KYB Super Specials from Japan!

[AccordEXI]

My KYB adjustable rear struts from Japan arrived this week!!! I cheaped out and only bought the rears because I have front Koni's already. That being said, I'll probably order the front KYB's because the external adjustment feature will be much better!! Anyone on this board currently running KYB Super Specials or am I going to be the first? Also, ordered the "correct" NGK wire set for my JDM B20A. Gotta love JDM parts!!!!!

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/948/digitalpictures112xy0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[frantik]

tight.. how much were they? and where can i get some lol

[guaynabo89]

first I have heard of these. Would you care to share more info? Are they specificly made for the 86-89 accord?

[Hazwan]

mad tyte JDM yo!

[2drSE-i]

those are custom made i guess? pricey??

[import racer]

kool how much ,i need shocks for mine!

[nswst8]

You have got to be kidding, give up the inside info on these.

[ZackieDarko]

that is SWEET!

info info info!

[A18A]

oooooooo they're nice

[ZackieDarko]

I AM A GOOGLE GOD!!!!!!



http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/ZackieDarko/kybspecialjapan5.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/ZackieDarko/kybspecialjapan4.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/ZackieDarko/kybspecialjapan3.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/ZackieDarko/kybspecialjapan2.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a96/ZackieDarko/kybspecialjapan.jpg

[ghettogeddy]

Live rates at 2007.08.30 03:06:16 UTC
70,000.00 JPY

=

604.165 USD
Japan Yen United States Dollars
1 JPY = 0.00863093 USD 1 USD = 115.862 JPY
i could be wrong but thats alot of coin

[3gmodifier]

what the fuck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i never new those exsisted. i now have a new goal. expensive but now i am hooked and have to have them. how can i get those to my door??????????

[Vanilla Sky]

Assuming that's for a set of 4 struts, that's cheap. I have no clue where you've been, though.

[AccordEXI]

Wow, I didn't know these would cause such a reaction!!! Anyways, these are NOT custom. They are available from KYB in Japan as shown in the catalog pages posted by ZackieDarko. They are pretty pricey. I paid 32,600 Yen for the rear pair which converts to approx $280US!!!! Then add shipping! However, considering Koni's are no longer available, it's the only direct fit adjustable strut for our cars left.

[ZackieDarko]

what are the specs on them?

how did you get them?

did you order them from this site?

can you give us any north american dealers/retailers we can get them from?

[frantik]

dude.. $280 a pair for externally adjustable bolt on struts is CHEEEAAAAPPP.. even with shipping

so yeah did you order from that site or did you have a middle man or what? how hard would it be to get some of thse in the states?

[ghettogeddy]

man this guy is a tease
info people info

[MessyHonda]

wow.....did tokico make something like that.

[nswst8]

Wow, I didn't know these would cause such a reaction!!! Anyways, these are NOT custom. They are available from KYB in Japan as shown in the catalog pages posted by ZackieDarko. They are pretty pricey. I paid 32,600 Yen for the rear pair which converts to approx $280US!!!! Then add shipping! However, considering Koni's are no longer available, it's the only direct fit adjustable strut for our cars left.
Part number would help, Point of contact in Japan.

Who did you order yours through?

[ZackieDarko]

Part number would help, Point of contact in Japan.

Who did you order yours through?


part #'s are in the screen shots i posted

[2drSE-i]

those are nice. For those of you disturbed by KYB's shitty track history with 3g's, the GR-2s are fucking garbage, but KYB makes fuckin badass struts other than those.

[88LXi68]

WOW! that is a bargain...any of you guys looking for an adjustable strut should jump on those quick.

[frantik]

http://www.unionproduce.jp/11/3/3/0/2677/

50,400 yen == US$435 :deal:

[MessyHonda]

i wonder what is the rebound on them

[A18A]

i want them :D

[race12001]

i have to get me a set that is so awsome

[snoopyloopy]

wonderful, now i can have something to go with my front konis. ~$300 you say? that's not bad. that's what i paid for my konis.

