Anyone running Tokico Dampers + Eibach Pro-Kit Springs? Opinions? Reviews?

[Holland]

I tryed this combo and ther rear shocks will blow just like the stock ones in time.. the valving is real close to the HFP.. Im not a huge fan of the pro kits.. the rear drop is to much IMO.. If you have blown out stock shocks and already have pro kits.. I say get the tok blues... its a nice set up.. im not sure how long you will get out of the rears... but they should be good for 30-40K miles.. if you are shopping.. I say go HFP.. its by far the best performance combo around.. then get some front camber bolts and call it a day... with a progress rear bar and HFP's with a good aliment.. you are looking at one hell of a ride... it you want lower then HFP the tok-pro kit combo will be a nice set up.. just rember it needs rear camber arms is you want ok tire life and better then stock performance

[I Vtec, do you?]

Originally Posted by soxfan143

Pro-kit is a mild drop. And the revalving is what makes them stiffer and more durable. What do you think the Koni's are. It's the same housing but different valving. And by the time the Koni's are released I'll probably be dead. Tokico's are a very nice setup for a DD looking for better handling and longer life with a mild drop. I am going with the Tokico's when my stock ones crap the bed. I've been in an Si with them and I was impressed with how solid they were. It rode harder but they didn't have that bang when you hit good sized bumps like the stock ones do. I would recommend them.

How do you know it's improved handling? Everyone who says this always back it up with 'it's a stiffer ride'. I don't think just because you're ride gets more stiff, you can claim to have better handling. If you want good handling, go HFP. Simple as that.

[dgaddis1]

Originally Posted by I Vtec, do you?

How do you know it's improved handling? Everyone who says this always back it up with 'it's a stiffer ride'. I don't think just because you're ride gets more stiff, you can claim to have better handling.

Stiffer does not always equal better. You actually want to run the softest springs you can while still keeping body roll in a minimum. If the springs are too stuff the tire can lose contact w/the ground, and a tire that's not touching the ground isn't doing you any good!

[soxfan143]

I don't want HFP. I don't like the stance it gives. I have the pro-kits on stock shocks and I can tell you with absolute certainty that my car handles better. The turn in response is way better and there is way less understeer at high speeds. I used to get front end push on off ramps even in the summer when the tires get to operating temps much better and my car handles better now in the freezing cold better than before. I haven't added the Tokicos yet and I'm still waiting to order the rear sway bar. After that it should be even better. I hope.

[dgaddis1]

Originally Posted by soxfan143

I don't want HFP. I don't like the stance it gives. I have the pro-kits on stock shocks and I can tell you with absolute certainty that my car handles better. The turn in response is way better and there is way less understeer at high speeds. I used to get front end push on off ramps even in the summer when the tires get to operating temps much better and my car handles better now in the freezing cold better than before. I haven't added the Tokicos yet and I'm still waiting to order the rear sway bar. After that it should be even better. I hope.

I'm in the same boat, Pro-Kits and stock shocks. I got SPC camber bolts and rear arms as well. Car handles GREAT (good enough to scare the crap out of all my domestic buddies ). Still pushes some, but I'm hoping that once I get a bigger rear sway bar it'll be more neutral. I'm not getting the Tokico's though, I'm waiting till the Koni's come out.

[soxfan143]

Originally Posted by dgaddis1

I'm in the same boat, Pro-Kits and stock shocks. I got SPC camber bolts and rear arms as well. Car handles GREAT (good enough to scare the crap out of all my domestic buddies ). Still pushes some, but I'm hoping that once I get a bigger rear sway bar it'll be more neutral. I'm not getting the Tokico's though, I'm waiting till the Koni's come out.

What do you have your cambers set at? I have my fronts set at -1.2 and my rears are still stock -2.3. My rear toe is neutral and my front is slightly toed in. My car is awesome. But I'm also running Dunlop Direzza 225/40-18's. Which help out alot. I'm switching to the Goodyear Eagle F1 all seasons soon tho. They are absolutely the sickest tire out there for all season performance. The stock all season Michelins were awful. They would squeel at 50 mph on an off ramp. That was so funny.

