Cusco Touring-A Shocks/Struts - OEM Replacements

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by Kostamojen

Just to clarify, are they or are they not designed to work with lowering springs?

None of the Bilstein, Koni, or Cusco OE replacement shocks were designed specifically for lowering springs. B8 is the closest to that option. What the lowering springs do is a few things: uses OEM diameter to fit on OEM type perches, lower the car, and increase spring rate.

With that said, the better response for these units is, they are capable of handling more spring rate so lowering springs work with these units.

[2much]

would these work well with rce yellows?

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by 2much

would these work well with rce yellows?

RCE recommends Bilsteins for the Yellows.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by 2much

would these work well with rce yellows?

It'll work.

Keep in mind, these shocks were designed with factory spring rates and the possibility for higher spring rates in mind. To work well, the shock would need to be designed along with the spring at the same time.

[simpleisbest]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

But are they $150 better than the Bilsteins. I'm pretty sure I might go with the Bilsteins, unless someone out there can convince me otherwise.

If you plan to drive the car on the crappy streets of LA, like Mid-Wilshire & K-town, then go bilstein. The ride may be stiffer than Koni on full soft, but at least they wont blow a seal. bilstein durability is insane.

If you are looking to get the best value, try to buy a set of used koni's and have them revalved to meet the specs of whatever springs you get. The nice thing about both bilstein and koni is that they have local rebuild/revalve services right in SoCal.

[bslate3]

I'm tempted to try out the Cusco's for SCCA CS autocross. Or would it be better to stick with the tried and true Koni's.

[simpleisbest]

Originally Posted by bslate3

I'm tempted to try out the Cusco's for SCCA CS autocross. Or would it be better to stick with the tried and true Koni's.

If they have dyno plots or rebound numbers, I would consider it.
I would really want to see how much rebound they provide and if there is any crosstalk (side effect changes in compression when rebound is adjusted). Another big thing would be how accurate the valving is between units. While the koni's build quality is pretty sub-standard (ugly welds, crap paint), their valving is typically pretty consistent at full stiff/full soft.

The OTS Koni's could be better with more rebound, imo. A revalve would solve that. Not sure about how easy it would be to revalve the Cusco's, though. At least with the Koni you can easily change things up down the road through a local builder that actually understands the sport.

What would really rock would be an adjustable monotube close or just above bilstein price that could be rebuilt/revalved locally. For CS, there is huge product gap between OTS koni's and MCS ($700ish jump to $3700ish). Bilstein makes such products for other cars, but not ours...

[bslate3]

But if the Cusco's have more rebound than the Koni's, there would be no need for a rebuild.

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by bslate3

But if the Cusco's have more rebound than the Koni's, there would be no need for a rebuild.

There's no point in speculating. It has been clearly pointed out that they were designed around the stock springs, so I doubt they are as stiff as the Koni struts.

The email I received from them adds to that consensus.

Thanks for inquiry.
Touring - A is upgrade kit for stock suspension.
Which is stroke is about same as stock shock.
It is 40 steps adjustment for rebound only.
20th step is about same as stock shock.
and the hardest set is 140 % stiffer than stock.

[SVLTE]

Anyone take the plunge on these shocks yet? I didn't even know these existed till today, but I've really been racking my brain trying to decide on dampers for my CS car w/TRD springs.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by SVLTE

Anyone take the plunge on these shocks yet? I didn't even know these existed till today, but I've really been racking my brain trying to decide on dampers for my CS car w/TRD springs.

They work pretty well for what they are. Either way, lowering springs are never optimal so it's kind of a moot point to discuss. Bilstein, Koni, and Cusco are designed to work around a stock spring or slightly stiffer. It's not going to be such a mind blowing experience because the scope of the design was to be versatile enough to work with a variety of spring rates.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by SVLTE

Anyone take the plunge on these shocks yet? I didn't even know these existed till today, but I've really been racking my brain trying to decide on dampers for my CS car w/TRD springs.

For CS the best choice IMO is custom valved Bilstein B6. No adjustability, but get the custom valving done right and you won't need it.

- Andrew

[SVLTE]

Thanks for the quick replies. Custom bilsteins were the direction I've been heading, but I was just hoping to find a solution that was competitive and could be adjusted so it wouldn't beat the crap out of me on the local cobblestones and potholes around town. I'm not opposed to MCS, but from the limited information I can find, they aren't valved to order either.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by SVLTE

Thanks for the quick replies. Custom bilsteins were the direction I've been heading, but I was just hoping to find a solution that was competitive and could be adjusted so it wouldn't beat the crap out of me on the local cobblestones and potholes around town. I'm not opposed to MCS, but from the limited information I can find, they aren't valved to order either.

Bilsteins are not valved to order either, but they do have a responsive facility if necessary. You may as well contact Guy Ankeny to do the valving for you. His work is renown and reputable in the autocross community. You may have to specify what you want if you intend to track.