Last night, I installed the Tokico "blue" advanced handling package shocks and springs. It was an advertised 1.8" drop ( some sources say 1.5" ). But after installation, the car looked like it only lowered 0.5"!!

I'm getting mixed information from searches, some people say that good quality springs do not need to settle. Has anyone put on the tokico springs and noticed that it settled over time?

I've done a couple spring installs before for some friends, and they were all successful, but nobody is perfect. Is there any part of the spring install where I could have messed up?




Modified by takoek9 at 5:47 PM 12/22/2003

 

You may have put the springs in backwards ie; front on the back. Or maybe you didn't remove the stock dust cover.

 

The dust boots have to come off??

Can anyone else confirm?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by underrated &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You may have put the springs in backwards ie; front on the back. Or maybe you didn't remove the stock dust cover.</TD></TR></TABLE>

If I got the springs in backwards, wouldn't my front be alot lower than the back because the springs for the rear are softer. My car looks pretty even still, but just looks like it's been lowered only 0.5" all around.

 

the stock dust covers need to be removed.

most springs will settle over time, good or bad.

 

i have tokico springs but no aftermarket shocks. The springs dropped my car about 1" in th front but on the back it was 1.4" but this weekend i aligned it from the back w/ bolts and washers its now like 1-1.2". For the front im expecting a camber kit this week. Yeah i also thought 1.5" i called the seller up and he said u have to wait bout 3 weeks to settle but i thought it was bull. YEah it will drop the car but very little difference. Look at the springs they have the part# and then its says-F or -B which it means front and back. Check it out.

 

those springs lick donkey *******. i used to have them, and i ****** hated them, theyre soft as hell, drop the back a little and almost lifted the front! you'll be much happier with coil sleeves

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WangChung &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> you'll be much happier with coil sleeves </TD></TR></TABLE>

that's what i 'd say too.. IMO, most people will never be satisfied unless they are using coilovers...

I have the Tokico Illumias 5 way and skunk 2 (civic) springs. good setup

 

im gunna go out on a limb and suggest some dropzones for you. i say im goin out on a limb, cuz in about 15 seconds there will probably be 100 people saying "you get what u pay for!" and "they suck!!". well, coming from an owner of them, they are very nice. the rates are 350/450 rates and the sleeves havent seized and the springs arent "bouncy" with the illuminas.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sivik2nr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

IMO, most people will never be satisfied unless they are using coilovers...

</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm satisfied with H&R Sport Springs and Tokico Blues. Probably would be happier with some Koni adjustables, but that wasn't in my budget since I am mainly into drag.

 

Thanks for the replies guys.

Looks like I gotta be patient and wait a couple weeks to see if it goes any lower. It still looks almost stock right now, except for the fact that it is a bit stiffer.

Actually, I noticed something weird. When I tightened the top shock mount bolt ( the one where you need an allen key to hold down the shaft to tighten) it did not stick out as far as it did when I had my original shocks and springs. Does that make sense? I will try to post some pics tonight.

Thanks again

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by takoek9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Last night, I installed the Tokico "blue" advanced handling package shocks and springs. It was an advertised 1.8" drop ( some sources say 1.5" ). But after installation, the car looked like it only lowered 0.5"!!
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Thats pretty normal because the stockers probably got sagged and your new one wont drop any lower than stocker!! Try to cut the spring ...if you want it lower!!
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by takoek9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'm getting mixed information from searches, some people say that good quality springs do not need to settle. Has anyone put on the tokico springs and noticed that it settled over time?

Is there any part of the spring install where I could have messed up?
</TD></TR></TABLE> You may have to tighten those top locking screw!! and yes your spring will eventually settled down a bit but not enough to get you the 1.5" drop you're looking for!! Cut is the only way to get it lower!! Not recommend though!!

 

Don't cut your springs, good handling and suspension tuning is not a contest of how low you can go!

