Coilovers vs Shocks/Springs

[Richee]

The teins are great, handling is excellent, but it isn't bone jarring when you hit bumpy areas on the road. The adjustability is also really good, you can feel the difference even 2 clicks make.

I totally agree, love the Teins.

Peter

Hi Peter and ZenArcher

Just curious and sorry to Hijack but I have the following Setup
1990 NA
Tien SS with front and rear set at 12 out of 16
195/50/15 running at 32 psi

I am finding it great but it is really a tad hard esp. over the rough stuff and was wondering what setups you both have.

Thanks, Richard

[pcmx5]

Hi Richee,Just wrote a detailed response that the system has gobbled up so here is a shorter version!

I am running 32psi;9off hard front and 10 rear;this gives good ride/handling balance and everyone who rides/drives it comments on it.

Only time the rides is harsh is at slow speed on badly broken bitumen, so I just go faster!!

I was sceptical about Japanese suspension as there was a time when they thought hard=handle and given that all their roads were like billiard tables it worked to a degree for them but out here the tyres were constantly off the deck(bouncing) and the ride and handling were ordinary ..

Ted (on this forum)was involved with the development through Fulcrum of the Aus versions and his word was enough for me.

I am glad I listened!!

Enjoy,

Peter

[Richee]

Thanks for that Peter,

Only time the rides is harsh is at slow speed on badly broken bitumen, so I just go faster!!

Yep know what you mean.

Will adjust and head out for a spin.

Richard

[Babalouie]

I was sceptical about Japanese suspension as there was a time when they thought hard=handle and given that all their roads were like billiard tables it worked to a degree for them but out here the tyres were constantly off the deck(bouncing) and the ride and handling were ordinary ..

That's an accurate summation of the old school of Japanese coilovers, where superstiff was best. I remember driving a Skyline on old style Teins, and even down the straight at Wakefield it was bumpy! And I don't believe that there are actually any bumps on the straight in the first place

But the Tein SS and Flex seem to be a new generation which are designed for export, and hence not the billiard table roads of Japan. Some japanese brands are still overstiff but other brands like Aragosta are just phenomenal.

But don't write off the japan-spec Teins however. They might not be revalved for Aussie conditions, but the first ppl to rave about Tein SS on this forum were myself and CT, and we both have the Japan Teins, since the Aussie ones didn't exist at the time. The Aussie ones may ride better, but the JDM Teins are still a step above the usual Koni/King combination in both ride and handling...

[Fatty]

well this thread has turned into a total tein love fest !

i might as well add to the love then... i've had my tein SS for a month or so and as each day passes i love them more and more . i did a full suspension change, got the teins, superpro bushes and finally got a proper alignment. i did it all in one hit. so the feel of the car changed very dramatically and after a month of adjusting to the changes, i am only now starting to feel like i understand the car again.

initially i had them set 3 clicks off full hard. this was fine on the track at phillip island but it was just too hard on the road. every bump felt like a huge pothole. i changed them to 10 clicks off full hard for the drive back from phillip island, and it was sooo much better. the difference between the drive up (at 3 clicks) and the drive back (at 10 clicks) was like night and day.

so they have stayed at this setting and in the last week i have dríven some great twisty roads that i am very familiar with . (black spur and surrounds, and the great ocean road ). the car is much smoother on these roads now than it used to be. people talk about tiens being harsh but the opposite is true. the car just feels much more planted and it just soaks up the bumps. i can go a lot faster , yet feel much smoother and more in control. altho around town at slow speeds ( i live in a fairly built up area), yeah it is a little less comfortable than it was previously. but it's well worth the sacrifice.

i should probably continue to have a fiddle with the settings, try different setting s front and rear, stuff like that. but all in good time.

so yeah , two thumbs up for the teins.

[pcmx5]

Babalouie,

I wasn't implying that Jap stuff is like that now(i don't have any real contemporary experience other than the Tiens) and I am sure that no one could get away with their previous attitude to suspension technology today!!!!

The \"there was a time' i was referring to was from my experience in the 70's. and 80's. although some friends in the trade reckon they have really only got on the ball in the last few years.

