05Shiekra

I have an 05 Shinka with a bad passengers side shock, I have determined through searching that the factory shocks are Hitachi Tokico's. I am looking to replace mine with the closest to factory that I can find. I really do not need the D-specs as this is only a daily driver. I am considering the Blue Hp's but everything I read is that the ride is stiffer, does this hold true to the upgraded 14mm dampner factory suspension for the Shinka? Another option I have considered are the Bilstein HD's, I will probably replace all four corners and leave the springs alone as I am happy with the ride height, the Shinka has 62k miles on it and if there was not a "clunk" on the passengers rear I would probably leave it alone. I have 19x9's all the way around 40 offset if that matters. Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Robert

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

The wheels and tires will definitely affect ride quality. Anyway, try the KYB Gas Adjusts (www.sparkplugs.com), they are a monotube (good) design and are great IMO. I ran them before I got coilovers and loved them with my Tein S techs. My buddy (Cornholi135) is running them on his 06' Shinka and on his 04' GT withe Tein S tech springs and loves them.

If you want a set of Shinka shocks cheap PM me, I have a set with like 60k on them that are in good working order that I will sell you dirt cheap.

05Shiekra

That's cool, I took a look on that site couldn't find the RX-8 application, but everything I have found says "except Shinka" any idea what part # I should look up?
Thank you for the quick reply
Robert

Shinka/10AE

Just wondering what answers the OP might have gotten other than what is listed in this thread. I have exactly the same issue (same car, same problems, same objectives for replacement) and was hoping for some more information. As the OP has mentioned, the aforementioned adjustable struts specifically say that the shinka is excluded as a car they can be used with. Are the Bilstein HDs a satisfactory OEM replacement for the money?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I recently acquired the original shocks off a 06' Shinka and they are not Bilsteins so apparently there is some misinformation floating around. Having also worked on them personally, I know for a fact the 40th AE and R3 do come with standard yellow Bilstein HD's.

The Bilstein HD's are a great factory replacement shock.

Shinka/10AE

Thanks for your help. I think that our confusion comes from the advertising about the suspension in the 05 shinkas having the special 14mm dampers. It leaves you wondering what the heck the difference is between what you have on the car and what you can get from any of the various other sources (when they don't specifically list an exact set of replacement shocks).

This will be my first time doing this, but is it as easy as simply buying the new shocks and recycling the hardware associated with them? I just want to know before I order them (the bilsteins) what else I might need to install them.

You say that the HDs are a great replacement, but is there a noticeable difference in ride quality from the stock suspension? This is my daily driver and I don't want to make it such that its no longer comfortable to drive under non-performance conditions.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

The HD's ride is great and they have good valving. You will only notice the difference under aggressive driving situations. They really are better than the stock Tokicos and when they fail you can always get them revalved. That is a big advantage to getting Bilsteins or Koni's.


Replacing them is the same as if you went with stock shocks, they will use all of the OEM mounting hardware and bushings.

Shinka/10AE

Sorry to keep bugging you. However, do you know the difference between the shocks from the standard rx8 vs. the 05 shinka edition? Mazda billed the performance upgrade for the shinka pretty heavily.

This is from the actual Mazda press release:

To further enhance driving performance and ride comfort, the RX-8 "SHINKA" features a uniquely tuned suspension system, upgraded from the standard car. The system offers a foam urethane filled front suspension cross member and specially tuned dampers, while achieving improved body rigidity through reinforcing the top-front portion of the A-pillars and improving the stability of the rear damper mounting points.

The reason that I ask this stuff is that I want to make sure that what I'm replacing is going to be equal to/better than what what came originally on the car. Thanks again for your help.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I'm actually not sure what the difference is in the shocks, I just know the stock Shinka shocks pulled off of Cornholio135's 06' Shinka were not Bilsteins. I will compare them to some other stock Tokico Sport shocks I have and take some pics tonight so you can see. They may just be a Tokico that is valved different from the Sport suspension equipped RX-8's.

