Close Up Pics of Illumina Adjustment: What's Wrong With Them?

[Smoothie97]

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I just got my Illuminas out of the car. It's been a long time since I've even adjusted mine. But look at the "Normal" picture. Look at the little metal thingie in the center. Ummm...I know you are suppose to use a flathead screwdriver to just twist the setting. But look carefully at the way it is shapped. It's like a half semi-circle. How the heck are you suppose to use a screwdriver to twist that when there is no "walls" for the flat headed-screwdriver to use as leverage?? I remember when the Illuninas were installed in the car, you just stuck your screwdriver in the tiny "slit" and turn. Now, it seems as if the slit has disappeared??

Also, I recall that the adjustable portion is exactly flush with the red cap when you adjust. Look how mine are now way deep in the whole?? What happeend? Yes, the cap is down all the way as far as it goes. The shocks are off the car in these pics. Does the inards of the adjustment somehow raise up when the strut is installed on the car?

Also, when I first installed one rear, the adjustment portion broke off immediately so I was permanently stuck on level 5. What is all that red crap inside there? I remember that this red stuff surrounded the adjustment metal thing and when I twisted it back a year ago, it just became mushy. How come I now have three struts with no red crap. They look like the "normal" picture. And I have a single one with this red crap that is semi-soft. Feels like hardened plastic.

I want to send the broken one for warranty so I can resell the kit.

 

[95tsiawd_86]

as i recall.....i think the little red thing u stick your screw driver in can come out, i think i remember it coming out on me a couple times if it sticks to the end of the screwdriver. As for the other one...i would say its just fcuked up.

 

[Smoothie97]

Well shoot. So you are saying that that mushy plastic stuff actually molded around the twisty adjustment. So that when I use the flat head screwdriver to twist the plastc stuff, the plastic stuff grabs hold of the adjuster to turn it. If that's the case, they are gone! They must be lost at the mechanic's shop now. I find it very odd that my mechanic would've lost my other three!!!

People with Illuminas: Can you go remove your red cap with numbers. And look at the adjustment and see if there is some piece of plastic that's removable?

 

[95tsiawd_86]

yeah i just played around with one of mineand the red cap with the numbers comes off and i grabed onto the red adjustment thingy that u stick the screwdriver in and pulled up on it and it popped right out and i almost lost it there. then it looked liek your "normal rear" picture. its shaped to fit on that thing so when u turn it with the screwdriver it turns that whoel thing. It actually looks liek the adjustment thing in your messed up one actually melted at some point in time, somehow.

 

[95tsiawd_86]

after seeing that im about to put a small piece of tape or a drop of silicone on top of each one so nothin magically dissappears

 

[Smoothie97]

This adjustment is the worst design ever! I don't understand why that stuff is mushy, nor do I understand why that stuff isn't secured in the hole. I can only twist the metal thing with a pair of thin needle nose pliers. Even with that tool, it is still very difficult to twist the adjustment. It requires a ton of torque. So much torque that it'll deteorioate that plastic mushy stuff. I'm gonna try and get this stuff warrantied.

I do not recommend these struts to anyone. They are cheap for a reason.

 

[Smoothie97]

I called Tokico. Ask for Ray in the Warranty department.

He said that that mushy plastic thingy is a Selective Pin. He says he gets calls from people all the time about damaged pins. He didn't even want me to fax a sales receipt. I gave him my name and address and he will send me a new Selective Pin today.

I was correct. The selective pin goove is in the shape of a D. It fits inside that crater hole. There is a slit on top of the Selective Pin allow you to use your flathead screwdriver to twist.

He says that for me to repair my old one, use an ICE PICK to slowly, and patiently pry out the old one. Then just slide the new one and your done.

*Still it's a crappy design in my opinion.*