Tokico vs. Bilstein for 1st gen

[Skid]

My Tokico's need replacement. What's the relative merits of Bilstein's for my set-up?

I run 350F/175R springs, stock front swaybar, no rear swaybar, OEM Watts in rear (i.e. no rear panhard), Tokico dry settings have been usually #4F, #2 or #3R.

 

[lateapex911]

Common wisdom is that 350 is at the limit for Tokikos. Not sure about the Bilstein upper limits. Any rebuildable shock would be more adaptable, IMHO.

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Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]

 

[moto62]

Originally posted by Skid:
My Tokico's need replacement. What's the relative merits of Bilstein's for my set-up?

Bilsteins will allow you to run higher spring rates if you so choose.IMO the Bilsteins were also a much better damper than the Tokicos as far as feel and response to erratic driving maneuvers. Speak to Mike at ISC. He can give you more technical details on the Bilsteins.
http://www.iscracing.net/suspension_2.htm
Ray

 

[Skid]

I'll talk to ISC but what kind of spring rates get run with Bilsteins? And what do you do for a wet set-up if they are non-adjustable?

 

[bcarter]

Getting real technical here eh Mark ?? As you know, I also run the Tokicos, and prefer them simply because of the ease of adjustment. I also run the 350 / 175 springs. I think Steve ran 400 in front..

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G. Brooke Carter
Wheat Buckley Racing
# 10 Challenge Car
2003 Class Champion
Calgary, Alberta

 

[Skid]

Hey BC, keeping you in sight let alone kickin' yer a** next year is going to take more than horseshoes and a good draft. Now don't you be poaching here on my battle plan!

 

[bcarter]

Speaking of draft, we'll have a couple at the annual meeting on Saturday...

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G. Brooke Carter
Wheat Buckley Racing
# 10 Challenge Car
2003 Class Champion
Calgary, Alberta

 

[moto62]

I'll talk to ISC but what kind of spring rates get run with Bilsteins?[/B][/QUOTE]

I ran 450lb fr and 200lb rear,Racing Beat fr swaybar, stock rear swaybar and panhard rod. A friend of mine used 600fr,225r and that worked pretty good also.

Originally posted by Skid:
And what do you do for a wet set-up if they are non-adjustable?

Borrow some rain tires or leave it on the trailer

I never change to a 'wet' set up and the fact of the matter is, when I ran the Tokicos, the front struts would always be set on 5 and the rears on 2 so the decision to go to a non adj strut was easy.
Ray