2GN.ORG

Yeah, hate to break it to you Derek but the OEM Tokicos say USA right on them...

titan/ryan - I don't believe I said they weren't made in the USA... Nice try though.

OB wrote:Trying to keep a modern car all-OEM and/or all-American is an ignorant choice these days, since almost all of the best parts for these cars are aftermarket and/or made in other countries.

We will just have to agree to disagree about all-OEM and/or all-American being "ignorant"- it is my personal choice (obviously not your choice). Other than that, my friend, I really appreciate your advice.

So what is the difference between coilovers and, say, the Tokico Illuminas that came on the ACRs? They could be considered OEM since cars came from Belvidere with these as part of a performance package. Should I go this direction instead? Would these suit my style of driving better than coilovers? Would just ordering these be it or would I have to order other parts as well to adapt the car? Sorry to ask so many questions but I have no experience to draw on here.

And, for the sake of explaining why I am so hung up on OEM, when I had a Schwinn bike in high school, it went to the Schwinn dealer for a "tune-up" annually before the summer season and all of the accessories that I put on it were Schwinn accessories that I bought at the dealership so I guess I have a long history of being boring.

the tokico illuminas just have adjustable dampening on them. so you can make them softer or firmer. They are struts so you will just use your current springs with them and tophats. to me this would probably be a good option for you, however they are pretty expensive new. just look on moderns site, they sell them.

OB wrote:titan/ryan - I don't believe I said they weren't made in the USA... Nice try though.

NICE!

OK gramps here goes nothing:

A strut/spring combo is what your car has now. I assume you know what this looks like, but if not here's a picture:


A coilover is more or less the same thing, except the body is threaded with height adjusters so you can raise or lower the height of the car to your liking. If you wanted to, you could lower the car for summer time, and raise it back up to stock height or possibly higher for winter driving. Here is a pic of a coilover:



See how the top part is threaded and has the adjustment nut? That's how you raise/lower the car. Kind of a PITA, and you need an alignment when you change heights, but it's kind of nice for a DD too.

Now, the coilovers will help your car perform better, but they're not the only thing you'd need to change for a great handling car. Wider wheels, swaybars, strut bars etc all help there, so if you go this route, don't expect to hang with professional autox cars or anything.

As stated before, have your mechanic find the cause of the noise before throwing money at the car, because you may end up paying on something that didn't help you at all. If your mechanic does not have a set of noise sensors, go somewhere that does, and have them test to see where the noise is from. THEN you can decide whether you need/want coilovers, or can change out something else that may be cheaper and fix the noise.

I hope this helped, you damn newb!!!!

A couple links that also may help:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coilover

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacPherson_strut

TheRandom1 wrote:I hope this helped, you damn newb!!!!

Sean, God bless you, obviously you know exactly how to get through my thick skull and explain things in terms general enough for a dumb*** like me to understand.

Again, everyone... thanks for all of your help. I have a lot of studying to do before spending any money and now have a direction to go.

Gramps, IIRC, your stock SRT rims and tires wont fit under ACR Illuminas.

Midnight_Rider wrote:

TheRandom1 wrote:I hope this helped, you damn newb!!!!

Sean, God bless you, obviously you know exactly how to get through my thick skull and explain things in terms general enough for a dumb*** like me to understand.

Again, everyone... thanks for all of your help. I have a lot of studying to do before spending any money and now have a direction to go.

I hope that was not sarcasm.

FAC3L3SS wrote:Gramps, IIRC, your stock SRT rims and tires wont fit under ACR Illuminas.

Indeed, I was just telling him about the difference via PM.

OB wrote:

FAC3L3SS wrote:Gramps, IIRC, your stock SRT rims and tires wont fit under ACR Illuminas.

Indeed, I was just telling him about the difference via PM.

Sean - I'm pretty sure that was genuine. You did actually take the time to explain things in pretty great detail. You think it's sarcasm just because 95% of the time you don't do stuff like that.

That is absolutely true, Derek. I was mostly referring to how he put in the "obviously you know exactly how to get through my thick skull and explain things in terms general enough for a dumb*** like me to understand. " part.

If I helped, awesome. If not, GFYO! lol

FAC3L3SS wrote:Gramps, IIRC, your stock SRT rims and tires wont fit under ACR Illuminas.

