tokicos installed w/pics
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: monkton,md
Rep Power: 0 
tokicos installed w/pics
I installed the tokicos with my sportlines last night. There were a couple of problems with the install. I guess these struts are designed for '01 civics, and mine is an '03. First, the strut rods on the '03 factory front struts are larger than those on the tokicos. The problem with this is that the '03 front bumpstop/dustboot assemblies are to large and slide to the bottom of the tokico strut. I had to sinch the bumpstop tight with a wire to keep it at the top of the rod. Second, '01 civics have 14mm strut to knuckle bolts, '03 civics have 16mm bolts. Since my bolts didn't fit, I had to use an old caravan camber kit I had laying around. I will be replacing them with the '01 bolts next week. I am slightly agrivated at the moment. Otherwise, the fronts fit oe. The rears fit completely oe.
On a lighter note, the ride quality is excellent. Small bumps like bridge separations seem firmer, but large bumps and dips get sucked up quite well, not jaring like pissed off oe struts. As for handiling, weight transfer is much better controlled and the tires seem to stay on the road better.
Overall, the tokicos are good. They will probably be great after I work out these install issues and maybe call tokico and bitch them out.
bumpstop on oe strut
bumpstop on tokico
On a lighter note, the ride quality is excellent. Small bumps like bridge separations seem firmer, but large bumps and dips get sucked up quite well, not jaring like pissed off oe struts. As for handiling, weight transfer is much better controlled and the tires seem to stay on the road better.
Overall, the tokicos are good. They will probably be great after I work out these install issues and maybe call tokico and bitch them out.
bumpstop on oe strut bumpstop on tokico Last edited by slowvic; Jul 3, 2004 at 10:28 PM. Reason: adding pics
Registered!!
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 0
From: Saskatchewan, Canada
Rep Power: 303 would i see the same problems with an 02 or is the 02 more like an 01?
what kinda drop do you have with the sportsline?
good to hear the ride quality is good.....plan on getting some in the near future
what kinda drop do you have with the sportsline?
good to hear the ride quality is good.....plan on getting some in the near future
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: monkton,md
Rep Power: 0 Sorry, I don't know the differences across the years, but some people here do. I only know about the the difference in bolt sizes because I asked honda about that before I ordered the 01 bolts. I made an assumption about the strut rod size differences.
He can only tell us white people apart by the tone of our skin.
iTrader: (6)
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,563
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio, USA
Rep Power: 0 what do you mean you sinched the bumpstop with wire? what does SINCH mean? also how much are 01 bolts? a coupla bucks i presume?
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,823
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, CA
Rep Power: 401 
i have an 02 and we'll see how it goes with my install but i'm just glad to hear that they got a good ride to them! post pics asap!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 13,151
Likes: 3
From: Washington DC
Rep Power: 424 Switching to 14mm crash bolts won't solve your problem. You're going to need to drill the holes in the strut bracket to 16mm and then use the OEM bolts or a suitable camber kit. If you use 01 bolts, your knuckle will float all over the place.
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: monkton,md
Rep Power: 0 I've already thought about that. I just want to try the 14mm bolts with no camber kit to see how it works. I'll just move the wheel by hand instead of turning a cam bolt. If that doesn't work, then I will drill out the strut. It will probably be ok, the cam bolts were already to small for the knuckle and nothing moved for 15,000 miles. Still open to suggestion though. BTW pics are up.
Registered!!
iTrader: (13)
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,176
Likes: 3
From: Miami (Pembroke Pines), Florida
Rep Power: 453 sounds like tokico sucks. Maybe if we all stopped bitching at them for them to hurry and and release these, they coulda made them better. Probably just wanted to release them so we would shut up.
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 2
From: 4o8, California
Rep Power: 311 Anyone getting Javascript errors when you click on one of the pics? 
EDIT: I went to your profile and I can see the pics correctly.. dunno.
Also are you having any popping or coil binding noises when turning the steering wheel? Thanks.
EDIT: I went to your profile and I can see the pics correctly.. dunno.
Also are you having any popping or coil binding noises when turning the steering wheel? Thanks.
Last edited by flotsamm; Jul 4, 2004 at 10:08 AM.
Registered!!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 578
Likes: 0
From: Dallas "Big D", TX
Rep Power: 278 OK so the struts were made larger in late 2002, right? So to make these work properly for a 2002.5-2004 you need to drill here to a 16mm hole
and get bumpstops for a 2001, right?
If this is right where can i get 2001 bumpstops?
and get bumpstops for a 2001, right?
If this is right where can i get 2001 bumpstops?
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 2
From: 4o8, California
Rep Power: 311 No, you dont need to drill the tie rod hole bigger. They were referring to the two knuckle mounting bolts that connect the steering knuckle to the strut.
For the bumpstop/dust covers, you can use wire to hold them up like mentioned earlier. When I installed my Eibach Sportlines I trimmed my bumpstops. When you trim them they no longer stay up either since the top part is isnt snug anymore. So what I did was wedge a piece of rubber hose in between the bumpstop and strut piston, then superglued it to the bumpstop. Works great.
