Advice on struts replacements

749 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by wallcrawlr, Feb 11, 2006

twincam

Discussion Starter · Feb 4, 2006

Hey guys....first and foremost...I'm back! I just returned from my deployment in Iraq. I'm not at home and ready to spend some money my car. First the obvious. My car still has the original suspension/struts, etc.
I'm looking for an aftermarket brand that is very reliable and can lower my car a bit with out if compromising the conforts of my ride for a good price. You see, I just learned that my tires get too much premature wear. It causes my steering wheel to shake. Before you go asking if I've had a tire balance done, yes....and even when I took it back to get them rebalanced, they said that they are prefectly balanced...but it's my bad struts that's causing them to wear out my tires unevenly. So, can someone please give me a good brand and where I can order them so that I can start the process. I have five weeks of free time before I go back to work. I would appreciate any advice. Remember, I'd like it to be able to lower my car a bit. I currently have front 205/16/45 in the front and 225/16/50 rear I think. So what would be the best combination for the suspension/struts or whatever it is that you call it?

v/r

Jamey

Jamey

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Hsun Chen

· #2 · Feb 6, 2006 (Edited)

Either Koni Sport or Tokico Illumina inserts (you'll re-use the OEM strut housings) should do just fine. I have the Illuminas, I'd wish I'd spent a little more for the Konis. The Konis have a wider range of adjustment - from very soft to very stiff.

Either set of shocks will handle a moderate lowering, such as H&R or Eibach Sportline springs.

Do your searching of course before you make your decision. Order up some replacement strut boots too, they're probably torn and wasted.

Here's an excellent thread for considering springs, since you should do your strut replacement and spring upgrade at the same time.

http://www.mr2oc.com/showthread.php?t=14670

Sang

· #3 · Feb 6, 2006

from what it sounded like you want struts that will lower your car?

struts don't lower your car, it's the springs that will. cheapest aroudn are the kyb gr2's, pretty much stock replacement, but are SLIGHTLY stiffer than stock. next up are the KYB AGX's, for DD i guess they'd be ok, but from reading on this board, most people don't like them. Next up are tokico illumina's. Majority of this board likes them and i have them as well. then the most expensive (but probably the best) are the koni yellow's. very good struts. the only other thing you could go higher than this is a complete coilover set.

I didn't know a worn strut will cause abnormal tire wear :dontknow:

from my experience, premature/abnormal wear is due to alignment (have you gotten this done yet?) or too much camber. a blown shock will cause the car to be real bouncy because it's not doing its job of absorbing the energy/pressure (?) like when going over speed bumps, etc etc.

TomsMR2

· #4 · Feb 6, 2006

I didn't know a worn strut will cause abnormal tire wear

it can cup your tires..

Hsun Chen

· #5 · Feb 6, 2006

Boz said:
from my experience, premature/abnormal wear is due to alignment (have you gotten this done yet?) or too much camber. a blown shock will cause the car to be real bouncy because it's not doing its job of absorbing the energy/pressure (?) like when going over speed bumps, etc etc.

Also, FYI, when one of my rear Tokico inserts was blown, it make a clunking sound over certain bumps. Didn't know what it was for over a year! I would have thought I would have felt it if the insert was not damping at all, but I didn't have a clue - until I took the assembly apart to swap a spring, and I discovered the shaft wouldn't hold itself out at full travel from internal pressure - at all.

Tokico did warranty it for free via shox.com, the place I bought it from. I did have to pay for shipping the new strut insert out to me though (and for shipping the old one back).

Sang

· #6 · Feb 6, 2006

^ ahh, i see. well as you can see i'm not the biggest suspension person around

haha, but i only posted stuff from what i've experienced so far.

Hsun Chen

· #7 · Feb 6, 2006

Boz said:
a blown shock will cause the car to be real bouncy because it's not doing its job of absorbing the energy/pressure (?) like when going over speed bumps, etc etc.

Well, what you stated is exactly right - it was just my insensitive butt that couldn't notice one damper was dead (and I never tried bouncing on the car corner by corner to see if there was any difference, but it's harder to tell with this test on a lowered car with a lot less travel than a normal vehicle).

twincam

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 6, 2006

Alright...I'm obviously not an expert on suspension stuff...but I need the BEST combo for the buck to get my car lowered and replacing my struts/shocks. Are struts and shocks the same thing? Need clarification on that department. I want to lower my car about 1.5 - 2 inches. So, what's the best setting to lower my car at with reliable/comfort ride? I know that I need the springs to lower my car. I'll need the struts/shocks to make my ride more comfortable, plus new tires.
Someone give me their combo purchase. I have the $$$$, just need the best combo for a sweeter looking ride. The stock setting just leave too much gap between the wheel wells and tires. I want it to look SWEET with comforts and performance...

thanks once again....I will patiently await your replies.....

