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hey all...ill be getting aftermarket suspension within the next few weeks so i was after some advice on which ones to get:

1. basically all street use...
2. i want it to LOOK low...not only handle well.
3. whats the best bang for buck setup out there?
4. how easy are coilovers like the TEIN SS to adjust ride height?

I went through this a few weeks ago and my research came to this.

1 - Second hand KYB's with unknown history - $600
2 - Rebuild and revalve my Bilsteins and add new springs to lower - $900 (could not be sure I'd get the result I wanted as there was no adjustability
3 - Koni and King combo - $1300 Dampening adjustable but no height adjustment though good reputation
4 - AVO coilovers $1400 with dampening and height adjustment, not confident on the quality for long term use on the road.
5 - Tein SS - $1700 with dampening and height adjustment. Exceptional quality and write ups and can add the EDFC unit later on.

I felt if I was going to do it I wanted to do it properly and have opted for the Tein's. That said, I'd say the best bang for your buck would be the AVO's. The springs are cheap to change if it's too hard ($70ea) and many of the racers use them.

Brad wrote:
3 - Koni and King combo - $1300 Dampening adjustable but no height adjustment though good reputation

The Koni shocks for the NA (1989-1997) are height adjustable via moveable spring perches. This gives you three height options. I believe that Koni shocks for the NB do not have the moveable perches.

I have Tein Flex on mine I love them. I have a Koni/King and a Koni/ Eibach combo in the past, which were good......but no where near the Teins
J

*ducks in* Seriously though, how do you pronounce Tein? Is it "tayne" or "teen"?
And just like that, *he was gone*.

thanks guys....keep the recommendations coming....

I watched a factory movie about them and they pronounced Tine (as in Time with an N).

Juffa, glad to see someone has had both and can compare. I've read alot on the big forum but their products and roads are different. I've head conflicted info regarding the difference between the Flex and SS, where the Flex have the pillowball upper mount and and SS don't, however I trust that the SS from Fulcrum have had time spent getting them right for AU.

Brad wrote:I watched a factory movie about them and they pronounced Tine (as in Time with an N).

Thanks, *smacks forehead* never thought of that variation

Brad wrote:......I trust that the SS from Fulcrum have had time spent getting them right for AU.

Ted did a report on Fulcrum supplying and fitting these to an NB and Type R in issue #6 of the club mag - all good by his worthy and knowledgeable account.

The SS's are quite good. I like them on the NB. The more I drive it the more I like them. Similar feeling to the Flex just a little softer - which is what I wanted for the street car. As far as the height adjustability goes, once they are fitted with Teins (I still call them Teens!) recommended height, you probbaly will never touch them. They are about 1 inch higher all round than my kings combo which they replaced. That said, the Flex in the race car are very nice too - compliant without being too stiff to the point of loosing grip.

now my main question with the TEIN SS's is JUST HOW LOW CAN THEY GO??? pics would be great

ducktape69 wrote:4. how easy are coilovers like the TEIN SS to adjust ride height?

Pretty easy...you just jack up the car, take off the wheel and then adjust the spring collar using 2 c-spanners that will come with the Tein kit. it takes about 30mins to do all 4 corners and most of that is taken up in jacking up the car and putting stands underneath

JBT wrote:*ducks in* Seriously though, how do you pronounce Tein? Is it "tayne" or "teen"?
And just like that, *he was gone*.

I was told that Tein started off years ago building shocks under license from Bilstein...hence the "Tein". Therefore I guess it's pronouned like the Germans pronounce Bils-tein...or kinda like "Beer Stein"

ducktape69 wrote:now my main question with the TEIN SS's is JUST HOW LOW CAN THEY GO??? pics would be great

At the lowest setting, I get 305mm ride height (305mm from centre of wheel to wheelarch lip). But at that height it is riding on the bumpstop somewhat. 325mm is the recommended height.

im more talking about HOW LOW DO THEY LOOK when its on its lowest setting???

pics pics pics

ducktape69 wrote:im more talking about HOW LOW DO THEY LOOK when its on its lowest setting???

pics pics pics

I think Justinfox screwed his down as low as they could go, and pics of his car are at:

http://www.ozmazda.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=29

pics dont work there....but again keep any pics and advice comin please...need to make a decision very soon

ducktape69 wrote:pics dont work there....but again keep any pics and advice comin please...need to make a decision very soon

Try here...
http://jdmstyletuning.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2226

J's car @ 305mm:


My car @ 325mm:

cheers mate...
justinfox told me he is riding on different springs(swift springs - which are lower than the tein springs)....

i really want a setup which will allow me to 'dump it on its ass' when i want to...i have 17"rims by the way, dunno if it will make it look lower or not?