[forrest89sei]

those are COOL!

I will have to get a set someday :D :thumbup: :bow:

[knarg]

< koni

:P







but those look really awesome!! nice :thumbup:

[88Accord-DX]

Do you need to know Japanese to translate the website & purchase them?

[87LXiR]

AHHHHHHH!!!!! QUICK WHO CAN READ JAPANESE!!! Dude those are beautiful! Seriously man give us some info, im dying here:burn:

[Blizzard]

On a totally unrealted note.............



That Google page made me realize, it must suck to be a skywriter in Japan.

[Hash_man_Se_i]

Nice find... last time I was on KYB's japan site they didn't make that model for the CA5's. Must be a somewhat new product from what I have seen... might have to order a set.

[frantik]

so how does one go about ordering products like that from japan? :dunno:

[MessyHonda]

so how does one go about ordering products like that from japan? :dunno:



i think this is when learning/taking that Japanese class back in high school kicks in.

[frantik]

i wish i had known i would need JDM shocks back in HS when i choose my classes :kekeke:

[3gmodifier]

so what ever happen to this guy. we all are very interested in these and now there is no practical info.

[ghettogeddy]

so what ever happen to this guy. we all are very interested in these and now there is no practical info.

hes a cock tease lol

[Vanilla Sky]

Seriously, we have all the information needed. We have part numbers and we know that they're still in current production. All we have to do is contact a marts dealer that deals with KYB Japan and have them order them for us.

[LX-incredible]

Let's do it then!

[3gmodifier]

fuck yeah, i'm down for sure.

[wprocomp]

I can get them for you guys,I have a parts supplier in japan but itll cost fees and stuff so it may exceed $500,lemme know

[LX-incredible]

I can get them for you guys,I have a parts supplier in japan but itll cost fees and stuff so it may exceed $500,lemme know
I'm down for a full set. How do you want to go about this?

[nswst8]

I can get them for you guys,I have a parts supplier in japan but itll cost fees and stuff so it may exceed $500,lemme know
Show us the numbers, I'll be in.

[ZackieDarko]

okay has anybody found the exact specs on these things?

[epic1400cs]

okay has anybody found the exact specs on these things?

http://www.3geez.com/forum/showpost.php?p=560639&postcount=1


The spec of this Super Special for Street is;
Compression 105-135% up
Rebound 100-150% up
Both front and rear have 4 step dial adjuster on them.
I know it is useless but here is the KYB parts number in Japan just in case if you are sceptial about it;
Front
SSB9026R ¥17,640
SSB9026L ¥17,640
Rear 　
SSB9027 ¥17,640 × 2
¥17,640 = approx $147 (@1 USD = approx. ¥120)

[carotman]

I wonder if KYB USA could just import these and solve our problem.

[epic1400cs]

I have sent an e-mail two years ago to KYB US but there was no reply.
If many of you guys ask about it, they might do something - like Japanese KYB suddenly start selling adjustable for our car after 20 years!
Irony is that there are only 30 of us in Japan with 3gen accord and I haven't heard anybody who have bought this KYB adjustables(don't ask me why! thats' just how things are in Japan)
The price ¥50,400 ($400-$500) seems to be the bottom price I have ever seen in Japan but the trouble is that the retailers tend not to ship to abroad due to the fact that many of them dont speak English.

By the way, the Super Special for Street Adjustable is low pressure gas shock.
The compression and rebound figure quoted (at 0.3m/sec) is avarage across the range - some models come with higher/lower figure.

[MessyHonda]

im just happy i found konis...but i will still email them

[epic1400cs]

Here is the direct link to KYB US contact page so guys do drop a line!

http://www.kyb.com/contact/

I have been reading KYB japanese site to see if there is anything interesting and found this article(sorry Japanese text)
http://www.kybclub.com/kybclubhtm/Excelg.shtml
It says that KYB Japan is selling Excel-G and Gas-A-Just for American and European cars in Japan.
It also says that Excel-G and all other premium shocks are made in Japan (sorry guys I was wrong) except for European cars - KYB Europe is designing and manufacturing in their own factory.
It means Excel-G and Just-A-Gas shocks are made in Japan and imported to US.
There must be a way to add our adjustable shock to this container.

