TEIN Has Two Manufacturing Plants?!

Posted on March 11, 2015 by Paul P.

That is correct!

Earlier in 2014, we posted about the new TEIN China manufacturing plant, which construction of the plant was completed before the end of the year. This new plant will be focusing on production of our upcoming line of performance replacement dampers. YES, we will finally be working on replacement dampers designed to work with factory springs, as well as our S.TECH & HIGH TECH lowering spring kits! We’ll blog more on this product later.

However, this will not be the first manufacturing project for TEIN China. We’re going to be receiving our new STREET BASIS Z & STREET ADVANCE Z damper lines from the TEIN China plant.

If you had read our previous posts regarding the new “Z” line, you’ll notice that the other Z line of dampers, our FLEX Z coilovers, will be coming from TEIN Japan. Why is that?

TEIN Japan’s Yokohama plant. This new facility was opened in January 2014.

It’s a little difficult to explain. But, in short, TEIN is still a very proud Japanese brand. In fact, many of TEIN’s domestic customer base prefer a Japanese manufactured product, especially more of the high-end kits we offer. So TEIN Japan will still continue to produce some of our higher end product lines, such as the upcoming FLEX Z & FLEX A, MONO SPORT, SUPER DRIFT, HG, SUPER RACING, GROUP N., and several other product lines.

That is not to say there is a lack of pride for the TEIN products coming from the TEIN China plant. In fact, we have invested a lot of money into this new plant in an effort to maintain the same TEIN quality our customers know and expect out of every product. Even machinery and equipment used in TEIN Japan will be the same in the TEIN China plant. A few of TEIN Japan’s engineers and managers will also be making the move to China, not only to train new staff, but to also control all operations. To us, this is a necessary step in controlling and maintaining TEIN quality.

Maybe this would have been a much easier undertaking if we just outsourced manufacturing of these more affordable coilover kits through some other Chinese or Taiwanese manufacturer. Sure, but that isn’t the TEIN way. We’re proud of our technology. Again, we’re not claiming to have invented dampers. We’re just proud to make suspension better through our own engineering and through our own technology.

Still though, why the new factory in China?

Our new TEIN China manufacturing plant!

A very good question. For several years now, we’ve faced stiff competition in the market place, especially with a lot of these somewhat engineered suspension kits selling for well under $1000. We’re not trying to defame any particular brand. So in their best interests, we’ll leave that information out. Sorry! We’re not here to bash on anyone!

It hasn’t been easy for us. For years, most of the feedback from our authorized dealers and wholesalers is how TEIN suspension is overpriced, and no matter how we dissected our manufacturing process in trying to reduce cost, it still didn’t gain the appeal for a broader range of customers. We were essentially becoming a boutique brand. We’re hoping that opening a new overseas facility helps to address this matter. Of course, this exploits a certain factor about manufacturing in China- affordable labor. However, we’re not in China to simply abuse this factor and gain in profitability. It is just a simple fact about the country and its economic structure, and this is how other manufacturers are able to price their products well below ours. This new affordability in manufacturing translates directly into a more affordable product for our customers.

It wasn’t an easy decision. In fact, it was an idea that we never knew would come to fruition. We didn’t simply decide to open up a new plant. We’re talking about a problem that hadn’t been addressed since late 2008, during the dreaded global financial crisis. Again, we could have simply outsourced manufacturing. But, fortunately, we were able to hang on and maintain some profitability over the next few years in an uneasy industry. We had to outweigh every factor before we made this decision to grow. Now, it’s set in stone, and the TEIN China plant is just about fully operational.

Many of TEIN USA’s staff share the same regards as all other U.S. consumers when we hear “Made in China”. It clearly doesn’t have the appeal that “Made in Japan” does. Typically, we view Chinese manufactured goods as essentially NOT GOOD. That was just something most of us grew up hearing and reading about. It’s sad. Then again, think about how many other goods come from China… Why is it that China is commonly associated with terrible quality? I think this is something that TEIN plans to dispel. Being that we’re in control of all aspects of this manufacturing plant, we have the opportunity to change that “Made in China” label. We think that, naturally, Chinese manufacturing can improve.

