Lokiel wrote:The name of those "Street Flex" coilovers should give you a big hint about their intended use - they're intended for a smoother ride on the street, hence the close front:rear spring rate ratio.
Interesting that you don't find them comfortable on the road.
Are they really just a "gimmick"?
ie. Are Tein just relying on the fact that "Street" buyers are uneducated and will buy their "Street" coilovers based on the Tein brand name - they just make their "Streets" harsh to make them feel "sporty" and different to OEM shocks?
First of all, most Tein coilovers have a close front to rear spring ratio for NA/NB applications as standard. I gather they like to drift in Japan. LOL. So I would say their ratio choice has nothing to do with smooth ride at all.
My rough ride is coming from Hume HWY, Parramatta Rd, Cumberland HWY etc. speed bump(the gaps between the sections) and pot hole ridden concrete main roads like this even made the standard SE Bilstein setup uncomfortable on our heavy duty trucking routes. They have 3.8kg/mm front and 2.8kg/mm rears.
And nope no gimmick from my point of view. Street in their name means nothing when you look at the specs, they are far too stiff for street use, plus I wouldn't call pillow balls a good NVH setup, rubber mounts is what you want for a road car/street. Hence why they could be looked at as harsh. Tein have much lower grade coilovers than Street Flex to fulfil street applications. I honestly reckon the Street Flex should just be rebranded as Tein Sport with their latest naming structure to go along with Mono Sport.
Don't get me wrong, I'm actually reasonably happy with the Teins, I just wished they came standard with at least a 4:3 ratio like most NB's have standard or Fulcrum didn't charge an arm and leg to alter the standard factory spec item otherwise I would have.
Its just easier to complain than praise that's all.
focedfive wrote:Luke I know with some old HKS coilovers I have the NB rears were quite a bit longer than the NA so I assume the Teins do a one size one fits all and probably short so they work with the NA. Your car is low given you are nearly out of hight adjustment. I think i will just see what springs rates are around for the Bilsteins that might work and i am not really worried about on road comfort (I may regreat that one day)
David, so with your rates you have are you happy? If you were buying new springs today do you think you would go with the same rate combination or maybe vary it?
And yep, Teins are one size fits all for NA/NB, creating this exact problem, regardless of the model coilover you buy.
One thing to keep in mind with changing the springs for the Bilsteins is you may have to get the dampers re-valved to suit.
I thought of putting 9KG/mm in the front of my Teins, but was advised re-valving would be necessary for that bigger jump in spring rate and didn't want to spend the extra dollars.
At least the Bilsteins are a quality product so it may be worth pricing up then buying new.
From memory I think Heasman do Bilstein revalving and are based in Sydenham. May be worth talking to them.
The best way to find out what spring rates you may like would be to get a few drives in other people cars at a club track day if they are willing to swap for a session with you, David
. I believe Cameron is running a pretty stiff setup in his SE as well with 12KG/mm fronts and 8or9KG/mm rears.If you are doing Marulan in May, it is even easier to swap with someone there, as it is a more relaxed day, but there probably wouldn't be to many track cars there.