[wprocomp]

price quote from my supplier $875shipped yowch nvm!

[snoopyloopy]

price quote from my supplier $875shipped yowch nvm!

tell me more. :) i'm slightly interested.

[fogged]

Holy shit batman. I want a pair. $875 now I know what to ask the wife for christmas! :jaw:

[frantik]

875 for all 4? cheaper than d2 coilovers still (though doesnt have the springs).. and waaaay cheaper than revalved konis (if u can even find them)

[snoopyloopy]

i'll take a set in a few months...

[labeledsk8r]

875 for all 4 is tempting.

on a side note hows the contacting KYB USA going?? anoy luck threw them? mayby they will be lower

[RobT5580]

I would try getting them through KYB USA because you certainly pay a premium going through a vendor in Japan. I can try my vendor when i get my computer back up and running.

[MessyHonda]

875 for all 4? cheaper than d2 coilovers still (though doesnt have the springs).. and waaaay cheaper than revalved konis (if u can even find them)



yeah last time i called koni they told me that it would be 110 per shock for a stock rebuild...not even shortening or external adjustment.

[mkymonkey]

hmm...im glad i came back. i need new shocks....is this still going down?

[knarg]

im getting my koni's rebuilt by the end of december

[epic1400cs]

yeah last time i called koni they told me that it would be 110 per shock for a stock rebuild...not even shortening or external adjustment.
I have got similar estimate from KONI uk a few years back.

-Extra groove £50(approx US$100) + tax + carriage for set of 4
-Exrternal adjustable £300(approx $600) + tax + carriage for set of 4

When they do modification, not groove, rebuild is included anyway.

[MessyHonda]

im thinking of just shortening because that is not adjustable. plus its always nice to have extra suspension travel even when you are lowered.

[knarg]

i thought it would be around 200 a corner for external adjust and shortening

[MessyHonda]

i thought it would be around 200 a corner for external adjust and shortening


modding accord specials to become sports. it will run me about $1200 minimum

[mkymonkey]

so how do i order some? i need new struts...so i might as well replace all of them and this seems like a good choice....sooo anyone know how to order? if i could read Japanese i wouldnt ask. lol

[88Accord-DX]

He is a translator, too bad we don't have a keypad to cross them words over to English. (cause it looks like chicken scratch to me)

http://dictionary.reference.com/translate/

[frantik]

i need me some of these.. at least for the rear my tokicos bouce too much

[fogged]

I want a set of these bad. I just know that if I try to order a set off that site, ill end up with ones for a Honda Fit. LOL!! :D

[mkymonkey]

yeah we need to find out how to order these.

[mkymonkey]

Bump Damnit! I Need To Know How To Order These :(:(:(:(:(:(:(

[snoopyloopy]

try wprocomp's supplier?

[epic1400cs]

I have heard an info that KYB Japan has stopped producing this adjustable shocks for our car.
When current stock runs out, thats it so if you are interested in, you guys should order them asap.
I don't know if this applies to non adjustables, though.

[wprocomp]

I can try to order some but whos gonna really be serious about paying me,I like helping the board out with parts when I can but when it comes time to actually buy the stuff nobody wants to pay-I mean did you guys even know RS*R made springs for our cars?prob not-I have a set they are really nice and give about 1.7/1.9 inch worth of drop-I would love to hook you guys up with these too maybe even get a group buy going-but I know once I bust out the price everyones gonna dissapear-not trying to be a dick about things but I need enough people willing to pay for this stuff if I am going to help you guys out

[mkymonkey]

add me to your list whenever it is you are going to get the shocks. about the springs...well im not sure i was going to put some ground control coilovers on them. unless you think these would be better.

and im true to my word. If i say add me on...please do. if no one else wants in on it...and you can get a set just for me that would be great...even if i have to pay a LITTLE (notice the emphasis on little lol) extra its no big deal.

thanks for doing this...or at least attempting

[epic1400cs]

I mean did you guys even know RS*R made springs for our cars?

