Anyone been disappointed with Tokico or KYB AGX?
04-15-2008, 11:52 AM
#1
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Anyone been disappointed with Tokico or KYB AGX? I talked to Sam on the phone today about getting new shocks and I understand from talking to him that Koni is most definitely the better shock in control, build quality, and warranty. However, I was unable to come to a decision about whether Koni is right for me.
My car is bone stock. Stock shocks and springs. I'm not going to replace the springs. It walks all over the place and it jumps all over the place over bumps and I get a lot of wheel hop (which I understand is not completely due to the shocks, but Sam said bad shocks can contribute to it). I don't autocross or go to the track, but I would say I somewhat beat on my car, taking off at every light, making my tires squeal on corners, swinging my rear end out when I take some corners, etc.
Anyone with similar goals tried Tokico HPs (or Illuminas if they make 'em for our cars) or KYB AGX and been disappointed? Or how about tried them and thought they were great? Anyone ever compare them to Konis? I read some various other posts on other forums that I found through Google and seemed to say Koni > Tokico Illumina > KYB AGX > Tokico HP, though I didn't see anyone that had experience with all of them, and also, the forums weren't about F-bodies.
My car is bone stock. Stock shocks and springs. I'm not going to replace the springs. It walks all over the place and it jumps all over the place over bumps and I get a lot of wheel hop (which I understand is not completely due to the shocks, but Sam said bad shocks can contribute to it). I don't autocross or go to the track, but I would say I somewhat beat on my car, taking off at every light, making my tires squeal on corners, swinging my rear end out when I take some corners, etc.
Anyone with similar goals tried Tokico HPs (or Illuminas if they make 'em for our cars) or KYB AGX and been disappointed? Or how about tried them and thought they were great? Anyone ever compare them to Konis? I read some various other posts on other forums that I found through Google and seemed to say Koni > Tokico Illumina > KYB AGX > Tokico HP, though I didn't see anyone that had experience with all of them, and also, the forums weren't about F-bodies.
04-15-2008, 12:40 PM
#2
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I like my KYB-AGX. Very easy to adjust. I had similiar issues as you state and I have stock springs. While it won't give you a 1000.00 race suspension the handling around corners goes way up and the rear wheel traction improves as well although not as much as the front end handles better. I set the fronts stiffer and the rears almost maxed out on softness which is still better than stock decarbons. I was in the same boat and figured I don't have a race car so Koni's where not justified in my gains:price calculation.
04-15-2008, 03:01 PM
#3
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I ordered some Tokico HPs today (decided that I really ought to not spend more than I have to), not from Sam because he unfortunately didn't have the fronts in stock, but I'll report back on how they are once I get 'em running.
04-24-2008, 01:22 PM
#5
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I got just the rears in so far. I'll get the fronts in along with new rotors and pads this weekend. I gotta say, though, the rears alone make a HUGE improvement Like it's a whole new car. I don't know how much better my stock shocks were when they were new (they had 92k when I took them out) but they held pressure quite well. In fact, perhaps too well, because they were quite hard to compress by hand at all.
I can't compare to KYBs or Konis or Bilsteins, though, because I've never run any of those. But I am so far happy with the Tokicos. I'll update again when I get the fronts done.
I can't compare to KYBs or Konis or Bilsteins, though, because I've never run any of those. But I am so far happy with the Tokicos. I'll update again when I get the fronts done.
04-24-2008, 04:39 PM
#6
I talked to Sam on the phone today about getting new shocks and I understand from talking to him that Koni is most definitely the better shock in control, build quality, and warranty. However, I was unable to come to a decision about whether Koni is right for me.
My car is bone stock. Stock shocks and springs. I'm not going to replace the springs. It walks all over the place and it jumps all over the place over bumps and I get a lot of wheel hop (which I understand is not completely due to the shocks, but Sam said bad shocks can contribute to it). I don't autocross or go to the track, but I would say I somewhat beat on my car, taking off at every light, making my tires squeal on corners, swinging my rear end out when I take some corners, etc.