I would have to qualify even that by saying that the works front struts(gas) that I bought for my Lancer rally car were sensational, amazing ride and performance.however they should have been as they were expensive, try $800 a pair when a new Lancer 2 door EL was about $2700!!!! (Circa 1976)

I think the Tokico rears I used were about $100 each.

Peter

[Babalouie]

Oh no Peter my comments weren't directed at you at all

It's just with the strength of the Aussie dollar, importing the Japanese ones might be very cost effective. In Japan, Teins are kinda like how we would view a set of Pedders or Monroe shocks over here, so let's just say that trade price can often be a rather hefty discount over there.

[Brad]

Oh no Peter my comments weren't directed at you at all

It's just with the strength of the Aussie dollar, importing the Japanese ones might be very cost effective. In Japan, Teins are kinda like how we would view a set of Pedders or Monroe shocks over here, so let's just say that trade price can often be a rather hefty discount over there.

But Pedders are the "World Best Shock Absorbers"...or am I not to believe the marketing

[Casey]

Oh no Peter my comments weren't directed at you at all

It's just with the strength of the Aussie dollar, importing the Japanese ones might be very cost effective. In Japan, Teins are kinda like how we would view a set of Pedders or Monroe shocks over here, so let's just say that trade price can often be a rather hefty discount over there.

But Pedders are the "World Best Shock Absorbers"...or am I not to believe the marketing

Well seeing as the springs actually absorb the shock and dampers dampen the spring oscilations, I wouldn't trust the veracity of any claims that their springs are better then Eibachs (for example). As for their dampers being better then Konis, Bilsteins, Teins etc, I highly doubt it.

[Brad]

Well I got my car back this afternoon after having quite a lot of little tasks done. Part of this was the installation of the Racing Beat hollow sway bar. I'm very impressed with that and I've played with the settings of the SS and am on 9 clicks off hard on the front and 11 clicks on the rear, effectively 8/16 and 6/16 with 16 being the hardest and 1 being the softest. Really liking the ride now. I originally was keeping the front stiff to retain the alive feel of the front, now with the new sway bar I can run a softer setting and have much better feel at the front.

[Ted]

The NB MX5 that was the test mule for Fulcrum belongs to someone on this forum. Unfortunately I cannot tell you what was changed from the Jap spec unit as I was not privvy to the shock dyno graphs. Spring rates are the same though I think. I also had the DC2 TypeR mule, and there were a couple of changes there. I have Eibachs and Bilsteins on our NB, and the Teins are way better. Just comes down to getting those shocks valved correctly. As another idea, another forum member here got Teins for their NC, and feedback to Fulcrum resulted in fitting different springs to what they came with. Laptimes seem to show that it works better now.

I recently went through it again for the 6MPS. The changes from the Jap Mazda 6 kit were huge. Not just spring rates (we have some heavy springs in there now), but also shock rates and even to the extent of lengthening the shaft to get more travel (droop). As I wanted to run some ride height rather than dropping it on its nuts, they had to work fairly hard to keep some droop (ended up with well over 100mm). I think the production unit may end up with a helper spring to keep it captive.

So, I ended up with a luxo barge that now turns in really well, lots of grip and extremely compliant.

[Caedrus]

Just a quick reminder:

The cashback deal for TEIN SS through Fulcrum expires in 20 days.

I just bought mine! Not installed yet, but they came in at $1790 BEFORE the $215 cashback, through Bowers Suspensions in Newcastle.

Mania have advised that they WILL install a TEIN purchased elsewhere for $210, which is excellent and admirable service.

My advice: If you're thinking of a TEIN system, get in now.

C.

[Kvision]

I'm getting my SS from Repco.
Their retail price is $1916 though, but im using my 20% off voucher.
However, this puts it at below their cost price so Im getting it at their cost price, which is still really good.

[Okibi]

well this thread has turned into a total tein love fest !

My Flex are Jap Spec. (Thanks Mr DriftFury) , lovin them so far.

[wun911]

Are there any other benifits to Tein SS apart from the spring being matched to the shok and the adjustable height etc

Are the Tein SS ligher than OEM suspension?

Will the Tein SS last longer then the OEM ie > 100,000 km?

Do the Tein SS come with the top hats or do you have to reuse the OEM ones?