TEIN Coilover Kit in Progress for us 4th Gen Sedans

[jungleboogie]

... or so i would hope. i'm new to this whole prototyping thing.

i dropped off my car on 10/29 to Tein over in Downey. Nice people, friendly and very welcoming (but i assume because they work around cars all day... that's gotta be pretty sweet). anyways, i dropped it off that morning and picked it back up 10/31.

the basic jist: they probably tore my suspension apart to get standard measurements. i was told they will then send those measurements to japan where, in japan, they will go ahead and make a set of prototype coilovers for the 4th gen altima sedan. i believe they will either be the Basics or possibly even the SS but nothing definite as of yet.

i am scheduled to turn my car in possibly sometime during january where they will then place the coilovers, probably test it for a day or so to see if everything's aight and voila, just like that i assume there is potential for us sedans to get in on some coilover action.

once those are picked up, i will ask how much they're expected to be as well as what other types of coilovers are set to be released from Tein.

i can has prototype crew? <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://images.nicoclub.com/forums/image ... iggrin.gif" BORDER="0">

UPDATE (09/11/09):

Good day all ye merry gentlefolk. I bring good tidings. I suppose I should've updated this news yesterday but had a meeting and some field work for a project i'm working on and thus completely forgot.

having said that... the release of TEIN SS coilovers for our sedans is nigh. I will be taking my car into TEIN on Monday, September 21 for fitting and testing of the TEIN SS coilovers for the Altima Sedan. Long awaited, i know, and actually i should apologize as one of the R&D staff at TEIN had actually emailed me a couple months ago updating me with the status and i completely forgot to mention anything here (a thousand apologies for my failure to adequately provide updates).

Hopefully this will set forth in motion the wheels to provide another set of coilovers for our altimas.
Modified by jungleboogie at 3:48 PM 9/11/2009

[Jose3.5]

That is ****ing great! I should probably start saving up some money for this now.

[One Crazy Max]

woot...this is what i was waiting for.

im definately gonna pick up a set of Super Streets, or hopefully they have something better!

[scrutmonkey]

AWESOME NEWS..last when I checked out their site they ere just looking for a 4gen to make springs. they would have been our best bet for the first set of coilovers for us 4gens. IMO.

Finally, hope...

[b88dragon]

any update on these coilovers? also got a question, noob here but are lowering springs different from coilovers? and what are the difference?

[Bostonaholic]

any update on these coilovers? also got a question, noob here but are lowering springs different from coilovers? and what are the difference?

Lowering springs:only a spring, height not adjustable, usually cheaper, softer ride, causes camber, "looks cool"

Coilovers:spring & shock combo, adjustable height, expensive, stiff ride, little to no camber depending, "performs great"

that's all i can think of now

and for good measureAir bags:compressed-air filled bags (or "balloons"), adjustable on the fly, VERY expensive, mushy ride, ALOT of camber, "looks cool"

[ursus]

updates?

[jungleboogie]

son of a bish...! see below for email i received in response to status

"Hello (me), At the moment due to the economic crises many of our production items have been put on hold until further notice. Cars for which the products are not in high demand are being put on a low priority status, your car unfortunately being one of them. As such I can give you no definite answer as to when exactly the prototypes and mass production units will be made available. If and when the production for your car's items is brought back we will be in contact with you to inquire as to the availability of your vehicle for test fitting. I apologize for the inconvenience this may be causing you. If you have any additional questions or concerns feel free to contact us at your convenience.

Jonathan LeeR&D Department"

[Jose3.5]

Thats gay

[jungleboogie]

Thats gay

seriously, is it not? i wonder how the coilovers for the coupe came out, or if they're experiencing the same thing.

[phobs]

I think the same applies for us .

[b88dragon]

http://www.gripmotorsports.com....html

is this for real guys? cuz if so i think there out then. of course i know nothing about coilovers or dampers if their the same or not. so if anyone can put some insight in this be great.

[Bostonaholic]

http://www.gripmotorsports.com....html

is this for real guys? cuz if so i think there out then. of course i know nothing about coilovers or dampers if their the same or not. so if anyone can put some insight in this be great.

That cannot be right because they can't fit both 3rd gens and 4th gens. It must just be a typo--saying it'll fit '07.

[jungleboogie]

still on hold til further notice.

[scootmanbill]

GOOD NEWS! I just got off of the phone with Tein and they said YES WE ARE MAKING COILOVERS FOR THE 2007-2008 Sedan and Coup. They will make the Super Street for sure. Man, I can't wait....my car rides so terribly after lowering it. I have been waiting for a year and a half for these coilovers! I can't wait to have them installed!

[scrutmonkey]

Thanks for the update. Did they happen to mention about the approx. time we may have to wait for the coilovers to hit the market?

I wonder how they will compare to the BC coilovers we have out here now.