All TEIN suspension products, whether made in China or made in Japan, will be covered with our manufacturer’s warranty. That won’t change. In fact, we’ll continue to offer after-sales service, such as replacement parts and dampers, as well as overhaul service, to all of our customers so that they can continue to use their TEIN suspension for years and years.

TEIN Replacement Single Dampers

Posted on March 5, 2015 by Paul P.

As many of our customers are already aware, we’re able to sell single dampers as replacements. While not as cost-effective as rebuilding your dampers, it is a better time-saving method of getting your vehicle back on the road. We know that some customers have heard from auto parts stores (probably non-authorized TEIN dealers) that TEIN will only sell complete kits. That isn’t true.

We’ve heard from customers wanting their dampers serviced by us, but concerned about the 2-2.5 week turnaround time. We know that for some customers, they only have one car to use. Being without a car for a 2.5 week minimum can cause havoc to their daily routine. This is why we are able to sell single dampers.

This same service will apply to the upcoming “Z” line of dampers, such as our STREET FLEX Z, STREET ADVANCE Z, & STREET BASIS Z coilover kits. Since they are all fully sealed, non-rebuildable units, it will be much easier to just replace the bare damper (pictured below, middle).

Mind you, these are not merely damper inserts/cartridges like some other suspension manufacturers use. We mean the actual bare damper- no spring, no upper mount (FLEX Z), no lower bracket (FLEX Z). What’s the difference between an actual damper and a damper insert?

Our dampers are application-specific, meaning that each damper is made specifically for one vehicle model. Of course, there are some vehicles that share similar platforms where we can sell a single coilover kit part number (ex. 1999-2003 Acura TL = 1998-2002 Honda Accord). In other words, we’re not simply using one design of shock absorber insert and placing them into damper bodies of various lengths just so we can say “Application-Specific”. Each coilover kit has carefully selected spring rates and dampers are valved to match (yes, we actually test each vehicle application before deciding spring rates and damper valving). That means that the internal components of the dampers, such as piston shaft, inner tube (for twin-tube dampers), and a few other components, have to be of a specific length for a given design. It is a timely and costly process, but it makes more sense to do it right. To be honest, we’re not too sure how well damper inserts work, especially if different vehicles require different damper valving and stroke length. It really doesn’t make a lot of sense.

You can see how a damper insert is put into an existing shell case.

Another problem with damper inserts/cartridges is their limited capacity. Because their overall dimensions are smaller than the shell case they’re being put into, that means less volume for damper oil.

oil capacity in a TEIN damper

oil in a damper insert/cartridge

For a performance damper, this limited oil capacity means susceptibility to damper fade and decreased damping force under extended use. That is why we make every coilover application to exacting dimensions for their intended vehicle. Unless it is an absolutely practical application, TEIN dampers will never use cartridges, ever!

Back on topic, this single damper replacement service is available for each and every one of our products, including the upcoming “Z” line, but will be much more affordable compared to the current rebuildable dampers.

For discontinued TEIN items or dampers we no longer have inventory of, we can remanufacture single dampers through TEIN Japan. The only problem is that customers may have to face extended downtime since the remanufactured dampers are made to order.

Our goal is to decrease a customer’s downtime on vehicle repairs. For us, this makes a lot of sense to be able to provide such service.

If you are having problems ordering a single replacement damper, please give us a call at 562-861-9161. We’re glad to assist you in getting your car back on the road!

Customized Suspension for Evo X Chase Vehicle!

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Paul P.

This was a special project for us. Our good friend at Clockwork Media came by asking for suspension for his camera car that he uses for filming. You may actually be familiar with a lot of their work, as they do most of the videos for Scion Racing! So anything drift, rally, and anything in between that Scion is involved with, Clockwork Media takes care of a majority of it!

