Category Archives: News

TEIN Coilover PRICE DROP

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As of today, June 14th, TEIN USA has lowered the MSRP price on all* BASIC, Super Street, Super Street with Mounts and FLEX coilovers.  Price decrease is about 10% which relates to some significant savings. On some part numbers the price has changed by $290. Median price change is $160.

The product remains completely unchanged. This is simply a price drop. If you have been saving your money for a set of coilovers now is the time to buy TEIN.

Do not settle for inferior products. Many of the cheaper brands have come and gone over the past few years. Once they are gone there is zero product support/ service. TEIN has been producing coilovers for 25 years and we are growing. We test fit each application, coilovers are made in-house and we have two US locations for product service.

*Price decrease does not include special order JDM applications.

Made Specifically for TEIN USA

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TEIN products are developed, tested and produced exclusively for the region in which they are sold. Not every region has different specifications but North America does.

Not every model (BASIC, SS, Super Drift, Super Racing, etc…) has a region specific setup. Product models like Comfort Sport or Super Racing serve niche markets and are therefore universal for the world. A competition car using semi-slicks is similar in the US and in Japan., therefore the same product is sold.

Both Cyber EVO and Evasive use Super Racing coilovers.

HOWEVER, models such as BASIC, SS, SS-P, FLEX and Mono FLEX which are more for street use are made specifically for TEIN USA (North America). Meaning a Mono Flex coilover for a 2008+ Subaru STI sold in the US is different than the kit sold in Japan. Features, materials, basic design, assembly, etc… are all the same but mainly spring rate, valving, and ride height range are different.

TEIN USA Kit:  GSS84-FUSS1

Spring Rates Ft: 10kg, Rr: 8kg

Recommended Ride Height Ft: -1.4″, Rr: -1.2″

TEIN Japan Kit:GSS78-F1SS1

Spring Rates Ft: 7kg, Rr: 5kg

Recommended Ride Height Ft: -0.8″, Rr: -0.6″

The specific differences may include spring rate/length, damping force, piston stroke, shell case length and brackets for brake lines, ABS, etc… Products are setup differently because the cars are NOT the same and more importantly the customers are not the same. Admittedly US consumers follow most trends from Japan especially when it comes to performance. However in Japan, the majority of consumers want more compliant suspension systems (softer setups) and do not want the car to be too low. Additional, vehicle ride height laws differ from country to country and in the US state to state.

You can see the difference in ride height between the US Civic Si with JDM body work and real JDM Civic Type R.

In general, TEIN USA setup products with stiffer spring rates and more drop in comparison to TEIN Japan. This is true for both coilovers and lowering springs. For TEIN USA our coilovers setup has changed over the years to keep in tune with the ever changing consumer demand. Our more recent kits have become a little softer than the products which were developed 6-7 years ago but that information is for another blog entry.

On a side note – if any US or Canadian customer wants a TEIN Japan spec. kit we can special order those upon request.

A Look Back at the TEIN Yaris

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Back in 2006 TEIN modified a Toyota Yaris 3-dr as a track toy. We knew going into it that it would not have a lot of power or handle like a sports car but it was something anybody could have fun in.

Started off with a detailed build plan and an awesome rendering made by Dennis Caco of AutoCannon.

Totally stock Yaris in all its glory. 1.5L 103 Flywheel HP, 92 WHP.

No way to add lots of power so we reduced weight.

Burnout front bumper and side skirts from KS Auto, Japan. Pond Premium rear wing and rear lip also from Japan. Bodywork and paint completed by Autowerks Body & Paint in El Monte, CA.

Stripped interior. Roll cage and custom seat bracket by Rothschild Fabrication in Riverside, CA.

K&N Intake for when the car ran NA (106WHP). Custom modified Greddy SuperCharger with Power Enterprise CamCon II for when it ran with forced induction (119WHP at 5lbs). Other under the hood mods included complete oil cooler system, Koyo radiator, KAAZ 1.5-way differential, ACT clutch, DC Sports Header and custom Vibrant exhaust.