F.Y.I.

F 5.5kg/mm, R 2.90kg/mm
F 45-40mm down, R 50-45mm down

Ti2000(titan added steel) ¥33,600
RS-R(steel) ¥22,050

http://www.rs-r.co.jp/ (http://www.rs-r.co.jp/)

[wprocomp]

F.Y.I.

F 5.5kg/mm, R 2.90kg/mm
F 45-40mm down, R 50-45mm down

Ti2000(titan added steel) ¥33,600
RS-R(steel) ¥22,050

http://www.rs-r.co.jp/ (http://www.rs-r.co.jp/)

Lol yasu I know you know-I think me and you know most of the Jp performance groups

[mkymonkey]

Lol yasu I know you know-I think me and you know most of the Jp performance groups

ok so what does that mean for me :(

[epic1400cs]

My mentor used RS-R on his Aerodeck for short time.
He noted that steering character is rather tricky - in mid speed, it had neutral to oversteer and in low speed it had very strong understeer.
He is comparing this with OEM kit and MLS(in Ohsaka) sus kit.
I am sure RS-R is making these springs based on calculation rather than based on R&D like H&R or Eibach do.
Just my 2 cents.

[Oldblueaccord]

http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60040

what about Legends D2 route ? this is more of a sure thing then what you guys are talking about .




wp

[ZackieDarko]

back from the dead


any updates?

[markmdz89hatch]

I'm still curious if anyone has come up with some real specs on these? How are they valved?

*EDIT: fUk it, I need to know for absolute fact. I'm on hold right now waiting to talk to someone there. As soon as I get any info I'll post it up.

**EDIT EDIT: Sh!t. So I'm still on my warpath, but here's what I have so far. KYB US (so far) will not get involved in importing these at all, as there's not enough of a market for them, and they do not want to do small group-buys at the moment. Apparently the Japanese division is the only KYB office that has true Racing Developement, and the US (and European) divisions select only some very select parts to bring over from Japan.

Before I do anything, I need to wait another week to speak with the Engineer at KYB US (...and yes, he does have training in Japanese only product lines as well) as he's out until next week. Once he's back in the office, I'll give him a call and try to get the actual lb.ratings on the compression and rebound valving of both the SR's and Super Specials. Once I get that, I have a phone number for a co-located warehouse for Japanese parts. I'm not going to bother trying to call them now and somehow struggle through the language barrier to find out if they have everything in stock until I find out the valving specs of each product line.

I'm not going to drop this one until I get to the bottom of it, so hang in there guys.

[EricW]

Interesting, thanks for the update.

[MessyHonda]

let me know before i send in my konis

[markmdz89hatch]

I'll let you know as soon as I get something guys. I plan on calling them either Thursday or Friday to find out.

On a side note, I figured what's the harm in calling Tokico to see if they would be willing to make their Illumina's or full-bodied c/o's depending on what sort of minimum order guarantee, and they wanted nothing to do with it. What really scares me about them is the fact that I spoke directly to one of their so-called 'engineers', and they didn't want to disclose their 'proprietary information' on the specs of their dampers. Damn fools, my response was: "without this 'proprietary information' I will not buy your products because I have no idea what springs would compliment them. Have a great day keeping your product collecting dust on the shelf or just blindly selling to the uneducated consumer. I have to go now, I want to go watch a rerun of the Koni Challenge I went to."

Dammit, why are some companies out there just to make a buck, and not care about the actual quality of their product.

If KYB falls through, I'm going to just jump into the big leagues and call Koni about their gas-a-justs, or Penske to see what they might have that can fit. Tein is on the short list too.

[Vanilla Sky]

So many shocks would only require small mods to fit our cars that it shouldn't take too much R&D to make dampers for us. They could even get away with using the valving we use for Bilsteins as their own.