Back to their need for suspension. As mentioned in the title, they use a Mitsubishi Evo X that is only modified with extra equipment to mount cameras and such onto the car. Their concern was that, with stock suspension and with a total of four passengers, the ride quality was still very harsh. This translated into very choppy looking video, as they played a clip of a chase run with the GReddy sponsored Scion Racing FR-S of Ken Gushi. On top of addressing the harsh ride concern, they needed a suspension kit that will maintain close to factory ride height (including the four passengers in the car).

This sounded like a pretty good challenge for us. For those of you familiar with our coilover products, you may already know that most of our kits are designed to lower vehicles, and most have a bit more aggressive spring rates and damper valving to enhance handling performance. So technically, we had nothing off-the-shelf to meet their needs.

However, we have the ability to do some customization in-house. Since all of our coilovers are rebuildable, we can customize internals and modify damper valving for specific spring rates.

Prior to deciding on what coilover package we could use, we did a quick corner balance on the vehicle to see how much more weight was added (excluding the passengers). Then, our engineer went to work looking up existing Evo X suspension kits we already offer. It turns out our STREET FLEX coilover was the best candidate for modification. The next problem- getting factory ride height and factoring the added weight of passengers and filming equipment. Typically, for such requests we have custom piston shafts made by TEIN Japan, then air freighted to us. Our engineer was able to find existing piston shaft designs to use, which saved them the hassle of having to design new ones altogether.

Mind you, this doesn’t necessarily add more stroke. We’re still using an off-the-shelf coilover kit that has a set damper length. We just needed the extra length to use in conjunction with a taller and softer spring than what comes with the kit to be able to get close to factory ride height.

Once we got all the parts together, our engineer went to work on final spring rates and damper shim specs. Then we assembled the dampers. Overall, the dampers are MUCH LONGER!

Here’s our STREET FLEX kit as it comes out of the box:

Here’s the front STREET FLEX compared to the newly modified one:

And the rear STREET FLEX compared to the modified one:

Compared to the stock suspension, our modified STREET FLEX dampers are very close in overall length

Fronts:

Rears:

Starting with the rears, it was as simple as unbolting the stock suspension, upper mounts and all, and swapping in our coilover

There’s quite a bit to do to remove the front suspension, but at least putting in our STREET FLEX setup makes it a quick bolt-on affair.

We certainly hope all of you installing our suspension are double-checking each bolt/nut, spring seat, etc. to make sure they’re torqued to specification. We may have the dampers preassembled and they may look ready to go right out of the packaging, but it is wise to check every component prior to attempting to drive on them. Follow torque specifications listed in the included installation manual with your coilover kit.

Our engineer is double-checking the torque on the hex bolts for the camber plate. These require relatively low torque (12-3 – – 13.74 ft-lbf).

Seatlocks for locking lower brackets will vary depending on design (strut type= 101.2 ft-lbs, multi-link= 50.6 ft-lbs). For strut type lower brackets, we also include a conical washer between the bracket and seat lock. This must be tightened completely with no visible gap when it is torqued properly.

When all was said and done, the car looked,,,,,,,, well, it looked stock. Kind of unusual for us since we expect a car to end up lowered (unless we’re installing an HG or Group N coilover kit, that’s a different story). Again, this is what our friend wants. They need to make it a more comfortable and less harsh of a ride to get those great pictures and videos while on the move!

Front ride height:

Rear ride height:

We certainly hope our friend likes the new suspension. Being that we can customize our coilovers, there are still endless possibilities in terms of different spring rates and damper valving, depending on their needs!

TEIN USA, Inc. Experiencing Significant Shipping Delays

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Paul P.

If you’ve been following the news, especially for Southern California and anything related to the West coast, you may be familiar with the strike at the ports. The strike, which has been going on since late last year, have caused extended delays for us and has created an increasing backlog of shipments out to our customers.

Currently, there are quite a number of vessels anchored out near the port awaiting their turn to be unloaded, while at the port there are containers just sitting, stacked one atop another.

This port congestion has caused major problems, not only for TEIN USA, Inc., but for many more industries.