All put together. Using BASIC coilovers which were converted to Super Street with EDFC (option is available to any customer) with 14kg fronts and 12 kg rears. Enkei 17×7 RP03 wheels and 215/40/17 Falken Azenis rubber. Mr. Andy Hope drove the car to a 2:08.091 at Super Lap Battle 2008. Good enough for 3rd in class. Not bad for a car with 119WHP, rear drum brakes, full glass and about 25MPG.

Matching support vehicle. v8 Sequoia equipped with 4 Bride seats, DEFI meters, JBA headers, MagnaFlow exhaust, K&N Intake, 20″ Enkei with Falken rubber and a sliding rear platform housing tools, jack, spare wheels, fuel jugs, etc…

SuperPro Polyurethane Bushing Install

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You may or may not know that TEIN is the exclusive US Distributor of SuperPro Polyurethane Bushings.

About a year ago we did a install of these bushings on a Honda Civic EF Hatch for Super Street magazine.

SuperPro bushings are sold by individual placements and by vehicle kits. This allows the buyer to purchase exactly what is desired if not an entire kit. Each package of bushings comes with bushings, grease packet, and inner tubes if needed. You can actually see what each part number comes with by going to the online catalog. Some kits require reusing steel shells or housings that is part of the OE bushing. This requires a bit of processing.

Although this may be a task that any novice is capable of doing, when in doubt, contact a reputable shop that can do this for you.

Depending on the type of bushings removal can be done with an acetylene torch or press.

Removal by Acetylene Torch

First of all make sure you have all the proper equipment, and remember, safety is always top priority.  First, you must apply heat evenly with a acetylene torch. You want to make sure to get heat on the top, bottom and the middle of where the bushing will be coming out from.

Removal by Hydraulic or Arbor Press

Hydraulic press with dies on top and bottom. Not a lot of force is needed. You may hear a pop when the bushing shell initially breaks it bond with the arm.

Sometimes a little prep work will make pressing out the bushing a little easier especially if you cannot find a die that fits perfectly.

Clean Up

Once the bushing comes out please make sure that you grind down any excess material that is left on. You can use a heavy grit sand paper or a wire brush. Make sure that the inside is smooth so that there are no obstructions that may interfere when pressing in the new bushing. You can spray paint the part that you are replacing the bushing on to prevent any corrosion from happening to the part.

Installation of new Polyurethane Bushing and Inner Tube

Once the bushing is ready to be installed, you will need to apply grease thoroughly on the bushing and on the inside of the part that it will be installed on.

You can use a vise to press in the bushings and housing or also a bushing press kit that is offered through SuperPro.

Installation of arm back to vehicle

The last step will be to install the part that you changed the bushing on back on the car. Please note to torque down the bolts to its specific torque setting. Before tightening any bolts, it is recommended to preload the suspension to simulate a load similar to when the vehicle is on the ground(1g). Otherwise, tightening any bolts while the suspension is at full droop(fully extended) will put tension on the bushing causing it to wear out quicker, make noise while driving, as well as alter ride height. The picture below shows the left rear suspension at 1G, car is off the ground and the floor jack is being used to simulate ride height.

Removal video using acetylene torch.

You can also take a look at Fulcrum Suspension’s website for additional removal / installation videos through these links.

Hydraulic Press Removal

Pressing In with an Arbor Press

Pressing In with a bench vice

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TEIN Damper Maintenance

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Hey everyone, just here to give everyone tips on proper maintenance of your TEIN coilovers.  Before that I just want to mention a couple  Overhaul Customers who may have had a chance to read up on my previous post regarding the packing of dampers being sent in for repairs. Check out the pics below of the creative packing that did not go unnoticed.

Two thumbs up to Jason M. and Marshall J. for the unique and well packed repairs.

