Tokico warranty?

[NICONick]

OK, so about three weeks ago I installed a set of Tokico Blues and paired them up with a set of Sportlines, and I was experiencing some wheel hop and me and a friend go to install SPL's subframe bushing collars to get rid of the hop and we notice that not only one, but both of the rear struts are leaking...What the?

So, anyways, I'm just curious as to if anyone has dealt with the Tokico Warranty Dept. or if anyone could lead me in the right direction to get these replaced, thits been 3wks. and Tokico has a lifetime warranty.

[cmfireman]

I hate to say it, but DDGSXR told you so.

Blues are crap with lowering springs.

[NICONick]

OK, im sayin tho, 3 wks. ?

But has anyone had to ever go through the whole warranty game ?

[94_240sx]

I've read this somewhere. I think it was about AGX. If Sportline springs were used and shocks are blown, AGX will void the warranty. You might want to check if Tokico does the same.

[Razi]

Tokico Blues = kaboom

[adrianfromthecastle]

I hate to say it, but DDGSXR told you so.

[skydragoness]

Tokico Blues are just OEM replacements, like the equivalent of KYB GR2's, neither of which were meant for lowering springs, esp. ghey Sportlines that make the car ride on it's bumpstops half the time. Still have your orig boxes/ or paperwork I hope? You won't be able to pull a fast one on them, it's a LIMITED Lifetime warranty which mean they'll inspect them when they get sent back and will be able to tell by the marks on the piston shafts that the car was lowered (excessively). You could try sending them back, and in the meantime put your stock shocks and springs back in and sell the Sportlines. Perhaps try getting the adjustable Illumina's instead (although Koni Yellows and KYB AGX are better).

[NICONick]

Well if i dont get the warranty and get the blues replaced by Tokico then I will be going with the KYB AGX's. I had a trusted friend who rode with the sportlines and blues for two yers with no problems and i blow both my back shocks in 3 wks? I jus dont get it...but i called tokico and they said to talk to the distributor who i bought them from?? make sense?

KYB AGX's will be a better bet with the sportlines, I mean i can't scrap all the parts, that'd jus be wasting too much money. That I really don't have. So, AGX should be ok ?

[skydragoness]

You didn't read what I said about the Sportlines did you? They blow shocks for a reason, S13's aren't meant to ride that low on the stock strut design. If you want slammed, you have to get coilovers, if you want to lower the car w/o blowing your struts, you have to find a spring that lowers less than 1.5".

I hear a few people here and there saying they ran Sportlines w. _________ (insert whatever shock brand there) with no problems, but they will blow just give them time. Your friend is lucky so far but the Blues are not designed for that excessive of a drop. I wouldn't be warning you against them if I didn't have the experience happen to me. Back when I got my Sportlines, there were very few brands to choose from for the 240sx, however, now you have tons of companies to choose from. When my front AGX's blew on me, after exactly one year of conservative driving, I did my research and found out that AGX's can't handle anymore of a drop past 1.5-1.8" (Sportlines lower 2.2" front) I bought a new pair of front AGX's and swapped out the Sportlines for Suspension Technique springs. Almost 4 yrs now, and on my 2nd S13 (swapped them from the first one) and have yet to have a problem, plus they are stiffer, more predictable at the limit, and the car doesn't look 'tall' IMO (although jdmtytedriftwannabe's will disagree).

Consider it fair warning, you can sell the Sportlines no problem on Ebay, that's what I did. There's plenty of misinformed people out there who want to 'slam' their 240's.

[NICONick]

ok, so just to be clear, maybe if i go with a diff spring set-up the HP's will be alright? (ie. Tein S-Techs, or RSR's or something with not as much drop) I mean I'm just trying to figrue out the most economical way to do this due to the fact that I am on a limited budget although I don't want to cut any corners.

If that's the case I will buy new springs and sell the Sportlines on eBay and keep the HP's. I know everyone says that sportlines are strut-killers but I mean 3wks that has to be a record or something.

I need some guidance....please no flaming, I joined NICO to become well-informed. So, help me out here guys.
Modified by NICONick at 11:06 PM 6/26/2007

[PowerGrid06]

i have the blues and tein S springs. 10K and still all good.

[94_240sx]

ok, so just to be clear, maybe if i go with a diff spring set-up the HP's will be alright? (ie. Tein S-Techs, or RSR's or something with not as much drop)

Yes, you have better chance with other springs. I know many people have no problems for a long time with GR2+S.Tech, AGX+GF210, AGX+S.Tech, AGX+RSR...etc.

