I'm on Tein S-techs in my FD. I have stock wheels right now with 245/45. It's an R1, but the previous owner might've swapped suspension with a touring, so I'm not sure which shocks I'm using. The top of the tire in the front rubs in the wheel well. I thought it was only rubbing on the fender liner, but I pulled it out and I really didn't get any more room out of where it's rubbing by doing so.

The rubber in the upper mounts look really worn and flimsy. I put the car on scales and it was damn close to 50/50 weight ratio so I'm not sure this makes much of a difference. I'm considering getting some pillowball upper mounts.

My ride quality is not harsh or bouncy at all so I don't think it's weak shocks. So anyone else have this rubbing?

 

The Tein S-Tech are really too high of a spring rate for the stock shocks. If you plan on keeping the springs, I would recommend upgrading to some Koni's.

 

Really? I know the S-techs are probably the stiffest lowering spring available, but I've read that the stock shocks with S-techs are a really good combination. I'm actually happy with the ride quality, but the only problem is the rubbing. I wouldn't mind going a little stiffer though.

So is this a common problem with my setup? I haven't heard of others with the same issue.

 

The S-Techs are about as stiff as some coilover setups. It actually a little higher in front and a little lower in the rear than the Ground Control setup 500F/400R. That's really too much for the stock shocks. Ideally, the shocks are valved for the spring rate they are using. So if the stock shocks were valved for the stock springs, increasing the spring rate by about 2X but leaving the shocks the same is not a good thing.

Eibach and H&R are generally recommended for the stock shocks. I run the S-Techs with the Tokicos. I have no rubbing unless I set the shocks to full soft and have the car hit a dip in the road at some speed. Even then I'm not sure the Tokicos are up for the spring rate either.

 

Do you know if any shocks are valved for springs these stiff and are adjustable? Or is it the adjustable damping that changes the valving for better matching with the spring rates?

 

i dont rub but im using the stock tire size 225's...

 

What's the aspect ratio of the stock tires? If I calculate correctly, I think my tire diameter at 245/45 is actually smaller than stock.

 

What the hey do you think you are "adjusting"?


Any time you lower an FD, you are going to get some fender liner rubbing on bad dips....unavoidable.