Not the typical suspension question..or is it??
06-29-2012, 04:31 PM
#11
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 163
The D-specs are NOT soft. I am running Steeda Sport springs (not that stiff at 200F/175R) and on the roads around here, the word brutal is getting close to some of the worse sections of pavement. That is with them at full soft. I don't mind a firjer ride but when you ride worse than an FX4 F150 does it gets pretty old at times. My car is a DD and its bordering on too much. Either the D-specs are for stiffer springs or something else is really wrong...
06-30-2012, 11:12 AM
#12
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: FL
Posts: 453
Finally...some negative feedback! In reality that was kind of what I was looking for. I had originally planned on pulling the trigger by now, but I'm still fading and gathering more info before I make my decision.
06-30-2012, 02:03 PM
#13
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: RI
Posts: 690
I took my D-Specs off because the ride sucked. I had Steeda ultralites and tried BMR springs. The BMR (with D-specs) rode a little better but truthfully it still sucked on the crappy roads around here. I ended up with Koni STR.T's. Much, much, much better ride for a daily driver.
06-30-2012, 02:56 PM
#14
I have a couple months now on my adjustable Konis, from now on I will only have these on my Mustangs. The Konis totally changed the way my car handles for the better.
They aren't cheap, but they are worth the additional cost.
I would recommend not getting too stiff of springs for your convertible. Stiff springs and bumpy roads can reek havoc on a convertible's structure.
They aren't cheap, but they are worth the additional cost.
I would recommend not getting too stiff of springs for your convertible. Stiff springs and bumpy roads can reek havoc on a convertible's structure.
06-30-2012, 06:43 PM
#15
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: state of confusion
Posts: 7,635
The D-specs are NOT soft. I am running Steeda Sport springs (not that stiff at 200F/175R) and on the roads around here, the word brutal is getting close to some of the worse sections of pavement. That is with them at full soft. I don't mind a firjer ride but when you ride worse than an FX4 F150 does it gets pretty old at times. My car is a DD and its bordering on too much. Either the D-specs are for stiffer springs or something else is really wrong...
From direct personal experience, I can describe Tokico's somewhat older (adjustable) Illumina series, which are consistently harsh across at least two of the Japanese platforms (Mazda and Nissan). Needlessly so even at the full-soft setting. But as long as you can keep to decent pavement, they aren't bad at all.
It's not that the Tokicos have poor control. Quite the contrary, as they were the go-to shock before the Konis became available. So the low-speed control is there (I'm talking about shock piston speed here, not car speed).
What they don't do as well is kill off excessive high speed damping, which is exactly what things like concrete expansion joints, railroad grade crossings, and potholes and broken pavement keep hammering the shocks with.
I'm assuming that the D-specs aren't quite as bad as the Illuminas, and they may even be quite a bit better. But from Illuminas there is such a long way to go . . .
Norm
Last edited by Norm Peterson; 06-30-2012 at 06:46 PM.
06-30-2012, 09:22 PM
#16
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: FL
Posts: 453
Thanks for the feedback guys. I think after hearing everything I'm going to go with the Konis...from what I gather out of the two the Konis are top shelf. To put it in my terms Tokico = Smirnoff & Koni = Grey Goose...am I right? lol
I mean when it boils down to it the price difference is about $50 if I factor in the remote adjusters for the Tokicos. With that being the case I've seen and read about Tokico warranty issues and other issues...I've never really seen that with the Konis. I read one persons personal hell of waiting over two months for a Tokico replacement, not to mention an actual vendor posted a hate filled thread directed at Tokico, i mean even looking at Tokicos replacement process you have to contact your vendor...amd if your vendor is unavailable it says to contact another seller..it doesnt even say to contact them! I mean I may be wrong, but thats what I read. So I am now more comfortable shelling out the cash to purchase the Konis. From what I gather they should go fine with my Vogtland lowering kit.
