Koni Yellow Sport Shocks vs Tokico Illuminas vs Bilstein HD - with H&R SS springs?
07-16-2013, 03:03 PM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Queens. NY
Posts: 212
Koni Yellow Sport Shocks vs Tokico Illuminas vs Bilstein HD - with H&R SS springs?
I currently have Tokico Illuminas Adjustable shocks/struts on my 2000 GT paired with H&R SS springs. I am using the foxbody version in the front of the car.
Anyhow, the car seems to have a lot of body roll / nose dive under hard braking and cornering, yet it is bone jarringly harsh over bumpy roads.
Would switching to either the Koni Yellow Sport adjustable shocks/struts or Bilstien HDs help? Or is the problem with my H&R SS springs?
Anyhow, the car seems to have a lot of body roll / nose dive under hard braking and cornering, yet it is bone jarringly harsh over bumpy roads.
Would switching to either the Koni Yellow Sport adjustable shocks/struts or Bilstien HDs help? Or is the problem with my H&R SS springs?
07-16-2013, 05:55 PM
#2
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 545
I've got H&R SS w/Illumina 5-way adjustable shocks on my Mach 1 and I have absolutely no problem with body roll, dive or lift. I prefer the ride over the stock suspension.
As far as the ride over bumpy roads, who are you kidding? The H&R SS springs lower the car significantly and you're driving on bumpy roads?
I don't know if the Fox Body versions of the struts are your problem, if the shocks are worn out or your settings off. I've been running 5 front 3 rear with great results.
That said, I'll never buy a Tockico shock or strut again. I've owned several sets over the years and when the company Headquarters was in Harbor City, CA, I'd bring in a blown shock for a lifetime replacement warranty claim and never had a problem. If I had one bad one, they'd replace two. If they were out of the HDs, they would give me a free upgrade.
Then Hitachi bought the company. I had a rear Illumina go out on my Mach and called about a warranty replacement. They told me I would have to go back to the original selling dealer. I told them he was out of business. I was then told to return the shock to one of their master dealers. The dealer would send it to Tockico for authorization, then I would pay the difference between wholesale and retail.
I had to raise absolute hell with these idiots reminding them that my lifetime warranty made no mention of paying anything for a replacement and had to threaten them with filing a case in California Small Claims Court plus launching a website called TokicoScrewedMe.com. Finally, they sent out two replacements.
Get the Bilstiens. After my Tockico adventure, I called and double checked their warranty policy and affirmed the shocks are rebuildable at their USA headquarters. Even better, they make a custom valved shock for Maximum Motorsports specially designed for lowered springs.
As far as the ride over bumpy roads, who are you kidding? The H&R SS springs lower the car significantly and you're driving on bumpy roads?
I don't know if the Fox Body versions of the struts are your problem, if the shocks are worn out or your settings off. I've been running 5 front 3 rear with great results.
That said, I'll never buy a Tockico shock or strut again. I've owned several sets over the years and when the company Headquarters was in Harbor City, CA, I'd bring in a blown shock for a lifetime replacement warranty claim and never had a problem. If I had one bad one, they'd replace two. If they were out of the HDs, they would give me a free upgrade.
Then Hitachi bought the company. I had a rear Illumina go out on my Mach and called about a warranty replacement. They told me I would have to go back to the original selling dealer. I told them he was out of business. I was then told to return the shock to one of their master dealers. The dealer would send it to Tockico for authorization, then I would pay the difference between wholesale and retail.
I had to raise absolute hell with these idiots reminding them that my lifetime warranty made no mention of paying anything for a replacement and had to threaten them with filing a case in California Small Claims Court plus launching a website called TokicoScrewedMe.com. Finally, they sent out two replacements.
Get the Bilstiens. After my Tockico adventure, I called and double checked their warranty policy and affirmed the shocks are rebuildable at their USA headquarters. Even better, they make a custom valved shock for Maximum Motorsports specially designed for lowered springs.
07-17-2013, 08:03 PM
#3
i agree i have bilsteins on all 4 corners and car is completely different after i got rid of stock struts/shocks. car handles like it is on rails and no roll or nose diving. every mustang i own will have bilsteins. top notch man no doubt
07-17-2013, 10:53 PM
#4
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Queens. NY
Posts: 212
I've got H&R SS w/Illumina 5-way adjustable shocks on my Mach 1 and I have absolutely no problem with body roll, dive or lift. I prefer the ride over the stock suspension.
As far as the ride over bumpy roads, who are you kidding? The H&R SS springs lower the car significantly and you're driving on bumpy roads?