Sang

· #9 · Feb 6, 2006

the most affordable package that'll drop you about 1.5", i think would be eibachs on some AGX's. Illuminas might be more comfortable tho but a lil more money. and the only spring i know of that drop to nearly 2" are tein stechs. They list it as likea 1.6-1.6 drop i think, but once they settle, many have measured up to 2" drop. Keep in mind that you'll need an alignment after you drop more than 1". The stechs and eibachs are both progressive springs IIRC so they'll ride similar to stock, tein's are mostly for vanity, making your car look good rather than making it handle in the twisties. so if you plan to race your car, i might suggest H&R's instead

JohnSantesson

· #10 · Feb 7, 2006

The absolute best struts are koni yellow. Also the most expensive. The kyb are much stiffer but are a good low buck strut. The tokiko just don't hold up as well for some reason. I've blown many untill I changed to the koni's. My car was very low with h & r springs (customs). My h & r were lower then normal in the front. Going real low will compromise the handling and too stiff in my opinion. I have since gone back to st springs and koni's. Doesn't look as good but its a excellent ride.

TomsMR2

· #11 · Feb 7, 2006

just get some crap tiens and some crap GR2's.

if you just want the look, its senseless to spend money on good struts.

Jthai

· #12 · Feb 10, 2006

how are the GR2s? compared to the stock shocks, not koni or tein flex etc. are they decent quality for factory replacement?

Hsun Chen

· #13 · Feb 10, 2006

Jthai said:
how are the GR2s? compared to the stock shocks, not koni or tein flex etc. are they decent quality for factory replacement?

I've never used GR2s on an MR2, but I have on Honda applications. They're a good inexpensive stock replacement shock IMO. They're typically slightly stiffer than OEM, and I believe they have a lifetime replacement warranty too.

Wouldn't use them for anything more than a 1/2" to 3/4" drop though.

PseudoRealityX

· #14 · Feb 10, 2006

JohnSantesson said:
The absolute best struts are koni yellow. Also the most expensive. The kyb are much stiffer but are a good low buck strut. The tokiko just don't hold up as well for some reason. I've blown many untill I changed to the koni's. My car was very low with h & r springs (customs). My h & r were lower then normal in the front. Going real low will compromise the handling and too stiff in my opinion. I have since gone back to st springs and koni's. Doesn't look as good but its a excellent ride.

"absolute best" is an awfully bold statement. They work very well in a limited range of spring rates, but if you intend to get serious, there are better options.

And in the grand scheme of things, konis aren't that expensive either. I mean...seriously, how many miles are you guys getting out of set of tires? maybe 15k? And that's probably at least $400 each time including labor.

Hsun Chen

· #15 · Feb 10, 2006

PseudoRealityX said:
"absolute best" is an awfully bold statement. They work very well in a limited range of spring rates, but if you intend to get serious, there are better options.

And in the grand scheme of things, konis aren't that expensive either. I mean...seriously, how many miles are you guys getting out of set of tires? maybe 15k? And that's probably at least $400 each time including labor.

Good points . . . assuming you buy them new and keep the receipt, a shock purchase will last you the lifetime of your car (unless you opt to upgrade).

I would qualify JohnSantesson's statement about Koni Sports to "Konis are usually the best inexpensive off the shelf shock upgrade."

Yeah, if you want to get REALLY serious, then you start looking at custom-valved Konis, or double/triple adjustable Ohlins, Moton, JRZ or Penske units with external reservoirs, etc.

'Course, now you could be talking four-figure costs . . . PER CORNER.

JohnSantesson

· #16 · Feb 11, 2006

PseudoRealityX said:
"absolute best" is an awfully bold statement. They work very well in a limited range of spring rates, but if you intend to get serious, there are better options.

And in the grand scheme of things, konis aren't that expensive either. I mean...seriously, how many miles are you guys getting out of set of tires? maybe 15k? And that's probably at least $400 each time including labor.

Maybe I should have said absolutely the best I have had on my car since I've tried stock, kyb adj., tokiko adj. and koni yellow adj. Too me the koni's are way better then the others and absolutely love the ride and handling with the right springs. The koni's cost about $600 for four and kyb's are $400 for four. I would for sure spend the extra $200 on the koni's. If you want just looks I'd go with Eibach pro's and kyb struts if your on a budget. Just my opinion. John

MR2_Turbulence

· #17 · Feb 11, 2006

Just throwing my 2 cents out there, I got the koni yellows with trd springs. Love it. The koni's are great because you have such a HUGE range of adjustment. The only thing I kinda dont like is the fact that its an open 720 degrees without clicks or anything, so you kinda have to keep a little log as to where they are set..

wallcrawlr

· #18 · Feb 11, 2006

I'm going with Koni Yellows and RSR springs. Just purchased them this week.

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