[NICONick]

Alright well, im supposed to hear back from the dealer i bought them from about some kind of warranty and hopefully I will be able to ge them replaced and in which case i will then sell the sportlines on ebay and buy a set of S.-Techs

Thanks Guys

[skydragoness]

IMO, Eibach Sportlines are a gimmicky spring, if you look at all the other brands (mainly Japanese brands) like Tanabe, Tein, RS*R, etc you'll see they don't drop anywhere near as much and the spring rates are better, they understand the S-chassis best.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Tokico sucks old crusty donkey balls for warranty. I blew one of their clutch master cylinders in less than 3 months of use, and they wouldn't warranty it. I tell everyone I can to stay the hell away from them. Crappy product with crappy support= crappy company.

[skydragoness]

^I've heard not so good things about them. KYB on the other hand, is pretty nice, although you usually deal w/ the distributor first. Which was TireRack, just make sure you get Grant, I think he's still our NICO rep.

[NICONick]

Yeh, I called Tokico and they said to go to the distributor and I'm still waiting on an email back from them about the whole warranty process. At this point it doesn't look or sound like I'm gonna get them warrantied.

I basically have two options here. #1 Replace the 2 blown/leaking rear shocks and get S-Techs#2 Replace the Blues w/ AGX's and keep the sportlines

I'm kind of on a limited budget here so what do you guys think my best option would be ?

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I would do whatever it takes to get the hell away from Tokico... but that is just me and my tokico-hate-filled blood.

[NICONick]

Well we don't need any biased suggestions. I'm just confused as to what I should do and what would be the most economical decision for my tight budget.

HELP me guys. Need that expert NICO opinion

[Thaddeus]

man, your getting all the help your asking for, ditch the sportlines.

[NICONick]

Yeah, thats what i was thinkin. I'm gonna ditch the sportlines, replace the rear HP's and go with the S-Techs.

Sound good guys ?

[94_240sx]

man, your getting all the help your asking for, ditch the sportlines.

You might want to read more about linear and progressive springs before you get a new set. Get linear. You are better off.

[NICONick]

Are S-Techs linear ? I think I'm gonna go with replacing the blues and going with the S-Techs.

Which linear springs would you recommend? (on my HP's)

[NICONick]

Anything ?

[skydragoness]

Are S-Techs linear ? I think I'm gonna go with replacing the blues and going with the S-Techs.

Which linear springs would you recommend? (on my HP's)

*sigh*

Come on' man. Exar Kun made a suspension FAQ (in the wheel/tire/suspension forum!) with ALL the spring rates for the current kits available, he did all the work for you:

zerothread/11638

If you look in there, you'll see that the S-techs are progressively rated.

You can get what I have: Suspension Techniques, they are linear, and a good price (they sell them in pairs for some reason). SummitRacing stocks them i believe.

Do you have your stock springs/struts? I would put them back in and sell the Sportlines on Ebay, and with the money from that you can get the springs you want, and then sell the Blues, and get AGX's instead. I don't know how serious you are about driving and whether or not you autocross or 'drift' your car but you are hindering yourself with the Blues, they are only 'slightly' firmer than the OEM 240sx shocks and they're just not going to pair well w/ any stiff spring at all. At least w/ the AGX's you can crank up the firmness according to what spring you will be using with them, but again, i do not know what your plans are for the car. People can talk trash on aftermarket springs/struts vs. coilovers, but the fact of the matter is, you have to find the right match. There's a lot of crappy, spongey springs out there that are labeled as 'performance' that are in fact not.

Good luck.

[NICONick]

Thanks for the help, and I really appreciate you not totally tearing me a new one.

I really don't forsee me doing any auto-Xing or drifitng anytime soon (within next yr or so) so I mean high performance suspension is just not something I need, I just want something that will improve the handling for daily driving and give me an aggressive stance.

So top of the line is not something I really need, and going back to stock is not something i can do because 2 of the 4 stock struts were blown. I'm going to replace the two blown blues and sell the sportlines for S-Techs and then save for some AGX's and sell the blues one i get enough for AGX's.

You guys think thats my best bet?

[skydragoness]

Yes. Like I said, ditch the Blues and the Sportlines, and you'll be fine.