 

Does this look right to you guys? I had at least 3-4 threads showing with the stock springs and shocks. Now it is almost flush with the locknut. Where could I have gone wrong?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by WangChung &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you'll be much happier with coil sleeves </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats a cheap way out. Why not do it right and get real coil-overs?...TEIN, Tanabe, A'PEXi, HKS, Mugen, H&R....

 

hmm,
i'd say take it apart, and reassemble it.
either remove the dustboots completely,
or cut them down, I would not put stock ones back on personally(accordion style ones work better anyways.. cuz they actaully can compress unless the stock metal tubes).

I asked ken benen of benen industries where I could get some accordion style ones.. and he looked at me like i was an idiot and said I didnt need that crap at all... SO i say *** dustboots. haha.

however your ride height is fairly close to stock.. so you'll have a much bigger opening for dirt n stuff to get in there.. so something to cover it up cant hurt.

OK enuf about dustboots.

as I was saying ,dissasemble the spring/shock assembly, make sure u have the correct springs on the correct shocks, and that they arent upside down or something wierd.
triple check to make sure all the parts of the shock are on properly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by D16Z6racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Thats a cheap way out. Why not do it right and get real coil-overs?...TEIN, Tanabe, A'PEXi, HKS, Mugen, H&R....</TD></TR></TABLE>

i dont see what the big advantage coilovers have over coil sleeves+a good adjustable shock. i mean, other than pillow mounts and some fancy jdm name. couldnt you just get some pillow mounts for your shock+sleeve combo?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by D16Z6racing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Thats a cheap way out. Why not do it right and get real coil-overs?...TEIN, Tanabe, A'PEXi, HKS, Mugen, H&R....</TD></TR></TABLE>

becuase for less then any of those cost with the exeption of tein basic's and SS's wich are both blaaaa if you ask me both wayyyyy to soft, you can get koni yellow and ground control coil's with whatever spring rate you want. Koni yellow's are about 400 and gc 300 so thats 700 for a full height adjustable, and dampening setup thats good if you ask me.

 

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

i dont see what the big advantage coilovers have over coil sleeves+a good adjustable shock. i mean, other than pillow mounts and some fancy jdm name. couldnt you just get some pillow mounts for your shock+sleeve combo?</TD></TR></TABLE>

shortened shock body, or adjustable stroke.

very important.

 

Hey guys, sorry to bring this back from the dead, but I got some updated pics of my car with Rotas

So the ride height did come down a bit since the install, but not enough. The rears seemed to have settled quite nicely, but then the front looks jacked up now!

I will tear down the front suspension and double check everything to see if something was left out or if I did something wrong.

Anyways, here are the pics... Comments welcome

 

i had the tokico suspenion and the quality i thought was great i never had a rpob with it at all i had the same struts and springs as you... and yeah give it a few weeks or so at least they will settle like an inch ..lol .. at least mine did.. i rode those sprngs and struts hard for over a yar and sold them for alomost as much as i bought them and the kid says they still ride awesome..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ekb18cCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i had the tokico suspenion and the quality i thought was great i never had a rpob with it at all i had the same struts and springs as you... and yeah give it a few weeks or so at least they will settle like an inch ..lol .. at least mine did.. i rode those sprngs and struts hard for over a yar and sold them for alomost as much as i bought them and the kid says they still ride awesome..</TD></TR></TABLE>

Holy, an INCH?!

I'm not saying they are bad, actually they are pretty good. Not bouncy at all.

Anyone know if there should be some threads showing on top of the locknuts for the front? I've searched around and saw some pics of the locknut area. Most show at least 3-5 threads. Mine seems a little weird to sit flush with the locknut.

Thanks!

 

lol yeah it was just bout an inch.. i looked like i was riding stock till they settled

 

Wow, they need to settle alot more. It will take like a month, or so to settle fully. ;}

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ZEAL-SPORTS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Wow, they need to settle alot more. It will take like a month, or so to settle fully. ;}</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've driven about 2000km or about 1200 miles so far. Wouldn't that be enough for them to settle? It's been about...2.5 weeks.

I still think there's something funny with the front I just need to know if those locknuts look right.... thanks!