Shinka/10AE

So if you were in my situation... paying $200 for the stock shocks direct from mazda would be a waste of money compared to getting the bilsteins for $125 from tirerack? From what you say it sounds like I'm going to be happier with the performance as well as the price of the aftermarket parts.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I would not spend that kind of money on stock Tokicos. Your options are KYB Gas-adjusts, Tokico Blues, Bilstein HD's, Koni Yellows (adjustable), Tokico D Specs (adjustable), and some other more expensive and more serious options.

If you just want a good monotube OEM replacement then I would go with the KYB's. I loved mine and Cornholio135 is loving them on his Shinka and his GT (he has two RX-8's). If you want to spend a little then the HD's would be my second choice.

Shinka/10AE

Here is the issue with the KYBs... If you go to a place like Tirerack (or any auto-parts store) they will list the KYBs as being not-compatible with the Shinka package. Here is exactly what it says on the tire rack website under the KYB product description:

Front Fitment
Housing: Shock Housing
Non Adjustable
Note: Front fitment. Excludes SHINKA Package.

Rear Fitment
Housing: Shock Housing
Non Adjustable
Note: Rear fitment. Excludes SHINKA Package.

Suspension Products for 2005 Mazda RX-8 6-speed

Take a look at this and see if you can explain what is going on. I'm curious that your friend with the '06 shinka put those on his car considering it says that same thing no matter which model year you put in (either 2005 or 2006).

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

It's the same man, they fit just fine. They just exclude the Shinka because the OEM part number differs.

get them through www.sparkplugs.com

cornholio135

iTrader: (2)

My understanding is that the shinka shocks are tokico but have different valving (stiffer maybe?) even with the stock Shinka suspension the ride was stiffer that the stock suspension on a GT (at least to me)

but that being said....KYB + Tein STechs > Shinka Stock Suspension...

Shinka/10AE

are the KYB shocks equal in stiffness to the shinka tokicos? I am not in a financial position right now to get new springs and shocks. I really can only replace my rear shocks at the moment. The fronts and any other upgrades will have to come later.

I guess what I'm really looking for an answer to is: if I am solely looking to replace my shocks as close to OEM at the best price possible, are the KYBs or the bilsteins my best bet?

cornholio135

iTrader: (2)

To me the kybs are better in that the ride is not as harsh and they self adjust when you lean into them if that makes sense...search the web kyb has a vid explaining how they work. And of course you cannot beat the price...handles much better than stock but just replacing the rears you might not see that big of a difference save a little bit more $$$$ and replace all four at once to get they best results.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yeah just save a bit and get all four, you will thank yourself later. Or if you want some usable shocks just PM me and we can work something out.

Shinka/10AE

Thanks for your help man. I wish that I was in a position to replace all 4 but at the moment I can only do the ones that are obviously blown. Within 6 months though I will be able to do the fronts as well. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't somehow compromising the already excellent handling of the shinka package with whatever I was buying that wasn't from the dealer (which was ridiculously overpriced).

cornholio135

iTrader: (2)

If you do not have $$$ for all four do this ^ better than running mix matched shocks...IMHO

RobGraz

I have a shinka as well and just traded them out this weekend for koni yellows and eibach pro springs. They definitely weren't blistein shocks. Were tokicos..

05Shiekra

A quick update, besides the shocks I did the radiator which a while back the top plastic purge tube broke when replacing the fill tank so while it was on stands I did the radiator to (all aluminum).

Back to topic, I went with the Tokico Blues as my final decision due to I have aftermarket wheels 19's that weigh almost 26lbs and one of the recomendations for the Tokico Blue's is heavier wheels, due to the stiffer shock. Yes my factory shocks were Mazda/Tokico's I actually like the Blue's tightened up the ride real well and a whole lot less sway than what it was doing. I bought the car with 42k miles on it, it has 63k now. The previous owner put Eibach springs on the front but it retains the stock springs in the rear. I still have to schedule an appointment for the alignment but I have an 07 ranger too so not to trash my tires until I can get that done. I know there are a lot better suspension set-ups out there but I am happy with what choice I made price vs ride.