Monthly Archives: August 2010

Overhaul Results

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Hello from the TEIN R&D Department. Some, if not most, of you own a set of our dampers. If it so happens that you do indeed own and use a set of Tein Dampers, sometime down the line the damper is going to need an overhaul.

Whether the damper is leaking or just not performing like it used to, we have all your Overhaul needs covered. Follow this link for some basic prices and information regarding your Overhaul Service.

Here, we’ll be using one of our Overhaul Customer’s dampers to show you what normally goes on during our Overhaul Service.

We can see that this customer’s damper has been leaking oil and has accumulated some dirt while being driven. (Remember everyone, check the conditions of your dampers often. If you see it beginning to leak send it in for servicing. Continued use of an already worn out damper can only do more harm.)

We’ve disassembled the damper and the parts are going to be washed.

One of the easiest ways for us to determine how badly your dampers needed servicing is by looking at the overall color and quantity of the oil that comes out of the damper. The oil on the Left is new shock absorber oil, and the oil on the left is what came out of the damper, you can see the color difference between the two. When compared with the amount of oil the damper should have had, the actual amount that came out is quite low. (Driving a shock absorber with little to no oil will have the same consequences as driving your engine with no oil, inner components will begin to wear down and need replacing, or in the worst cases we’ve seen, the dampers are completely irreparable.)

After the parts are washed and inspected further, worn down parts will be replaced.

After everything is put back together you have a damper that performs just as it did out of the box and looks almost like it did out of the box. (Our dampers are originally powder coated. If the paint is beginning to fade or peel, to get it back to looking like brand new the damper would require a re-powder coating service. Unfortunately, we do not have that service available.)

Our recommended Overhaul Service interval is 3 Years/36,000 Miles if the damper is used only for daily driving/paved road use. If your dampers see track time or off-road time then your recommended Service Interval will be shorter. Vice versa if the dampers are used on a “Saturday Night or Weekend Special” car then your Service Interval will be longer.

Bottom line, check your dampers’ condition often. If you see oil or if they’re not performing like they used to then send them on in. We’ll make them look and feel like new.

TEIN Authorized Dealer in the Spotlight

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At TEIN, we work through our network Authorized Dealers to help promote our brand. Many of our dealers spend a lot of time advertising, and even testing our products out for themselves, all in an effort to get our name out there, as well as provide consumers with valuable feedback. RallySport Direct not only sells TEIN, but are also quite knowledgeable with our product line.

Located in Riverton, Utah, RallySport Direct has easy access to the playgrounds of Miller Motorsports Park. Must be nice! This gives the team at RallySport Direct a chance to really put the products they sell to the test.

Purchasing Manager, Ben Mertlich’s 2006 Mitsubishi Evo MR uses our Super Racing dampers. With a bevy of upgrades, such as parts from TurboXS, Hallman, and Brembo, to name a few, this makes quite a fun track car. Oh, and 325 AWHP helps too, I’m sure!

Owner Nick Widdison also made quick work of his ’05 STI, displaying the latest must-have parts.

This active group of enthusiasts can also be found on many automotive forums posting the most up-to-date information on new products and events, as well as offering tech support.  They also have some pretty cool videos on YouTube- check out their What’s in the Box segments. Much more informative than just staring at pictures of car parts, if you ask me!

Established in 2003  by Nick Widdison, RallySport Direct were quick to react to the new car market, making a name for themselves among the Subaru and Mitsubishi community as the go-to guys for aftermarket parts. They have since expanded their products and applications line. So don’t discount them if you’re looking for parts for your Honda, Nissan, or Mazda, etc. They can get you what you need.

So, if you’re in their area, stop by and visit their showroom. These guys are more than willing to assist. And, as previously mentioned, they’re always on the web to answer your questions. Their customer service will definitely be the highlight of your experience with them!

Many thanks to the crew at RallySport Direct for their continued support for TEIN!!!

RallySport Direct can be reached at 1-888-45-RALLY begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-888-45-RALLY      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

On the web at www.rallysportdirect.com

SuperRally at X Games 16

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This past weekend was X Games 16. New for this year was SuperRally where four cars compete bumper to bumper on a dirt course. TEIN sponsored professional drifter, Stephan Verdier, driving his Subaru STi. The vehicle is actually Stephan’s drift car converted back to AWD and tuned for rally. Changes included a different motor and transmission package from Crawford (must use turbo restrictor plate per the rules), rally suspension, gravel tires and a host of other parts.

Being that Ford and Subaru had multiple cars entered into SuperRally I think it was safe to say that Stephan was a big underdog. However practice times showed that Stephan was one of the quickest competitors. His Crawford powered STi showed it easily had the power to compete with the high power and light weight Fiestas from Ford which are purpose built for Rally Cross competition.

During morning practice Stephan made contact with the wall and damaged both the front and rear of his car. His car arrived back to the pits with a motor trouble, suspension damage and body damage. It took his skillful and dedicated crew hours to get his car patched up enough to compete. TEIN engineer, Mr. Nakai was on hand to help with suspension tuning and witnessed the team fix a broken cam sprocket, pull the chassis with a truck, replace suspension components and repair the bodywork. At this point he was lucky to even make it to the starting line.

In the first round Stephan faced Dave Mirra, Ken Block and ACP.

Stephan blasted off the line and held his lead for the entire race earning the win and entrance into the final round.

In the final round Stephan faced Tanner Foust, Brian Deegan and Sam Hubinette. This time the Fiestas blasted off the line and Stephan used his Crawford power to gain third position.

Through aggressive driving he moved into second behind Foust but relinquished the position to Deegan 3 laps later.

300 meters before the finish Stephan slowed from a damaged intercooler pipe which allowed Hubinette to pass him for third. The Gr.N suspension worked flawlessly throughout practice and competition. The coilovers provided Stephan with good traction for the Crawford power plant, high cornering speed and smooth landings.

It was an exciting race no matter the outcome and I cannot wait to see this event again in 2011.

Special thanks to Gordon Ting of 0-60 magazine for the X Games pass and the images.