Are TEIN Flex Actually Illegal on the MX-5?

[orx626]

No

There are no ADR's for shock absorbers or car suspension, only ride height. The car may not meet the ADR's if ride height is lowered excessively.

All states have agreed to implement the NCOP (National Code of Practice) for light vehicle modifications. The following link contains all requirements for the LS Code - Tyres, Rims, Suspension and Steering.

http://www.dotars.gov.au/transport/safety/road/bulletin/pdf/NCOP11_Section_LS_Suspension_and_steering_3Feb2006.pdf - link fixed!

Tein Flex shock absorbers are manufactured for MX5's. MX5 Plus are importing a set for my car.

The car may not meet the LS Code requirements if they are adjusted so that the suspension movement is reduced by more than one third.

I would also like to know where in legislation/code of practice that having an adjustable shock tube length is not compliant/illegal!!! Maybe it's a local marketing ploy to deter people from importing directly from Tein dealers in Japan?

I hope this assists you with your decision making.

Regards,
Danny

[Rival]

No

There are no ADR's for shock absorbers or car suspension, only ride height. The car may not meet the ADR's if ride height is lowered excessively.

All states have agreed to implement the NCOP (National Code of Practice) for light vehicle modifications. The following link contains all requirements for the LS Code - Tyres, Rims, Suspension and Steering.
[url]http://www.dotars.gov.au/transport/safety/road/bulletin/pdf/NCOP11_Section_LS_Suspension_and_steering_3Feb2006.pdf
[/url]

Tein Flex shock absorbers are manufactured for MX5's. MX5 Plus are importing a set for my car.

The car may not meet the LS Code requirements if they are adjusted so that the suspension movement is reduced by more than one third.

I would also like to know where in legislation/code of practice that having an adjustable shock tube length is not compliant/illegal!!! Maybe it's a local marketing ploy to deter people from importing directly from Tein dealers in Japan?

I hope this assists you with your decision making.

Regards,
Danny

Best reply yet!, this is what i am talking about, there nothing concrete i have actualy read that specifically states these are illegal, just the odd forum post with some online expert giving their 2c.

Cheers!

[JBT]

Finally got the answer you wanted.

[16bit]

get super street ones then - would they be legal?

[Rival]

Finally got the answer you wanted.

didn't care if the answer was for or against their legality, just something more concrete than something that was heard in conversation that might be true or might not.

realistically the MX is my partners daily driver so Flex is probably too firm for her anyway. i just NEEDED to know... probably because i am an engineer and i hate not being sure about something.

[AJ]

aaaaaah......engineers......so anal retentive, they need to know the structure & validity of a sandwich before they eat it



they also send more dirty jokes across the internet than any other group

[Okibi]

I have tein flex on our NB8A, it's got W.A. permits so 100% legal (as long as I keep the height it was measured at having then I got the permits which met ADRs).

There's no way i'd lower it anymore than that anyway.

[ZenArcher]

Well, after first hand experience this morning with the wonderful people at Dickson (ACT, Canberra) Motor Registry, the Teins are legal in the ACT.

to relate the story, a while back I converted my NA6 and had Mania install a 1.8 into her. Well, being a law abiding person and finally being in the country for more than a week (being a coach at the AIS has me travelling all over the place) I thought I would do the right thing and have the engine inspected and number changed for registration purposes.

Well, off to the DMT and no problem with the engine, but problem with the ride height, 10mm too low. So, after much phoning and advice from various workshops, I ended up having Mania install a full set of Teins.

To re-interate what everyone else has said... worth every cent.

Passed the inspection this morning so now have a fully legal MX5. Though I was surprised that they said nothing about my style bars. But that may have had something to do with me wearing a suit this morning. Last time I just wore my usual AIS coaching attire - jeans, AIS Coaches shirt and track shoes. They treated me like some young punk who was trying to pull one over them. Though my problem is that I look much younger than my age. I'm actually 40, but look 25. A friend who is in the AFP and suggested I wear my work suit so I did and I got a totally different reaction. All smiles and politeness from the same people who treated me like crap only 1.5 weeks ago.

Ahh well, at least my MX is now legal again.

[Okibi]

congrats, better to keep everything legal if you ever have to make an insurance claim.

[Muzdaman]

Bump.

I was looking for this thread and thought others that missed it might be interested.

[bark]

As I'm going through the process of getting all of my bits approved by Regency and then subsequently by NSW Road Authorities I have dug up this old (but great) thread.

Just wondering if anyone else has had their tein flex passed by road authorities since this post was last active??

[corners]

Bumping an old but useful thread!

[bretauto]

Just had my car engineered for the welded in half cage , engineer said there was no issuse with coil overs and a report is is not required as long as they meet the required suspension heights , and the mounting position and load bearing position had not be altered, and of cause it had to be a quailty unit. he wrote them in to the report for me as well as the sparco seats on OEM runners,[no report required as well]. This just makes it easy if I have any problems with any less informed people or if the rules change. It was a minium charge for the report on the cage and no extra cost for the other items to be mentioned.
Brett

[DanielB]

Just slightly off topic, but Brett did the sparcos mount straight up to the standard rails using the standard mounting holes in the base of the seat?