Hey everyone. This had actually slipped by me a few months back, so I wanted to highlight it. The owner, Cass Farrell, had actually contacted us regarding his coilover kit on his 2010 Acura TL looking for a way to drop the vehicle just a bit more. With that being said and I being a slam head I helped him locate some replacement front springs which may work for him. He called once more asking for me, thanking me for the advise and that the spring worked out awesomely on his car and was now looking to get the rears in a shorter length for more adjustment. Once again, I looked into it for him locating a spring part number he could use, and he thanked me for the helpful assistance.
A few weeks had gone by when he call up asking for me. He wanted to thank me for the suggestions I had given him for both the front and rear spring changes. His car now sits with just a bit lower of a stance and looks amazing. Even before I could ask for photos he forwarded me over a link to Canibeat with photos of his car. I went ahead and checked the link out and was surprised. The only reason I say surprised is that this particular TL was not exactly the best looking Acura had released (this was also mentioned in the feature), but this one changed my mind. Of course only if modded.
I tip my hat to Cass Farrell for definitely changing up this TL, bringing together the a bit of boring luxury with the insane aggressive street stance to make a work of art.
Redline Time Attack had their season opener this past weekend (February 16th & 17th). As always, teams that compete in other Time Attack series such as Global Time Attack and Super Lap Battle, find their way into this series to best their times.
Sportcar Motion’s Ken Suen, owner and driver of the FA5 Civic Si lovingly referred to as “Big Red” was out for blood. Last time we covered this car during last November’s Super Lap Battle season finale, mechanical issues prevented him from doing any better that 2 minutes around Buttonwillow’s 13CW road course.
With some new front aero work, as well as a new powerplant, Ken was sure to make this event count. And that he did!
Under the Street FF class, Ken was able to stop the timer at an amazing 1:58.921! Yes, Street Class, Front-wheel drive! Super fast, and most importantly, the new record to beat!
We’re glad to report that Ken continues to use an out-of-the-box Mono Flex setup for his car. We’ll see if any changes need to be made as he continues to cut his lap times down.
Once again, congratulations to Ken Suen and the team at Sportcar Motion for yet another memorable run for victory!
During December 2012 we received a call from Bruce. He is the owner of DeDona Tint & Sound, Inc. in Greensboro, NC. He had spoken to us during SEMA week and was interested in purchasing our Street Advance coilover kit. Now, the kit he was interested in is manufactured for the 2006-2012 Lexus Gs430. However, he wanted the kit for his 2008 GS460. We told him it may not fit, as there could be discrepancies in the vehicle weight , mounting points, etc. Plus, we have not tested that particular model. Basically, it would be a hit or miss at his own discretion. Nevertheless, he was determined and confident the kit would fit.
Flash forward to a month from December and Bruce calls confirming fitment. Now from our standpoint, we still can’t guarantee the fitment to consumers. Again, because our R&D team has not physically done the testing. He detailed to me that minor modifications had been done, and that the mounting points were identical to those of the GS430. He loves the drop, and ride quality all around. I was impressed and glad to hear that he was satisfied with our product as a TEIN customer and automotive enthusiast.
If you’re considering a aftermarket suspension for your GS460, I would recommend you give them a call to touch base on what exactly was done to make the kit work. Below is an image of this simple yet stunning 2008 Lexus GS 460.
TEIN is releasing bushings? That’s right! TEIN has released its own brand of Polyurethane bushings!
Of course, as most folks already know, polyurethane bushings share the characteristics of both plastic and rubber. The TEIN bushings are more durable and superior than standard rubber bushings, able to withstand harsher temperatures (-50 degrees to 120 degress C), have a higher tear strength with a resistance to oils, solvents, and chemicals sometimes encountered in the automotive industry, and an inner collar which is thicker that OE adding strength along with rust prevention with the zinc-coating.
The TEIN bushing’s design offers a self-lubricating formula in the polyurethane along with full-floating technology which minimizes friction in the control arm’s range of motion, allowing for smooth rotation rather than a firm jerky feel felt with standard bushings. These bushings have been rigorously tested in both simulated and real world conditions use in WRC events through out the world.
Check out the video attached below which demonstrates the difference between a standard bushing and our bushing line. The bushing are unfortunately limited to only three applications, Subaru STI 08+, Subaru BRZ 12+, and Toyota 86/ Scion FR-S. For further info please visit http://tein.co.jp/e/products/bushes/index.html .
As exciting as the launch has been for the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ, we were all expecting the aftermarket to blow up with many great parts for these two cars (that share the same platform, in case you didn’t know!). And while that may hold true, what has also become apparent is the lack of information available to the public regarding these parts.
CounterSpace Garage has stepped into this vehicle segment to provide fans of the FR-S and BRZ the most up-to-date information, as well as unbiased product reviews as the parts become available.
