Modified by Vracer111, 7:15 PM 2/19/2003]

 

Yeah, I pretty much check all the shock and suspension threads. I posted this link in a previous thread but it shows dyno sheets with the exact front shocks for the Del Sol with both the AGX and the Illumina. Although it is layed out to compare the KONI to each brand, you can see the true forces, curve shapes and adjustment effects of both shocks.

http://www.koni-na.com/civicdyno1.pdf

I think you'll see that the AGX has possibly a slightly better curve shape but less true adjustmetn range and the Illumina a wider range but not the best curve shape in all areas.

Everyone knows my pick so I don't need to go there but here is some empirical data that you can compare them with. If you are tight on money, there is a red compress-to adjust KONI that is cheaper than both of these...sorry, couldn't resist.

 

Thanks everyone for your advice, especially Lee for the shock dynos. The difference between the AGX's and Illuminas is quite pronounced. I'll take the plots home for further study.

The Koni Reds have to be adjusted off the car (or at least with the car raised), right? That's a big problem for me, because the girlfriend lives on a terrible dirt road and the shocks are going on my only car. Easy adjustment is critical. But your point is taken and I appreciate your advice.