Tein suspension ?s

ThC · Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Posts: 7 Location: jupiter FL

i have been reading around the forums for some time and have decided i want to go with either Htech or stech springs but i can t decide any help on this subect would be greatly appreciated
what looks best with stock wheels and rims... and which has the best perfrmance i do normal driving but want to have a high performance feel
main question is there still a threat of fake tein springs on ebay???
i have been rreading alot of old posts saying that its dangerous to buy form ebay
but they date back to 06 07 is there fake ones out there????
ty

ack154 · Posted: 8/11/08 5:05PM Post subject:

If you want performance, get a rear sway bar. Springs will help but a sway will do more.

engifineer · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 8172 Location: Minneapolis, MN

What may look best to you will not necessarily perform best. The best drop for this car is going to be about 1.4 inches from stock, meaning lower will start handling worse again. Most people over-lower their cars. They feel that since it is lower, it "feels" like it handles better. However, had they gone out and really pushed the car on a track before and after the spring install, they may feel differently. And of course, some have spent money to slam their car and will swear it handles better no matter what :P

fatboitan · Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 435

lowering the car is just to make it look better and have a lower sense of gravity

engifineer · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 8172 Location: Minneapolis, MN

fatboitan wrote: lowering the car is just to make it look better and have a lower sense of gravity

I think you mean lower center of gravity :)

And overall, the lower a car sits the better. However, you have to include suspension geometry into the equation. Since the car was not designed to sit 2 inches lower than stock, you throw the geometry off when you go too low. So you have to find the right balance between the two, which seems to be about 1.4" of drop on our car. It involves roll centers, roll couple, suspension geometry, etc.

exzess · Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 175 Location: Germantown, MD

what people here are trying to say is: H-Techs. I got em installed last week and MAN does it look better (tho its not too low) and it does handle a lil better. the stockies would look 10% better on S-Techs, but lets say you get a tax return or paycheck of a grand and decide you want 18's lol (rubbing could b annoying). Slso, there's a bit better response to potholes by H-Techs.

robtheqb2003 · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 334 Location: Irvine, Ca

H techs are nice, but they are kinda mushy. S techs are a bit too low for me. If you don't mind the H tech drop, I would say get the h techs. They are super soft. Also, I didn't think the drop wouldn't be enough for me, but a few months after they finally settled, I am wanting a bit more...

ack154 · Posted: 8/12/08 9:26AM Post subject:

Good alternative to the htechs: H&R Sport. Still a medium drop for good handling and a bit more performance oriented (h-techs are mean for comfort, according to tein).

engifineer · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 8172 Location: Minneapolis, MN

As mentioned the h-techs are way too soft for the drop (garbage IMO). There just is no such thing as dropping a car properly and having a smooth ride. So if you push the car hard on htechs, you are most likely riding on the bump stops part of the time.

The H&R sports appear to be about the perfect drop, but I(and the others on ystc) are missing the spring rate info on them. I woudl hope for upwards of 200F/400R, but they may be lower. TRD's are 168F/324R, and are nice, but IMO could be stiffer to handle the best.

The best info I know of for all the tC springs is here:

http://www.yoursciontc.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=16894

ack154 · Posted: 8/12/08 9:51AM Post subject:

Just got off the phone with H&R (the number on the bottom of their website) and the guy said...

"We do not rate our Sport springs... they're designed to work with the OEM shocks."

:eyebrow:

Ok... you may not intentionally rate them but someone there must have tested them, no?

No rates for the Race springs either (said he didn't have them readily available... so who knows what that means).

He believes the rate on the coilovers is about 456 (didn't sound too sure), all the way around.

engifineer · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 8172 Location: Minneapolis, MN

Sounds like yet another "tuner" part manufacturer. Sad really. The spring rate is every bit as important as the ride height.. more important actually.

I will stick with my TRD's until I go SS-P :)

ack154 · Posted: 8/12/08 10:51AM Post subject:

engifineer wrote: Sounds like yet another "tuner" part manufacturer. Sad really. The spring rate is every bit as important as the ride height.. more important actually.

I will stick with my TRD's until I go SS-P :)
Ya, I was pretty surprised to get that as a response... I mean, wth? You made them, even if they weren't designed with a specific rate in mind, there has to be one associated with them!

ThC · Joined: 11 Aug 2008 Posts: 7 Location: jupiter FL

whats the approx install price for lowering springs
and i have also read i need to get an alingment done
when its all said and done how much will this run me?

ack154 · Posted: 8/12/08 11:13AM Post subject:

Four wheel alignment around here is typically $60 or so, but I've seen higher.

Install is up to you. There are 3 choices.

a) Do it all yourself (with a friend or two, really). There are plenty of resources here on the site. Multiple DIYs and informative threads. It's really not totally awful of an install to do. Total out of pocket cost: $0 or beer/pizza for your friends + alignment.

2) Remove the strut assemblies yourself and take all 4 to a shop to have them swap the springs and give them back to you to reinstall the completed assemblies. If you don't have the right tools to swap the springs, this is a great alternative to save a lot of money. I've gone through this method twice and it averages $15 or so per assembly. So you're looking at $60 for that + an alignment. Just make sure to call around ahead of time to make sure you can find a place that will do it. Some places won't for liability.

iii) Have a shop do everything. The easiest solution.. especially if you're just not comfortable doing the work or are lazy. This varies from shop to shop. Best to call around your area for quotes. Can range from $150-$300+ and then tack on some more for an alignment.

Like I said, there are instructions and resources all over this site. I've research that a little before you decide not to do it. Can save yourself a truckload of pennies.

ack154 · Posted: 8/12/08 11:16AM Post subject:

Damn, I should add that to my suspension sticky...