HP series Vs. D-spec
 

Hey so I am looking at struts and shocks, since I plan to lower the stang this summer, and I plan on using H&R race springs, so my question is besides the adjustability of the D-specs, how do the HP shocks/struts from Tokico compare?

also just a little more info: the car will see autox during the summer, will the HP's perform well at this?

alright, well I did some reading around, on other non-mustang forums included and it seems the HP are not as performance oriented as I would like, they still are very DD/comfort oriented.

Looks like I have to suck it up and fork out the cash for the d-specs.

I wen't with the Tokico Illuminas. Kinda like the middle choice I guess you could say. I don't personally have the need for a 16 way adjustable, but 5 way suits me perfect. Gives you enough adjustability to have a comfortable daily ride and can stiffen it up when you wanna play. Got my set for $380 off ebay.

Illuminas are what you should look at, they will hold up better to the higher spring rate than the HPs and have a bit of adjustability but not overboard. They are pretty good deal too. If I ever have to upgrade my dampers I will be considering the D-specs and something else.

i love my d-specs. the adjustability is awesome

alright sounds good guys. Yeah the thing with the Illuminas is that they are truly like ~$20 difference between them and the d-specs, so I might as well get the d-specs. Then as I build and adjust my suspension some I can work at getting the shocks/struts fine tuned to match with the rest of the suspension, the additional adjustablility can't be a bad thing, right.

oh yeah, are CC plates going to be necessary with this set-up? Or could I get the suspension re-aligned with the stock ones?

C/C plates are different from car to car, I'd go ahead and get them if it were me. The four bolt MM plates are really not hard to install, just $190 out of your pocket.

I was looking at the 3 bolt plates from steeda. They seem like a much simpler install and I don't have to drill that 4th hole. Have you heard anything bad about them performance wise other than they won't have the same adjustability as a 4 bolt.

I think you would be doing youself a dis-service by geting those steeda 3-bolt plates. On the steeda website they are the same price as the MM plates, don't allow for individual adjustability, don't have as much adjustabilty, have an overall weaker design, and if you ever went with coilovers you would need to change out to a 4-bolt steel plate with a super quality sperical bearing, which exactly describes the MM plate. It really isn't hard at all to drill a hole, adds ten minutes to the install but it more than worth it. Unless your getting thoes steeda plates for a really good deal somewhere, like around $100 I wouldn't but them.

Edit: I can't think of a thread on any fourm that has specifically complained about them, but, I KNOW you can't find a thread on the whole internetz bashing the MM plates. For me, peace-of-mine > ease of install

alright, sounds like I should get those 4 bolt plates from M/M then.
thanks for the info and honest opinions.

d-spec aren't right for an autox car normally. HP's aren't right either. I'd go with the Illumina's. HP's are great for their sport spring's and that's about it.

MM plates are the only plate I will ever recommend. It's worth the extra hole especially as you start increasing loads on the plate with stiffer suspension.

why do you recommend the illuminias over the d-specs? I took it there real difference was the adjustability, otherwise they were designed to be used in similar situations.

X2, why would D-specs be less suitable for autox than illuminas? R3d do you know what spring rates the Illuminas max out at vs D-specs?

They are for similar but not the same uses. D-spec is always really stiff and not always appropriate for rough roads or street driving but it is mostly appropriate to general track use. The D-specs are intended for drift action where body roll is counter productive and they're likely to make the car a little looser and rougher riding than you want on the street. Thus I prefer the illumina which can be that stiff but you can then back it down a hair for a little more compliance on the street.

I like the illumina series for his situation simply because they're adjustable and easier to dial in for street or track duty when you're using really stiff springs, otherwise I dislike adjustables in general. The illumina's shouldn't probably be used with anything stiffer than a H&R race spring and outside their top valving settings they're even a little soft but they can take it. There are (believe it or not) several spring packages out there that are considerably heavier duty (up to 1000lbs/in spring rate or more). Those real race grade springs are really much more appropriate to the D-spec but become nearly unstreetable.

That makes sense. And sorry to change the subject so much but, am I going to be under dampened by my 350lb c/o springs which = 315lb wheel rate (while a 1000lb spring = 250 wheel rate)?

alright sounds good. That is the more technical answer I was looking for!

however, I can't seem to find the illumina's anywhere for the cobra, do they make them for my car?

r3d...i think that my d-spec shocks and struts are great for a street driven car. i have them and i am running them at about half their dampening rate. it rides better than stock and is smoother on rough roads, and believe me, the roads here in PA are terrible.