It seems dock workers and shipping companies have reached a tentative agreement and work will resume. However, the damage has been done, and we still continue to expect major delays.

In total, we have three containers awaiting arrival. One is expected to arrive at the end of this month. Another to arrive a few weeks after. Please note that we will do everything within our ability to try to fulfill our customers’ orders once our shipments have arrived.

On behalf of all of us at TEIN USA, Inc., we thank you for your continued patience.

If any questions on your pending TEIN orders, please do not hesitate to reach our sales team at 562-861-9161. We’ll happily give you updates and address your concerns.

The New, More Affordable STREET BASIS Z & STREET ADVANCE Z Coilovers!!!

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Paul P.

As we had already mentioned, development has started on our FLEX Z coilovers, a more affordable offering of our popular STREET FLEX coilovers. But, we haven’t stopped there with new products for 2015!

At around the same time we start bringing in our FLEX Z coilovers (mid-Spring), we should also have a few applications of our STREET BASIS Z & STREET ADVANCE Z coilovers! However, we’re not too sure the timing, as the new STREET BASIS Z & STREET ADVANCE Z will be coming from our newly established TEIN China plant.

The difference between current STREET BASIS and STREET ADVANCE coilovers from the new “Z” line is that the Z line are non-rebuildable coilovers. Again, this follows in suit to the STREET FLEX -> FLEX Z changes. All other features of the two entry-level coilover lines are the same.

STREET BASIS Z is strictly a ride height adjustable kit. This makes it a perfect setup for the daily driver looking for an increase in handling performance without compromising comfort for everyday use. For many of you considering a lowering spring + performance shock absorber combination, the STREET BASIS Z makes even more sense as we select appropriate spring rates and valve our dampers to match. No guesswork on the end-users part in trying to match one brand of springs to another brand of shock absorbers. The added height adjustment feature allows the end-user the ability to adjust ride height to their preference, something that lowering springs lack. Being that most vehicles are slightly unbalanced from left to right sides, that means you can easily adjust the ride height so that each corner is even from their opposing sides.

STREET ADVANCE Z takes the ride height adjustability of the STREET BASIS Z line and adds 16-way damping adjustment. So, not only do you get a matched spring and damper setting, you now have the ability to tune the dampers to meet your driving conditions. Roads seem a bit rough? Soften up the damping. Glass smooth highways? Crank the damping to a stiffer setting. You get all that and everything in between. STREET ADVANCE Z is also compatible with our EDFC systems (some STREET ADVANCE Z coilover kits may require extension kits for compatibility), giving you a completely adaptable suspension kit based on your driving conditions/characteristics! That’s a feature that not even all sports luxury cars have, and our setup is at a much more affordable price!!!

Like the FLEX Z line, these new STREET BASIS Z & STREET ADVANCE Z coilovers have a very appealing starting price! STREET BASIS Z comes in at $400 while STREET ADVANCE Z comes in at $500!!! Those are unheard of starting prices for a TEIN coilover!

And, just like the FLEX Z coilovers, replacement parts will be made readily available! If your STREET BASIS Z or STREET ADVANCE Z dampers start feeling worn, you can purchase replacement dampers! No need to send them into us for a rebuild since these are fully sealed, non-rebuildable dampers! That will save you some money, and most importantly, extended downtime! We’ll help to get your car back on the road as quickly as possible!

Again, the only major difference is that the new “Z” line of dampers are non-rebuildable.

Internally, we continue to use our ADVANCE NEEDLE for increased per-click damping adjustment. This translates into greater damping change for each click of the 16-way adjuster, making it easier to find the perfect damping setting. Our high performance damper oil, the same kind we use in our race dampers (Gr.N, Super Racing, N1) provides excellent anti-foaming and viscosity characteristics under heavy cyclic rate, giving you repeatable damping feel and performance for the life of the damper.

ADVANCE NEEDLE provides wide-range damping force change per click.

Proprietary damper oil exhibits excellent anti-foaming and viscosity characteristics for stable damping force under extended use.

