Can the Tein Flex Z's be adjusted to get near stock ride height? I'm pretty happy with my car's manners with stock (1994 Base) suspension and wheels, but it's already pretty low and I'm not sure I would be willing to deal with the tradeoffs that come with dropping it an inch.

 

According to this -

https://www.tein.com/srch/us_search....6&item=default

As-is, the suspension is designed to drop the car 1.6" in the front and 1.8" in the back. It says it can go 4 inches lower (!) and 1.5 inches higher than that so you can get it to damn near stock ride height.

Personally if I were to go that route I'd get it even so the car isn't jacked up in the back - make it sit nice and level.

Dale

 

Dale, Since you have tried both the Tien Flex Z and the Fortune 500s. Which would you say is better ride if one is not considering the EDFC?

 

I didn't drive them back to back, I would say it's comparable at least. If nothing else the Tein setup is cheaper - around $700 - and that's hard to argue with.

Irrespective of the EDFC I'm going Tein in the future. Partly that's just "I like the brand" but I like the cost, I like that it can go to near TOO soft, and I like that if you have a bad component you can buy the whole strut assembly for cheap and swap it out with no downtime.

Dale

 

I saw a rear lower control arm being sold by a on-line NOS seller for about C$800 last night. I did not check to see if that price included bushings, but I suspect so.

In the end my "bitsa" front and rear suspension refurbishment cost C$4600, a large portion of which was shop labor.

The city is installing new sewer lines on the main road near our place. Perfect test strip for the suspension.

I was very pleased to rumble over it without any bottoming, banging, bucking, rattles, squeaks or tugging off centre

. Just the sound of the tires and suspension absorbing the uneven pavement.

I look forward to having my summer 16" wheels and tires on, with slightly lower tire pressure.

 

I was able to get a picture of my Tien springs today. Looks like a part number! F-S2 M32 010782 GBC



Now to google.

Also put my 1999+ 16" base wheels back on today. The light weight and extra rubber made the smooth riding even smoother.

 

FWIW, I finally looked back at my paperwork and my Fortune setup was 10kFront/8kRear spring rate shocks valved to 12kFront/10kRear. This was all chosen by the guys at Fortune and I was very happy with it.

 

Went for an hour cruise around the belt roads tonight. With the 16" wheels and Potenza Tires the ride was flawless. I don't remember a single jolt.

Searching the above reference number ( F-S2 M32 010782 GBC) has not yielded any match to a Tein product. So it is still a puzzle. The closest I got was that 0782 is part of the part number for the seat/pedestal.

 

You can try to email Tein USA. They are probably either the S-Tech or H-Tech.

The S-tech was a more aggressive drop (like 1.5") and the H-tech less so (like .5"-.75"). Don't know if how low it is would give any clue.

Dale

 

I have the S-tech on Showa dampers as well. I'll take pics over the weekend.

S-Tech rate: 8/6, drop: 1.4/1.3" (F/R)
H-Tech rate: 7/5, drop: 0.8/0.7"

https://www.tein.com/tech_info/m50.html

 

Redbul, curious. Which shop in the LM did you use for bushings pressing? I took my fronts to Comptech and they are good but a bit pricy IMO. Believe it was around $70 to re and re a single bushing. I've purchased all the rear pillow ***** and bushings and that will be next on the list. If I don't find a better priced shop, I'll probably buy a press and have a go at it myself.

 

On the overall topic I think keeping 16" stockers with the 50 sidewall helps a lot on less than ideal roads. Also pretty light/less rotational mass which feels wonderful when the suspension is unloading, and when accelerating. Not a popular option, but I love the stock wheels personally. Just have to space them out a bit to get a good look.

 

I use Redline of No. 5 Road.

Travis Halliday. He does not particulary like pressing bushings either; and I only had a few actual replacements.

Others in our group have shared a bushing press. Some have more skill than others.

Some will help you out for $, beer or parts.

For work on the motor and tuning I use ForceFed in Abbotsford.

 

Seems like bushing pressing is uncommon in these parts these days. Thanks for the info.

 

Should be able to 'rent' a kit from Autoparts (or equivalent store) and do it yourself.

I pressed out a bunch of bushings on the rear of my FD years ago.

Just make sure you are pressing them the right direction as some of them are meant to be pressed in one direction, ask me how I know .

