Monthly Archives: January 2011

TEIN’S Black Box

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In previous blogs we have discussed the difference between the old and new EDFC unit and motors, how to install the EDFC, how to read the error codes on the EDFC and featured vehicles with the EDFC installed.  However we have not discussed what this little black box does.

The EDFC, which stands for Electronic Damping Force Controller, controls the stiffness and softness of your suspension on the fly.  Whether you are on the track or on the street you can change your settings accordingly.  The unit has three presets for quick adjustments.  It has separate control buttons for front and rear adjustments, the ability to switch from 16 way adjustable to 32 way adjustable.  You can even change the brightness and volume of the control.  The EDFC DOES NOT lower or raise the vehicle.

If you have a Super Street (select applications), Super Street kit with Upper Pillow mounts, Flex, Mono Flex, Super Drift, Comfort Sport, Euro Damper and Super Racing Dampers the EDFC is compatible with your kit.

MSRP for Controller (EDK04-K4469)  $253.00

MSRP for Motor Kit (model depending on vehicle) $165.00

MSRP for Strut Kit (Recommended for vehicles with Strut type front only)  $33.00

EDFC Controller in Gordon Ting built Lexus ISF

My Evo X and Fujitsubo Legalis R

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I bring to you another progress update/product review regarding my personal Evo X.

Previously, I had written about the Mono Flex Dampers that I am using.
This time I bring to you Fujitsubo’s Legalis R for the CZ4A.

My goal for modifying my car was to obtain as much power as possible while keeping the car completely street legal; and I remember when the Legalis R was first being tested on an Evo X, the sound level and power gains were impressive, unfortunately I didn’t have my car back then.
Of course, whenever anyone puts at least a cat-back exhaust on their car they are hoping to gain some power out of it; and I knew, from having seen the before and after dyno runs, that there was power to be made over the stock exhaust with the Legalis R.

Another thing that was important for me was the aesthetics of the exhaust.
Before deciding on the Legalis R, I actually tried out the RM01A that had been on Elliot’s TEIN Sponsored EVO X.

But after driving around with it for a week or so I decided that I wanted something a little less aggressive looking and flowed better with the rest of the car.
(If you desire the aggressive dual canister look, the RM01A is available for special order.)

And finally the sound level.
According to California Vehicle Code 27151 the decibel level of the exhaust cannot exceed 95dbA.
The Legalis R falls well under 95dbA. It is a very quiet exhaust, no drone when cruising at highway speeds or any speed at that.

A Legalis R Promotional Video was recently filmed using my car, so keep an eye out it’ll be released soon.

My Evo X as it sits now:

Special thanks to Mackin Industries for helping me obtain a set of TE37’s.
Also, special thanks to Evasive Motorsports for their masterful fender rolling abilities and for carefully mounting tires onto my white wheels without leaving any marks, always true professionals.

(None of that fender rolling with a baseball bat at Evasive)

What is a H.A.S.?

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Consumers sometimes question why TEIN does not make a true coil over shock design for the rear of some popular applications like 350Z, G35, RSX,’06+ Civic, FIT, BMW E36, E46, Mustang, etc… All these cars use a separate spring and shock design in the rear.

For these applications we have a H.A.S. (Height Adjustment System) which is a threaded sleeve that sits separately from the shock and still allows for ride height adjustment.

Some other smaller suspension companies may offer a true spring (coil) over shock design for the rears of these applications but let me tell you why TEIN does not.

TEIN engineers could easily make a spring over shock design and it would probably even be cheaper BUT this is not a SAFE choice.

First you have to understand the purpose of a spring versus shock/ strut.

Spring = controls weight, ride height

Shock/ Strut = controls speed of suspension movement

I am specifically talking about the separate spring and shock design here.

If we removed the shock and left the spring, the spring would still support the weight of the car. Now the car manufacturer reinforces the chassis where the spring is located because that area needs to support the weight car. The shock area does not need much reinforcement because it does not support much weight.  Maybe it will be okay for a few months but what about 2 yrs, 5 yrs, 10 yrs?

In this picture you can see the top of the shock for a vehicle that has a separate spring and shock design. There are not many welds or bracing in this area again because the manufacturer never intended it to support the vehicle’s weight.

Think about this. Vehicle manufacturers indicate specific pickup points when you jack up a car. One of the reasons for this is the floor of the car to too weak to support the weight of the vehicle. If you look under the car you will see that those specified pickup points have thicker reinforcing metal.

This probably looks familiar, a similar diagram is probably on a sticker or in the manual for every car.

Exceptions – TEIN has customized kits for certain customers and done away with the H.A.S. ONLY when the chassis has been reinforced at the shocks top mount. Usually this is done by adding another layer of steel to the chassis and a roll cage mounting point is nearby.

