|
Brakes & Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
12-15-2009, 11:39 AM | #1 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 222367
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC
Vehicle:2004 Impreza WRX STi Platinum Siver Metallic |
Tein Flex vs Tein RA Coilovers
Hey guys, i was wondering what would be some reviews of the 2 set ups. I know Tein stuff is not nearly as good as Cusco, Zeal, KW, and Ohlins so please spare me the just go get those. I have 2 used options well within my price range and was trying to decide between the 2. This is a DD with occasional Auto X use, that being said, im coming from a Trans Am with Penske Road Race suspension on it so im not afraid of a rough ride. Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
|
12-15-2009, 11:39 AM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 222367
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC
Vehicle:2004 Impreza WRX STi Platinum Siver Metallic |
Reason for a new thread is really because of the lack of info on the RA's, i've found a lot of info on the Flex's so really more info on the RA's would be helpful
|
12-15-2009, 11:40 AM | #3 |
Merci Buckets
Moderator Member#: 88606
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Michigan
Vehicle:2018 Grand Cherokee Velvet Red Pearl |
Tein is as good as Cusco and Zeal, both of which are not nearly as good as Ohlins and KW.
IMO, Tein RA is the same as Tein Flex with a high price tag. More than likely you'll notice zero difference between the two until you're going full-bore at the race track and at that point I'd recommend buying a coilover better suited to racing. Like the KW or Ohlins. For the price of the RA either one of them would be noticeably better. But then for that price the RCE T2 or TiC SST would be better still. If you really want an opinion on the RA's the only person I know who ran a set is angryfist...and he swapped them out for some custom bits from Zzyzx before Steve closed up shop. He used them for some daily driving and a lot of autocross. I know he went through several different springing options as well. Its probably the best opinion you can get, if he wants to give it. I'm not sure how often he's on the forum though. He sold his WRX and bought an S2000 several months ago. |
12-15-2009, 11:55 AM | #4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 222367
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC
Vehicle:2004 Impreza WRX STi Platinum Siver Metallic |
Yea, if i were looking at new sets i would probably be looking at getting a set of KW V3's or something of the sort, but im looking at a couple used sets here on the boards. The RA's im looking at might actually be a little cheaper then the Flex's i was originally going with, but i had a few more questions about them. Ill just post the thread on here.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=1821562 |
12-15-2009, 12:30 PM | #5 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 89628
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Hawaii, Oahu
Vehicle:'02 Wagon VF39'd & Quick Racked |
I think for that price you ought to just buy them and see how you like it. Swapping suspensions is only an afternoon project (usually) except for the alignment, and you can always sell them if you find they don't suit your needs.
|
12-15-2009, 12:36 PM | #6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 222367
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC
Vehicle:2004 Impreza WRX STi Platinum Siver Metallic |
It between those and a set of used flex's for about the same price
|
12-15-2009, 01:24 PM | #7 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 22825
Join Date: Aug 2002
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Seattle, WA
|
If those are your only two choices... Perhaps you should just wait for something better to come around... and they do quite often.
|
12-15-2009, 02:22 PM | #8 |
Merci Buckets
Moderator Member#: 88606
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Michigan
Vehicle:2018 Grand Cherokee Velvet Red Pearl |
For $1000 I would look for a used set of KW v3's or see if you can find a vendor that will cut you a deal on a brand new set of KW v1's. You might be accustomed to a rough ride, but there is no reason you should have to settle. For $400 you could drop a set of ground control coilovers onto your stock struts and get height adjustment and maintain the better valving/damping properties of your stock struts. For another $540 you could swap in a set of Tokico D-specs with those GC sleeves and wind up with an adjustable damper that will handle stiffer springs than the stock struts. Either option is going to be more comfortable for a daily driver and likely perform better on the track.
|
12-15-2009, 02:42 PM | #9 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 63612
Join Date: Jun 2004
Chapter/Region:
SCIC
Location: SoCal - Chino Hills
Vehicle:2004 dom 2.5 wrx Rally Blue |
i wouldnt get the v1 , i would just try to jump straight to kw v3
Thats a tuff decision , i believe u wont notice that big of a difference until you really start pushing the car at a track setting, also auto-x and track is a bit different on suspension setup I went from Stance GR + Pro SSD 12k/12k to a set of KW Clubsports, but that took me about 2 years before i out grew it I do still have those coils sitting here if u want to purchase those ; P LOL |
12-15-2009, 02:45 PM | #10 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 222367
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC
Vehicle:2004 Impreza WRX STi Platinum Siver Metallic |
I would hardly consider the stock shocks as having good damping ability, theyre quite under dampened for just the stock springs (extremely bouncy) I might have to look into some v1's I just hate they don't come with camber plates. Idk, I guess I'll keep looking or just pick these up for the mean time and run with them and then sell them down the road when I have enough to get some v3's I just hate the stock suspension. And I do appreciate the advice guys, I know a rough ride doesn't necessariy mean good handling but i was mentioning that because it seems like the reviews of the teins are they provide decent handling but with a harsher ride then most, I can put up with the ride and for the price range it sure beets any of the Godspeed or no name stuff you know.