CounterSpace Garage comprises of two guys, David Leung and Mike Kang. Both are avid track enthusiasts and operate their own shop catering to the Honda S2000 market, and of course the FR-S/BRZ market. Check out their site when you have a chance.
They approached us last year regarding suspension for their Subaru BRZ. As it sits, it is a relatively stock vehicle. The only aftermarket parts they had on the car at the time were a Berk Technologies Axle-Back Exhaust and Enkei RPF1’s sized 17×8 +45 offset with Hankook Ventus RS3’s sized 224/45. They later added an AP Racing front Big Brake Kit. But that was it.
As luck would have it, we had just received some TEIN Super Racing dampers directly from TEIN Japan. It was a great opportunity to get feedback directly from the BRZ owners.
They had recently put up a post on ft86club.com on their review of our suspension.
We must say that we are quite impressed in how their review went, and we really appreciate their praise for our product! And, to be fair, they’re no slouches when it comes to track driving duties.
They weren’t able to complete all their testing, however. They still have a set of Maxxis Victra RC1’s on Wedsport TC105N’s sized 17×9 +35 to try out, as well as some optional spring rates for the Super Racing dampers. We definitely look forward to that review.
Below are some pictures taken from their ft86club.com post
Below is a video of their lap record for Streets of Willow
Here’s some information regarding our Super Racing dampers for the FR-S/BRZ
-Pillowball Upper Mounts (2 front camber/caster adjustable; 2 rear offset)
-Camber adjustable front lower brackets
-Helper Springs for rear
These are 2-way adjustable dampers. Front struts are inverted with compression adjustment on top and rebound adjustment on the underside. Rears include external reservoir with adjustment knob for compression, while rebound is on the top of the piston shaft. 16×16 way damping resolution for compression and rebound. Compatible with our EDFC (and soon-to-be-released EDFC Active).
Springs are sold separately, giving the end-user the opportunity to tune the suspension to their preference. Recommended is our 10kg/mm front and 12kg/mm rear.
msrp for springs is $140/pair
Spring part numbers (recommended rates)-
RS100-F1140 (10kg ft springs)
RS120-E1150 (12kg rr springs)
Optional springs (special order from Japan)-
RS090-F1140 (9kg ft springs)
RS100-E1150 (10kg rr springs)
RS120-F1135 (12kg ft springs)
RS140-E1150 (14kg rr springs)
These Super Racing dampers are now available through any of our authorized TEIN dealers! In fact, I believe CounterSpace Garage has a special going on for these…..
Congratulations to Andrew Comrie-Picard /Jeremy Wimpey and the Rally xD team for their win in the Two-Wheel Drive National Class in their Scion Racing Rally xD!
First Day Result: Andrew Comrie-Picard and Jeremy Wimpey leads the 2WD Class in their Scion xD at the end of the first day 1:18.1
Second Day Result: Andrew Comrie-Picard still leads in the 2WD Class after stage 17 by +3:13.8
Check the Road Coarse conditions video to get a better understanding of how the track and snow conditions that they had to face this past weekend were.
This past weekend, Stohl Racing, a TEIN-sponsored team, took a great podium finish in the first race of the WRC2 Production Car Cup, taking home a 2nd place win!
Racing conditions during the event changed drastically, with mixtures of snow, rain, mud, and in some cases, black ice was a major concern for all drivers. It was, without doubt, a very difficult event.
We’re glad to report that our Group N. dampers held up fine to the ever-changing conditions. A well-prepped rally car and the expertise of driver Armin Kremer and co-driver Klaus Wicha made for an exciting finish to an already difficult race!
The last two stages of the event were canceled. Therefore the final positions and times after SS16 were declared as final.
Congrats to Stohl Racing for a great finish for the first race of the season. Up next is Rally Sweden taking place February 7-10th.
More information on this event, as well as some great photos, can be found on our Facebook page!
We have started this 2013 year strong with our newly released Street Flex and EDFC ACTIVE.
Unfortunately TEIN USA was not able to attend the 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon show in Japan (physically), but we still attended the show in the form of our parent company, TEIN Japan, and our photo taken earlier this month. Thank God for the web and media as that would be our only source for consumers to check out those neck breaking cars.
Anywho, we had our new products on display, along with our knowledgeable Japanese staff to answer any questions that enthusiast had.
They must have been swamped with questions with regards to our newly released product line. Shoot, here in the US our phones don’t stop ringing, and our inbox is full of inquiries. I’m sure that the next event we attend in the US will have lines longer than Best Buy’s on Black Friday.
Can anyone direct me to the TEIN booth??…lol
Overall it was a great show. The consumers’ feedback was as we anticipated. Our new product line is being received with open arms and we couldn’t ask for more (well… except for more orders, of course!!! LOL). Please visit the link provided below as it will direct you to our Face Book page. You can check out other photos taken at the show. Feel free to give us a call or drop a message if you have any questions!