We will still retain our exclusive damper coatings, too. Our shot blasted, zinc plated high strength STKM13C steel damper bodies are treated to our patented 2-layer/1-bake powdercoating procedure. This gives our dampers excellent protection against corrosion in harsh environments, especially in areas with heavy snowfall. Our patented ZT coating is applied to our threaded adjustment tubes (inside and out), and contribute to smooth height adjustment, and outstanding adhesion to the steel threads. This ZT coating will not peel or flake off even after repeated adjustment. This is due to the ZT coatings’ low friction coefficient. Essentially, it acts as a dry lubricant. That makes every external component of the steel bodied damper completely protected from the unforgiving environments we subject them to, and we expect our dampers to perform at their very best year after year after year…

the bare surface of our dampers are treated to a double shot peening adding surface strength and also prepares it for zinc coating.

We’ve also updated our spring seats and seat locks for increased durability under heavy vehicle loads and smooth height adjustment. Instead of using a rubber spring seat, we’ve added a Delrin thrust washer atop the new, wider spring seats.

Coilover springs will continue to be made from cold-wound SAE 9254 Vanadium alloy. After cold winding and setting, we heat treat the springs prior to grinding end coils to proper dimensions. Before powdercoating, we subject every spring to double shot-peening which aids in increased spring life and fatigue strength. Some coilover applications may have application-specific spring windings and shapes, such as our barrel springs or taper springs.

We will also continue to provide our 1-year warranty against manufacturer’s defects. Even at this new starting price, we will stand behind our products!

So now you’ve got the highest available quality and performance at an extremely low price, and backed with a manufacturers warranty. Unfortunately, we still haven’t made it easier for you to decide with TEIN suspension system you want. So we ask you to please give our sales staff a call at 562-861-9161 for assistance in getting you into the proper TEIN suspension kit for your needs!

FLEX Z Coilover Testing Has Commenced!

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Paul P.

You’ve probably already read our posts about upcoming new products. One, in particular is the new FLEX Z coilover kits which will be here by Spring of this year. We’ve already had a head-start in developing FLEX Z dampers, testing on some of the more popular vehicle applications and working our way down the list, including new vehicles.

I’m sure many of you have questions regarding these dampers, wondering what is so different about it and why we probably have to test.

Well, in short, we’re always testing. Just because a new product may be similar to the items they’re superseding doesn’t mean we should simply copy and remanufacture from an older design. Our products are always evolving. We develop products based on customer feedback and work towards making an even better product.

Here are a few FAQ’s:

How does this FLEX Z coilover kit differ from the current STREET FLEX?

-The only difference is that the new FLEX Z dampers are fully sealed units, rather than the rebuildable setups we make. All other components and features have remained.

Why has TEIN gone with a fully sealed unit?

-The biggest benefit of a fully sealed unit is that we are able to change out a few components that add the the production cost of the coilover kit. We understand that our customers are looking for a more affordable coilover without sacrificing features such as damping force adjustment, height adjustment, and exclusive upper mounts (camber adjustable in some applications).

So, with our fully sealed units, we’re able to cut MSRP down from current iterations of STREET FLEX dampers by nearly $500!!! That’s a massive savings! Starting price for our FLEX Z dampers is $800!!!

Any downsides to a fully sealed unit?

-Obviously that is a great concern for a lot of our customers, especially ones that are already familiar with our overhaul service.

As all of our current coilovers are rebuildable, the customer can send any damper that may have blown a seal, or just needs to be refreshed, and we can do that in-house. We also have the ability to revalve the dampers for different spring rates, should the customer want to match for a specific spring rate in mind. Our engineers have motorsports experience too, so we can work with a customer who has very detailed concerns with damping for specific tracks or driving conditions.

We’re very proud to be able to offer this unique service to our customers, as many suspension manufacturers do not have a damper service option. However, it is not as common a request from our customers. In fact, a majority of the dampers we receive are really for damper revalving and customization, and not just rebuilds. If anything, that serves as a great testament to the durability of our products.