|
12-15-2009, 03:16 PM | #11 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 22825
Join Date: Aug 2002
Chapter/Region:
NWIC
Location: Seattle, WA
|
You're daily driving, why do you need camber plates? Even for auto-x, those are not needed if you are not competing heavily. wants vs needs are a bitch...
|
12-15-2009, 03:45 PM | #12 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 71875
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Montana
|
neither.
and stiff and harsh DOES NOT mean good handling. our kws are smooth. and very fast. |
12-15-2009, 06:46 PM | #13 | |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 222367
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC
Vehicle:2004 Impreza WRX STi Platinum Siver Metallic |
Quote:
As far as the camber plates, why are they not beneficial? I feel accurate suspension adjustments both front a rear are key to an effective set up. Im not denying that a superior damper is not important, nor am i denying the KW's > then Tein, I ALREADY KNOW THIS. What im trying to determine is whether or not these Tein's are aleast a somewhat capable damper that, despite having a harsh ride, will be better then the underdamped crap known as stock STi struts. haha |
|
12-16-2009, 04:05 PM | #14 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 222367
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC
Vehicle:2004 Impreza WRX STi Platinum Siver Metallic |
How about KW version 1's? Its hard to find reviews on them, i wish they were rebound/compression adjustable though but literally just received a christmas bonus from work which i wasnt expecting so my budget just increase a little bit
|
12-17-2009, 12:13 AM | #15 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 161678
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Marquette MI
Vehicle:2002 wrx V5 RA swap Black |
The biggest problem i had with tein was that i went through seals. I did use there HG rally stuff though so, as far as being a capable damper in every other way they do pretty good. but i will never own them again so it's hard to recomend them at all. just my .02
|
12-17-2009, 08:43 AM | #16 | |
Merci Buckets
Moderator Member#: 88606
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Michigan
Vehicle:2018 Grand Cherokee Velvet Red Pearl |
Quote:
And just to say it again... D-specs with Ground Control coilover sleeves are going to be cheaper, higher performing, more adjustable, and more comfy to daily drive than any coilover in the price range. |
|
12-17-2009, 12:06 PM | #17 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 222367
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC
Vehicle:2004 Impreza WRX STi Platinum Siver Metallic |
D specs huh? I'll have to look into that set up then, you have an suggestions as far as the best vendors to look into them?
|
12-17-2009, 12:09 PM | #18 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 222367
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Charlotte, NC
Vehicle:2004 Impreza WRX STi Platinum Siver Metallic |
And please forgive my ignorance, I have a basic understanding of suspension dynamics (couldn't go into the inner workings of a damper or tell you how to valve one but I know what they're supposed to do and symptoms of too little rebound or compression) Bunin coming from owning a trans am for the past 5 years where you had kyb agx's, then bilsteins, re-valves bilsteins, and koni's haha. Not a hard decision really, I stepped out of the box and went with penske's. But now that I'm into the Subaru world there is a **** ton more options so I'm just trying to get a grasp on brands haha
|
12-17-2009, 12:11 PM | #19 | |
Merci Buckets
Moderator Member#: 88606
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Michigan
Vehicle:2018 Grand Cherokee Velvet Red Pearl |
Quote:
http://www.turninconcepts.com/produc...roducts_id=555 |
|
12-17-2009, 12:19 PM | #20 | |
Merci Buckets
Moderator Member#: 88606
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Michigan
Vehicle:2018 Grand Cherokee Velvet Red Pearl |
Quote:
Too often people get caught up on the number of options/features a coilover contains and they overlook quality. If a high quality coilover coming out of Europe costs $2400 what are you getting out of Asia for $1200? If a set of decent Koni SA damper inserts cost $700 how good are the dampers in a coilover that come with a housing, springs, and camber plates for $900 total? |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
tein flex vs mono flex... or neither? | Kaldar142 | Brakes, Steering & Suspension | 7 | 04-21-2008 07:56 AM |
tein flex vs. mono flex | wrxnatx | Brakes, Steering & Suspension | 8 | 02-16-2008 08:47 PM |
tein flex vs. Megan coilover | Ethanfan | Brakes, Steering & Suspension | 7 | 05-25-2007 03:34 PM |
tein flex vs. Megan coilover | Ethanfan | Interior & Exterior Modification | 2 | 05-25-2007 11:04 AM |
Tein Flex vs. Tein SS | wrexsta | Brakes, Steering & Suspension | 3 | 01-23-2003 10:23 AM |