Why does everyone on here like KYB AGXs so much

[Luni420]

I want to know. Im reading about suspensions and all I see is "get AGXs, blah blah blah".

Im an MR2 guy, had mine for 5 years now and in the MR2 world, AGXs are garbage. They dont bound and rebound quickly enough to ride nice, they get choppy and they just dont perform right.

Im used to being told to go for Koni Yellows or Tokiko Illuminas.

Yet I dont see anyone on here saying to go with the Illuminas. Are AGXs really that good on a 7th gen and the Illuminas are crap? Are the tides turned that much?

Someone help me out here, as I really am having a hard time with this. My mind screams crap every time I see AGX and yet everyone is saying for a good upgrade over stock while still maintaining driveability without excessive choppiness to get AGXs and pair them with Eibach Prokits (or TRDs, which is just a rebadged ProKit.)

[tgidavid]

I am mr2 guy too and I know by experience that the illunimas are great for the first few months and then turn to crap very quickly. Most of the choppiness you get from the AGX is from improper spring rates. I've hear good things about matching the AGX with trd springs. If you want to go all out, then the konis are the way to go. They have a very good warranty system, even if you race.

[Luni420]

Illuminas die when you put too much of a drop on them.

People improperly pair them too it seems.

Ive never seen a thread in the MR2 world where the owners of AGXs like their shocks. Most people sell them soon after buying them cause they are just such absolute garbage on their cars.

And here everyone touts how damn good they are. Its killing me.

What really messes with me is when I see a thread where someone says "Get AGXs or Koni Yellows, but Id go with the AGXs"

I just cant comprehend it.

[Blue Bomber]

Yup, in the MR2 world, KYB AGXs are completely different. For Celicas, they're pretty much the best bang for the buck. They're adjustable, not too stiff on the stiffest setting and not to soft on the softest, and are right in the middle cost wise (between GR-2/Tokico Blues and Koni Yellows). They pair up well with the majority of Celica springs, as well. Only extremely stiff springs like Ground Control and Skunk2 would need the extra control of Koni Yellows. At that price range, though, most Celica owners would go with some low end coilovers.

[Luni420]

Im told in a celica its a real PITA to be able to adjust the rears without cutting a hole in the trunk. So how does that work? You set your rears where you think you need to at first, but then youre screwed if you want to adjust them later on?

[Blue Bomber]

There are access holes in the chassis on rear strut towers, but unfortunately no access holes in the side trunk plastics. So you'd need to cut one out if you want to make adjustments. Some people cut a hole and use some sort of plastic edging or silicone tubing to make it look more professional. Best idea if you don't want to cut stuff is to drive on the struts for a week, using different settings, and see which one you like the best, then install the trunk plastics.

[aznkhaos]

iono from wat ive seen and experienced agx are pretty good. i have a few friends w/ them on their integra gsrs and they ride really nice

[MicaCeli]

They are cheap. Koni's cost two times as much and most people just cannot justify that.

[Luni420]

Yeah but nobody even complains about the ride.

Thats what id be inclined to think too.

But Ive also been researching AGXs on the MR2 as well and it appears that too many people just pair them up with some HARD race springs and complain about them.

Im thinking paired with some H&R sports or a good progressive spring with similiar rates as stock but a little stiffer might yield a much more comfortable and balanced ride.

[oneblackgts]

I think it's the struts design in the mr2. The front of the car doesn't have much travel when you drop the car. It seems like it always want to bottom out when you drop it too much. My first set up was Tokico with Eibach (1" drop) and then I went with AGX with Tein S-Tech. The Tein was too low when I hit a bump it always bottom out my front shocks. Both set up where good, I think the Tokico were more stiffer then the AGX IMO. I think a set of coilovers would be a good investment for the mr2.

[Blue Bomber]

My friend had S-Tech/AGX on his GT-S and they were very comfortable set at 2F/3R. Felt almost like stock, and definitely smoother than my car with S-Techs alone.

[TRD033]

I had AGX/S-Tech on my GT-S set 4F/2R. I tried number of time of setting including 2F/3R & 2F/2R but it seems like I loose tractions.

[JDMare]

I am looking at some AGX shocks form my ride right now, so please continue this discussion. :thumbup:

Has anyone done a write-up on installing these on a Celica? I would like more detail on the trunk-mod. What you guys are saying is that just the interior plastic has to be cut, if I am getting this right. That does not seem like a problematic mod to me. :D

Blue Bomber, what do you mean, felt almost like stock? The lowered car felt almost as comfortable as stock, or there was no gain in cornering/handling? :confused:

Thanks for starting this topic Luni, I would have otherwise. :headbang:

[JDMare]

:faint:
So, has anyone on here done the trunk plastic mod in order to be able to adjust the AGX rear? If yes, I would love to see a pic.

If I were to install a rear 3 point strut bar and cut the plastics for that, how near are the AGX knobs?