With a fully sealed unit, we cannot open them up again. So, overhaul service will not be available for the FLEX Z line.

So, what happens if one of my FLEX Z dampers blow out? Can I get a replacement?

-You can absolutely get replacement FLEX Z dampers! Contact us for pricing on individual dampers (damper sub assembly), should you ever need one! While we cannot sell direct to the public, we can at least give you this information and even help you find a nearby authorized TEIN dealer that you can purchase replacement parts from. All we will need from you is the part number and lot number from the damper, which is placed on a silver label on the damper itself (label may be placed on lower bracket).

But I was hoping to be able to get a customized set, one with my own valving. Is that still possible?

-Actually yes, it is still possible! You can special order a custom setup for the FLEX Z dampers. It may take some time, since it is coming from Japan (eta is 3-4 months). Since we cannot open the dampers, it will have to be manufactured with another lot. Time frame is dependent on current order/manufacturing schedule. And yes, this does mean that the FLEX Z, as well as FLEX A, coilovers will continue to be made in TEIN Japan’s Yokohama factory.

In fact, if you already have a FLEX Z coilover kit, but are really considering purchasing a specially valved set of dampers, you can just order those specially valved damper sub assemblies separately. Of course, that means you end up with two sets of damper sub assemblies (one out-of-the-box valving, one custom valved). However, that saves you from having to order a complete coilover kit and essentially means you have a back up set of dampers. Mind you, there is still an average ETA of 3-4 months for the custom valved damper units.

Does this all translate to FLEX Z being an inferior product?

-Not at all! In fact, the quality of our dampers has to be even better if we’re going to make a fully sealed unit. That’s our challenge, but we’re very confident in our technology, and we feel that we can provide the same warranty against any manufacturer’s defects with these new FLEX Z dampers! Should you experience any problems with your dampers within the first year of the purchase, send it in to us along with a copy of your receipt from an authorized TEIN dealer and we can take of replacement parts for you, once our claims department has handled all necessary paperwork and questionnaire.

Is the current STREET FLEX better than the FLEX Z?

That isn’t necessarily the case. What we’ve done here is now offer a product to match a customer’s price point. In fact, all of our products are listed in terms of customer budget, as well as features.

Prior to deciding what coilover you want to use, we typically want to find out more information from the customer:

-What is the kit being used for?

-Is this car mainly a street car, occasional track (how often), track only?

-What kind of tracks do you drive on, and can you describe the course and road surface?

-If you are already experiencing any concerns with your current ride quality, please tell us what they are.

-What suspension features do you need?

-What is your budget for new suspension?

Those are just some of the questions we ask. Again, ultimately it is about how much you can spend to get the features you need.

We’re very proud to bring this new product for 2015, and most of all, we’re excited to receive such great responses from customers, especially knowing that TEIN quality and technology can be had at a much more affordable price!

Got questions? Give our sales staff a call at 562-861-9161 for more information!

A GoPro View of the TEIN Japan Factory!

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Paul P.

We’re obviously a very proud group of employees. Some of us have had the privilege of being able to see TEIN Japan’s manufacturing processes first-hand. In fact, a couple of our employees were part of TEIN Japan’s staff prior to them coming to the U.S. to work at TEIN USA, Inc.’s Operations.

We’ve never claimed to invent the shock absorber (which is not aptly named, mind you; “damper” is more appropriate). Instead, we’re proud to say that we’ve manufactured high performance suspensions using our own engineering, using some of the best manufacturing equipment and materials, and even pioneering our own manufacturing techniques and features unique to TEIN products. We’ve come from very humble beginnings since 1985. Now, 30 years later, we’re looking to make our presence known!

In the beginning of 2014, our factory in Yokohama moved to a new facility, still within Yokohama. This newly built and very advanced facility was an undertaking made specifically to meet the production demands our products have gained over the years.

