Tokico Blues = less suspension travel?

[Nomad]

Rear struts:
The OEM rears on my P5 are Tokico and have the exact same number stamped on them as the Tokico blues. The only difference I see is a beefier sway bar bracket (nice if I choose aftermarket sway) and the strut body is taller by like an inch or more.

This equates, as I see it, to a decrease in suspension travel compared to stock since you'll be on the bumpstops sooner.

FYI - I've never had a problem with my rear OEM struts with Eibachs so far so I'll probably keep them as I prefer a little more suspension travel in case I need it.

Front Struts:
The OEM front struts are KYB. The Tokico Blues have a beefier sway braket (too much hassle to change front sway so it will stay) and seem to have the strut body about .5" taller than the OEM, again, decreasing available suspension travel and leaving you on the bumpstops sooner.

I've had Eibach ProKit on for about a year and a half and the front struts are now leaking. Damping is reduced and handling is on a downturn.


I'm thinking it might be worth it to put the fronts in and leave the rears till they need to be replaced. Also, for those on a budget, consider buying just the Tokico Blue fronts and OEM rears (same part number as blues) to save money.


Anyone think the damping built into the blues is better than OEM in the rear? Anyone have problems like being on the bumps more?
I thought this was interesting when I looked them over...

 

[MTV]

Good to know. Thanks man.

 

[Beau M]

Awesome info on the rears. Thank you sir.

 

[Not Jo3L]

Nice info..but I just bought new OEM fronts last summer and needed new rears (all that bump in the trunk)..so my situation is opposite of the money saving tip you just gave us.

 

[Nomad]

Also, by my hand-dyno method, the oem KYB front struts seem just a tad stiffer than the Tokicos, but the Tokico blues I have are a little older than the oem KYB.

Not sure this means anything as struts have multiple levels of damping - high speed bumps, low speed bumps and differences in bound and rebound.

 

[808MP5]

good info... never knew

 

[Nomad]

Now I'm beginning to wonder if I should just stick with the OEM fronts too. It would certainly be cheaper and the handling was fine before the 80K mile oem struts started leaking.