[jungleboogie]

Update as of 7/23/09

"Hello (me), I apologize for you having to wait so long for the prototype testing. We have received a tentative time frame (Middle to the End of September) in which we will be receiving the prototypes to test on your car. We cannot guarantee that we will actually receive the prototypes then but it will be sometime around then. We will be in contact with you as the time draws nearer and as we receive any concrete information about the products"

Nothing like waiting to help the time go by.

[scrutmonkey]

Thanks again for taking that initiative with taking your car down there to have them take measurements. At least they are now going to get something for testing later this year.

[jungleboogie]

Oh, no worries. The sedans need more love. They just happened to be about 10 mins from my aunts place so I became the best candidate. Hopefully they get some coilovers out sooner than later. I'll try my best to continue to update yalls.

Thanks again for taking that initiative with taking your car down there to have them take measurements. At least they are now going to get something for testing later this year.

[scootmanbill]

As of 9/11/09, just got off the phone again and I was told that the springs and coilovers are just about going into production. Tein said they should be available by the 2nd quarter of 2010, which means March-April of 2010. I was told they are about 6 months away from completion. Let's keep our fingers crossed this time!

[nismofool]

hmm. i'm going in on oct 5th, pickin my car back up on the 9th with the prototype coilovers left on the vehicle for the coupe. since the coupe coilovers are pretty much almost done, the sedans should be the same. if anything jungleboogie might have already set up an appointment with em.

[jungleboogie]

Sorry about that guys, I've updated the first post to reflect what's been going on.

[jungleboogie]

UPDATE

My car had been at TEIN for the entire week starting 9/21 to 9/25. I picked up a rental for the first 2 days and when my gf's car became available, I borrowed hers. Rental was a ford focus and my gf's is a non xrs corolla... Altima to focus to corollols... Quite the boring week of driving, I must say. By thursday, I was pining and yearning for my car...

Well, all that to say that I picked up the car on Friday and I'm not gonna lie, the car does look a lot better with a slight drop. The coilovers are the SS, which are the ones that are 16 way adjustable. Currently, the settings on my car appear to be on a somewhat modest setting and I can definitely feel a difference in handling. I slightly remember the tech (Jonathan) mentioning that the fronts are @ 12 while the rear is at 10. Obviously, I'm going to need some time to try and 1) get used to the coilovers but also 2) figure out how to adjust different settings and assess the differences.

The main drawback of note: The fronts can be adjusted by popping open the hood and turining the small "dial" where the front suspension lines up (just like other coilovers). However the rears are the more difficult to do as there is no access from the trunk, I'd have to remove the rear coilovers and adjust, then reinstall. What does that mean for everyone else?? Absolutely nothing because for the mass production units, they will most likely have the adjustment dials on the side of the actual coilover unit. Thus, reaching behind the tire, to the shaft, would probably be the most difficult part of adjusting the rears.

In terms of pricing, there weren't specifics but I'd imagine it being priced similarly to what SS's cost on older Altimas or Maximas.

I feel like I'm forgetting to add something to this post... Can't quite place my finger on it...

Haha pics are coming... Had a busy weekend so wasn't able to really get under the car but they're coming soon. Greddy spectrum se exhaust soon.

[Jose3.5]

Haha pics are coming... Had a busy weekend so wasn't able to really get under the car but they're coming soon. Greddy spectrum se exhaust soon.

Wait, since when is the Greddy exhaust coming to the sedans?Can't wait to see and hear that.

Lucky you getting the coilovers, will patiently wait for pictures.
Modified by Jose3.5 at 12:06 PM 9/27/2009

[jungleboogie]

Wait, since when is the Greddy exhaust coming to the sedans?Can't wait to see and hear that.

Lucky you getting the coilovers, will patiently wait for pictures.

Modified by Jose3.5 at 12:06 PM 9/27/2009

Lols it was intended to sarcastically mean never. But I will get the pics sometime before this weekend.

[scrutmonkey]

thanks for the update jungle

[jungleboogie]

UPDATE (100409)

handling has significantly improved... i've actually managed to reinstall my RSB and needless to say, it's even better. in terms of driveability however, the settings are quite stiff and therefore makes driving somewhat a pain in the arse (either that or i'm just not used to it yet, or they haven't settled in yet).

also, i apologize for the crappy cell phone pics but i didn't have my digicam on me when i was given the opportunity to take pics. my bad guys, a thousand apologies.

Pics (FYI the first 4 pics are the front and the last 3 are the rear):

[phobs]

Yay, any word on release and pricing?

[jungleboogie]

Yay, any word on release and pricing?

on top of what my previous post already states the release date is in 2-3 months so maybe early 2010 and pricing is roughly around $1,600.

[mcheddadi]

lower the damper settings, on my bc racing ones I'm at 6 soft. when I track on a perfectly flat course i go to 32 on a not perfect track I go to 16.

whats the rate of the springs?