NC Shock Absorber recommendation

minipete · Postby **minipete** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 11:30 am

I had one shock go on my NC at 23000km and now a second one has gone at 36000km.

I want a good ride quality so not interested in sports coilovers.

I had my mind set on Boge shocks as they are a standard replacement item but the shock guy reckons that Konis are a much better shock, will last the life of the car and would give a better ride than the Boge or the standard shocks.

Anyone used Boge or Koni and can comment?

Pete

Postby **NitroDann** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 11:37 am

just buy the konis.

Dann

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:03 pm

Second on koni. boge has got better but konis are still better.

As for lasting the life of the car that depends on how long you have the car for. they still wear out, but are easily refreshed (seals and fluids) or revalved to suit your desires.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Sailor · Postby **Sailor** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:07 am

You will not and cannot go past a set of Tokico HTS adjustables.
Couple them with a set of Fatcat bumpstops and you will get a ride quality and performance that you will not better.
I put this setup on my car and was astounded at just how good it was, Tokico have got the valving absolutely correct for the NC and importing from Shox.com will see a deal that will get you 2 sets for the price of one Koni set bought locally.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 1:33 pm

Sailor, I'm not doubting that Tokico make good gear, but that's quite a far-sweeping statement.
Have you dríven dozens of NC's with different damper/spring combinations?

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 3:48 pm

Sailor wrote:You will not and cannot go past a set of Tokico HTS adjustables.
Couple them with a set of Fatcat bumpstops and you will get a ride quality and performance that you will not better.
I put this setup on my car and was astounded at just how good it was, Tokico have got the valving absolutely correct for the NC and importing from Shox.com will see a deal that will get you 2 sets for the price of one Koni set bought locally.

Interesting, as if you bought the Koni's and Eibachs from Shox you would be very close to the price of the Tokico's and springs from them.. Tokico were very good in my experience which was many years ago on LA lancers so i was interested to hear your opinion Sailor.

I was happy with Bilstein (non adjustables) and Eibach Pro kit springs that were fitted to my NC by the previous owner, great ride/handling and with ride height at about 330mm looked sensational.

Pity in some ways that the various clubs don't have some comparison days where you can have a ride in cars fitted with different suspensions, listen to exhausts, look at mods like style/roll bars and seats etc. Very hard to be objective in these purchases without first hand experience and in some ways a modification with no reference point is like the guy who trades an old cluncker and buys the first car he drives because it is SO much better than what he had, but with no idea what others are like!!!( Not suggesting that that is what you did Sailor for all i know you may have dríven heaps of different set ups, or be savvy enough to know a good set up when you park your bum in it!)

Peter.

Sailor · Postby **Sailor** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 5:45 pm

1red5 wrote:Sailor, I'm not doubting that Tokico make good gear, but that's quite a far-sweeping statement.
Have you dríven dozens of NC's with different damper/spring combinations?

Indeed it is.

I drove 3 NCs with std springs (and that's what we're talking about here) with my OEM Bilsteins, a set of Bilstein sports and the Koni sport (IIRC)
I didn't like any so pulled the trigger on the Tokico hoping that they would do the job and after talking to a number of guys using them in the US.
The OEM spring, Tokico HTS and Fatcat stops eclipse the others.....only downside, they are sealed so not rebuildable.
Frankly when a set of shocks is worn out, I'd rather replace than rebuild unless I had paid for say...my Ohlins.

My comments stand and when I sold the shocks and went to a far higher spec spring/damper combination the current owner running Eibachs is also extremely impressed with his setup

minipete · Postby **minipete** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 6:30 pm

Sailor wrote:You will not and cannot go past a set of Tokico HTS adjustables.
Couple them with a set of Fatcat bumpstops and you will get a ride quality and performance that you will not better.
I put this setup on my car and was astounded at just how good it was, Tokico have got the valving absolutely correct for the NC and importing from Shox.com will see a deal that will get you 2 sets for the price of one Koni set bought locally.

The Tokicos sound interesting. What do the fatcat bump stops add to the setup?

I have standard ride height and springs, are these better than OEM bump stops?

Pete

Sailor · Postby **Sailor** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 6:51 pm

Fatcats provide a slightly higher spring rate but it's not noticed until the car is being dríven aggressively.
On the rear, they keep the rear much more controlled when you've got a load on for a weekend away.
The firm hit that you often get with the std stops under those conditions is virtually non existent.

minipete · Postby **minipete** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:20 pm

Shox.com list them as Tokico HTS Adjustable.

Are they externally adjustable?

Pete

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:09 am

minipete wrote:Shox.com list them as Tokico HTS Adjustable.

Are they externally adjustable?

Pete

Yes.
The rears have an optional cable that comes into the boot to allow adjustment without removing the rear plastic panel. Get that too.
Go to the Fatcat site and get his bumpstops. I've fitted them to my Tein Flex's and they're great.
Also go to the Goodwin Racing site and read the comments there about the Tokico's. You won't be disappointed if you get them.

minipete · Postby **minipete** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:13 pm

Just ordered my Tokicos and Fatcats. Thanks for all the great info.

Pete

rvlovell · Postby **rvlovell** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:38 pm

minipete wrote:Just ordered my Tokicos and Fatcats. Thanks for all the great info.

Pete

Hi Pete,

I was just checking Shox.com and they don't have a listing for NC's. Where did you order yours from?

Rob

Sailor · Postby **Sailor** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 3:46 pm

Rob,
Shox.com does indeed have a listing for the NC.
Search MAZDA--MIATA 06>

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 6:31 pm

rvlovell wrote:
minipete wrote:Just ordered my Tokicos and Fatcats. Thanks for all the great info.

Pete

Hi Pete,

I was just checking Shox.com and they don't have a listing for NC's. Where did you order yours from?

Rob

Yep he got them from shox.com should be here in the next few days I would imagine...( Pete is my uncle )