shock help

[Quest]

I have read all of the threads in this suspension area, but I guess my mind is still not made up. I plan on getting the Ground Control coilovers but I don't know which shocks to get. From what I hear around this Forum, stay away from the KYBs. But the guys at Ground Control told me that they were a good fit for the Eclipse. Also, If I bought them at the same time, GC would send me the coilover setup all put together with the perch/spring built onto the shock instead of placed over. So once again, I am at square 1. What shocks do I get? I have a 2g NT eclipse. I am not racing the car. I want to drop it 1.5-2 inches but want to maintain the best ride possible. I hear everyone talking about the tokico illuminas, but I have also heard that they are super stiff. I hear the Konis are good to go with, but I don't think you can adjust the shocks without taking them off of the car. I don't know anything about GAB. I am looking to purchase a coilover setup within the next 2 weeks. Any advise would be appreciated.

[Quest]

I know there are a lot of folks with lowered 2Gs, I would appreciate any suspension advise

[speeding_gsx]

Quest,

Honestly, I'm not to sure about the coilovers, but let me tell you about the struts. I have the Tokico Illuminas and have no complaints. The adjustability makes them great, just a little knob on the top of the strut that can be adjustest with the hood up [and that's all]. I have read discussions that state 'stay away' but if you're going for opinions on suspension setup ... I'll give mine, and the Illuminas a thumbs up.

[Quest]

What is wrong with the KYB AGXs? Everywhere I read, people say that if you are going to lower your car more than 2 inches, stay away from these. I called ground-control and they are trying to sell me the KYBs? They say that there are no problems and that they are good all-around shocks (for daily driving). I don't know who to believe.

[bill9009]

who knows maybe they only sell kyb abd are tryin to make money, oh and u can adjust konis by lifting the hood or hatch and turnin a knob unless u have a 1g which u dont then i think u have to take them off to adjust them in the rear, well yea i have heard that the tokicos were stiff compared to stock but the konis were alot closer to stock on the softest setting

[sids]

any shocks out there that give better ride quality than stock? like quest am not racing the car, just want to make more enjoyable on long trips, oh BTW mines a 2g gst

[sids]

any shocks out there that give better ride quality than stock? like quest am not racing the car, just want to make more enjoyable on long trips, oh BTW mines a 2g gst

[slickseth]

KYB GR-2s are just fine for your particular application. People like to claim that they are low quality simply because theyre less expensive. Some how it makes them feel better about how much they spent on their setup. They are, however, great quality, a definite upgrade from stock, a perfect OEM fit, and they cost less than OEM. They arent adjustable, but you probably wont have much use for adjustability if you dont do any racing. They have firmer damping, and are a great match for stiffer, lowered springs.

[turbo2000pa]

I'm running Tokico Illumina's right now with stock springs on my GS-T. They are excellent from my experience so far. The car handles so much better now, plus I have the option to adjust the ride quality. Excellent warranty too, can't beat them for the price.

I was orgionally planned on purchasing KYB AGX shocks, but an actual KYB rep told me that the rear AGX shocks are currently being redesigned to work better with lowered 2g's. He made me aware that the rear shocks my bottom out if lowered. That was back in October, so they may have the new ones out already.

[Nick 92 TSi AWD]

Not trying to start a flame war but;
every set I see seems to have completely different valving and they don't last long at all they have too much HSC dampening and not enough compression dampening I do think they are low quality. I've riden in two cars with new (no more than 5k on either) AGXs with H&R springs, the same tires, and the same tire pressures; one rode like a brick shithouse and the other was soft as hell. I know a lot of people that had KYBs and blew them out within one season of autoX, only heard of one guy blowing out his konis. That was after 3 seasons and he had REALLY high spring rates. In every application (DSMs, Hondas, and Nissans) I have seen KYBs used in they all exhibit the same problems:
inconsistant valving from one set to another

too much high speed compression dampening, you will FEEL every expansion crack, small bump, pothole, etc...

not enough rebound dampening for the compresion dampening, body roll was too quick and unpredictable (shocks control the rate at which your body rolls, spring rates determine how far it rolls).

My .02 cents worth is get Tokicos or Konis, the konis tend to ride slightly better, but not a whole hell of a lot.

KYB is the OE manufacturer BTW.

I bought the GSX from my friend with the konis so I'm not trying to justify any extra money I spent or anything, since I wasn't the one who spent it.