[paul]

Will these have the same abysmal kyb quality of their other "performance" offerings?

[markmdz89hatch]

Will these have the same abysmal kyb quality of their other "performance" offerings?

While I'd love to say "No, these mean business", I can't say anything yet. That said, although the GR-2's are garbage for anything other then stock (..but they are a great stock replacement), I can say that i had AGX's on my 300Z, and they were insane. Very good dampers.

Just the 'For Street' as it says on the box in the first pic/post on this thread, I'm scared to find out what the tech is going to tell me. My guess (sorry, I'm the pessimist) is that they're not as beefy as we'd like to see.

[paul]

When I had my impreza, alot of guys were getting AGX's, good quality dampening, but I don't think anyone had a set that lasted more than 55k miles, would be awesome if these had some longevity!...

[markmdz89hatch]

paul --> You got me there. I can't attest to their longevity as I put maybe 10-15K on them until I sold the car, but up until the point that I sold the car, I loved the setup. I also admit that I didn't try any other setups, so I can't compare them to anything else on that same car either.

[markmdz89hatch]

Alright guys, here's the deal....

I just got off the phone with KYB US, who had one of their engineers call out to their Japan R&D/Engineering team to get the specs on these.


Will it be possible for us to get them?
Yes, but they'll cost you dearly for shipping. KYB US will not import them for us.

Onto the specs...
The Super Specials are basically a GR-2 made adjustable. Their mid setting will put you around 30% over stock, with the hardest setting getting up to 45% over stock.

How does this compare to the AGX?
The AGX (although not even produced for the 3G) ranges depending on which AGX is chosen. They come in two flavors, the 4-way adjustable, and the 8-way adjustable. The 4-way maxes out at about 90% firmer than stock, while the 8-way will net you a max of 123% firmer then stock.

*Again, as of right now, the AGX is not available for the 3G. I just mentioned it to put into perspective where the Super Specials fall in their product line offering.

If anyone is still interested in getting their hands on a set, just respond here and I'll put up a phone number for a warehouse in Australia (which is one of the only markets that get's the KYB Japan products aside from Japan).

I'll do the math in a few minutes and edit the posts with actual dampening rates based on the % increase on stock that I was given.

Edit: Here's a table for you guys to see what's what. Bare in mind though, that these are the REBOUND estimates only, not compression. But, when looking at a complimenting spring, it's more important (when dealing with only off the shelf product) to have the damper exceed the spring rate of any given spring choice. Also, remember, that much like an amp on a stereo where you NEVER run an amp at full gain, you should not choose a spring that's rate is equal or extremely close to that of the max rebound rate of a damper. KYB produces the GR-2 as an 'OEM REPLACEMENT' despite the 10-15% increase over stock. This is to help compensate for other suspension items (bushings, joints, stab.bars, etc) that may also be worn or tired. I try to keep a damper at minimum 10% stronger then the spring it's going to be paired with.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm178/mark_mdz/KYB_reboundtable-1.jpg

[markmdz89hatch]

ok, so next question,

What doors does the SuperSpecial open for us as far as springs that we can SAFELY pair with them and install on our cars?

Eibach Pro-Kit (304/97): The rear specs are fine, but you're pushing your luck up front.
H&R/Neuspeed (265/170): Should feel GREAT on the SS's.

Damn near every other spring available, or used-to-be available are still WAY too stiff for these SS's. To the tune of $800+ for this set by the time it gets to your doorstep, I personally would rather look at better performing options like revalved Bill's or Koni's. A bit more, but those can be built (or in Koni's case: rebuilt) to order.

On a side note, I put a little bug in the ear of the tech/engineer and sales guys that I spoke with to try and present the idea of tooling an AGX for our application. Oddly enough, and much unlike the responses I'm used to hearing, this was at least not an outright HELL NO.

[Vanilla Sky]

If I could get AGXs, I'd be buying a set. With the SSs that weak, then I know I'm not going to bother with them.