Tokico 5022 springs - ride height on a 280Z

[Zed Head]

Is anyone using Tokico 5022 springs on their 280Z? And would they have a picture or an estimate of how the tires sit in the wheel wells (equal distance around the tire, or thin/thick at the top)?

I posted this question over on Hybridz also, but there's a lot more coilovers over there. One response so far, from John Coffey (thanks John).

I've seen 280Zs that sit high in the back, like a 78 parts car I had, and seen them that sit lower like my 76 280Z did. So I don't know what a 1" drop will look like.

[Jeff G 78]

I installed them on my '78 and it dropped exactly 1". I have pics from before and after on an old computer at home. I'll try to find them and post them.

[Zed Head]

Thanks Jeff, looking forward to seeing how they sit. What do you think of the ride and handling, would you do it again or go a different route?

[Jeff G 78]

The height is perfect. It's hard to say how the ride is, however, because I did the springs, dampers, MSA bars and full poly bushings all together. The ride is terrible over sharp impacts like frost heaves and concrete slab joints that have shifted a bit (our SE Michigan roads are the worst in the country). It feels like the car is going to break. On decent roads, it is totally acceptable with great body control and handling. If I had it to do over again, I would do the same springs, dampers, and bars, but I would go with either a combination of rubber and poly or I would use Techno Toy Tuning TC rods and rear LCAs. I have too much rear toe in, so the TTT arms would allow for rear alignment changes.

I will look through the old computer shortly and post the before and after pics.

[Jeff G 78]

OK, slightly tougher than I thought. I no longer have the before pics. Once I fired up the old computer and looked for the pics, I realized they were lost a few years ago when the hard drive crashed. The good news is that they were film pics that were scanned, so I can scan them again and post them. I'm busy tonight, but I can scan them tomorrow night and post them.

[240260280z]

[Zed Head]

Thanks for the picture Blue, and the feedback Jeff. Sounds like the springs are generally good, but the Illumina struts might be on the harsh side. The Illumina's are adjustable though, right?

I picked up the springs and three Tokico HP shocks, 3012 and 3013, (buggered one up removing the springs, thought it was just an old original, based on car appearance - turd - and dirt buildup), cause they were cheap and I have cut stock springs right now with KYBs. Something to mess around with in the future.

Still interested in pictures or feedback. Too bad they don't make the electrically adjustable shocks like in a Pathfinder - push-button Sport mode would be nice.

And, if anyone has one Tokico HP 3012 strut (front) they'd like to sell, I'm in the market.

[Jeff G 78]

OK, sorry about the crappy pics. I had to scan a 22 year old photo from the day I bought my '78.

Here it is before and after lowering and then with my new wheels installed. I measured before and after and it was exactly 1" down between the fender lip and the centerline of the wheel.

[Zed Head]

Thanks Jeff, that's a good look. Wish I had paint like that.

I just posted on Hybridz about using KYBs with Tokicos and got some feedback that it should work fine. I'll try the springs with the KYBs and see if I need to look for another HP shock or not. Should take some of the harsh out of the full Tokico setup, I would guess.

[Jeff G 78]

No problem Zed. Actually my paint is terrible. The car is 99% rust-free, but the paint needs to be stripped and the body needs some minor work to fix little dents and waves. It sat in my dad's garage for 10+ years when I moved for my career and had no place to work on it. While in his garage, it suffered a bunch of scuffs an scratches. Someday, I will finish the car. I've been through the chassis and powertrain but not the body.

To answer your other question, I have Illuminas and they are fine. Any less damping and they wouldn't be matched to the springs. I keep them at 1 and 3 for the street. Any less than 3 in the back and it wallows over dips and big bumps. I'd probably use 4 and 5 on the track. I have KYB GR2's on my 260 and they are about the same, or even a bit stiffer than the Illuminas on 3. The bushings do more to kill the ride than the spring and dampers. Poly is pretty unforgiving.