end005

NOTE: If your comment/suggest is for me to get Konis, please, I suggest you leave.

My current setup blew. Pretty bad. I'm running Ground Controls and looking to replace my current shocks. I've tried searching (specifically between AGX V. Illuminas) and all I find are threads that start out like this then lead to suggestions to Koni.

Between the two (AGX/Illuminas) which is better the choice in terms of ride and quality? I understand both are adjustable (4 way-AGX, 5-way-Illuminas) and it seems that there is about a $50 difference between the two. Also, because my top mount is completely effed up, I was thinking about getting GC tophats. Is it worth it? Pros? Cons?

Car: 98 Integra GSR, daily driver.


Much thanks to all! Please leave negative comments out.

batallic

illuminas

batallic

as for the top hats most ppl just run them on the front

end005

thanks...but could you elaborate why the illuminas?

and yes, for the top hats, i'm just going to get the fronts if i decide to get them.

gtec8285

i would go with the kyb agx as far as my experience, thats what i have on my 98 integra with skunk2 coilover and it rides good.

batallic

illuminas warranty isnt void if u slamm the car, as the agx's are 1.5 max

Tyson

illuminas have served me well.

its a quality shock. great for the price. compression and rebound adjust simultaneously, ive experienced that better for a wider range of spring rates and applications.

sayyoooon

what prices are you guys getting illuminas for? everywhere i've looked they're either as much or the same as koni yellows shipped.

Tyson

look on ebay. buy them direct from the sellers, new, with warranty.

sayyoooon

the lowest i saw was $420 shipped, koni yellows are $450 shipped through THMotorsports :/.

fatboy1185

Don't illumina's only have a 1 year warranty?

Tyson

i'd still get illuminas over yellows. but thats kinda my thing. i dont expect everyone to agree.... the lure is strong for yellows. but whatever.

STOCK_SOHC_DX

I have owned both, and honestly the perform about the same. Pretty good, but when warranty time comes around as mentioned above KYB does not warranty shocks when used with lowering springs.

sayyoooon

i understand but i just dont understand the reasoning behind it. i'm truly trying to see the brighter side of illuminas.

end005

Thanks for all the comments. I'm going to pair the new shocks (agx or tokicos) with my groundcontrols actually. I'm not sure if people saw that.

One thing that I have came across (while doing research on full coil-over systems) is the settings. On the AGXs, there are 4 settings - the Illuminas, 5. Is it possible that the 4 setting on the AGX is equivalent to setting 5 of the Illuminas? The reason I ask is I have come across a few posts which mention that the number of settings is somewhat a marketing scheme. The more settings, the more 'control' the customer has for example, Functionm Form Type IIs are 32 way adjustable. It was compared to a different coilover system which was 8 or 16 (i forget) way adjustable. A member stated that the '32 way' was simply just something to catch the consumer's eye, yet in terms of functionality, was equivilent to the 8/16 way.

Reading from both posts (t-i and h-t), it seems the population tend to favor the AGXs.. is it possible that both are equal, but people tend to go for the more cost effective one?

I have also noticed that not a lot of people pair the illiuminas with ground controls. Why is that??

Tyson

funny, most ppl seem to prefer illuminas over agx around here from what i see.

dont just go by the number of clicks. quite frankly, the "32 way adjustable" is usually pretty crappy with limited actual adjustment range.

ive dyno'd my illuminas and they have a pretty wide range. i use them with ground controls. and the reason i like illuminas over konis is what i said before, because they adjust compression and rebound simultaneously, its better for a wider range of spring rates. ive used them with a lot of different spring rates.

end005

Tyson, how are they? the pair... and what are your thoughts on the running the tophats on just the front rather than all four corners?

Tyson

as for top hats, the front need it more than the rear for shock travel sake, but using top hats in the rear helps reduce the large amount of droop and looseness in the spring as you go lower static ride heights. its really not a problem, it just makes for a more tidy suspension.

i believe ive already vouched for illuminas enough. i dont know what more confirmation youre looking for. you havent been that specific yourself.

bmoua

I've had both shocks before and the illuminas are the better shocks. The agx's too bad as well, they do job. I've pushed them pretty hard and the've held up okay. At the time i got a killer deal on them so i couldn't resist getting a set.

batallic

https://honda-tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes-54/%5Bfaq%5D-shock-dynos-1104049/ shock dynos on both shocks

770_dc2

sorry but this is kinda of a noob ? if u installed the top hats wouldnt it make ur car higher?

TunerN00b

No change in ride height with an extended upper shock mount.