[dgaddis1]

I've got about -1.5 up front and -1.5 in the rear. I wanted -1.0 in the rear, but the shop said that was the best they could do. Toe is pretty neutral all the way around. I definetly want better tires....I'm still on the stock all season's. But they're staying on 'till they're wore out, then I'm going to try some Azenis I think.

[FastTimesAtFGHigh]

FastTimesAtFGHigh,

No problem in using the Ei-Bach spring with our shocks.

Thanks,

Ray

Raymund Rijkschroeff
TOKICO / HITACHI HI-Products
Sales Technical Analyst
310-357-2201 ext3516

[RX_AGENT]

More proof that these shocks are covered under lifetime warranty when paired up with lowering springs, I think most of you would be happy with the progress drop.

"Thank you for contacting Tokico Performance Products. The HP series is a great choice for the Civic and will definitely handle the drop you're doing. Very smart of you to be thinking about this. Most people lower their cars and don't think twice about their shocks. OE shocks are not designed to handle modifications such as larger wheels and lowering. HP series are stiffer than OE and also designed to handle the extra stress put on by these modifications. Our products are covered under warranty as long as they were installed properly and not used with excessive lowering (3+ inch drop etc.) The springs you are using will be perfect. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Thank you,
David


David Chou
HITACHI Automotive Products (USA), Inc.
TOKICO PERFORMANCE SHOCKS
550 West Artesia Blvd.
Compton, CA 90220
P: 562-295-2513
F: 310-212-0222
Web: Tokico Gas Shocks "

[RX_AGENT]

I don't know if some of you are new to modding, but Tokico Blues have been available for tons of cars over the years and many people have paired them up with lowering springs so they don't blow their shocks with lowering springs. They're nothing new, they're proven to do their job, which is what 90% of you are looking for.

I don't know why people think that the 8th gen civic is so special that ONLY the factory lowering kit will work perfectly. Admit it or not, MOST of you are only concerned with the lowered look and I bet few of you can tell the difference or care that your handling is that much better than stock.

Anything 1.5 inches or lower is such a mild drop, I don't know why you all get your panties up in a bunch over something like that, the blues work fine. You don't need to waste your money on fancy Konis/Teins/Zeal, if all you want to do is bring your groceries home in a lowered stance and impress the girls as you drive up and down the boulevard on a Friday night.

EVEN if you do some occasional auto-x and lapping, a fancy suspension isn't going to help you as much as some racing lessons will. I hate it when people get burnt on the track and they go out and buy another new suspension, face it, you suck at the moment, practice or read a book or something.

[radiocontrolhead]

Originally Posted by RX_AGENT

I don't know if some of you are new to modding, but Tokico Blues have been available for tons of cars over the years and many people have paired them up with lowering springs so they don't blow their shocks with lowering springs. They're nothing new, they're proven to do their job, which is what 90% of you are looking for.

I don't know why people think that the 8th gen civic is so special that ONLY the factory lowering kit will work perfectly. Admit it or not, MOST of you are only concerned with the lowered look and I bet few of you can tell the difference or care that your handling is that much better than stock.

Anything 1.5 inches or lower is such a mild drop, I don't know why you all get your panties up in a bunch over something like that, the blues work fine. You don't need to waste your money on fancy Konis/Teins/Zeal, if all you want to do is bring your groceries home in a lowered stance and impress the girls as you drive up and down the boulevard on a Friday night.

EVEN if you do some occasional auto-x and lapping, a fancy suspension isn't going to help you as much as some racing lessons will. I hate it when people get burnt on the track and they go out and buy another new suspension, face it, you suck at the moment, practice or read a book or something.

I want to wait for the Koni's to come out because that's clearly going to be a better shock, but I really don't know how much to expect to pay for those.

[exes]

Originally Posted by radiocontrolhead

I want to wait for the Koni's to come out because that's clearly going to be a better shock, but I really don't know how much to expect to pay for those.

Well, the Tokicos are 475 at CorSport, and the RedShift Konis are 711 for the Reds and 831 for the Yellows, but those cost more because of the custom fab...

