Source for '94 Q45 Rear Shocks? Online shopping is a disaster.

[TellarHK]

The only problem [besides life] in after market or off brand [non oem] shocks is how do you actually measure the compression and expansion parameters to see if they are even close to match vehicle requirements.

Rears at 1 foot per second rate: 186-251 pounds resisting expansion48-71 pounds resisting compressionThe higher numbers are brand new The lower numbers are worn out and exhausted.Hopefully one sees that the shocks should be ~~~ 4x stiffer to pull out than to push in.

The other problem is the entire range of the shock is 7" so from the midpoint ~~ 3.5" so how do you pull in 0.3 second and extert 250 pounds smoothly. Impossible without a $3,000 test machine.

Oh, in all the slapfighting I was watching take place, it was easy to read this and not comment. Thanks for chiming in, I was hoping you might have some input. (And for the record, I -am- ordering the Tokico's, I just have to wait until I get my money refunded from the online places.)

How tough are front shocks to replace, for your typical "shade tree" mechanic type? The friend of mine that's willing to take care of them for me says he shouldn't have a problem if I can get the parts and a spring compressor, as he's done shocks on a lot of cars before, but I'm wondering if I should see about spending more and taking it to my mechanic? Is there anything particularly difficult about the G50's?

[BLACKonBLACK98]

i wouldn't go that far... what is commonly available at parts stores is usually towards the bottom of the barrel. mcdonalds is well known for hamburgers. that doesn't make them a great example of what a hamburger should be.

don't let all this non-sense and misinformation distract you, tokico is the right choice for oem replacment.

[Infinitiguy19]

And of all the brands you mentioned? The only ones your typical consumer are ever going to see are Delco and Bilstein in vast swaths of the country. Monroe's _the_ big name, domestically. Tokico might be good, but if you can't buy them at NAPA, Autozone, Kragen, or any other retailer? Guess what? They're not known.

Just because something is unknown doesn't mean its not good. Take BG quick clean for example, you can't buy it in a auto parts store because its dealer only. the reason being is because there are a lot of dumb people who buy stuff throw them in there car with out reading the instructions and expect it to work, now that may fly for Walmart and Autozone crap but not stuff like BG products.

How tough are front shocks to replace, for your typical "shade tree" mechanic type? The friend of mine that's willing to take care of them for me says he shouldn't have a problem if I can get the parts and a spring compressor, as he's done shocks on a lot of cars before, but I'm wondering if I should see about spending more and taking it to my mechanic? Is there anything particularly difficult about the G50's?

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/1994_Q45/fa.pdf http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/1994_Q45/ra.pdf

[TellarHK]

I'm not knocking the quality of any of those parts, far from it. I think you're misreading my statement about "known" brands, and getting it mixed up with some imaginary quality debate. I'm not arguing that any of those brands have problems, my -only- remark was on the fact that those brands are not commonly known. If you go to an auto parts counter anyplace in the US that isn't brand-specific, and ask for shocks, more often than not they're going to come back with a Monroe. That's all I'm saying.

There's a real combative tendency on this forum, so I think a lot of people just assume the worst.

I have the FSM files, and went through those in regards to the rear suspension with my friend, but as useful as they are, they leave a few things ambiguous such as the upper mount point on the rear shocks. They illustrate the parts, but it's unclear as to what parts of the car's interior he'll have to remove to get at the bolts, if any. Haven't gone over the front shocks with him yet, as I wasn't originally planning on replacing those until finding out about the low price of a full set from IoS.

[BLACKonBLACK98]

rear shock mounts are accessed by removing the trunk trim.

the attitude around here is definitely a little rough. some might call it tough love, others abuse.

the fact of the matter is it's a 20(ish) year old car and maintenance has been perfected to a science. even those that don't really know what they are talking about can quote those who do.
Modified by BLACKonBLACK98 at 10:25 AM 5/18/2009

[unknown007]

i wouldn't go that far... what is commonly available at parts stores is usually towards the bottom of the barrel. mcdonalds is well known for hamburgers. that doesn't make them a great example of what a hamburger should be.

don't let all this non-sense and misinformation distract you, tokico is the right choice for oem replacment.

Yezir Tokico are one of the best as what I hear. Most car's or people who try to go oem will choose Tokico.They drive pretty smooth.If I'm correct Mike has Tokico struts and it felt smooth when I drove it.

[TellarHK]

Thanks, wasn't sure if it looked like it was going to be accessed through the trunk or through the rear of the car with a deck removal. Gotta love how easily the bottom of the rear seats pop out, at least.

[goody90q45]

.......How tough are front shocks to replace, for your typical "shade tree" mechanic type? The friend of mine that's willing to take care of them for me says he shouldn't have a problem if I can get the parts and a spring compressor......Is there anything particularly difficult about the G50's?

I can't speak for the active or touring models but changing shocks (or is it struts?) on a base G50 is very easy. The spring compressor is not needed until until the assembly is out. Unbolt top and bottom, raise and lower the lower control arm manually and the spring and strut assembly will pull out.

Once you have it off the car, mark (etch) the position of the rubber pad (bump stop?) to the spring ends and the metal cup it sits in so it goes back together the same way and then break out the spring compressor and have at it. The two links that Paul posted have excellent diagrams showing the replaceable (rubber) bushings, two sets per strut IIRC.

[tbeitzinger]

I realize I'm coming into the post a little late. I need to replace my rears at a minimum. I want to go with the "blues". Other than IOS, can anyone recommend an online place to purchase them? Obviously, I don't want to go with the previously mentioned partstrain.com place(s). None of my local foreign parts stores can get them for me either.

Lastly, is there any other parts I should have on hand to replace at the same time? Such as rubber bump stops, spring perch rubber, etc. I haven't looked up in their in a while and I don't yet own a FSM.

Thanks

[unknown007]

You own a FSM now.http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/1995_Q45/1995_Q45/

[tbeitzinger]

Thanks man! That's sweet. Got em now.

[unknown007]

Thanks man! That's sweet. Got em now.

Welcome just keep us posted if you urn into problems.Good luck.Dont forget to get new boots.

[AlabamaDan]

I got my tokiko blues of ebay for my Q. My maintenance log shows:

HU2892 2 TOKICO BLUES REAR 716 0 REAR TOKICOS $128.50

It was easy. I bought a pair of spring compressors for about $30. I've used them to replace shocks/struts on my Q, my QX4 and my friend's QX4.

[BadQ45t]

Without throwing sticks and stones, the Monroes are just inferior product. They are no typically used on Japanese cars and for the most part they are junk. They will not last very long and the labor is a big component of doing tihs work.

Most Japanese cars have Tokiko or KYB as standard equipment and even in those product lines there are various levels of quality. For the G50 the Tokiko is the best way to go as they are OEM quality...the Y33 used KYB's and you can upgrade to the KYB SR Specials which are best bet in quality.

Overall in 20+ years of owning Toyota's and Nissan's the best bet for replacement if you care about the handling and ride of your car is KYB, Koni, Tokiko or Bilstein. Monroe are the bottom of the barrel, but the brand is very well known as they are sold at Firestone, Sears etc. but I equate them with cars that have no interest in performance, which the Q clearly has.

Sorry sometimes these guys make it personal.