tokico blacks vs. blues

[gloucester Q]

i'm sure this question's been beat to death around here before, but could anybody comment specifically on living in new england, or some similarly crappily paved area, with the blues? there are times that i'm sure i've seen better roads in 3rd world countries. the highways are fine, it's the around-town roads that leave a ton to be desired. thanks. randy

[nuQ]

i think it really depends on what you're looking for. for myself, i prefer the handling, the cornering and throwing my Q around so i am definitly going to be getting the blues. but, there are some of us here, who prefer the comfort and smooth cruising of the Q that will go with the blacks. the blues will give you a harsher ride than the blacks, but a firmer ride.

[qship96]

I live in Baltimore county,so I am familiar with crappy,pot hole filled roadways and put the blues on 38,000 miles ago-vary happy with the results-more control and feel than the oem`s-but with performance oriented tires and suspension design,the q is no ls400 in the ride department-more like a 4 door z,and that is a good thing!

[Clipboard]

FWIW, I'm in the sh***y roads capitol of the US, the local stereets, the roads, and the so-called Interstate are terrible. I've got the blues - and didn't know there were any others - and I'm darn glad for the control factor alone. The comfort and smooth ride are there when the roads are.And nuQ: I've got some 8x16 Gotti rims and want the ES100s - how do you like them? I'll be keeping my 15" piepans with Bridgestone HP50s for winter.john

[Q45tech]

New Blacks are about as stiff as 15-20,000 mile Blues depending on the ambient temperature.For the last 217,000 miles I've used Blues on the rear and Blacks on the front. Currently the rear Blues are noticeably different after 27,000 miles but will stiffen up a tad in winter.

The oem Black fronts were just replaced 7,000 miles ago so.

If you use Eibach springs you must use Blues at least on the rear, BECAUSE the Blacks on the rear will wash out and lose control immediately as the 123 lb stock rear springs are increased progressively from 130, 150, 200 as they compress in 1" increments. Whereas the front Eibachs are a fixed [not progressive 167 lbs vs stock 146 lbs per inch]...........the Blacks seem to be able to handle the extra 15% for close to 50-60,000 miles or 4 years.

Inexpensive non adjustables always vary alot with temperature [even though they promise they don't].

If you install Blue rears always do it in the late Spring so the Summer heat lets them feel softer till they break in.

I changed shocks roughly at 50k, 120k, 180krear-200k front, and 240k rear, 260k front.

[QShip]

I use blues in the front and the back. However, they do get tiresome on crappy roads.

[PalmerWMD]

Irun Blues all around to back up my Eibachs.real happy combination for me,yes the rides a bit stiffer but I gladly trade that off for improved control.

Fred..

[Jeff Williams]

I think I live in the smooth road capital of the country.

Definitely Blues on both my cars. I have never ridden with new fresh Blacks, so I don't have any comparison, but I am a performance-oriented driver.

The black car has shot shocks, but rides so smooth, with the 15" wheels and 216/65/15 Yokohamas, compared to the Blues with the 17" wheels and 255/45/17 Sumitomos.

I am going to keep the 15" wheels, just to have a nice quiet ride, when I want one.

[Q45denver]

Is there any difference between the front and rear OEM springs on a 1990 Q45? I put Eibachs on mine many years ago and want to go back to the stock springs and can't remember which ones went on front and which ones were on the rear. Also what is the best i.e. cheapest source for the black Tokicos?

[PoorManQ45]

Has anybody seen the coilovers that Tokico makes for the Q45? Are they real coilovers? Or are they just shocks with springs around them? I have seen them on the internet for ~$90. If they are real coilovers, that is a steal.

[AZhitman]

Got a link?

[Q45tech]

Are you trying to explain the difference between a fixed shock lower spring seat and an adjustable one ..........coilovers vs Real coilovers???????

[gloucester Q]

qship, i was noticing today just how washboarded even the highways in my little town are--i assume you must have some washboarding in ct--that could be a pain in the ***. i guess i'm surprised to find myself leaning towards comfort as opposed to sport, but i think i'll be happy to leave the sport for another car. in no rush to decide so i've still got time to think about it.

[PoorManQ45]

Here's the link for the Tokico Coilovers for the Q45.

http://www.performancepartswho....html

[PoorManQ45]

Are you trying to explain the difference between a fixed shock lower spring seat and an adjustable one ..........coilovers vs Real coilovers???????

What some people call a coilover is really just a shock that goes through the spring/coil.

On a real coilover, the spring is seated on the shock. Usually the seat is adjustable. On cheap coilovers, the seat is not adjustable.