Hi everyone, back again with something a little different. Just wanted to highlight a consumer’s car for this month’s blog post.
Fred Hamilton had originally contacted TEIN with a tech inquiry regarding a set of TEIN Flex coilovers he had purchased. He made the requested changes along with any other suggested adjustments to his system. He then called back thanking us for the assistance. I went ahead and asked for some photos of his vehicle which he had detailed at that time that the vehicle would be both a daily driver and show car. He gladly sent over some photos of the vehicle and let me know that he was going to attend an event that following month and that he would send me photos of the event.
Later that month as mentioned he contacted me informing me that he would be sending over photos of the event and that he had won 1st place for Best Display at the Import Face-Off in Baytown Texas.
I congratulated him on his victory and told him to send me over the complete list of modifications done to the car as I would gladly post a blog entry for his vehicle for being a great guy all around and being a committed and supportive TEIN fan.
Below are some photos and a modification list of his car.
Performance:
Auto to Manual Swap
H23 Vtec Engine Swap w/LSD Transmission
Chipped P28 ECU
Stage 2 Competition Clutch w/Lightweight Flywheel
Skunk2 Pro Series Intake Manifold w/Hondata Intake Manifold Gasket
Megan Racing 4-2-1 Header
JDM Camshaft Seal (Blue)
NGK Spark Plug Wires
Denso Iridium IK20 Spark Plugs
NRG Upper Strut Bar Modified
NRG Radiator Cap
OBX Blue Silicone Radiator Hoses
SRS Turbo Racing Exhaust System
Innovative Motor Mount Kit
Suspension and Wheels:
TEIN Flex Coilovers for Japanese Euro R
Megan Front and Rear Camber Kits
17×7.5 Gunmetal w/polished lip Nex-o Wheels
205/45R17 Dunlop Dirrezzas
Black Rays Engineering Lug nuts
Cosmetics:
Extreme Dimensions Duraflex Fiberglass Front Bumper, Side skirts, and Rear Lip Kit
Custom GM Graphics Green Metallic Paint
Custom CG Headlights
5300K McCulloch HID Kit
Password JDM Valve Cover Washers
NRG Fender Washers
Interior:
Acura Weighted Shift Knob
LED Gauge and Dash Lights
Alpine CDE-123 Head unit w/ Pioneer Coaxial Speakers
Momo Steering Wheel with NRG Quick Release Hub Kit
Once again thank you Fred for your continued support and best of luck to you in the 2013 show/event year.
Now there has been a lot of talk about our New Street Flex coil-over system. TEIN Japan has had a head start on getting the product launch, and it has been generating a lot of inquiries for us stateside. I’m here to share the new specs and information about the system with you.
So, let’s start of with the similarities of the Flex and Street Flex applications.
Full Length adjustable
Twin tube structure
16 level linear damping force adjustment.
Exclusively designed upper mounts are included for some applications.
And now for the Improvements-
Damping force adjustment with Advance Needle. “ADVANCE Needle”, which is proven effective in STREET ADVANCE, for 16-level damping force adjustment feature (compression & rebound together) widens damping force adjustment range; Nearly 200% compared to existing products! Greater adjustment range gives you more setting capabilities and thus makes it easier than ever to find the desired setting.
Improved Durability. Improved, redesigned oil seal and ring nut with dust-discharge groove on side are used. Such new and advanced parts improve the durability, preventing contamination by foreign matters which can lead to the reduction of product life. Final assembly of shock absorbers is now done in a dedicated clean room, which is almost equivalent to operating room, to thoroughly eliminate the cause of oil leak. Room pressure is kept under control to shut out dust & dirt and all workers entering the room must go through an air shower to make sure all the assembly work is done in completely clean air.
Tough anti-rust treatment. The patented “2-layer/1-bake” treatment using anti-rust powder paint is applied on top of the blast finish to the base surface. On the shell case, TEIN’s self-developed one-of-a-kind “ZT Coating” is applied, for tougher protection against chipping, often caused by deflected pebbles/debris. We are confident that people living in snowfall area or near sea shores will be very satisfied.
Smooth ride height adjustment. STREET FLEX has adopted new wrought aluminum spring seats and low-friction hard-resin thrust washers. These effectively reduce the friction with springs, caused during ride height adjustment, and makes it easier to adjust the ride height with pre-load on the springs. The ZT Coating, a super low-friction fluorine resin coating, is tightly baked onto the shell case surface in-house. This special coating provides superior protection against rust and high lubricity, keeping a smooth adjustment for a long period.
High-Quality yet Affordable!
Fundamental structure, persistently being improved and matured over the past 15 years, is now reviewed in terms of VA & VE and 40% of its existing components are re-designed. With this, the durability against oil leaks and/or aged deterioration is well improved and the operating noise is reduced. Also, the introduction of new production processes improves the productive efficiency and hence the overall cost is well reduced. This new product is sure to satisfy wide variety of users; from novice to expert.
