Should I replace Tein SS coilovers with stock suspension?

CoachOz · Postby **CoachOz** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 9:23 am

I recently bought a 2006 NC with Tein Super Streets. Unfortunately most of the roads around where I live are not exactly smooth so the ride is pretty harsh. I'm wondering if I should replace the Teins with near new stock springs and struts which came with the car. BTW the car also has Beatrush underbody bracing and tower bracing and adjustable rear sway bar.

I do love the way the car handles, but it is also my daily driver.

Any advice much appreciated

shuey · Postby **shuey** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 9:46 am

.. i've only just put on my Teins SS and although it feels a little stiffer than stock, but not bone jarring at all. come to think of it, its still very comfortable. i guess even setting the dampers to the softest wasn't good enough?

16bit · Postby **16bit** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 10:18 am

yeah i would say raise the ride height a little and got to softest setting.

stiffening the chassis should make it more comfortable as it will let the suspension do its work if it has a more solid base.

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 10:41 am

A quick couple of questions.

What ride height is the car set at?
Measure from the centre of the wheel cap to the wheel arch.
I twist the wheel cap until the centre part of the “M” in the badge is pointing forward and then hook the end of the tape into the point and take the measurement.
A good road setting is around 342 - 345mm.

How firm do you have the rebound set?
Wind the adjuster on the top of the shock clockwise all the way down and then back it off 4 clicks.

You’ll need to take the strut brace off the front shocks if there isn’t a hole drilled in the brace to get to the adjuster and remove the plastic panel in boot out to access the top of the rear shocks.

CoachOz · Postby **CoachOz** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 10:44 am

I've had Mania take the coilovers up to a little under stock height(14" front and rear) and have them on the softest setting

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:24 am

OK, 14” is 356mm so only about a 14mm drop from standard.

Harsh ride can occur if you have the settings on full soft as you are hitting the bumpstops.

Do you have the installation manual for the shocks?

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:25 am

I believe (and could be wrong) that these give a rough ride if not re-valved for Australian conditions. I also believe Fulcrum Suspensions used to do this for the ones they sold. Do you know if these were a direct import or bought through a retailer here?

CoachOz · Postby **CoachOz** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:28 am

Charlie Brown wrote:OK, 14” is 356mm so only about a 14mm drop from standard.

Harsh ride can occur if you have the settings on full soft as you are hitting the bumpstops.

Do you have the installation manual for the shocks?

Yes but in Japanese

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:30 am

Fulcrum charge a fortune for a revalve, I know.
They coped me for a rebuild as well when I wanted a revalve. The shocks had less than 8,000 klm on them!!!
It would have been as cheap for me to buy a new set from the States

CoachOz · Postby **CoachOz** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:32 am

JBT wrote:I believe (and could be wrong) that these give a rough ride if not re-valved for Australian conditions. I also believe Fulcrum Suspensions used to do this for the ones they sold. Do you know if these were a direct import or bought through a retailer here?

I'm the third owner, but the second owner installed them at somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 k. Car now has 66,000 on it. I believe they were bought locally as the previous owner told me about Fulcrum

CoachOz · Postby **CoachOz** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:34 am

Is it worth winding them all the way down then back up again?

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:39 am

CoachOz wrote:Yes but in Japanese

Ah yes, my first instructions for my Flex's were in Japanese and I had them translated.
I then managed to get some in English from a Miata.net member.

If you go to the page that shows the diagram of the adjuster (half way through the manual) you can probably see in the setting as the numbers are in English.

BTW Fulcrum advised the wrong setting when I did manage to get them to answer my questions after the revalve/rebuild. The worst customer service I've come across.

You need to wind them all the way down before any reset. Tein says you can't just do clicks in and out.

CoachOz · Postby **CoachOz** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:43 am

Charlie Brown wrote:
CoachOz wrote:Yes but in Japanese

Ah yes, my first instructions for my Flex's were in Japanese and I had them translated.
I then managed to get some in English from a Miata.net member.

If you go to the page that shows the diagram of the adjuster (half way through the manual) you can probably see in the setting as the numbers are in English.

BTW Fulcrum advised the wrong setting when I did manage to get them to answer my questions after the revalve/rebuild. The worst customer service I've come across.

You need to wind them all the way down before any reset. Tein says you can't just do clicks in and out.

Japanese not so useful.

I'll wind them down and back up and see if that makes a difference

Charlie Brown · Postby **Charlie Brown** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 11:45 am

Coach, you have a PM.

CoachOz · Postby **CoachOz** » Fri Nov 08, 2013 8:04 pm

Well I've tried to decipher the Japanese instructions and I think they say 16 clicks from hard to soft - I counted 28 on mine.

Anyway I wound them to number 1 (hard) and then backed off to 15, assuming that nothing happens beyond 16.

Went for a decent drive and I think it feels softer, but I wouldn't want to put money on it!