92Q Strut Replacement Question (Tokico Blues)

[pbedrosi]

My car is bouncing so much I'm starting to listen to Snoop and Dre.

I just ordered Tokico blues from ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...&rd=1)

I am now having difficulty ordering online an installation "kit". Usually the descriptions are confusing and kit contents are unknown.

Front Strut Mount: I know this is key for good install. I see KYB kits and Moog kits. KYB kit (SM5324) but I'm not sure what's included since the Moog kit (903910, and 903911) clearly shows the bearing that I should also replace..right?

Bellows - All parts sites list the Moog bellows for 4WS cars????

Rear shocks....What do I need? is there an upper and lower kit that is separate? Moog has MOK9775, which it lists for upper and shows 2 distinct looking rubber bushings/spacers.

I know a lot of guys went thorugh this, let me know what I need. OEM is not an option for me based on cost because I could just call Joe and take care of it all.

[96Qowner]

Darn ... Joe sells Tokico Blues as well as OEM, and has the boots, bumps, bushings and mounts, too.

Actually, call him for the remaining parts you need. So far, nobody has boasted about the better deal they got from someone other than Joe, except for the bare Tokico struts. (And then you have to find the rest of the stuff = not much savings, after all).

Furthermore, he'll stand by his stuff, easy to talk to, extremely knowledgeable, etc.

1-888-216-5328

[Edit] After checking, I stand corrected - the Moog and KYB parts appear to be about half of Joe's OEM. Mounts are mounts - but not sure about the 4WS description of the boots - I suspect the one boot fits all models. Your ebay struts may or may not include the bushings. I've always gotten mine from Joe, everything is included.

[pbedrosi]

Thanks for the info.

I have to imagine a bellow is a bellow for the Q. I checked Rock auto, seems like a good source, and they list the KYB strut mount as not including the bearing. I'm not sure if the bearing replacement is critical. It looks like a flat torrington (sp?) bearing of sorts. The car only has 78k miles, the only issue is single leaky rear shock, the strut bearings should be okay I'm guessing.

[AlabamaDan]

I just ordered Tokico blues from ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...&rd=1)

Good luck with that. I have a thread on it somewhere here with his name and number when you need it. I regret that I didn't buy from Joe.

[pbedrosi]

I'll let you know what happens with mine.

Where did you get your hardware?

[maxnix]

I checked Rock auto, seems like a good source....

OK, one more time. Call Joe. He is your friend, although you may not realize it yet.

[96Qowner]

I'm with maxnix, but if you're dead set on finding everything cheapest, at least get the kits with ALL the bearings and bushings. Suspension rubber doesn't last 15 years.

And, of course, a FSM wouldn't hurt. You can download a manual from this site:

http://phatg20.info/portal/index.php

You may have to register first, but I think it's free

And for $20 you can get the FSM and the TSBs from here (as per maxnix):

http://www.nissan-techinfo.com/infiniti/

[AlabamaDan]

Where did you get your hardware?

I haven't yet. (Saving $$.) Will order from Joe. On my Tokiko's I only saved like $30 and I don't think I get the lifetime warranty with them from this ebay dude. So really...I don't even know if I saved $ in the long run.

[pbedrosi]

Believe me I (painfully) know the value of OEM parts and R&D that goes into them vs. aftermarket. I'm trying to keep a 15 year old car going. For me to realize the full potential of OEM strut/shock hardware and bushings, I would have to replace all of the other bushings and dampers in the car.

Since the maintenance of the car is starting to eclipse the value of the car, I've decided to shave costs where I can but use OEM where critical. Plus, I'm going to sell the car is a year anyhow, and I would not have any moral issues with telling the next owner I used Tokico struts and Moog/Monroe mounting hardware. If I don't feel comfortable fully disclosing the replacement parts, then I go OEM.

Anyhow, I'm getting ahead of myself, we'll see how this simple strut replacement project goes. I may be eating my words but let's see.

[maxnix]

Believe me I (painfully) know the value of OEM parts and R&D that goes into them vs. aftermarket. I'm trying to keep a 15 year old car going. For me to realize the full potential of OEM strut/shock hardware and bushings, I would have to replace all of the other bushings and dampers in the car.

Since the maintenance of the car is starting to eclipse the value of the car, I've decided to shave costs where I can but use OEM where critical. Plus, I'm going to sell the car is a year anyhow, and I would not have any moral issues with telling the next owner I used Tokico struts and Moog/Monroe mounting hardware. If I don't feel comfortable fully disclosing the replacement parts, then I go OEM.

Anyhow, I'm getting ahead of myself, we'll see how this simple strut replacement project goes. I may be eating my words but let's see.

Few things are more critical than the suspension, brakes and tires on a vehicle. Yet some think these are the areas "to save money", but I say at what cost? Owners learn the hard way by spending more money that 98% of the time OEM from Joe is the least expensive.

Value is a personal thing, but how does one increase it by compromising the quality of the components used to maintain the car?

[Q45tech]

Since the maintenance of the car is starting to eclipse the value of the car,

And what else is new with a 12-18 year old V8 lux car.

That's the correlation when the depreciation goes to $3,000 the maintennce goes up and up and up so the buying price plus needed work always is double to triple $10,000.