This is true as the spring perch is the same hight as the non-srt neon. its sits lower. that is why they have 16 rims.

I know you want to go OEM but dont wast your money on Tokico 5-Way Adjustable Struts as they are $703.99 on modern. You could spend an extra $300 and get the BC. Well worth the money.

GFYO...Get (a) Fucking Yaris, Obviously...?

Derek -

BSTC....ACRs have 16 wheels?! Holy massive traction.

Midnight_Rider wrote: And, for the sake of explaining why I am so hung up on OEM, when I had a Schwinn bike in high school, it went to the Schwinn dealer for a "tune-up" annually before the summer season and all of the accessories that I put on it were Schwinn accessories that I bought at the dealership so I guess I have a long history of being boring.

emphasis on long grapms...

OB wrote:titan/ryan - I don't believe I said they weren't made in the USA... Nice try though.

titansxt wrote:

OB wrote:Mopar coilovers are made by KW in Germany. They are not in any way designed by Chrysler/Mopar, and they are not made in the USA. Tokico makes the stock suspension for all PL Neons, and they are based in Japan. I could go on all day. Trying to keep a modern car all-OEM and/or all-American is an ignorant choice these days, since almost all of the best parts for these cars are aftermarket and/or made in other countries.

Tokico OEM Manufacturing and Corporate Office
301 Mayde Road
Berea, KY 40403
Tel (859) 986-2359
Fax (859) 986-7114
www.tokicousa.com

OEM Manufacturing and Corporate Office
955 Warwick Road
P.O. Box 510
Harrodsburg, KY 40330
Tel (859) 734-9451
Fax (859) 734-5309
www.hitachi-hap.com

Yes, these are the actual production plants.

OB wrote:Tokico makes the stock suspension for all PL Neons, and they are based in Japan.

Yup, good old Kentucky, Japan.

^

Kentucky fried pei king noodles

Just because they have production plants in the USA doesn't mean they are based here

Tokico (USA) manufactures suspension components for the automotive aftermarket, as well as for auto manufacturers (OEMs). Parts include electronic throttle controls, drivetrain products, and alternators. Tokico (USA) maintains two factories in Kentucky and sales offices in California and Michigan. The company is a unit of Japan-based Tokico Ltd., which itself is one of several auto parts manufacturing companies that comprise the automotive systems unit of Hitachi.

Drop it already.

Right. They may truly be made in Japan, but they are OE / Mopar parts, and that's what Gramps wants, so that's what he'll get.

Genuine Honda parts it is!

heydockyle wrote:Genuine Honda parts it is!

If they fit, I'd put Honda parts on my neon.

Gramps:

Find out what is causing the clunking, and change it. Coils will corner better, let you lower the car, etc. But they will be stiffer. They'll be stiffer on long drives too, over speed bumps, regular bumps, pot holes, and every day driving. See if anyone in your area has a set and will let you drive or ride along.

THEY'RE FUCKING MADE IN AMERICA.




Just like Toyotas.

invujerry wrote:Gramps:

Find out what is causing the clunking, and change it. Coils will corner better, let you lower the car, etc. But they will be stiffer. They'll be stiffer on long drives too, over speed bumps, regular bumps, pot holes, and every day driving. See if anyone in your area has a set and will let you drive or ride along.

Good suggestion... I'll ask around. Thanks!

Sean, I was serious in my comment about thanking you. Really.

You will NEVER use coil-overs to their full potential, or probably even half.

And they'll make your kidneys hurt

I drove with full coils for 1.5 years on my 05 im 21(22 now) and my back would hurt after a good hour drive on the highway or similair roads

Last two posts- uh-oh, old farts like me don't need kidney-bouncing or backaches. Back to the drawing boad.

Yea sorry Gramps but it's not at all practical for you to go coilovers.

Buy new tophats, get MILD lowering springs (that match a stock spring rate) and some KYBs or Tokyos. Done 'n done.

Oh, and Kyle, every time I see your username, I think of that godamn "hey pretty thing" song.

"HEY DOCKYL LOCKYL LEMME LIGHT YOUR CANDLE CUZ AHH MAMA I'M SURE HARD TAH HANDLE NOW"