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A lot of folks seem to think that overall maintenance is not required for you coilovers but that is wrong. OE shocks and struts may not require maintenance since they do not have adjustable adjustable parts.

Overlooking the maintenance can cause issues with seized parts such as seat locks, lower adjusting brackets, pillowball mount bearing and casing, etc…   Even though we use special coatings on various components it is still possible for debris and/or moisture to build up and cause serious damage.

Periodic maintenance of dampers and components can prevent many future issues such as thread damage, seized parts, rusting and blown seals.  Regular maintenance will definitely save your high dollar investment and prolong product life.

Routine Maintenance while the units are still on the vehicle:

– Basic wipe down or dirt removal. Can be down with a plastic bristle brush, rags, compressed air, etc…

– Lubrication

Specific areas to clean are the threaded section, upper mounts and lower brackets.

At this time we also suggest a visual inspection of dust boot, mount bushings, spring seats, and bolts/ nuts.

Seasonal or annual major maintenance – with the dampers off the vehicle.

– Full dis-assembly of unit to clean and lube all parts.

– If there is really stubborn debris  or damage you can use a wire wheel brush*.

– If rust is found, the rust should be completely removed** and the effected areas repainted.

*When using a wire wheel do not put too much pressure as it could brush away the coating which would allow corrosion and rust to form easily. (The picture provided below demonstrate the removal of some oxidation and rust on the threaded sleeve portion. The seat locks should be removed when cleaning all damper conditions).

**Parts cleaner or any heavy duty de-greasers are not recommended as they could eat away at the powder coating, stripping the damper to bare metal, as well as erase the ink print on the stickers and maybe even remove some coating on the threaded body.

Lubrication

Lubrication should be applied to threaded sleeve, seat locks , and other parts.

For lubricant of choice, we use either a light film of Lithium Grease or a Rust Inhibitor.True the grease may attract more debris but it will keep a longer lasting barrier than some Rust Inhibitors.  Just be sure to wipe off any overspray or excess grease to avoid any confusion  thinking the dampers are leaking oil or build up of debris. For Pillowball Mounts the grease is the best choice as it would help decrease the bearing  noise and provide protection against protection.

All in all keeping the dampers clean and lubed will save you from any expensive repairs, down time, and headaches.

TEIN’s 2005 Ford Mustang GT

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TEIN’s global involvement in producing aftermarket suspension goes well beyond the Japanese Domestic brands, such as Toyota, Nissan, Honda, etc.  In 2003, we started developing suspensions for European and U.S. Domestic brands. Soon after, we started campaigning our line of suspensions for these markets and had demo cars, like the E46 BMW M3(on TEIN SS-P) and MkV GTI widebody(on TEIN Euro Damper). But, my favorite one to date would be the 2005 S197 Ford Mustang showcasing our TEIN Type Flex dampers.

Other than our Type Flex dampers as suspension modifications, some of my favorite modifications are ProCharger cetrifugal supercharger, custom 3″ exhaust by Fujitsubo, massive Wilwood 6 piston front and 2 piston rear big brake kit, a host of Defi Red Racer gauges, and the 19″x8.5″ front and 19″x9.5″ rear  Volk GTF’s. The list of modifications goes well beyond those and definitely contribute to a very unique car build for the TEIN group.

Below are a few pics

Mustang Interior w/ Defi Red Racer Gauges

Sparco seats, steering wheel and shift knob. Clarion DVD/ Navigation Double DIN, and of course DEFI Red Racer gauges.

Mustang Engine BayPolished Procharger kit along with polished piping. Exedy clutch and flywheel. 496WHP

Wilwood 6 piston BBK kit.

JBA Longtube headers feeding custom Fujitsubo exhaust. BMR Fabrication subframe and front control arms.

Mustang Underside RearTorsen Differential, more BMR suspension links and chassis bracing.

Did you know?