 

Got another 'tuner bible' through the marketplace on here. A mint edition of "Hyperev" " Volume 54 RX-7 No.3. These are fantastic books for snapshots of the Japan tuner world at different stages. This edition was a year 2000 and features a back cover ad for the then most recent version of the Type RZ. Essentially bearing the future Spirit R equipment package..

Deep inside on a section on "Springs" I spied this little clip.

The title says "Esu Teku".

The blurb roughly says (Laujesse correct me if I am wrong):

"Is able to meet two levels of ride desire "soft and medium". Matched with normal dampers, running is (something, something). Front (stiffness) range is 4.2~10.4; Back is 2.8~7.8. Front drop is 20mm and back 25mm.

Price range is Y20600 ~ Y21200; Maker: Tein





So combined with the Bathurst Showa adjustable shocks do I have a range of 40mm drop and 5mm lift?

By "soft" do those numbers show "super soft" 4.8 seems pretty low. ( no pun intended).

Maybe someday I will try it out.

 

I got the FD out of the garage this weekend and had a drive around. Again not happy with the current suspension, holy crap it's so bouncy and jarring.

Gotta get some other things paid for then I'll finally get some damn Flex Z's.

Dale

 

Anybody check out the Stance coilovers that AutoRND offer? I think they used to be a vendor here years ago, if not still. They have a 10k/8k that are specifically setup for the FD.

 

Dale... I would echo rx7girlTK's comment on the Stance's. They are very nice. Comfortable. Well made. Reasonably priced. I had them before I switched to the Ohlins, which I prefer, but they are notably more expensive than the Stance's... even on sale.

 

Well had these installed with the rest of my "bitsa' suspension refurbishment. About the third trip out I developed a clicking sound in my rear end. But before I could get back to the shop to check them, I got cut-off by a bozoo in an S15. Hope to get the car back from the body shop this week. Meanwhile I picked up that set of RLCA from Tomsn16. He was good enough to press in a set of the big bushings for the same price. So I have a backup if these P2Ms have crapped out.

 

Here I am running over some rough pavement with my Showa/Tien set up.

 

That Stance setup with 10/8 would be good. I'm planning on Tein Flex though, I like the price point, the ride quality, and the fact I can use EDFC.

Good thing is we have a lot of options!

Dale

 

After going back and forth between the Ohlins and Tein Flex Zs, I've decided on the Flex Zs. Will have them on later this month.

 

Bumping this up with an update....

So I had some money come in from a few projects and decided it was time, bought a set of Flex Z's. I put them on recently (and spent way too much time putting them on - of course decided to deep-clean and ceramic coat my wheels while I was in there )

First impressions? WOW. The car is SO much more comfortable to drive. I installed them at the height and everything they were set at the factory and set the shocks to the recommended settings - 8 clicks back on front, 10 on rear.

I haven't gotten a chance to really lean on it in the corners. I did go over a spot that my suspension bottomed out many moons ago (this was with stock shocks and Eibachs) and it soaked that up nicely and didn't bottom out.

I did adjust the ride height after driving around some to let things settle. I don't have my notes with me, but I had to lower the rear coilovers by a half inch to 3/4 inch and the front passenger by a small amount, driver's side was fine. The manual shows the recommended ride height. Adjusting wasn't hard - take off wheel, unlock bottom adjuster on coil over with the included wrench, then start spinning down the locked spring perch to change height then lock it back down. The good thing is the relationship between changing that height on the coilover is 1:1 with the actual measured ride height. If you're a half inch off, take a half inch off the coil over and you are good.

I still have to get an alignment as well, it isn't that far off from the ride height with my old setup but it's enough that the alignment is going to be off.

Anyhow, I recommend this setup. This solved my problem. I am interested in getting the EDFC at some point but I want to drive it for a bit as-is first.

Dale

 

Below is a pic of the P2M LCA as installed and after about 1000km. I guess the adjustable feature can allow the arm to twist. Not sure if such can be prevented. I had a dif brace installed which seems to have eliminated the clicking (yes they are the same purple as the Feed Afflux RHD which was the source). as I am getting less "rock-back". Had my one Spirit R (Type B) wheel installed with my 17" Voxxs. The Pilot Super Sport tires seems stiffer than the Continental Extreme Contact I have on the Speedlines. The ride is definitely harsher, negating part of the ride I have been raving about. Tires matter.