Tokico Illuminas vs Drag only Illuminas

Scorcher2005 · Jul 15, 2007

Like the title says, whats the difference? They are both 5 way adjustables but each with a one number/letter different part number.

the98stang · Jul 15, 2007

Scorcher2005 said:
Like the title says, whats the difference? They are both 5 way adjustables but each with a one number/letter different part number.

The Illumina drag struts will be horrible for every day driving. They are designed differently and shouldn't be used on street cars.

TweekedGT · Jul 15, 2007

My guess is they are five way adjustable but the drags will be way on the softer side, all five ranges. Can't say for sure though.

Scorcher2005 · Jul 15, 2007

Alright, the regular illuminas it will be. I thought i wanted the Bilsteins at first because of how everyone preached about them but i think the adjustability wins my vote, for strip and street.

darkside03gt · Jul 15, 2007

the drag struts have 4 settings for the track and 1 for the street

the98stang · Jul 15, 2007

Scorcher2005 said:
Alright, the regular illuminas it will be. I thought i wanted the Bilsteins at first because of how everyone preached about them but i think the adjustability wins my vote, for strip and street.

I don't see how anyone would NOT get adjustable struts. Every one likes different rides, so adjustable struts can be changed to ones liking.

Scorcher2005 · Jul 15, 2007

darkside03gt said:
the drag struts have 4 settings for the track and 1 for the street

So are they good for daily cruising as i rarely ever go to the track?

the98stang · Jul 15, 2007

If you rarely goto the track, you will be better off with the regular illumina's.

EPIK · Jul 15, 2007

My Bilsteins feel fine to me, but I like the firm ride...Almost everyone I know who have adjustable struts usually sets them once & never touches them again...

SaleenGT2001 · Jul 15, 2007

ask hotmustang331 about the drag struts.

hotmustang331 said:
Took a HUGE risk and drove the 50 miles home and jacked the car up to find this.

.

EPIK · Jul 15, 2007

SaleenGT2001 said:
ask hotmustang331 about the drag struts.

Wow...That looks dangerous....

SilverBullet00 · Jul 15, 2007

Drag struts are very soft, which causes more movement, which causes heat. Heat causes failure, so If you want adjustability go with the regular illuminas or the D-specs. ....For the life of me I am STILL trying to decided between the d-specs and the bilsteins..

Scorcher2005 · Jul 15, 2007

Yeah, i read bout his strut snapping.

And I would debate but between the D-specs and illuminas but the Ds are like $120+ more

the98stang · Jul 16, 2007

EPIKGT said:
...Almost everyone I know who have adjustable struts usually sets them once & never touches them again...

Except when you goto the track

Then you can set the rears to soft and the front to stiff, and find the perfect settings for optimum weight transfer.

Scorcher2005 · Jul 16, 2007

What do you all normally set them at for cruising? Stiff as possible all the way around?

HoustonGT · Jul 16, 2007

Im at about 3 all the way around

hotmustang331 · Jul 16, 2007

Yep, drag struts FTL on a street car! Sure they made my car hook better, but they dont last long on the street.
That same side had already formed a leak a few days before and then decided to snap on me...I will never buy drag struts again, and probably never buy anything made by Tokico again.

I went with Bilsteins, and after seeing and FEELING the quality difference between the two. BILSTEIN FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will not be dissapointed with bilsteins....they freegin rock!

EPIK · Jul 16, 2007

hotmustang331 said:
Yep, drag struts FTL on a street car! Sure they made my car hook better, but they dont last long on the street.
That same side had already formed a leak a few days before and then decided to snap on me...I will never buy drag struts again, and probably never buy anything made by Tokico again.

I went with Bilsteins, and after seeing and FEELING the quality difference between the two. BILSTEIN FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will not be dissapointed with bilsteins....they freegin rock!

+1.....My bils have about 18k on them & stll feel brand new.....

Scorcher2005 · Jul 16, 2007

hotmustang331 said:
Yep, drag struts FTL on a street car! Sure they made my car hook better, but they dont last long on the street.
That same side had already formed a leak a few days before and then decided to snap on me...I will never buy drag struts again, and probably never buy anything made by Tokico again.

I went with Bilsteins, and after seeing and FEELING the quality difference between the two. BILSTEIN FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will not be dissapointed with bilsteins....they freegin rock!

How do those Bilsteins make your car hook compared to the Tokico's? And 5 is the stiffest setting and 1 is the softest, right? Or do i have it backwards?

hotmustang331 · Jul 16, 2007

Actually I can almost dead hook 1st-4th @ 8PSI...it just spins slightly. Before was just slightly better traction with the drag struts and soft front springs. When I FIRST put the bilsteins on I was having slight traction issues @ 9PSI in 3rd gear...but now thats went away and to be honest with you it hooks almost the same now.

But I do know why I had traction issues at first. When I first installed the bilsteins and new coilovers (275#s vs my old 175#s) my front ride height dropped quite abit....and that combined with stiffer struts/springs hurt my traction. But after raising it to a little higher than before its actually almost the same as the full drag setup...I really cant tell any difference. But man the ride quality is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better, its unbelievable. And you can tell when going over bumps that the downward motion is dampened almost instantly with these Bilsteins vs my drag struts which would allow the car to dip.

Tokico Illuminas vs Drag only Illuminas

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