Anyone? :shrugs:

[jackel3415]

I just ordered a set of AGX and Tanabe GF210's. I was gonna get the Illuminas but not after reading this post. Also the pics online show the AGX to have the adjusting knob on the side of the shock not the top as in most styles. Is this true, and is it any easier to adjust over the conventional method?

[Blue Bomber]

Blue Bomber, what do you mean, felt almost like stock? The lowered car felt almost as comfortable as stock, or there was no gain in cornering/handling? :confused: Comfort wise. The ride was very controlled, not too bouncy or too harsh. It soaked up bumps while being stiff enough to improve handling over springs alone. :faint:
So, has anyone on here done the trunk plastic mod in order to be able to adjust the AGX rear? If yes, I would love to see a pic.I did, but I sold my car before I got the struts in.
If I were to install a rear 3 point strut bar and cut the plastics for that, how near are the AGX knobs?Not close. The strut bar goes by the upper front half of the rear plastics, facing towards the front (bolts to rear seatback locks; only package tray cutting required), but the access holes for the strut tops are on the lower front, facing towards the middle. I just ordered a set of AGX and Tanabe GF210's. I was gonna get the Illuminas but not after reading this post. Also the pics online show the AGX to have the adjusting knob on the side of the shock not the top as in most styles. Is this true, and is it any easier to adjust over the conventional method?
The ones for the Celica have the knobs on the top on both front and back.

[pro-style-gts]

Ive got agx with hotchkis springs and it rides great. I can see where it would ride like crap with some obx or some other cheap coilover, but I think it would be like that with any strut if you used a cheap coilover.

[silverCELICAgt-s]

ive got tokico shocks and springs which gives it a 1.5-2'' drop and it rides great!

[VVT4ME]

I have the Tein S-tech/AGX combo in the car now. Its autocrossed and Ive used that setup for over 3 years, and I now want something stiffer...want some Konis or Tein SS-P's. But for all around use and durability, the AGXs are great. If your not a hardcore racer, the affordable AGXs are a great buy. And they take a reasonalble 1.7 inch drop spring great...no durability problems. My old tokicos I had on my Nissan with roughly the same drop blew in a matter of months.

[SLVR Stealth]

AGX are cheap I agree one reason why everyone gets them. Just take the whole entire plastic out if you plan on function. You can cut the area for the adjustment I don't see why not. I have Ground Controls with AGX when my car was bone stock it was good for 2 years then I swapped with Tein full coilover system. I won't go back. But AGX is great for daily use as well. I loved going over bumps and hearing the psshhh. psshhh.

[klutch]

I loved going over bumps and hearing the psshhh. psshhh.

uh....what do you mean by that? lol

[jdm_cruiser]

I loved going over bumps and hearing the psshhh. psshhh.

i think he's talking about the Tein setup. I've rode in my friends STi with a Tein setup and every time we would fly over bumps, the suspension made this cool squishy sound. unless SLVR Stealth was talking about the AGX setup...in which case is pretty neat.

[gts_rosh]

I think is very relative based on personal experience. To judge this correctly, you have to experience better suspensions. I've been in cars that have great suspensions, like serious coilovers or best shock/spring combos...and if you experience that, then stuff like Tokico Blues and KYB AGX seem like amateur. I have a friend with E46 M3 that's gone through almost all these setups and at the end of the day, his Koni+eibach combo seem best match of all he tried for street/daily driving. I seriously don't think anyone should push the 1.5" drop height limitation that KYB places on there shocks. Because I owned a set of AGX before on another car, and it blew out 6mos with 2" drop sprint springs on our rough vancouver roads. I'm completely happy with my konis, they are amazing shocks...beside going coilovers, I think they are the best in pure shock upgrade. I just need to match it up with a better spring, cause my teins is so soft a spring rate. Best combo is Koni+Eibach Sportlines, CG friend Nickson has that, and that setup is amazing! Spring rates has alot to do with how your car will handle and how it matches up with your shocks. I wish we had like a good spring rate guide for all the available springs for our celicas.

[neological]

Best combo is Koni+Eibach Sportlines, CG friend Nickson has that, and that setup is amazing!

Almost. I have driven a lot of celicas with lot of suspensions, for strut/spring nothing beats koni/hotchkis even thought the hotchkis springs look like a little kid made them.

[SLVR Stealth]

i think he's talking about the Tein setup. I've rode in my friends STi with a Tein setup and every time we would fly over bumps, the suspension made this cool squishy sound. unless SLVR Stealth was talking about the AGX setup...in which case is pretty neat.

Exactly! Sounds nice when you take those bumps quick you can hear them compress especially at night when it's all quiet you have to listen real carefully.

[FITGT]

I have AGX, and Eibach pro springs. I like it a lot, but I have not ride in many "sport cars".

[elcelicagts]

i thought celicas came stock with kyb's struts?

[Blue Bomber]

They do, but regular KYBs. The GR-2s are a step up from stock, and the AGXs go even further.