Keep or throw TEMS?

[Turbo Habanero]

So i am going to replace my Shocks and Struts i am looking to spend $500 roughly. Whats around that is good should i just go with tokico illumina and keep my TEMS or go with something else and Scrap the Tems.

Looking for a Medium shock not to soft not to stiff lol if possible but im not to picky my car is lowered 2in but plan on going 1.5in F 1in R

I'm just looking for input and why you would go with what you would/did

Thanks guys

-Jordan

 

[Turbo Habanero]

Illumina II's are considered a Strut right? not a Shock ? Stupid question but we only have struts correct ? what im getting at is what all do i need to replace? From my understanding they are basically the same thing different cars you use ethier or type of deal but im not %100 sure so i thought id ask.

I found some Illumina II Struts for $450 that a good price?

 

[gaboonviper85]

Any shock the goes too a supra is a "shock" not a strut....our cars don't have "struts"!

If you can afford...get the upper shock mounts also as yours will be old and shitty...

I'd personally recomend bilstien shocks as they are awesome!

 

[Turbo Habanero]

Any shock the goes too a supra is a "shock" not a strut....our cars don't have "struts"!

If you can afford...get the upper shock mounts also as yours will be old and shitty...

I'd personally recomend bilstien shocks as they are awesome!

Thanks Viper i guess i had it reversed lol so you would get rid of the TEMS ?

 

[Neodeuccio]

Personally, I like tems and plan on keeping it for a while myself. It doesn't provide exceptional performance, but it's not bad, and it's kinda cool. Plus, I'm of the opinion that it's not really worth upgrading the suspension beyond Illuminas until you're ready to put the money into a good coilover setup. But that's me.

Anyway, you may also consider getting new springs to go with the new shocks. Chances are if you're still running the original shocks, you've got the original springs.

 

[Canuckrz]

Its really a toss up with the Illumina II's with tems, and the Bilsteins with the height adjustability. They're both pretty much the exact same price, but the bilstiens would be alot better for any sort of track use as using the Illumina's anywhere but on the road will void their lifetime warranty.

 

[Poodles]

Bilsteins here (with their springs). Honestly it 100% depends on what you want to do with the car. Stock suspension (KYB GR2's with stock springs) was nicer as a DD, but the bilstein setup I have makes it handle better.

Do you want the luxury GT car that eats miles in comfort or the sporty cannon carver? Most want both and finding that happy medium is difficult. When i was originally searching for a car I was looking for a TEMS car. The car I bought had all the options I wanted except for that and if it wouldn't have been hard to do it, I would have added it.

 

[dbsupra90]

Any shock the goes too a supra is a "shock" not a strut....our cars don't have "struts"!

If you can afford...get the upper shock mounts also as yours will be old and shitty...

I'd personally recomend bilstien shocks as they are awesome!

our cars have struts.

shock:

strut:

 

[Poodles]

Nope, strut is load bearing.

 

[Alec]

Yup, our cars have shocks. Hey Poodles, I didn't know Bilstein made springs for our cars, where did you find them?

 

[Poodles]

used setup

 

[Alec]

used setup

O. How do you like the Bilsteins btw? My friend is selling Bilsteins with springs(Eibachs I think) for $325. I was planning to get Stance coilovers but now I'm considering the Bilsteins since they are so much cheaper. I just hope they will go low enough, mainly the rear, my front height is pretty good. What do you think?

 

[Mastapip]

I've got Bilsteins as well. They're very stiff, and certainly not comfortable/smooth, but probably the best suspension bang for the buck. Bilsteins also let you lower the car on stock springs.

Alec, what are you using the car for?

 

[Poodles]

Very stiff, honestly I kinda miss my stock setup (not like I'm driving it these days so it doesn't matter).

 

[Turbo Habanero]

This is what i need right? is this good price? And i am on 2inch drop springs

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKI...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKI...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Well i bought them From the top listed seller ill let you know when i get them and how they feel $393.98 was my total

 

[Alec]

I've got Bilsteins as well. They're very stiff, and certainly not comfortable/smooth, but probably the best suspension bang for the buck. Bilsteins also let you lower the car on stock springs.

Alec, what are you using the car for?

It's a street/show car. I want it to go pretty low but also handle good, I like it a little on the stiffer side.

 

[dasalvykidd]

what if you put non tems compatible springs on a car that has tems would it just stop working or would you have to do something to stop the tems?

 

[Mastapip]

It's a street/show car. I want it to go pretty low but also handle good, I like it a little on the stiffer side.

IF you've already got the lowering springs, I would just go with some non adjustable shocks. If you're not going to race it (autocross or road course), there is no need for coilovers IMO.

Edit - Judging by your pictures, it looks like your car is already low enough.

 

[Alec]

IF you've already got the lowering springs, I would just go with some non adjustable shocks. If you're not going to race it (autocross or road course), there is no need for coilovers IMO.

Edit - Judging by your pictures, it looks like your car is already low enough.

I think the car is currently on stock springs but I think they are cut because if you notice in my pics, the front of my car is substantially lower than stock. I just want to go maybe .5" lower in the front and maybe 1.5" to 2" lower in the rear. Can I do that with the Bilsteins?

 

[black89t]

my old 89t had it. and i hated it. to me it seemed like it would stiffen up after i already exited the corner. my new 89t i decided to not hook it up even though i had all the parts and the entire car torn down to the shell...

a good aftermarket set owns the stock tems even when its on hard. which is what is on my current supra.


and yeah. supras have shocks. struts are a intergral part of the suspension usually taking the place of the upper control arm.