But, it goes beyond just having a new facility that allows us to ramp up production. We’re a green company! That’s obvious by color, but we’re referring to our operational procedures. Like many manufacturers, we’re faced with certain dilemmas that affect our environment. So, we addressed this matter when the new Yokohama factory was being built. We now utilize solar energy to help power our equipment, we use special paint/coating procedures (even developing our own equipment) to reduce air pollution, and we also recycle our scrap steel and aluminum post manufacturing. We feel these are only a small steps, but steps in the right direction into maintaining and protecting the world we so love to drive on.

Check out the video!

Now, for 2015, we’ve got another new manufacturing facility already set up in China! TEIN IS GROWING, and it is all thanks to you, our customers, our friends, who demand the best products their money can buy!

Look forward for more updates from us! 2015 will be a great year with so many new products!

MotoIQ Visits TEIN USA, Inc.!

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Paul P.

Our friends at MotoIQ decided to stop in and have their Type FLEX coilovers for their Project Supra rebuilt! While they were here, we gave them an inside view of our overhaul process. Not necessarily something we allow the public to see first-hand. But, we are talking about MotoIQ here, guys that like to nerd the hell out on car stuff. We couldn’t easily keep the door closed on them! Lol!!!

This Project Supra of theirs is pretty nuts to begin with. So we were glad to see that they wanted to continue the use of their older Type FLEX coilovers. However, we thought it would be a great idea to update the internals to the newer STREET FLEX setup. So, we had our in-house engineers work closely with the MotoIQ staff to get their dampers to the lastest specifications from TEIN!!

We had our R&D staff take them through our overhaul process and show, from start to finish, what goes into our rebuilds.

After a disassemble of external components (lower brackets, seat locks, upper mounts, springs, dust boots, & bump stops), we can start complete teardown of the damper itself. Our dampers require some unique tools for some parts of disassembly, which is why we do not offer rebuild kits to the public. We ask that all customers send their dampers to us for servicing.

Once completely torn down, we can get to work on the internals. The piston shaft is broken down into several components. Once we can loosen the lower nut on the piston shaft, the piston valve assembly, including all shims and washers, can be removed. These components will be replaced with new ones. Whenever possible, we want to keep rebuild costs as low as possible for our customers, so we will try to reuse components that are still in excellent condition.

Once we can completely assess the condition of all components, we can then get to work on rebuilding. In MotoIQ’s case, we had to make some modifications to make the newest STREET FLEX setup work with their coilovers.

After all the necessary modifications are completed, we completely assemble the dampers, fill with nitrogen, then run them on our damper dyno and make sure they meet performance specification.

All other external components can then be reinstalled and the completed dampers sent back to the customer! All that’s left is to install, check/fix alignment, and enjoy!

We look forward to the next installment from MotoIQ on their Project Supra! They also have our EDFC Active to test out, so we’re sure they’re busy nerding away with that!

Please note that our overhaul and revalve service is available to the public. So, if you have any questions on our overhaul services, please give us a call at 562-861-9161 for more info! We’re glad to help!!!

In the meantime, please visit MotoIQ for some great technical information and follow along on their Project Supra build!

Project Supra Hits 800 WHP!:

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/3766/Project-MKIV-Supra-Part-10–Dyno-testing–we-hit-800-WHP.aspx

Industry Insider: TEIN’s Shock Service:

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/3743/Industry-Insider-Tiens-shock-service.aspx

New for 2015- TEIN FLEX A and FLEX Z Coilovers!!!

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Paul P.

We’re constantly thinking of ways to improve our products. More importantly, we’ve been working towards making our coilover kits more affordable to match a customer’s budget, but also bring new innovations that we’ve pioneered through our involvement in motorsports.

Available in Spring of 2015, we’re reintroducing our STREET FLEX line into two new lines- the FLEX A and FLEX Z.

Starting with the FLEX Z line, we will bring a new affordably priced version of our STREET FLEX coilovers. How affordable? MSRP will start from $800!!!

