Tein Flex on ebay

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 2:38 pm

Quality counts. I bought used Tein HAs with 40,000kms on them. Since then they've done another 70,000kms. They're chipped and dirty and the boots are long gone. There's a specialist racing suspension shop down the road from me. I've had them tested there every couple of years and each time they just scratch their heads and say they're still operating like new. The first time I took them there they just laughed and said they look so old they must be FUBAR. They work so well that I've never felt the need to change them.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:00 pm

Thanks for the PM Hayden ... I hadn't read your post or some of the others before I replied

Could be a steal as you mentioned. Compared to new cost, these do appear good value. All depends on their condition, which would only genuinely show itself once received and fitted.

My other problem is I live in SA. No one here to do any repairs to them as far as I know, so I'd have freight costs to add to any repairs. Gets scary.

Anyway, doubt I'll bother with them, but just out of interest I sent the ebay seller an email requesting some more info. No reply as yet. Don't think they'll know much, but might be interesting. No harm asking questions before I completely give up on the idea. Might get a surprisingly useful reply, or it could be a load of sales BS :lol:

It is always interesting reading all the varying opinions on these types of threads. Why I'm so glad I joined the Forum.

Thanks again everyone :lol:

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:16 pm

Add probably was made by someone with English as a second language. Maybe a reply will include more specific details.

Postby **Okibi** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 4:41 pm

AFAIK these are the early flex for the MX-5, the later flex came with tein top hats standard so older could mean more kms on them.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 5:35 pm

Okibi wrote:AFAIK these are the early flex for the MX-5, the later flex came with tein top hats standard so older could mean more kms on them.

ah-ha ... so that's why. Thanks. BTW Okibi apologies for creating thread in wrong place

Just done some searching and reading regarding the ride quality and difficulty setting these up correctly. Most saying they are very hard riding for a DD.

Interesting reading all this info from here and elsewhere. Learning heaps about coilovers

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 6:28 pm

Just about any coilover will have damper adjustment ranging from OEM softness to rock hard, so you just adjust this to suit. In practice the ride harshness comes mainly from the springs fitted, not the damper part. You need to check spring rates. 7/5Kgmm F/R is about as hard as normal people can stand as a daily driver. 5/3 is pretty comfy. 2.9/1.7 is stock NA. 2.9/2.1 is stock for NB8A.

Hellmun · Postby **Hellmun** » Sun Nov 25, 2012 9:48 pm

I was planning on upgrading to something a bit stiffer when my monoflex died...70,000km's with a LOT of tracktime and they havnt' changed at all. Expensive but very consistent and reliable.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 12:18 pm

bigmaxy wrote:On a semi related note. The ebay listing talks about these being OEM and rare. I was not aware of Tein being available OEM.
Does anyone know the history. Was it only JDM that you could option adjustable coilovers that were not bilstein?

^+1 - if they were OEM then JDM or may be local to Malaysia. 'Mazda MX-5 Miata' by Brian Long (2006 - 3rd Edition) would probably tell you.

KevGoat wrote:My other problem is I live in SA. No one here to do any repairs to them as far as I know, so I'd have freight costs to add to any repairs. Gets scary.

I got one Tein SS locally repaired in the ACT - was $550 for rebuild, but that included new major components as it had been damaged in an accident.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:23 pm

Well finally I received a reply, after several emails to the seller asking for some more details, but no extra information supplied, just a freight cost which I already knew

...

So a definate NUP! ....

Too many other better (safer) choices around.

Cheers to everyone for all the help and input :beer:

Kev

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 9:17 am

I'll just add my 5 cents worth about Tein Flex shocks, though my comments are for the NC, pricing should be similar for the NA & NB version.

I don’t think there is a setting on the Flex’s that gets near a standard ride. They are firmer even on the soft setting and unless you intend to do some motorsport I wouldn’t recommend them for street cruising or old bones.

Rebuilds are expensive. I had mine done 2 years ago as one of the fronts had a slight bend in the shaft and the ride was too firm for me.

The cost to rebuild was $200ea plus a re-valve $150ea (I had mine done in Superstreet valving).

The agents for Tein in NSW are Wholesale Suspension. http://www.wholesalesuspension.com.au/
The Australian agents are Fulcrum in Brisbane. http://www.fulcrumsuspensions.com.au/

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Fri Nov 30, 2012 9:52 pm

Charlie Brown wrote:I don’t think there is a setting on the Flex’s that gets near a standard ride. They are firmer even on the soft setting and unless you intend to do some motorsport I wouldn’t recommend them for street cruising or old bones.

Yeah one of the things I'd read about Teins. Most people mention they are a bit hard for DD. As an ageing fella who's NA isn't tracked, I like my comfort, so had considered what you mentioned

Thanks for the extra feedback, appreciated.

Sticking with my current setup that I'm happy with. May just add some NB mounts, but otherwise stick with it and wait until I wear it out or get really bored with it

Or just put the money towards a future upgrade to a hard top NC .......... very much on the cards ........