Normally this car uses a HAS design but with this type of reinforcement TEIN engineers have no worries converting it into a spring over shock type. You can see the added steel plating and roll cage all tied into the top mount of the suspension.

Do not try this at home!

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I came across this rad video over the weekend of a custom built Kawasaki vs. corvette powered RX7 as they drift battle it out around the track.

Now what does this have to do with our company you may ask. Well its rad for one, it has some insane drifting and check out around 1:50. Yep, I spy some TEIN coilovers. This V8 RX7 driven by Jim Guthrie (professional race car driver) is using our Super Racing coilovers. Overall its a dangerous and awesome video. RC car camera=win, The End.

Evasive Motorsports’ Evo 8’s Latest Mods

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The crew at Evasive Motorsports are at it again! This time, they’re testing with a new side exit exhaust…

Okay, so this is only semi TEIN-related.  And it is only semi TEIN-related because Evasive Motorsports uses our very own Super Racing dampers customized to their specs.

In case you readers missed our mention of this car back in October last year, the team was testing on a custom 3-way adjustable setup for the Global Tuner Grand Prix. I’m sure, however, that their car has been through a few minor changes since then.

But I’m specifically blogging about that super rad side exit exhaust today! Dude, so rad…

Here’s a clip of their car with the new exhaust at Buttonwillow

Evasive MS CT9A Side Exhaust

and another from the pits

Evasive MS CT9A Side Exhaust Garage

In that last clip, I’m sure that person saying something towards the end was trying to say, “That sounds f…….reaking nuts!” Yeah, my thoughts too, bud!

Why do I care so much about a side exit exhaust? Uh, because it sounds and looks cool. The turbo whirring, the cackle when the throttle is blipped, and the sputter when backing off the throttle. Can’t forget about the flame spitting coming from the side skirt. And yeah, I kinda like NASCAR. So what? Now I feel like hacking up my Fujitsubo exhaust and doing the same thing to my WRX.

Evasive Motorsports has one of the best looking and performing Time Attack cars in the U.S., hands down. In my opinion, this car will only get better.

We wish the team at Evasive Motorsports the very best in their endeavors. Best of luck in 2011, guys!

If you guys and girls like what you’ve seen so far, you’ll like Evasive’s blog just as much!

http://blog.evasivemotorsports.com/

Okay, enough of this jibba jabba. I’ve got this video on repeat right now.

SuperCharged Lexus ISF

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This Lexus ISF was built in 2008 and has been displayed at some of the largest automotive shows in North America. Builder, Gordon Ting, recently got the car back and is currently changing things up to get this ISF track ready. The custom SuperCharger is in the process of being tuned and we will be making some suspension tweaks for a more track oriented setup.

Aggressive stance from the Super Street coilovers. The bright neon green PFC brake kit and Advan RZ wheels really turn heads.

Sparco seats and belts with custom matte black roll bar.

EDFC and Greddy monitoring devices replace the glove box.

This ISF looks menacing from all angles.

Custom SuperCharger which should add some extra oomph to the already potent V8.

My Evo X and Mono Flex Dampers

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Tein Blog Readers,

I introduce to you my 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.
I chose the Evo X because I believe it has the perfect balance between daily driver and track car.
For your everyday needs it has 4 doors, it seats 5, and has a decently sized trunk.
When you get to the track it’s 2.0L Turbo Charged S-AWC System makes for a very fun time.

New off of the lot this is what I had to work with:

Having switched from a nearly 2 decade old BMW that was still running the suspension that was installed at the factory, the ride quality of the Evo’s stock suspension was a difference of night and day for me. But I still wanted more out of my car. Not to mention the stock ride height, it may be acceptable if the car was going to see any time on gravel; but my car was destined to be a tarmac queen, it needed to be lowered.

When it came time for me to choose one of the many suspension products we offer for the Evo X the decision was quick. Right at the time that I purchased my Evo, Elliot’s TEIN Sponsored EVO X was being returned to stock form, so all I needed to do was remove the suspension from his car and install it onto mine. Having done the majority of the track support for Elliot’s car I knew the suspension and setup well enough to be confident that my car would have no problems with said suspension installed.

Front Dampers installed and EDFC Wiring being taped up:

I even switched out my stock brakes for Elliot’s APM Rotors and Project Mu Pads:

In order to route the EDFC Wiring and mount the Controller I had to tear apart my brand new interior:

After having worked through the night transferring over many more parts I later took my car to Evasive Motorsports for a track ready alignment.

On the streets the Mono Flex Dampers provided just the right amount of comfort and control. The ride height was also right where I wanted it, not too low, not too high:

Using Mono Flex Dampers and upgraded brakes I was able to push out a 2:20 on Buttonwillow’s Time Attack configuration: