Author Archives: Paul P.

Made In Japan or China?!

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We’ve recently received several calls or emails from consumers regarding the country of origin for our coilovers. So we wanted to clear up the confusion.

In short, coilovers, and our springs for that matter, are being manufactured in both of our facilities- Japan and China.

It shouldn’t be news by now that we have our own factory in China, and it has been operational for nearly 10 years now. Initially, this factory handled our new-at-the-time ENDURAPRO and ENDURAPRO PLUS shock absorber manufacturing. But within the first few years, we were also able to get our STREET BASIS Z & STREET ADVANCE Z kits made at this factory. It wasn’t that cut and dried of a plan, though. TEIN Japan was still manufacturing a majority of the coilovers. It is just that TEIN China needed to address product manufacturing for their local market and soon demand increased and we found ourselves needing to increase more manufacturing out of this factory to meet global demand.

Then, the pandemic threw all of us a curveball. If anyone can recall, there was a period of incredibly ridiculous costs on freight. Soon, we hit a problem with getting containers and scheduling vessels from our Yokohama facility. From China, however, shipping wasn’t much of a concern. The only exception being regional lockdowns in China due to the fast-spreading virus, as well as some shut downs due to electric power being rationed (kinda strange). Shipping was still more expensive than usual, yes. But at least we were able to have products shipped. But another problem became apparent- not all of our customers want STREET BASIS Z or STREET ADVANCE Z coilovers. Soon our backorder list was growing by the week, but it seemed to revolve around one specific coilover model- FLEX Z.

TEIN China had yet to manufacture any of our FLEX coilover line. But the shipping concern forced us to retool for FLEX production out of this facility, and we started adding new machines necessary for FLEX Z production. Starting in late 2021, we received only a few part numbers of FLEX Z from China. But to date, they are now making a majority of FLEX Z kits.

This isn’t to say that TEIN Japan does not manufacture FLEX Z any longer. It’s just that TEIN Japan can now focus on product manufacturing for their domestic market, and a few other Asian countries, as well as for USA.

We now have springs being manufactured in China too! This is relatively new, about 1 year or so now. Before, we were having springs shipped to China for the assembly of STREET BASIS Z & STREET ADVANCE Z kits. We were hoping to find a suitable spring manufacturer in China, but several tests of locally manufactured springs didn’t meet our requirements. BUT, by importing coil spring wire from Japan we are now able to have springs made to our specifications. Yes it costs us more to do so, but quality is still paramount to our business. Still, there is a savings in doing so, and ultimately we still want to bring a quality product to our customers, so long as we are in control of that quality.

2022 Subaru BRZ Products

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We’re glad to report that, for the most part, existing coilovers for the Subaru BRZ will in fact work fine with the latest 2022 BRZ body style (ZD8 chassis code).

So, we’re listing our FLEX Z (VSQ54-CUSS4) and FLEX A (VSTD8-D1SS4) as compatible for both first and this second generation BRZ.

2022 Subaru BRZ on TEIN FLEX Z coilover

However, our STREET BASIS Z, STREET ADVANCE Z, and our S.TECH & HIGH TECH lowering springs will have new part numbers.

As to why our existing FLEX Z and FLEX A coilover lines are still compatible- the spring rate and valving work very well on the new platform. But, these coilovers are a bit more aggressive than the STREET BASIS Z & STREET ADVANCE Z lines. Therefore, we’ll have to determine what changes we’ll need to make for these kits. As well, our S.TECH & HIGH TECH springs will be unique for this car due to different lengths and spring rates.

The only issue now, really, is the supply chain, as we’re still experiencing massive delays in imported goods from Japan.

Currently, the FLEX Z and FLEX A coilovers have an eta of late February 2022, while the HIGH TECH springs have an eta of April 2022.

Please visit our Product Stock Page for more information.

FLEX Z (VSQ54-CUSS4) shown

HIGH TECH Lowering Springs (SKAEA-G1B00) shown

What Can A Bad Shock Absorber Cause?

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This is commonly addressed by other aftermarket shock absorber manufacturers, but not necessarily performance suspension manufacturers (or coilover manufacturers, for that matter).

Quite honestly, shock absorbers have to be one of the most neglected components on a car. After all, if you’re still able to drive your car after 100,000 miles (as an example), you may have a hard time in telling the difference in ride feel from now compared to when the car is new. We’re not saying you don’t know your car. We’re just saying that many people may not notice small changes in their car over time. If the shock absorber failed from relatively quickly from when it was “new”, for sure you’d notice the difference.

Notice, I’m not saying the 100,000 mile old shock absorbers are blown (gas and oil leaking from the shock). THAT would be completely noticeable to anyone, at least in my opinion. There would be a complete lack of ride comfort and handling quality.

Before I changed out to ENDURAPRO PLUS shock absorbers, I knew my original shock absorbers were worn, but not BLOWN. For having over 80k miles, I was actually quite surprised at the quality of the factory shocks.

That’s important to note because not all shock absorbers blow out or fail in very dramatic fashion. Instead, a lot of them will eventually leak their gas (typically nitrogen) charge. Quite honestly, many OEM shock absorbers are built to very high standards. After all, parts manufacturers, especially those supplying car manufacturers, wouldn’t want to deal with such liabilities for defective products.

But still, why is this important to note? If the shock absorber isn’t blown, just drive with them!

Sure, you can do that. But have you ever driven a car aggressively, or had to make evasive maneuvers with worn shock absorbers? It doesn’t feel confidence-inspiring, for sure. And it gets worse if you decide to install a set of lowering springs on worn shock absorbers. The slightly stiffer spring rate can exacerbate poor ride and handling, even with the benefits a lowering spring can provide.

Lowering springs aside, continuing to drive on worn shock absorbers can eventually lead to other parts breakages over time. Tire wear will be inconsistent, CV joints can go bad, bushings and/or control arms can prematurely go bad. But again, most importantly is the safety aspect of your car. Excessive body roll or brake dive can lead to handling limits being severely reduced. Remember what I said about confidence-inspiring? If you start losing control of your vehicle, it’s very hard to make the necessary changes in your driving to compensate for the worn components on your car.

KYB has some fantastic videos you can see on YouTube showing a comparison of driving on good and bad shock absorbers, as well as the effects of having Electronic Stability Control turned off and on during those comparisons. I know, not TEIN related, but still a good and insightful video. Look it up when you have time.

With that, we recommend getting your shock absorbers inspected every 30,000 miles (approximately 2 years). That’s just to make sure your shock absorbers function fine. If you’re using a coilover kit, we recommend an inspection annually. In snowy areas, or areas that use salt on their roads, check your suspension before and after the season. That’s mainly due to the movable components on a coilover (spring seats and seat locks). You want to make sure those are securely torqued to specification, and also that the threaded components are clear of debris/salts.

If you’ve noticed one of your shock absorbers or one of your coilovers being worn, contact us for replacement parts. Luckily we sell replacement parts, or do a rebuild (if you have an older TEIN coilover model).

Lowering Springs on Stock (OEM) Shock Absorbers

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Quite often we’re asked about our lowering springs and if it’s okay to use with factory shock absorbers, or OEM, or even OEM replacement shock absorbers.

S.TECH Lowering Springs installed on 2017 Honda Civic Si factory (OEM) struts

The easiest answer is yes, especially if they’re actual OEM factory shock absorbers. We can say yes as well for aftermarket replacement shock absorbers, but there is somewhat of a caveat. The issue is with the spring perch on shock absorbers or struts that have them. For our ENDURAPRO & ENDURAPRO PLUS premium replacement shock absorbers, we use 3D modeling of actual OEM shock absorbers to make our spring perches, then just modify the design so that it fits over our larger bodied shock absorbers. However, there are some instances where we make modifications for increased strength where we feel it may be necessary. This 3D modeling allows us to make very exacting designs so that it will work with OEM coil springs. And with that, we make sure that our S.TECH and HIGH TECH lowering springs have very similar designs for top and bottom coils to match the OEM coil spring.

Why we say there’s somewhat of a caveat with using our lowering springs on other aftermarket shock absorbers is because we’re not too sure how they model their spring perches. Some may use 3D modeling or a mold to create a negative simliar OEM type spring perch. However, we have seen some differences between some aftermarket replacement shocks and the OEM shocks they’re supposedly modeled after.

S.TECH Lowering Springs installed on 2019 Mazda Miata factory (OEM) shock absorbers.

Besides the design of the spring perch (if applicable), our lowering springs are not intended to be very aggressive in terms of spring rate. This is intentional, as we expect that many customers are planning on installing our lowering springs onto OEM shock absorbers. With that, we have to keep in mind the OEM shocks damper valving and whether or not it can handle a specific spring design.

Another unknown variable with aftermarket replacement shock absorbers is how they’re valved in comparison to their OEM counterpart. Referring back to our ENDURAPRO & ENDURAPRO PLUS shock absorber line, we decided to “optimize” damper valving. Now, this optimization may vary by vehicle model. But it most cases we’re actually increasing damping force (slightly stiffer). Again, there’s a bit of a variable, because we may increase/decrease compression or we may increase/decrease rebound damping force, or a combination of both. There’s no set method of how we decide to valve. In some instances we may actually decrease damping force, especially compression, if we feel the ride quality will benefit from that change. But for other aftermarket replacement shock absorbers, we cannot say the same thing. In fact, when we’ve tested some aftermarket replacement shocks to their OEM counterpart, we’ve wondered why some of these aftermarket shocks are quite a bit softer (we’ve yet to see the opposite- stiffer than OEM). This can pose some interesting results in ride quality when comparing certain aftermarket replacement shock absorbers with our lowering springs, regardless of them not being very aggressive.

We’re not necessarily trying to pitch our ENDURAPRO or ENDURAPRO PLUS shock absorbers (how can we resist, though?!). But just know that ideally an OEM shock absorber will suit you best since that is what we designed our lowering springs to work with.

TEIN USA, Inc. Will Not Exhibit at SEMA 2021

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SEMA 2019, our last show before anyone stateside had any worry about the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) reaching our shores.

We’ve been approached by a few of our authorized dealers regarding this year’s SEMA Show taking place November 2-5, and whether we’d be exhibiting or not. Regretfully we have decided not to exhibit at this year’s show, or any show for that matter until 2nd quarter of 2022.

As a group TEIN decided that, in the best interests of our employees, it would be best to limit travel only for essential matters, as the world continues to work on resolution on the COVID-19 pandemic affecting all nations.

Sadly, this has kept us from meeting and speaking directly with many of our customers, whether at trade shows or at race events, or even car shows. However, we’d rather do our best to stay safe and continue working on manufacturing and distribution, as well as customer support through our branches, rather than risk the potential spread of COVID-19, or any of the existing variants, to our patrons.

This is in no way an effort to prevent any single person from attending any shows or events. In fact, we’re glad to see our side of the world open up once again to allow gatherings. We just hope that you’re all doing so in as safe a manner as possible. Your health is just as important to us, if not more so, than your patronage.

To all of you attending this year’s SEMA show, we hope you have an enjoyable time. Our apologies for not being in attendance this year. We do look forward to a better year in 2022, and in seeing you all once again very soon.

Tesla Model 3 Suspension Arriving Soon!

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So we’re a bit late to the party. But better late than never, I suppose. We’ve probably said this many times before.

As Electric Vehicles continue to grow in popularity, and with many nations looking to reduce carbon emissions or become carbon-neutral, it was only a matter of time for the Electric Vehicle market to take off. And it really has taken off.

That’s a great opportunity for aftermarket manufacturers such as TEIN. People may need to rely on their Electric Vehicle strictly for commuting. However, that doesn’t mean they cannot enjoy their car for what it offers at face value. As always, where there’s a vehicle, the performance market is not far behind, and everyone wants that extra bit of performance, whether it be in power or handling, or just to simply have something different or unique.

As many of you have seen by now, the modern Electric Vehicle, namely the Teslas, are quite quick in acceleration. The manufacturer has done pretty well in setting their cars up. But let’s be honest, they’re catering to a global market. You can’t appease each and every person with a “run-of-the-mill” Tesla, regardless of which model Tesla it is.

So, we’re coming out with some performance suspension kits, starting with the Model 3, and soon the Model Y.

For the Model 3, both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models, we’re making our S.TECH lowering springs, ENDURAPRO and ENDURAPRO PLUS shock absorbers, as well as our FLEX Z coilover kits.

The S.TECH lowering springs will provide a nice lowered ride height without being too aggressive. These will pair well with OEM shocks and struts, but for sure our ENDURAPRO or ENDURAPRO PLUS shocks will be a better pairing.

S.TECH Lowering Springs for Tesla Model 3 RWD (Standard Plus Model)

Part number: SKGP2-AUB00

Ride height drop: Ft- -1.6″; Rr- -1.4″

MSRP: $385

*Sold as a set of 4 springs
S.TECH Lowering Springs for Tesla Model 3 AWD (Dual Motor; incl. Performance Model).

Part number: SKGP4-AUB00

Ride height drop: Ft- -1.2″; Rr- -1.4″

MSRP: $385

*Sold as a set of 4 springs

ENDURAPRO and ENDURAPRO PLUS (16-click damping adjustable) shocks are true performance replacement shocks. Damper tuning is optimized to reduce body roll and provide better response to fast inputs. But beyond the tuning, the internal Hydraulic Bump Stopper (HBS) in each shock absorber provide increased comfort and safety by reducing a typical shock absorber’s tendency under full compression (bottoming out) to oscillate. This feature also increases vehicle stability in emergency maneuvers, especially in vehicles with added weight. Also, although designed to be a direct OE fitment, we incorporate a lot of features typical of our coilover kits- larger diameter damper bodies (increased damper oil capacity, larger diameter piston rods, and use of ultra high-strength steel in its construction.

ENDURAPRO Shock Absorbers for Tesla Model 3 RWD

Part number:
ENDURAPRO-
FL- VSGP2-A1MS2-L
FR-VSPG2-A1MS2-R
Rear- VSGP3-A1MS2

ENDURAPRO PLUS-
FL- VSPG2-B1MS2-L
FR- VSGP2-B1MS2-R
Rear- VSGP3-B1MS2

MSRP:
ENDURAPRO-
VSGP2-A1MS2-L – $145
VSPG2-A1MS2-R – $145
VSGP3-A1MS2 – $120

ENDURAPRO PLUS-
VSPG2-B1MS2-L – $160
VSGP2-B1MS2-R – $160
VSGP3-B1MS2 – $135

*sold as individual units

**Model 3 AWD (Dual Motor) shock absorbers coming soon!

Our FLEX Z coilovers, on the other hand, are for consumers who need much more than what our lowering springs and performance shocks can offer. FLEX Z coilovers provided full-length adjustability (separate spring preload and ride height adjustment), 16-way damping adjustment, upper mounts for front and rear dampers, high-rate springs, and valved to provide greater handling performance without compromising ride feel. For sure, much more aggressive for street, but not at the ride quality penalty typically associated with aftermarket coilover kits. Lastly, our FLEX Z coilovers are compatible with our optional Electronic Damping Force Controllers (EDFC)- ACTIVE and ACTIVE PRO, giving you the added benefit of damping adjustment from the driver’s seat. No need to have to manually set your damping by hand, and you can also save up to 10 different presets. However in Active mode, you can have damping that changes based on driving speeds or g-force load. This EDFC setup makes the FLEX Z a true adaptive suspension setup.

FLEX Z Coilover Kit for Tesla Model 3 RWD

Part number: VSGP2-C1AS3

Spring Rates: Ft- 9kg/mm (504lbs/in); Rr- 10kg/mm (560lbs/in)

MSRP: $1,200

*Model 3 AWD (Dual Motor) coilover kit coming soon!

So again, we’re late to the party. We tend to take our time on product development to make sure we get it right, and to make sure we have products that fill the needs of our customers. If you need help deciding on what suspension setup suits you the best, please give us a call at 562-861-9161, or email us at tus_sales@tein.com, and we’d be happy to assist you in getting the suspension you need!

Toyota GR Yaris

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This vehicle isn’t anything new, but lately we’ve been looking at pictures of all the different prototype kits that TEIN Japan has made for the Toyota GR Yaris.

In case you’re not aware for some reason, the GR Yaris is the latest hot hatch from Japan. Unfortunately it will not be making its way to the U.S.A. But, we do hear that this car will be available in South America. So, we’re a bit jealous of that news.

Anyway, this car has some pretty incredible specifications given the size of this vehicle. It’s still as compact as any previous Yaris, a bit wider though. But the drivetrain is something else- turbocharged 3-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive. Oh, and that turbocharged 3-cylinder engine puts out ~270hp and ~273lbs-ft of torque. That’s pretty crazy.

It leads to my next question- why is Toyota releasing this vehicle?

The production of this GR Yaris is to meet homologation requirements for WRC, which the Yaris is the platform Toyota uses for rally.

All that power going to all four wheels and in a very short wheelbase. That has to be a fun drive.

Next question- why is it not being released in North America?

No answer there. But word is the drivetrain will make it into another compact Toyota for the U.S.A. That’s at least something of a positive. Still, we really do like the styling of the GR Yaris.

TEIN Japan is already hot in the heels to get product available for this platform, which we’ve already done several prototypes for circuit racing, and even some rally suspension based on our Gr. N coilovers. We had the chance to take a look at the prototype MONO RACING coilovers. Here are some of the pics:

Here’s our MONO SPORT coilover prototype for the GR Yaris. Upper mounts included front and rear, with the fronts using spherical bearings in an aluminum housing. This setup uses 12kg front and 16kg rear springs. This one was developed for circuit racing.
The front struts will use a camber washer arrangement, similar to what we already apply for certain racing suspension models. It will include 0.5 and 1.0 degree camber washers.
The front pillowball mounts are unique in that it still retains the OEM shape and mounting. However, instead of using serrated studs to secure the strut to the strut tower, this mount uses a ring nut to secure the upper mount to the strut tower.

TEIN ERROR CANCELLER KITS

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For anyone with factory equipped Adaptive or Electronically Controlled Suspension will know, changing to an aftermarket suspension kit (i.e. coilovers) isn’t typically a straightforward, or plug & play affair. Now, some suspension manufacturers will at least include some method of resolving any warnings or errors that may pop up on the instrument panel whenever disconnecting the OEM Adaptive/Electronic suspension. In some cases, it’s not a problem at all.

This is the error notification you’ll get on the late-model Honda Accord Touring models with Adaptive Suspension.

Over a two years ago, we decided that we had to do something similar, as factory Adaptive/Electronic suspension is becoming standard on entry-level priced cars. No longer is this type of suspension exclusive to luxury marques. This led to the development of our Error Canceller Kits.

Error Canceller Kit show with some accessories, but actual accessories may vary by vehicle application.

Again, with entry-level cars now having either standard or optional (trim level dependant) Adaptive/Electronic suspension, there’s always a need for better handling performance. So, we had to come up with some type of resolution to the aforementioned warning or error on the dash.

Our solution is literally plug & play. Each Error Canceller unit uses a OEM style plug that connects to the factory wiring harness for the suspension. All that’s left is to mount the canceller securely to the damper, and you’ll be good to go!

To date, we’re still limited on which vehicles we make our Error Cancellers for, mainly because there aren’t too many Japanese entry-level priced vehicles with Adaptive/Electronic Suspension. However, as we’re getting into product development for European vehicles, it’s only natural that our Error Canceller Kits will continue to grow in vehicle application.

Currently available and upcoming Error Canceller Kits:

Backordered Items and Increased Delays

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It’s a matter of fact that nearly all industries are being faced with several problems ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it is delays in receiving goods, orders having to be cancelled due to unknown ETA’s, or price increases for raw materials or freight (which is a big one), we’re all experiencing the effects.

We’ve done our best to be on top of our inventory, but clearly the pandemic caught all of us off-guard. Not only that, but due to mandatory business shutdowns in efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, it has put some of TEIN’s materials suppliers behind on manufacturing and, in turn, has put us behind on manufacturing.

TEIN Japan and TEIN China facilities were back to running nearly non-stop just to keep up with demands, and even with price increase on raw materials and freight, we’ve decided to hold off on passing the expenses down to you, our customer. But even then, this isn’t without it’s hiccups.