Features-wise, not much is different from the current STREET FLEX. It will still include full-length ride height adjustment for separate spring preload and height settings, upper mounts (camber adjustable for most MacPherson struts), 16-way damping force adjustment using our ADVANCE NEEDLE technology which provides a much wider range of damping force adjustment per click (~ 200% increase in damping force adjustment range over our previous needle design), EDFC series compatibility, and our proprietary coatings (ZT coated damper bodies, and our 2-layer/1-bake powdercoating for lower brackets and upper mounts). We were able to bring cost down on the new FLEX Z dampers by making them fully sealed units (non-rebuildable).

The biggest benefit to a fully sealed non-rebuildable damper, other than the extremely affordable price, is that the customer will have a maintenance free damper (we still recommend to periodically inspect external components such as seat locks and spring seats, dust boots, and bump stops). Instead of rebuilding their damper, or if they have a blown damper several years down the line, they can purchase a replacement single damper. This translates into less downtime for our customer, who most likely needs to get their car back on the road.

That’s not to say that we’re not proud of our overhaul/revalve service. In fact, we will continue to provide that for older coilover models and for some upcoming, such as the FLEX A.

The FLEX A coilovers will carry the same features as FLEX Z but will be rebuildable, much like the current line of STREET FLEX. We will also include a newly developed feature, our Hydraulic Bump Stop (H.B.S.). Technically it is not a new feature. Instead it is a much more affordable and effective version of the Hydraulic Bump Stop we use on our GROUP N dampers used in rally racing.

How does our HYDRAULIC BUMP STOP work?

As the damper reaches/nears full compression, there is a spring that the piston makes contact with. This helps to build up pressure closer to the base valve. As pressure continues to build around the base valve, a secondary spring will compress, which allows a cup shaped washer to seal most of the orifices around the base valve. This effectively restricts damper fluid flow, increasing this pressure and slowing down the piston’s speed. Finally, as the damper approaches full compression, a third spring will compress allowing a needle washer to open and allow damper fluid to pass through this single orifice. In all, the way our HYDRAULIC BUMP STOP works is by gradually increasing pressure during compression. While mainly based on piston speed (high-speed compression), the unit will work even as the damper nears full compression.

This means that the damper will not fully bottom out. The effect on ride quality is that it will not be as harsh during rebound, much like would be the case with a longer polyurethane bump stop. Why is that? A polyurethane bump stop is compressible. However, it acts as a much stiffer spring, which the damper isn’t necessarily valved properly to control. This means that rebound force is much greater, and that can also translate into uncomfortable oscillation (where the vehicle feels very floaty). With our H.B.S. the rebound rate is not affected, and the vehicle can return to it’s 1g (vehicle weight on the ground) ride height in a smoother fashion.

Without HYDRAULIC BUMP STOP

If you’ve ever watched videos of off-road race prepared trucks with very long stroke suspension, which use another form of hydraulic bump stop (typically mounted externally from the damper), watch what happens after a huge jump. The vehicle lands back down, suspension squatted nearly all the way down. However, when the suspension rebounds and the vehicle returns to it’s 1g ride height, it just settles. No crazy up and down movement. In other words, there is no wasted vehicle body movement. The driver can continue driving full throttle after a jump. Pretty impressive!

That may be a bit of an exaggeration of what our H.B.S. does for a street car (unless you compare it to our aforementioned Group N dampers, which go on production vehicles), however it is the same effect, just in a smaller package and for a shorter damper stroke.

Our HYDRAULIC BUMP STOP works extremely well on suspensions with longer stroke, such as luxury sedans or mini vans. While still effective and beneficial in applications with shorter damper stroke, it isn’t as noticeable in feel.

The new FLEX A coilovers will start at $1350 for a complete set!

Look out for these new products by mid April 2015!!!

New Products for January 2015!

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Paul P.

We’ve finally received our first shipment from TEIN Japan for 2015! Actually, we were expecting these items at the beginning of the year (Jan. 6th, to be exact). However, due to continuing strikes at the Port of Long Beach, we had to delay this shipment for way longer than expected.

But, now these new parts are available!!!

Contact your nearest authorized TEIN Dealer for purchasing!

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