I don't know if the Fox Body versions of the struts are your problem, if the shocks are worn out or your settings off. I've been running 5 front 3 rear with great results.
That said, I'll never buy a Tockico shock or strut again. I've owned several sets over the years and when the company Headquarters was in Harbor City, CA, I'd bring in a blown shock for a lifetime replacement warranty claim and never had a problem. If I had one bad one, they'd replace two. If they were out of the HDs, they would give me a free upgrade.
Then Hitachi bought the company. I had a rear Illumina go out on my Mach and called about a warranty replacement. They told me I would have to go back to the original selling dealer. I told them he was out of business. I was then told to return the shock to one of their master dealers. The dealer would send it to Tockico for authorization, then I would pay the difference between wholesale and retail.
I had to raise absolute hell with these idiots reminding them that my lifetime warranty made no mention of paying anything for a replacement and had to threaten them with filing a case in California Small Claims Court plus launching a website called TokicoScrewedMe.com. Finally, they sent out two replacements.
Get the Bilstiens. After my Tockico adventure, I called and double checked their warranty policy and affirmed the shocks are rebuildable at their USA headquarters. Even better, they make a custom valved shock for Maximum Motorsports specially designed for lowered springs.
As far as the ride over bumpy roads, who are you kidding? The H&R SS springs lower the car significantly and you're driving on bumpy roads?
I don't know if the Fox Body versions of the struts are your problem, if the shocks are worn out or your settings off. I've been running 5 front 3 rear with great results.
That said, I'll never buy a Tockico shock or strut again. I've owned several sets over the years and when the company Headquarters was in Harbor City, CA, I'd bring in a blown shock for a lifetime replacement warranty claim and never had a problem. If I had one bad one, they'd replace two. If they were out of the HDs, they would give me a free upgrade.
Then Hitachi bought the company. I had a rear Illumina go out on my Mach and called about a warranty replacement. They told me I would have to go back to the original selling dealer. I told them he was out of business. I was then told to return the shock to one of their master dealers. The dealer would send it to Tockico for authorization, then I would pay the difference between wholesale and retail.
I had to raise absolute hell with these idiots reminding them that my lifetime warranty made no mention of paying anything for a replacement and had to threaten them with filing a case in California Small Claims Court plus launching a website called TokicoScrewedMe.com. Finally, they sent out two replacements.
Get the Bilstiens. After my Tockico adventure, I called and double checked their warranty policy and affirmed the shocks are rebuildable at their USA headquarters. Even better, they make a custom valved shock for Maximum Motorsports specially designed for lowered springs.
07-18-2013, 01:12 AM
#5
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 545
I didn't experience any lift/dive/roll/harshness with Illuminas. I don't understand why you're having these problems unless your shocks are worn out or set on "1". I also was unaware of using Fox Body inserts on New Edges.
Maybe your butt NVH calibration is set in little old lady mode. All I know is my H&R SS / Illumimna combination is less harsh than stock with no pitch or roll problems.
I think the difference between Illuminas and Bilstiens is small. The way Tokico now handles warranty claims makes my Bilstien the choice for me.
Maybe your butt NVH calibration is set in little old lady mode. All I know is my H&R SS / Illumimna combination is less harsh than stock with no pitch or roll problems.
I think the difference between Illuminas and Bilstiens is small. The way Tokico now handles warranty claims makes my Bilstien the choice for me.
Last edited by Sonic Mustang; 07-18-2013 at 01:15 AM.
07-18-2013, 01:41 PM
#6
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Queens. NY
Posts: 212
I didn't experience any lift/dive/roll/harshness with Illuminas. I don't understand why you're having these problems unless your shocks are worn out or set on "1". I also was unaware of using Fox Body inserts on New Edges.
Maybe your butt NVH calibration is set in little old lady mode. All I know is my H&R SS / Illumimna combination is less harsh than stock with no pitch or roll problems.
I think the difference between Illuminas and Bilstiens is small. The way Tokico now handles warranty claims makes my Bilstien the choice for me.
Maybe your butt NVH calibration is set in little old lady mode. All I know is my H&R SS / Illumimna combination is less harsh than stock with no pitch or roll problems.
I think the difference between Illuminas and Bilstiens is small. The way Tokico now handles warranty claims makes my Bilstien the choice for me.
I think I will stick with my Tokicos for now, as they do not seem blown...they felt fine when I installed them last summer. The only issue is the **** on one rear shock has fallen off and been lost, so now anytime I want to adjust it I must move ****/dial from one shock to the other...I wonder if Tokico sells replacements? I searched their site, and the web but didn't find anything, and sent them an email but didn't receive a response.
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