Hey,

I recently bought an FD with Tein H springs with OEM upper mounts and the front sits lower than the rear. Is this normal? It is about an inch lower in front. I haven't taken the springs off yet to look at it but I am wondering what is going on. Any ideas or people with Tein H springs that do not have this problem?

 

Come on guys. No one? I measured the fender wells tonight. The front is 24.5 in and the back is 25 7/8in so definitely a difference.

 

I've never seen anyone with the H-Tech springs in person to offer any direct answers on them. However, most of the lowering springs for the FD lower the front more then the rear. Here's an old shot of my car with Eibach springs which barely lower the rear:

http://mahjik.homestead.com/files/FD...2/MVC-007F.JPG
http://mahjik.homestead.com/files/FD...2/MVC-008F.JPG
http://mahjik.homestead.com/files/FD...2/MVC-009F.JPG

 

Yeah I understand the fronts lower more than the rear, but according to the Tein website it is a minimal difference not over an inch difference. Can't be good for handling. I'm gonna pull off the tire as soon as I can to get a better look.

 

To be honest, I've yet to see any of the advertised lowering numbers be correct on any of the springs sold for the FD.

 

I guess its normal. I just installed tien h springs with similar result. Rear high and front low. Car handles good though.

 

Is it that much of a difference though? Did you measure the fender arch height? Just curious.

 

I have H-techs with stock shocks and my car sits about 25.5 all the way around. I don't think H-techs lower to 24.5 with stock shocks. What shocks do you have?

 

sorry for missing you on your PM to me.

S Techs lower the front 1.4 and rear 1.3 according to Tein.

rate is 440 f and 320 rear.

beyond the above i have no info. i certainly would remove them, and inspect that the fronts were on the fronts and the rubber mounts were there and in good condition.

howard

 

I was wondering if the fronts and backs could be interchanged. I assumed not. The car has almost new Bilstein shocks.

So without some sort of equipment how can I tell if the fronts are the fronts? I don't suppose they would be marked?

 

springs are almost always marked. once you have the info check Tein's site or call/email them to check.

 

Well looked at the springs today. Guess what. The springs are reversed front to back! Figures. Anyway, now I need to find a lug socket that fits cause apparently the one that was with my car is no longer there. Anyway, will swap them soon and should sit level. I have been looking into coilovers anyway. BC Racing has a good looking one with 30 levels of damping. You ever heard of them?

 

Well sat out in the hot sun all day to swap these springs. Took me about 3.5 hours cause I have never changed them before and wasn't sure what I was doing. That was only for the driver's side. I know what works now so the pass side should go fast. The driver side sits at 25.5 front and back now like it should. Plus I get a little more ground clearance. Will be interesting to see how it rides now.

 

Gotta lov it.

On my first FD, the PO's mechanic had installed the Koni spring perches randomly upside down, right side up and at different perch settings on each corner Ride height was totally jacked on each corner. What a dufus...

 

So how did you like the ride feel? I have a set installed on stock shocks.
The rears will sometimes rub with an 18x10 +43 wheel.
I'm thinking of either getting stiffer springs or just go for a full-on coil-over as I'm not a big fan or rolling my fenders.


For future reference, here's a link to where you can find info such as spring rates from Tein:
http://www.tein.com/price/mazda.html
http://www.tein.com/tech_info/m50.html