I mean when it boils down to it the price difference is about $50 if I factor in the remote adjusters for the Tokicos. With that being the case I've seen and read about Tokico warranty issues and other issues...I've never really seen that with the Konis. I read one persons personal hell of waiting over two months for a Tokico replacement, not to mention an actual vendor posted a hate filled thread directed at Tokico, i mean even looking at Tokicos replacement process you have to contact your vendor...amd if your vendor is unavailable it says to contact another seller..it doesnt even say to contact them! I mean I may be wrong, but thats what I read. So I am now more comfortable shelling out the cash to purchase the Konis. From what I gather they should go fine with my Vogtland lowering kit.
Last edited by Topless Stang; 06-30-2012 at 09:27 PM.
07-01-2012, 09:14 AM
#17
Just make sure you do not get springs that are too harsh of a spring rate.
With springs that have too hard of a spring rate there is not much that the shocks/struts can do to smooth it out. Too stiff od springs = always harsh ride.
When I did mine I went with FRPP springs with the softer spring rate & the Koni yellows (adjustable). With the Konis at full soft it is perfect for a daily driver in my opinion.
With springs that have too hard of a spring rate there is not much that the shocks/struts can do to smooth it out. Too stiff od springs = always harsh ride.
When I did mine I went with FRPP springs with the softer spring rate & the Koni yellows (adjustable). With the Konis at full soft it is perfect for a daily driver in my opinion.
07-01-2012, 01:16 PM
#18
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: FL
Posts: 453
Thanks. I pulled the trigger on the Konis last night. I paid $643 shipped to my door with a 1 year price garuntee. If I find it cheaper in a year I get the difference back plus a dollar, so I couldnt pass it up lol. The springs were already purchased. I bought the v6 Vogtland lowering springs. They're progressive and from what I read are good springs for a DD.
Front Working rate: 180-240
Rear Working Rate: 180-220
Front Working rate: 180-240
Rear Working Rate: 180-220
07-02-2012, 10:26 AM
#19
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: FL
Posts: 453
I'm hoping to pair my Koni/Vogtland combo with Ford Racing (FRPP) M-18183-C 2011 Mustang GT500 Front Strut Mounts, a new Jounce Kit, J&M Adjustable UCA, LCAs, LCA relo Brackets, Adjustable Panhard & Eibach Camber Adjustment bolts. Also, are replacing the panhard & UCA braces required?
07-02-2012, 06:34 PM
#20
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 163
It appears to be a difference in damping philosophy between Tokico and Koni and perhaps between Tokico and Bilstein even more so.
From direct personal experience, I can describe Tokico's somewhat older (adjustable) Illumina series, which are consistently harsh across at least two of the Japanese platforms (Mazda and Nissan). Needlessly so even at the full-soft setting. But as long as you can keep to decent pavement, they aren't bad at all.
It's not that the Tokicos have poor control. Quite the contrary, as they were the go-to shock before the Konis became available. So the low-speed control is there (I'm talking about shock piston speed here, not car speed).
What they don't do as well is kill off excessive high speed damping, which is exactly what things like concrete expansion joints, railroad grade crossings, and potholes and broken pavement keep hammering the shocks with.
I'm assuming that the D-specs aren't quite as bad as the Illuminas, and they may even be quite a bit better. But from Illuminas there is such a long way to go . . .
Norm
From direct personal experience, I can describe Tokico's somewhat older (adjustable) Illumina series, which are consistently harsh across at least two of the Japanese platforms (Mazda and Nissan). Needlessly so even at the full-soft setting. But as long as you can keep to decent pavement, they aren't bad at all.
It's not that the Tokicos have poor control. Quite the contrary, as they were the go-to shock before the Konis became available. So the low-speed control is there (I'm talking about shock piston speed here, not car speed).
What they don't do as well is kill off excessive high speed damping, which is exactly what things like concrete expansion joints, railroad grade crossings, and potholes and broken pavement keep hammering the shocks with.
I'm assuming that the D-specs aren't quite as bad as the Illuminas, and they may even be quite a bit better. But from Illuminas there is such a long way to go . . .
Norm
The problem comes up when you can't find smooth pavement to daily drive on. The sections of broken concrete are about 20% of my ride to and from work every day so it is more tolerable from the home to work but the minute I have to go somewhere else to get Groceries or tools I end up with a much more "brutal" ride experience that is less than favorable.