I just went to ARD in San Diego (Chula Vista) in need of new shocks, i got there and try to order blue's but he ask what kind of car, and if it was lowered, i told him yes, and he refuse to sell me the blues i have to buy KYB AGX, those are the only ones that i could get my hands on and for 107 each they are noth cheap. It was just BS? or is he right?

He mentioned that he did like 4 or 5 warranty's in the blue's and all on lowered cars
95 RS

sounded like bs to me.. i have no idea why he wouldnt sell you the blues.. check out www.optauto.com you can get illuminas for 80 a piece or blues for 75 a piece. might be worth your while.

On our cars KYB AGX have the problem of bottoming out up front if you are really low due to less shock travel. This can be fixed with custom work or the ground control plates that are an option to their coilovers. All in all I like my AGX for their adjustablity and would buy them again.

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current status - No 3rd Gear synchro


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The warranty thing seems to be true. It seems that quite a few people have had to get their tokikos blues replaced. The AGX shock is an inch longer than stock in the fronts, so they are not generally recommended because you get less travel. I would get the tokiko illuminas if you could afford it, around 420 a set, or the KYB GR-2 non adjustables for 240 a set. The GR-2's are a bit stiffer than stock, and decent. I have them.

Tokico blues can only be lowered to a certain point before it voids the warranty. Its less than two inches because I was told tokico wouldnt cover mine if I blew one of them. Maybe he is just worried about that. Tell the guy to sell you what you want.. money talks.

these are the cheapest:
http://www.gmpperformance.com/products/suspension/shocks/tokico_shocks.htm

67.17

well personally i had the blues, and two of mine blew recently after 1yr as of right now they are still at tokico for inspection etc... i just got the adjust now it pretty cool if you adjust them alot... but as far as the warrentyyyy its true tokico told me when i called them if its lowered its not covered at

Michael 99gs
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i'm sure the guy at ARD doesn't carry tokico and he gets more money if you buy KYB... Gotta be careful with those guys at speed shops... they'll take every cent you have if you let them. Good to run it by us first.

Thanks guys, i did buy the AGX in the back, but i still have to buy the front's do you guys recomend AGX all around, or do i change to illuminas in the front, since i have adjustable shocks in the rear, i will stay that whay in the front. BUT Iluminas or AGX?

If you aren't lowered much, i'd say go ahead and get the AGX. If you're lowered more than about 1.5", get something else, because the AGX strut body is way longer than stock and you will bottom out on it, as well as ride rough..

I don't recommend AGX's for lowered cars at all. The guy at that shop probably doesn't realize there is an issue with the AGX on our car.

Frnakly, i'd say get the blues. Tokico advertises them as MADE for a lowered car.

It depends on how low you are in the front. We mentioned that the front AGX are longer and reduce the shock travel so if you are really low DON'T get them or you'll be bottoming out a lot.



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current status - No 3rd Gear synchro


http://hometown.aol.com/ohshootuhh/
www.Fast420A.com

For what i saw, the AGX are SHORTER then the rest of them..so they will not bottom out. That is what i saw.Are we talking about different Shocks? once again they are for the back

It is specifically the FRONT AGX's that are the problem. The strut body itself is longer, which leaves a shorter strut rod, and less travel. A fully decompressed AGX only has about 4-5" of strut shaft that can travel. it is worse after it settles, and on a lowered car, you could be looking at an actual 2" of free travel before you are sitting on the bumpstop - not good for a smooth ride.

Look at this pic.


See how much longer the AGX is than the rest?

Tokico struts are made for tokcio springs. They are listed to lower the car 1.5 inches. The springs are slightly stiffer than an eibach sportline(stock feel 1.8 inch drop) and slightly softer than an eibach prokit(1.3 inch drop). I have never bottomed out my struts on normal roads or autocrossing for 40K miles. I have the bump stops cut 1/2. I also have aftermarket sways :)

The struts do feel like they have slightly less damping than they did when new. The compression feels the same as new. I have abused these struts and if you are lowered 1.5 or less, you will have no problems.

Ok, so will someone please clarify what u all just said? So Tokico Blues aren't recommended then for drops lower than 1.5? I just put on Tokico Blues with Eibach Sportlines. Dan(sd_eclipse) also told me that struts have been replaced under warranty already. Does this mean that I might blow them up again? Please tell me that's not the case...:-(

I am only speaking from my personal experience. If they last 40K miles with my abuse, you should not have a problem being dropped 1.5 inches or less.

My buddy ran a 97GST w/sportlines and blues. He only had them on the car 18 months, but he had no problems. He autocrossed his car twice and mostly drag raced.

For a daily driven car with some abuse, sportlines w/blues should be fine. I suggest buying RRE front and rear camber kits as well. Or you can just buy lots of new tires every couple of months.

So the final "ideal" setup for me, is Tokiko Iluminas in the front, and the already installed KYB AGX in the back...Thanks guys i was going to get AGX but since a saw the picture that Dino posted i will take it to ARD so they look at them and see the difference...