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Compared to stock shocks, ride quality is stiffer (sometimes stiffer than I would like on rougher roads) but more stable(less bouncy), especially on the rear. The front and rear feels more balanced too. Ride quality over the very small speed bumps have also improved, but bigger ones remain a pain to go over. It may have raised ride height about half an inch or so. Better handling also with less body lean. Paid $336 for the set of four and $125 for install.
Last edited by dalaw : 07-20-2007 at 02:18 AM.
Reason: added prices and pics
I am on my second pair of tokico blues. My first pair was installed with H&R springs which were used. My new set up uses tein springs for a smoother ride. These shocks are OK for non adjustables.
Blues are a good setup for stock springs all the way to drops up to 1.5".. I love mine, on pro-kit springs bumps feel like stock, but I still get the handling of lowering springs... and getting blues and springs seperate are way cheaper than coilovers too
well im gonna be posting a review once i get em installed. stock put up a good fight tho almost 2 yrs on lowered prokit (5 yrs total on the car) before finally giving out.
dumb question, but are the tokicos shocks/struts? I know the spring is different, but people always say replace the struts and shocks...i was under the impression that it was one piece!
You have struts on the civic but to answer your question.
Shocks and struts are two different parts that perform similar functions on various suspension systems
Shock absorbers" are physically separated from the car's springs. A "strut," on the other hand, is a shock absorber with a spring that fits around it. Struts are common these days because they save space. But they cost more because the springs have to be removed before the "shock absorber" part of the strut can be replaced. And removing springs is a job that requires special tools--most importantly, a Bronko Nagurski football helmet!
Or:
For strut suspensions, the spring is held by the strutwith the strut providing structural support for thevehicle. Struts are most common on cars. Shocks, on the other hand, are mounted directly to the vehicle’s frame on one end and the lower suspension on the other. Shocks provide no structural support for the vehicle. Shocks are most common on trucks,vans and SUVs.
I did a search and I was kinda wrong, this came directly from KONI's web site.
"Shocks and struts are similar in that they both damp (slow down) the vehicles motion. The key difference of a strut vs. a shock is that a shock only controls the cars motion while a strut is a locating member of the suspension. What this means is that if you remove a shock the spindle or axle will still be completely attached to the vehicle. If you remove a strut the spindle or axle will be able to move outside of its normal motion. Shocks and struts may or may not have a spring mounted to them either. It is often assumed that any damper with a spring is a strut, this is not the case."
so buying the tokico shocks means i will need to buy struts? i was going for tokicos and neuspeed sport springs.. the shocks do come with dampers? a little off topic the drum on the back looks like crap! any high heat paint brands u can think? don't say convert b/c I can't afford it.
The fact that the tokico shock acts as a stress member of your suspension makes it a strut.
So all you will need to do is buy the Blues and rent or borrow a spring compressor, pick up a 12 pack of cold beer, grab a buddie and kill a few hrs...
There is a good DIY somewhee around here. Just do a search for it.
thanks for the input, 12 pk of Boston Lager sounds good, though I think i'll get a local mechanic to do the spring compression lol. heard too many horror stories about the spring coming off and going through the roof lol....how long do u think it will take someone to put the shocks and the springs on? should i lower first or put the kaminari kit on then lower it?
lower first. takes a shop 3-4 hrs if nothing goes wrong. big job. get the set of tokico and lowering spring of your choice below 2 inch drop. i think we have strut in front and shock in rear, doesnt matter youre just replacing it with new stuff
I have tokico/stock springs over a year and a half now...I have 215/45/17 wheels and the ride improved dramatically...$325 for parts and installation was free because I did it...got alignment a week after...best money spent..
Re: Tokico HP (blues) with stock springs 
