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[Tim]

Well, I have about 75 miles on the car since I put the Tokico struts, H&R springs, and Cory's strut tower bar on the car.  They lowered it about 1.2"; looks just right.  The ride around town is not as harsh as I expected.  They absorb little bumps just fine.  Larger bumps are a little harsher but that might have been the case even with new stock components.  The thing I notice most around town is that it corners flatter and seems to keep the tires on the ground better.

At higher speeds (just up to 90 mph so far) it really handles nicely.  It's smooth and corners very flat on off-ramps and the like.  No harshness over uneven/groove pavement.  Also, no bump steer, thought that's more a function of alignment.  Overall, it seems to have been a good move.

Happy Motoring!
Tim in STL

[Paul G.]

I have the same setup minus the strut tower bar, it rides good but a little harsh on the bumps with 17" rims w/ 205-40-17 tires. I like it alot more than the stock height. more aggressive looking...now to just be able the afford a razzi body kit and I'd be set for awhile.

[Richter12x2]

I got the Tokiko struts myself, and those alone improved cornering a great deal.  By the way, worn struts can mess up your alignment quite a bit... I had a Chevy Beretta that the shop could NOT align, and I was going through a pair of tires (the front) every 3 months.  Finally changed my struts and it was perfect again.

[Capri_chick]

Which line did you go with? We put the H&R Super Sports and Bilstein HD shocks/struts on our 2004 Mach 1, and I cannot even express the difference. "No longer handles like a Mustang" should sum it up pretty nicely  

H&R is a great quality product, and so are Tokicos. No one should skimp on suspension, great work! Got any pics?

[jmb94]

Did you order directly from Tokico or did you purchase from a performance shop?  The reason I asked is because I called Tokico to order the struts and lady hung up on me.  They are about to get a bad mouth from me.  Also, the one thing the lady was that they sell to wholesale companies.  That sound like bullshit to me when other members has purchased their struts.

James B.

[pmpsht]

When I ordered mine, the lady almost hung up on me too.  IF they are still running the special you, you have to specifically tell them that is where you are buying them from.  Then the girl will be like...."Ohhhh ok".

[5570xr2]

Yeah, they hung up on me too.  You have to immediately say that you are ordering an overstock special.  Then she were quite cordial.  Strange...

I finally got the time to put the struts on last week. Nice improvement over the 13 year old stockers.

[jmb94]

Good news.  I ordered my struts today.  Thanks for the info yesterday about ordering these struts.

James B.

[stinkweed]

has anyone experimented with the H&R or other springs sets to get their car even lower?i've already got the tokico's but i'm hesitant to buy
the springs just yet. 1.2" just doesnt seem like much to me. course i'm not interested in scraping the ground either but i'd like to lower mine about 1.75 to 2.0" to close that huge wheel gap.
i wondered if anyone ever cut a coil off off the H&R's or if there is another spring set available?anyone out their have suggestions?
                         thanks

[TimK]

I have the Tokico/H&R combo on my 1991 XR2.  1.2" doesn't sound like much but it's noticeable.  Mine now sits such that the gap b/t the tire and wheel well is even all the way around where it used to be a bit more open at the top of the tire.  I can tell it's lower and I think it looks better but the casual observer probably wouldn't notice becuase it's not the "slammed" effect you see on a lot of Civics, etc, these days.  Handline is enhance, too.  There never was much body lean with the stock set up (mine has 75,000 miles) but I do notice that it corners even flatter than before.  I installed a front shock tower strut at the same time, though, so that probably affected it, too.  My two cents.  Good Luck.

[pmpsht]

Hey Tim-

  I swear I have asked you before, but I don't remember if we chatted about it.  How do you like the re-mapped ecu?  Is it consistently safe in all rpms and gears?  I was thinking of using this for now until I go with the E-Manage setup.  Have you used it to run the 16psi they claim?  Good results?  Thanks for any insight.  Later.

[TimK]

Hi Cory,
I haven't used the re-mapped ECU to its full capability.  In fact, I haven't disconnected the 10psi fuel cut-out yet.  As such, and without something like an air/fuel gauge or an EGT/ITT gauge, I'm not sure I can give you much useful guidance on how well it works.  Anectdotally, I can say that the car definitely "feels" like it has more power and I can get full boost (to the 10psi cut-off) in 1st, 2nd, & 3rd gears even on 90 degree F days.  On nice, cool Fall days like today (68 degrees) the power is really there!  My plan for the dual gaugepod is to install some of those instruments that provide the monitoring capability to avoid blowing a piston through the hood.  Besides, I'm not sure I could keep the thing hooked up if it's making that much power.  Then I'd have to go spend another grand on new tires/wheels!
Tim

[pmpsht]

Thanks for the info Tim.  I have actually decided to go with the GReddy E-Manage piggy back.  For around $700 (vs. $265 for the ecu) I can have absolute control over my engine.  From timing, to boost, to boost cut, to a/f ratio, to adjusting specific injectors.  Hook up a lap top to tune and you are done.  And leaves a whooole lot more room for upgrades.  I have a 3-guage pod, with boost, a/f ratio, and I have the last spot open for my EGT when I get it, too damn expensive!  Glad to hear it atleast does the job even if not boosting that 16psi.  You are smarter than most out there hehe, playing it safe that is.  For all the things I'm doing now, my boost cut is still plugged in also    Later.

[Paul G.]

question:
Would coilover springs for a 86-89 mazda 323 work on the capri? I know the struts are the same and lowering springs(H&R).

[STE_6000]

The only struts that work are the 86-89 mazda struts, the NON-GTX versions. the same for the springs and coilovers too.