Again, I mention freight being a big factor in slowing us down. Not just the importation of our goods from Japan and China, but all intermodal freight. It seems that either there isn’t enough manpower for the day-to-day operations, or these freight forwarders are also facing severe pricing increases, such as fuel and operational costs, that cause companies to halt shipments. Everything is being affected.

This isn’t a post regarding bad news of a price increase. Rather, it’s a post to let you, our patient customers, know that we’re doing everything possible to try to get the products to you as soon as is humanly possible. So, we ask kindly that you please hang on just a bit longer, and know that we, as well as our authorized dealers and distributors, are doing the best they can to get you the products you want.

Here are some lovely pictures from the past couple of months of how the Port of Long Beach looks, with container ship after container ship just anchored out at sea.

Out there, in that mass of over 100 ships, are a few of our containers awaiting to be unloaded. Hang in there, guys. We’ll get our hands on your products soon.

Cleaning and Maintaining Your Suspension

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Alright, so plenty of you may still have a lot of time on your hands due to being stuck at home due to COVID-19, even though our country seems to be opening up to business as usual. But still, it is forcing many “non-essential” (man, that really doesn’t sound nice) businesses to remain closed, and many of you without much to do.

This really has led to a lot of our customers taking the time to do some vehicle maintenance, which is great since we highly recommend you check your suspension.

As we have mentioned in the past, we recommend periodic inspections of your coilovers. For customers in drier climates, typically twice a year is good. While areas in cold or very wet areas should inspect at least 4 times out of the year, or at least after the wet season.

Getting chance to fully disassemble your suspension would be great. This lets you get to all the individual components- bare shock absorber, spring seats/seat locks, springs, upper mount, dust boots, bump stops, eye ring bushings, pillowball mounts, etc. and give them a good cleaning, or replacement if necessary. Sounds like a lot of work, which it is. But for some of us, this can be a rewarding task and help keep your vehicle road-worthy.

With an adjustable suspension kit, so many movable/removable parts should be checked, like spring seats and seat locks- making sure they’re able to move freely on the threads and also finally torqued to specification. Making sure the threads on the damper bodies are clear of debris prevents the spring seats/seat locks from seizing in place. Some consumers believe that because we use aluminum spring seats/seat locks on a steel threaded body will lead to them seizing because they’re two dissimilar materials (galvanic corrosion). However, that is not the case. Our aluminum spring seats and seat locks are hard anodized (forming aluminum oxide on the surface), and our threaded damper bodies are either chrome plated (older models) or coated with our ZT coating (and based coated with zinc). This will prevent potential issues with galvanic corrosion. So, please check to make sure the threads of the damper body, as well as the spring seat/seat locks are clean. Lastly, a little bit of lubricant on the threads is actually important, not just to prevent seizing, but to allow proper torque application when tightening. Anything from a light distillate (WD-40 is very common and readily available), or even a little bit of oil, will work just fine.

Even with that said, wet/coastal areas, or areas with snowfall will require a bit more maintenance, and actual cleaning of threaded components, as salts can eat away at aluminum and steel, and even cause the metal surfaces to expand slightly causing seized seat locks. You can use car wash detergents to clean these threads, and dampers in general. Again, even WD-40, which will displace water and lightly lubricate components, works well (we’d just apply this after any type of cleaning you do).

Also, it’s a good time to check the overall condition of your coilovers coated (painted) surfaces and making sure there is no peeling, scratched off surfaces, etc. For our green powder paint, customers can touch up surface blemishes with spray paints that are commercially available (Krylon or Rustoleum enamel; Meadow Green paint color).

A full disassembly lets you assess the condition of all individual components for your coilover and check if any part needs replacement. Also lets you give it a good detailed cleaning.

Lastly, and as a note for you TEIN suspension owners, if you need any assistance with your suspension or need replacement parts, or need the torque specifications for coilover kit, give us a call at 562-861-9161 Monday-Friday (9a-6p PST), or email us at tus_sales@tein.com. We’re open during this time, and we’ll do our best to help you out!