struts and springs questions

[tyro]

this isn't camry specific but i didn't know where else to put it.

I'm new in this subject and i just have a few questions.

What do springs do for a car? and what do struts do for a car?

If struts offer a stiff ride, does it ride more like suv's tend to? If they offer a smooth ride, is it more like some of the luxury cars?

How do they ride going over bumps?

What is the "pogo" effect?


What do I want, smooth/firm etc... if I don't want to feel every bump/crack/pothole in the road, but at the same time I don't want to get a lot of that floating feeling at the first bump or crack? Does that mean I want something in between? I'm pretty clueless about this stuff...if anyone has material on suspension...I'd appreciate it.

[Nick]

springs hold your car, make sure that the wheel has some travel

struts/shocks are there to stop the ocillation from the spring

[yanks0114]

From what you described, you want an aftermarket suspension. The tokico/eibach combination offers a smooth ride, but is very compliant when you want performance out of it. At higher speeds, it gets rid of the floating effect that plagues the stock suspension. Its really worth the upgrade. You won't feel every bump, but of course a road that is in terrible shape will be a pain. That is also true, even if you were on the stock suspension though.

The pogo effect is usually because people do not upgrade sturts when they do lowering springs. After about 6 months of use with lowering springs, the OEM struts will be worn out. Once they wear out, the ride because excessively bouncy.

Currently there is a group buy on the tokico struts and eibach springs. Also available are the vogtland springs.

[jwa276]

i would say definitely go with tokicos for your situation. as for springs, you have several choices..

-eibach: safe every time, good ride quality
-sprint: low drop (more in back), slightly harsher ride
-intrax: decent drop, stiffer ride from stock
-whiteline: very low and EVEN drop, still comfortable ride

if you are going for a lowered look, i suggest you go with the whiteline.. if you are wanting a way to tune up the susupension, i would recommend eibachs

jon

[woshiagni]

Originally posted by jwa276
i would say definitely go with tokicos for your situation. as for springs, you have several choices..

-eibach: safe every time, good ride quality
-sprint: low drop (more in back), slightly harsher ride
-intrax: decent drop, stiffer ride from stock
-whiteline: very low and EVEN drop, still comfortable ride

if you are going for a lowered look, i suggest you go with the whiteline.. if you are wanting a way to tune up the susupension, i would recommend eibachs

jon

Don't forget H&R's!
Also safe every time, good ride quality. tyro, for your gen4 the Eibach Camry and Solara springs will fit, but the Solara springs have a bigger drop. The H&R's are between the two Eibach sets.

[tyro]

H&R sounds good, since I don't really want to drop the car much. However I do want to get IS300 rims some time when i have the money....

thanks for the info guys

[tyro]

what do you all make of this??

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Similar Products Used:
I used Tokico gas shocks on my 1990 300zx and had problems with them. The Tokico's worked very well for the first 4 months, then one of the went flat on me and I had to send it back to the manufacturer to get a new one. Afterwards my problems increased. It seemed as though the more I drove the rougher shocks became. You will definately feel every bump in the road with these shocks. Stay away from Tokicos because they are very poor quality shock absorbers.
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from http://www.carreview.com/Suspension/...6_2880crx.aspx

[woshiagni]

Originally posted by tyro
what do you all make of this??

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Similar Products Used:
I used Tokico gas shocks on my 1990 300zx and had problems with them. The Tokico's worked very well for the first 4 months, then one of the went flat on me and I had to send it back to the manufacturer to get a new one. Afterwards my problems increased. It seemed as though the more I drove the rougher shocks became. You will definately feel every bump in the road with these shocks. Stay away from Tokicos because they are very poor quality shock absorbers.
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from http://www.carreview.com/Suspension/...6_2880crx.aspx

I read something similar on the Maxima forums, but according to another member on this board (soundlrd?), he had a bad experience selling KYB's and only carries Tokicos now. I'm not sure about KYB and Bilstein (the other two major manufacturers of performance struts for the gen4 Camry), but Tokicos have lifetime warranties.

I think given the volume of sales, no matter what company you pick, sooner or later you'll hear stories of an occasional lemon or failure.

[yanks0114]

I have never used the KYBs but I have heard many horror stories about them. The blistens for the solara (should be the same struts for the gen4 camry) were way too stiff. A lot of guys who bought them when they were sold as TRD ended up switching to tokicos

[rpj1984]

Now guys, lets not go bashing certain products(KYB) unless you have personal experience.
I have Sprint/KYB combo and I am very happy with it. I drive 60miles everyday to college and have not had a bad experience.
Ryan