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Did you know that TEIN was established by two rally racing enthusiasts, a driver and co-driver. TEIN was not established to make tons of money and take over the world of suspension. It was actually started because the founders could not find a high performance suspension for use in their rally car.

2nd generation Isuzu Gemini. Driver, Fujimoto. Co-Driver, Ichino

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The co-driver is TEIN Inc. President, Mr. Hakaru Ichino, and the driver is Managing Director, Mr. Yoshio Fujimoto.  Mr. Fujimoto later went on to become a works driver for TTE (Toyota Team Europe) in the WRC.

The ST185 Celica Fujitmoto drove to win the Safari Rally in 1995 on display at the Toyota History Garage in Tokyo.

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TEIN Inc. had our own in-house rally team from 1994- 1999. The team was comprised of three vehicles and a full support crew of TEIN Engineers.

WRC spec Toyota Corolla piloted by TEIN Managing Director, Yoshio Fujimoto. 1998 Asia Pacific Rally Champion.

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TEIN is still active in motorsports throughout the world especially in rally. For P-WRC support TEIN created two 20ft. service containers and now owns 3 services trucks. Motorsports support is where TEIN develops, tests and perfects our new products and product features.

TEIN’s Europe based service truck at Rally Finland to support TEIN product users in P-WRC competition.

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2010 marks TEIN’s 25 year anniversary. First established in 1985 outside of Yokohama, Japan.  All our coilovers are still made in-house in Yokohama Japan. In 2004 TEIN invited magazine editors from US, Canada and UK to our factory and in 2008 Ricky Chu of then Riceboy TV stopped by as well.

Revue hosted by 5Axis and Scion Evolution

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Attended the Revue event at Five Axis over the weekend (May 1st). The event was held at Five Axis in Huntington Beach, CA and organized by both Five Axis and Scion Evolution. The weather was perfect, the atmosphere was laid back and there was a great mix of cars.

The event included giveaways, raffle, vendor area, food trucks and of course cars.

Typical Southern California beach city weather. Gathering of mainly Scions and Lexus with a little bit of everything else mixed in including Porsche GT3, Aston Martin, Vette ZR1…

The Scion xB DJ 2.0 which was blasting tunes all day long.

RAFFLE RAFFLE RAFFLE. Proceeds went to a great cause, JDRF – research leader for type 1 diabetes.

We represented with an EVO 9 and provided a few items for giveaway which went into “The Claw” xD.

TEIN Sponsored EVO 9 SE complete with SRC coilovers, Voltex body kit, Diamond Black TE-37s, Carbing Flip Up Tow Hook and Mini Dampachi Doll.

Aston Martin
Aston Martin with a Veilside Bodykit. This thing sounded awesome.

Vendor area which included booths from Auto Fashion, Island Motorsports, ARK, Greddy, Bowls and many more…

Troy of Five Axis also opened up his facility so people could check out their many demos cars, his personal vehicles, garage sale items and his 5-axis CNC machine.

From left to right – xD, Prius, xB, tC and IS250. Most of these cars are outfitted with TEIN coilovers as Troy has been a supporter for a few years now. (The tC which is actually turbo charged is actually for sale – contact Five Axis for details).

5-Axis CNC Machine. This is one of the reasons why Five Axis products and vehicles always have perfect fitment. Off to the side of this machine was a mold of an entire compact car.

Lexus GS-F that debuted at SEMA 2008. The matte paint is awesome.

Garage Sale area which is usually where cars are assembled and dis-assembled. The natural light and overhead lighting ensures you can see everything perfectly.

For lunch or an afternoon snack the organizers arranged for the Kogi truck and The Shrimp Guys to come. The line was about 30mins for the Kogi truck.

TheShrimpGuys serving up variations of garlic shrimp and rice plus Hawaiian style fruit punch.

Thank you to Troy, all the guys at Five Axis and Scion Evolution for putting on a great event.