Existing Yellows for other cars go from 449 - 649, so when the ones for the FG eventually come out, 500 is a good guess - existing Yellows for other Civics are like 530.

[radiocontrolhead]

Originally Posted by exes

Well, the Tokicos are 475 at CorSport, and the RedShift Konis are 711 for the Reds and 831 for the Yellows, but those cost more because of the custom fab...

Existing Yellows for other cars go from 449 - 649, so when the ones for the FG eventually come out, 500 is a good guess - existing Yellows for other Civics are like 530.

They'll be a lot better for a few dollars more.

[Sirbelch]

I think they are going to be a lot closer to $750. The RSX sports are 729 for the set on Koni's web site and they are inserts which is what Koni said they would have to do for our cars. You can't base any price on the old hondas because they had a completely different suspension in which dampers are cheaper because they are not a weight supporting member of the suspension.

[RX_AGENT]

Originally Posted by Sirbelch

I think they are going to be a lot closer to $750. The RSX sports are 729 for the set on Koni's web site and they are inserts which is what Koni said they would have to do for our cars. You can't base any price on the old hondas because they had a completely different suspension in which dampers are cheaper because they are not a weight supporting member of the suspension.

I agree with Sir, I think the older civics were only about 300 for a set of tokico blues where the current generation is about 500 a set.

[soxfan143]

Originally Posted by RX_AGENT

I don't know if some of you are new to modding, but Tokico Blues have been available for tons of cars over the years and many people have paired them up with lowering springs so they don't blow their shocks with lowering springs. They're nothing new, they're proven to do their job, which is what 90% of you are looking for.

I don't know why people think that the 8th gen civic is so special that ONLY the factory lowering kit will work perfectly. Admit it or not, MOST of you are only concerned with the lowered look and I bet few of you can tell the difference or care that your handling is that much better than stock.

Anything 1.5 inches or lower is such a mild drop, I don't know why you all get your panties up in a bunch over something like that, the blues work fine. You don't need to waste your money on fancy Konis/Teins/Zeal, if all you want to do is bring your groceries home in a lowered stance and impress the girls as you drive up and down the boulevard on a Friday night.

EVEN if you do some occasional auto-x and lapping, a fancy suspension isn't going to help you as much as some racing lessons will. I hate it when people get burnt on the track and they go out and buy another new suspension, face it, you suck at the moment, practice or read a book or something.

Well said bro. I just can't believe how many people think the HFP is the only suspension that will improve your handling. And I'll tell you this, my boy has the HFP on his 08 coupe and I'm running pro-kit with stock shocks. My car rides so much softer and smoother on harsh roads. That HFP is spine crushing stiff. I don't like it at all and he isn't any faster than me in the twisties.

[returnoftheSi]

Originally Posted by radiocontrolhead

I want to wait for the Koni's to come out because that's clearly going to be a better shock, but I really don't know how much to expect to pay for those.

I got the Koni Sport/Neuspeed Super Cup kit for my TSX for $600 w/free shipping. I imagine that when the ones for the Civic are released they will not be more then that. These have the best ride out of any shock/spring combo I have ever used. Can't wait to put some on our Si

[Sirbelch]

Originally Posted by returnoftheSi

I got the Koni Sport/Neuspeed Super Cup kit for my TSX for $600 w/free shipping. I imagine that when the ones for the Civic are released they will not be more then that. These have the best ride out of any shock/spring combo I have ever used. Can't wait to put some on our Si

TSX uses a wish bone suspension so the front shocks aren't a supporting member of the suspension so they don't have to be built a tough and thusly cheaper.

[Excelerate]

You can get the TOKICO's for less than that. In fact, we have them for $400 shipped to the cont US and we have them in stock. The front shock is going to be where the cost is and I would venture to say the KONI setup is going to be about $700-$800 shipped to the end consumer, with a discount. Yes the KONI Yellow is going to be a better shock but you have to compare apples to apples. The KONI STR is comparable to the TOKICO HP. The TOKICO Illumina or D-Spec would be closer to the KONI Yellow.

I agree with RX_AGENT; TOKICO HP's are a great shock for a lowering spring that isn't too aggressive.

[s0opa_Si]

tokico d spec ftw!