Anyone with similar goals tried Tokico HPs (or Illuminas if they make 'em for our cars) or KYB AGX and been disappointed? Or how about tried them and thought they were great? Anyone ever compare them to Konis? I read some various other posts on other forums that I found through Google and seemed to say Koni > Tokico Illumina > KYB AGX > Tokico HP, though I didn't see anyone that had experience with all of them, and also, the forums weren't about F-bodies.
My car is bone stock. Stock shocks and springs. I'm not going to replace the springs. It walks all over the place and it jumps all over the place over bumps and I get a lot of wheel hop (which I understand is not completely due to the shocks, but Sam said bad shocks can contribute to it). I don't autocross or go to the track, but I would say I somewhat beat on my car, taking off at every light, making my tires squeal on corners, swinging my rear end out when I take some corners, etc.
Anyone with similar goals tried Tokico HPs (or Illuminas if they make 'em for our cars) or KYB AGX and been disappointed? Or how about tried them and thought they were great? Anyone ever compare them to Konis? I read some various other posts on other forums that I found through Google and seemed to say Koni > Tokico Illumina > KYB AGX > Tokico HP, though I didn't see anyone that had experience with all of them, and also, the forums weren't about F-bodies.
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04-28-2008, 10:31 PM
#10
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doesnt matter the shock with some people, either you can drive or you cant. do i plan on changing my stockers.....yes. to what thats the ?. i can afford konis but do i need them for how i drive. thats the real ?
04-29-2008, 09:31 AM
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We have always had good results from the Tokico shocks on stock height cars and with our lowering springs. Ifeel they are one of the best options out there for the money.
04-30-2008, 06:02 AM
#16
We hear a lot of complaints about the KYBs even though we tell them they are not a great choice for our cars. Since picking up the BMR line, we've had a lot of happy customers with the Tokico shocks and BMR lowering springs and just started carrying the Tokico line again.
04-30-2008, 02:44 PM
#17
I'm not keen on recommending the Tokico's for a lowered car. Just not enough oomph, and Tokico is pretty bad in terms of warranty service.... actually they suck beyond belief.
Tokico "blues" which are all that's available for the front of the 4th gen and they are ok. I use and recommend them as decent replacement shocks, but after year of dealing with them, they aren't really ideal for springs. They work ok, but admittedly I aim for something higher, and at least with adjustables you have the ability to have some control over what you get as a result.
Tokico "blues" which are all that's available for the front of the 4th gen and they are ok. I use and recommend them as decent replacement shocks, but after year of dealing with them, they aren't really ideal for springs. They work ok, but admittedly I aim for something higher, and at least with adjustables you have the ability to have some control over what you get as a result.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
04-30-2008, 03:02 PM
#18
I'm not keen on recommending the Tokico's for a lowered car. Just not enough oomph, and Tokico is pretty bad in terms of warranty service.... actually they suck beyond belief.
Tokico "blues" which are all that's available for the front of the 4th gen and they are ok. I use and recommend them as decent replacement shocks, but after year of dealing with them, they aren't really ideal for springs. They work ok, but admittedly I aim for something higher, and at least with adjustables you have the ability to have some control over what you get as a result.
Tokico "blues" which are all that's available for the front of the 4th gen and they are ok. I use and recommend them as decent replacement shocks, but after year of dealing with them, they aren't really ideal for springs. They work ok, but admittedly I aim for something higher, and at least with adjustables you have the ability to have some control over what you get as a result.
04-30-2008, 03:13 PM
#19
They both have lifetime warranties... the difference is Koni actually honors theirs. Ironically, I just hung up with a man with a set of Tokico's that needed warrantied, and Tokico would not handle it directly, they sent him back to me. But I can't help him because the warehouse I bought from when he got his shocks no longer carries Tokico, and the other vendors will not warranty other folks items (and rightly so). The warranty is a manufactuer's warranty, not anyone else's but Tokico will not do what should be done.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
04-30-2008, 03:35 PM
#20
They both have lifetime warranties... the difference is Koni actually honors theirs. Ironically, I just hung up with a man with a set of Tokico's that needed warrantied, and Tokico would not handle it directly, they sent him back to me. But I can't help him because the warehouse I bought from when he got his shocks no longer carries Tokico, and the other vendors will not warranty other folks items (and rightly so). The warranty is a manufactuer's warranty, not anyone else's but Tokico will not do what should be done.
