REVIEW: Progress springs & Tokico struts

**turfnnsurf** · 03-21-2003, 06:36 PM

I just want to preface this with a little note about what I was looking for as far as ride quality in my 89 SE-i coupe. When the car was stock the ride was very good, when I added the front Strut brace the feel of the car improved. I could take on/off Ramps more aggressively and general cornering was nice. That was still on Stock 14" wheels. My best friend has a 2000 Eclipse GT with Eibach springs front and rear, adjustable Koni front struts and TOKICO Illumina's in the rear. Well, his ride is tight as expected and handles very well but given all that, HE comments on how well my car takes turns and stays level with just the strut bar in front.

SO, my GOAL: Now that I got my 17" wheels on, I wanted to lower the car for aesthetics first, 2nd Greatly improve handling and 3rd tighten up the ride so that I no longer "float" over the road and last scare the shit out of my best friend by making my car handle and ride as well or better than his Eclipse.

This setup really makes me HAPPY!!: a member on 3GEEZ sold me his old(6 months) set of Progress Group springs with TOKICO HD's front and rear. After reading Jim's suspension thread fully and carefully, I decided I would try that setup first cause the price was very good and if the TOKICO's were not good enough for the rear I would get re-valved Koni's.

My review after the installation last week:
LOWERING: Front - claim was 2", actual was 2".
Rear - claim was 2", actual was 2" (this was bad because I was worried about my offset and rubbing, turns out my fear was warranted. I had to ad rubber spacers to raise it to 1 1/2")
http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?c...=1048300123069
http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?c...=1048300123069
http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?c...=1048300123069

RIDE: The Best way for me to explain it, is to take your drivers seat and steering wheel and bolt them into the front car of any wooden roller coaster. The only difference is that you can control the ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Turns are tight and crisp with only slight side roll, Nose braking dip is almost totally gone, and I now feel "ONE WITH THE ROAD"!!! When the car goes over a dip or bump, sure I feel it, but then that's it!!!! NO MORE bounce and settle after. This was a great investment for my taste... :super:

Brad

**StonedCold** · 03-21-2003, 07:49 PM

Hahha, wait a few weeks and see how far that great ride goes. The tokicos will loose their dampening, the 'smooth' bumps will be come things you can no longer stand. The dips are going to kill you because the tokicos do not have anywhere near the power to control those springs. Give it a month, and then tell us..tokicos BLOW.

**ACCORD EX** · 03-22-2003, 05:24 AM

i like the bouncing better !

anyway your car look really nice !

**civteck** · 03-22-2003, 08:46 AM

hope your happy with the ride quality, i have never had a complaint with that setup even with 4 people in the car. im not sure about the rear tho i would take out the spacer and just get an alignment. any alteration in height throws off the camber and caster. dont go to a pepboys or goodyear, as they set the specs to factory which is no longer correct for the altered height. theres a good place in farmingdale called the front end shop, they will make the necissary adj for the correct setup you have. pm me or e-mail me if you need their #. again good luck. oh yeah did you do anything with that lxi head i gave you?