Tag Archives: MacPherson

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

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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!!!

FLEX Z HONDA GP5

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.

FLEX A HONDA RC1

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.

With HBS vehicle image resized

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

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!!!

 

 

 

Specialized Brackets

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As you may have seen through our blog before, we offer a Specialized Damper Program. This allows a customer to create a one-off suspension kit made to their specifications. A great option for those customer who can’t find a readily available suspension kit for their vehicle, whether it be because it is an uncommon vehicle or it is a vintage vehicle that no longer has aftermarket support. It is a unique offering that gives the customer endless tuning possibilities, and all made with TEIN quality!

We’ve also been able to do custom lowering springs through this program. We know, that sounds a bit confusing because “Specialized Damper” implies that we can make the dampers only. We’ll work on that name. We do like using the term “SPD” if that helps! Nevertheless, we are able to create anything a customer is looking for, short of custom torsion and leaf springs.
What we never really brush up on is our ability to create individual components. Just recently, we had some lower knuckle brackets made for a Scion FR-S which was already using our Mono Flex coilovers. The person wanted some more ride height adjustment, as the knuckle bracket was already maxed at it’s highest setting (lowest ride height). But, he also wanted some camber adjustment from the bracket, a feature included on our Super Racing coilovers for MacPherson Strut type suspension. For those applications we include a new upper knuckle bolt with off set washers to allow a few degrees of camber adjustment. Not exactly a cheap option because of the components needed, but definitely possible to create.

 

SPD Brackets 008 (Custom)

Since this is a custom order, it still  takes some time for TEIN Japan’s SPD (Specialized Damper) section to create the components. However, if it is a time-sensitive job, please contact us for quotation and we’ll see what we can do!

SPD Brackets 005 (Custom)

The nicest thing about this type of service isn’t that you can create your own custom pieces, but we build them to match your current suspension. As you may be able to see, our Mono Flex dampers use a different shade of green than our Street Basis, Street Advance, and Street Flex suspension. We can do custom colors by request, too. However, that does cost extra. But, who doesn’t like green?!

Anyway, please give us a call if you have any requests for custom damper components. We’re here to help!

Coilover Mixing Headaches

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Hey Everyone! Back again with some more tech tips which hopefully help out with you TEIN coilover systems.

Generally around this time of the year we receive many TEIN dampers sent in for our overhaul service. Most customers are looking to do a base repair and possibly consider some replacement parts for the dampers.

P1070270 (Small)

However, some times the parts they are looking for may not exactly be a TEIN part. Some coilover kits we offer at times may not come with the pillowball uppermount as a feature desired and the customer decided to look elsewhere for a mount that they can adapt to the coilover system. Although some companies do claim that their pillow mounts would work with multiple manufacturers, the possiblilty of a misinstallation is still there, as you can see from the attached photos.

P1070284 (Small) P1070281 (Small) P1070279 (Small)

 

Most pillow mounts offered utilize the following components:

1) A  design-specific lower collar or washer which the bottom of the mount would sit against on the damper piston shaft.

2) A collar or pillow nut (Pillow nuts commonly used on Macpherson strut type dampers) used above the mount to center and maintain the mount bearing to the piston shaft.

3) A top nut (Commonly used on Multi-link type dampers) to secure the mount to the piston shaft.

Even if used on the dampers it may not be the correct type/design for the piston shaft causing the mount to be loose creating noise during normal operation and/or odd wear to the the piston shaft surface which can eventually lead to a break on the shaft, or can even catastrophic internal damages due to a design flaw which would allow the component to bypass the bump stop and max out the damper stroke.

P1070272 (Small) P1070271 (Small) P1070276 (Small)

All of these situations can definitely take a bit out of you wallet and give you a bad headache. With the details and photos shown, I do caution anyone who does consider mix-n-matching coilover system components. Make sure that fitment is solid, and check the fitment if any noises are heard And if multiple collars are required to properly mount, you may want to consider not using the mounts and whether going with another type or just sticking with the coilover manufacturers recommendations. It would save you time, money, and a bad headache.

Multi-Link Suspensions and MacPherson Suspension-Camber Adjustability

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There has been many customers inquiring about the Upper Mounts with Camber adjustability.

Yes, we do offer Upper Mounts with Camber adjustability and they are offered for certain applications, with MacPherson Struts type suspension.

Here is a quick look at a MacPherson strut and why it is able to be used with a Camber plate.

MacPherson Strut Type – A design in which the strut connects to the hub assembly directly to the chassis of the vehicle. No upper arm is used to control the movement of the hub. This design usually allows the camber and caster angle of the suspension to be adjusted from the upper mounts. Some vehicles with front struts may not use camber adjustable mounts because of limited space in the strut tower or major design differences of upper mount designs.

 

Multi-Link aka Shock Type – Independent or multi-link type suspensions utilize a shock. An upper and lower control are used to control movement of the hub. (double A-Arm, wishbone, etc…). This design does not allow camber or caster adjustment to be made from the upper mounts since all it will be doing is moving the coil over from one side to the other without adjusting camber since it does not bolt on directly to the hub for camber or caster adjustments.

 

The Upper Mount below is a Camber Adjustable plate offered for some applications with MacPherson type Coilovers.

The below Pillow Ball Upper Mount is for Multi-Link Suspension it is not camber adjustable but it is a good replacement of the OEM Upper Mount since a NWB spherical bearing is used in place of the rubber bushing, which allows for improved tire grip and more accurate wheel alignment.