For the bumpstop/dust covers, you can use wire to hold them up like mentioned earlier. When I installed my Eibach Sportlines I trimmed my bumpstops. When you trim them they no longer stay up either since the top part is isnt snug anymore. So what I did was wedge a piece of rubber hose in between the bumpstop and strut piston, then superglued it to the bumpstop. Works great.
Last edited by flotsamm; Jul 4, 2004 at 12:42 PM.
Registered!!
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Rollinsford, New Hampshire, US
Rep Power: 0 ^^ Actually tokico is a very respectable company. If you actually read the thread, than you would've seen that he tried to put these on an 03 civic, when they are designed for 01-02. Read more carefully before you start bashing something.
God, no. Don't drill the tie rod hole. You will regret it, heavily.
And I just want to say that it was the bitchen and moaning that got the Tokicos. If the people were under so much pressure from us, then they shouldn't have lied from the get-go about the release. That's what they get for making their false promises.
And I just want to say that it was the bitchen and moaning that got the Tokicos. If the people were under so much pressure from us, then they shouldn't have lied from the get-go about the release. That's what they get for making their false promises.
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
From: monkton,md
Rep Power: 0 Ok, so the 14mm bolts don't work. I autocrossed today and on the way home I noticed that my steering wheel was crooked and the car was pulling left. By eyeballing the front wheels it looks like I may have lost some negative camber on the left side. I'm guessing the strut to knuckle bolts moved since they are too small for the knuckle. This sucks. Any suggestions?
Ricerus Maximus
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,926
Likes: 0
From: Statesboro, Georgia, US
Rep Power: 332 I installed my Tokico's today and they're great. Had a few snags getting the rears to go right in but that was probably in part to the fact that we drank beer all day.
So far they've ridden great. I didn't get any pics because someone stole the batteries out of my digicam, but i'll get some tomorrow. I installed my Tokicos with my Neuspeed Race springs and they still ride 100% better than stock. Most of the small bumps aren't even noticable and bumps that had potential to send me flying before are no longer a problem, even though I still avoid them. Bounce when steering was eliminated, the car is much more neutral and doesn't mind hard corners at all. These shocks are nowhere near Koni performance but for daily driving they are perfect so far. We'll see how theyhold up over the weeks to come. My alignment wasn't affected at all except for a decrease in rear negative camber. I'm still having an alignment done very soon but the Ingalls camber kit needs to get installed first. The Tokicos have leveled off the car and it sits like it should now. I'm still tucking tire in the rear but not as much as I was before.
For the sedan owners. Some of you have PM'ed me to see how these fair on the sedan. We have all experienced sagging of the rear with lowering speings. So far the Tokoco's have eliminated this altogether. My car is sitting level even with a full system, 2 jacks, 2 jack stands, full tool box and my stock struts in the rear. I'm not sure if these will eventually lose some of the oomph and sag a little but it's looking positive right now. If there's any questions PM me and I'll answer asap.
So far they've ridden great. I didn't get any pics because someone stole the batteries out of my digicam, but i'll get some tomorrow. I installed my Tokicos with my Neuspeed Race springs and they still ride 100% better than stock. Most of the small bumps aren't even noticable and bumps that had potential to send me flying before are no longer a problem, even though I still avoid them. Bounce when steering was eliminated, the car is much more neutral and doesn't mind hard corners at all. These shocks are nowhere near Koni performance but for daily driving they are perfect so far. We'll see how theyhold up over the weeks to come. My alignment wasn't affected at all except for a decrease in rear negative camber. I'm still having an alignment done very soon but the Ingalls camber kit needs to get installed first. The Tokicos have leveled off the car and it sits like it should now. I'm still tucking tire in the rear but not as much as I was before.
For the sedan owners. Some of you have PM'ed me to see how these fair on the sedan. We have all experienced sagging of the rear with lowering speings. So far the Tokoco's have eliminated this altogether. My car is sitting level even with a full system, 2 jacks, 2 jack stands, full tool box and my stock struts in the rear. I'm not sure if these will eventually lose some of the oomph and sag a little but it's looking positive right now. If there's any questions PM me and I'll answer asap.
Registered!!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 505
Likes: 0
From: 480
Rep Power: 0 Well i got my front tokico's installed today and i do need an alignment... the steering is off center and i think the toe is off. Other than that they're way better than my blown oe shocks and i think they're stiffer than new oe shocks. The rear ones go in tomorrow along with a camber kit and then i'll be able to give a better opinion on these
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 2
From: 4o8, California
Rep Power: 311
Originally Posted by half_n_half17
Well i got my front tokico's installed today and i do need an alignment... the steering is off center and i think the toe is off. Other than that they're way better than my blown oe shocks and i think they're stiffer than new oe shocks. The rear ones go in tomorrow along with a camber kit and then i'll be able to give a better opinion on these
Did you preload the suspension when you tightened up the bolts? My steering wheel was offf also, but I corrected it by preloading the suspension when tightening up the pinch bolts and top 3 nuts. Dunno.. worked for me.
