Replacement Shcok Absorber/Strut Advice ??

ACAR wrote:
> jim beam wrote:
>> i want something that can damp so that
>> you can keep it on the edge when cornering, but at the same time, i
>> don't need to loose my teeth on the amazingly rough concrete freeways we
>> have here in california.
>
> I used to live in Santa Barbara so I have some experience with the
> roads in Southern CA. Now I live in the Baltimore area. Pavement is
> much different, roads are rougher where you get freeze/thaw cycles,
> potholes and heaving pavement.
>
> Getting back to the shocks; the less expensive (non adjustable) Tokicos
> were described to me as in between a very firm sports shock and a more
> comfort oriented shock like the KYB GS2. I've used them in a couple of
> cars with good results; long life, too. (I typically run the rear tires
> about 4 psi lower than the front tires in my nose-heavy FWD cars.)

ok - how do /you/ like the ride? i've read reviews too, but want user data.

>
> Re. ride quality: my daughter was not satisfied with the highway ride
> of her 2004 Accord EX and replaced the OEM tires with Goodyear
> Assurance ComforTreds. These tires aren't snappy performers (ditto the
> Accord) but they did a remarkable job of taking the impact out of
> highway imperfections.

i've experienced that too - michelin hydroedge are brutal. the problem
is getting a tire with grip that's not going to beat you to death. most
cars these days are mcpherson suspension which is a much cushier ride,
hence tire manufacturers don't need to worry about bump transmission so
much.

jim beam wrote:

>
> ok - how do /you/ like the ride? i've read reviews too, but want user data.

I liked the ride well enough to have put Tokicos onto 2 of my cars.
That said, the 2500 lb. car had a ride my wife did not like but the
3300 lb. car was much smoother. The lighter, sportier car had tires
with much stiffer sidewalls and its suspension was sportier to begin
with. The Tokicos vastly increased control of the 2500 lb. car whose
back end had a tendancy to hop around turns on broken pavement.


> i've experienced that too - michelin hydroedge are brutal. the problem
> is getting a tire with grip that's not going to beat you to death.

I dunno. Lots of tires provide good grip but some aren't as responsive
as most Honda drivers might like; Honda steering being a prime reason
why people enjoy driving Hondas. (Then again, you don't want the tire
to provide so much grip that the suspension runs out of travel on a
routine basis.) IMHO, Camry outsells Accord in large part because
Toyota recognized most folks want a comfortable ride and a quiet
interior and were willing to give up the fun part of driving a car.

Pretty hard for a cheapskate like me to find a sporty yet comfortable
solution. Decreasing unsprung weight, better shocks, springs and
bushings...let alone tire selection. So I usually give up some comfort.