roll4life

iTrader: (2)

are there any difference except the adjustability option for the illuminas...seems like they are much more expensive but i havent heard any valid reasons why their better than HP blues...im looking towards getting one of them and so far i dont see any reasons to get illuminas over HP's..also i heard a buncha of people say that they dont change their firmeness setting on their illuminas too often.

what do you guys think?

XGaSpAcHo

i've been wondering this same thing myself. i was looking for a ride comprable to the one i have now on my stock GLE and dont ever plan on adjusting it. from what i remember reading the illuminas are just better struts in general. lets see what other people have to say.

this might help you (it's a great site for other things too)
http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/sp..._decision.html

looslip

iTrader: (3)

What else do you want them to do? They aren't gonna cook you breakfast...
You pay for the adjustability.

Bensmax00

the illuminas ride nice and the hps ride like crap---to stiff and u cant change it--its worth it for the illuminas

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Define "crap"...

Maybe to you the HPs ride like crap... I think they are perfectly fine with my Progress springs... they are only 10% stiffer than stock, so I don't see how they could be all that bad...

Bensmax00

well "crap" is just my opinion-- i didnt like the way they handled--the stiffness is good some times--but when ur just crusin it aint all that great

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Guess you and I have different definitions of "crap" then.... because I think the ride is actually pretty good with the HPs... either that or the roads ya drive on are more bumpy or something....

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

Blues are softer than Illuminas. Even w/ the lowest setting on Illuminas, blues were still softer. Blues are little bouncy but that's ok.

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

Really? I've read here some peole claim that the HPs are equivalent to the Illiminas set at 3 (and that at 1, they make the max feel like a luxo boat).

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

Yea really. Even w/ the lowest setting on Illuminas, blues were still softer. Main reason why I'm sticking w/ blues.

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

I'll be buying springs and strut soon, I haven't done it yet but anyway, I should go with what????

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

since you live in orlando, buy Illuminas

NismoMaxm

My buddy has the the tokico blues with the Edibach pro series spring kit and it rides quite nice. I dont know much about those two but i figured id throw in some feedback on the blues.

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

Why is that????

roll4life

iTrader: (2)

hmm so blues with for example progress tech. springs would be a bad combo since the springs lower it quite a lot and the struts are too soft? or am i mistaken here?

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

They are fine... come check my ride out if ya want... they work well together and the struts are not too soft... just because the springs are lower doesn't mean they will bottom out... I've had it for 4k miles now and have had no problems with bottoming out...

roll4life

iTrader: (2)

hmm yea i saw your ride..it looks perfect..but 4k isnt that much...not too reasuring...also it depends on how you drive..i tend to drive pretty aggresive and make sharp/fast turns...not always but sometimes..spirited driving and soft shocks? how does that fit?

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

because you got good roads

Lontar1

iTrader: (5)

well you know all that Mickey crap.... Disney and tourists......

myfirstsix

blues are illuminas valved at 2f and 3r. thats the difference. the illumina give you infinite tuning. if yo auto-x or drive spirited then get illuminas if not get the hp's(blues)also tokoco does make the se shocks but they arent the same as blues they are valved to nissans standards.hope this helps

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Like I said, they aren't that soft... and even when I drive hard in the twisties, it feels pretty solid... it could be more solid, but its good for what I do... if you're gonna be driving like you're auto-xing, then maybe ya shouldn't get these... its a great compromise between a comfortable ride and a more "performance" oriented ride, in my opinion of course....

Btw, I've had these struts for 4k, but the I got em used, the previous owner had em for 10k but I'm not sure what springs he was on... I can find out though... they were def lowering springs....

roll4life

iTrader: (2)

yea i might as well get the illuminas now since i dont want to take chances on bottoming out

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

doesn't matter what kind of struts you are using. If you hit a deep enough pothole/bump, you'll bottom out.

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Get em if ya have the cash, I'm not trying convince people not to get the Illuminas, just trying to explain that the HPs are pretty good struts in terms of quality and performance. If I end up keeping the Maxima (which I intend to) for a long time, I'm gonna eventually get Illuminas too....

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

That was what I thought, but when I read Ammi's post about the Illuminas in the softest setting are stiffer than the HPs was a first to me.

myfirstsix

i beleive 1 on illumina is actually aliitle softer then stock. not much though. kyb does the same thing also.

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

really..... what I mean by soft is how well struts absorb bumps and potholes. Blues felt softer going over bumps and potholes. Had Illuminas on for about a week and sold them because my blues were still softer.

XGaSpAcHo

so you felt the bumps in the road more with the illuminas no matter what setting you had them on? is that what you're saying?

rLx77

i just got put my Tokico Blues this weekend on my I30T (2001)... I kept the stock springs, which are essentially SE springs. There's a huge difference in terms of firmness and solidness. The car feels more solid, and better tuned to the road with decreased body roll. However you do feel the bumps a little bit more on the road, but it's a controlled feel when you go over it, nice and tight which I like. All in all, a great investment in the Blues.

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

Glad it worked out for ya...

thephatOne

would tokico blues and stech be a bad combo as in durability wise? Im on kyb agx, but I got into the accident and need to switch on the strut, I dont wanna have 1 new and 3 used, I think itll feel awkward.

Puppetmaster

iTrader: (48)

With springs as low and harsh as the S-Techs, I'd have to say get Illuminas so that you can adjust the stiffness... but back to your original question, I would say yes, HPs might work, although I think most people here with S-Techs have Illuminas... and then there's Polak with S-Techs and stock struts as well...

I have HPs with my Progress springs and they've been fine so far... then again, you're a full .5" lower than me in the front...

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

impact was harder with Illuminas

04BlackMaxx

what rims are those? HOT!!