Tein S13 Type Flex Spring rates

[variable]

Hi all,

(I don't think this has been mentioned before... I did a quick search and nothing came up)

I just noticed that Tein updated the spring rate ratings for their S13 Type Flex to 7/7 on http://www.tein.com/ti/p04.html(I noticed this after I had installed my new Flex coilovers and experienced an unexpectedly bouncy ride even on the harder damping settings)

My question is does anybody have any idea why Tein would up the spring rate so greatly for the S13 (from the previously listed 5/4)? The S14s are still listed as being a reasonable 6/5... 7/7 is almost as hard as the HE's 8/6 (and averages out to the same if front and back are summed). I've emailed Tein with the same question, but since it's a long weekend I don't expect an answer any time soon, and I figured I would ask here as well to see what you guys know/think.

[BadMojo]

Don't know...it still says 5/4 on this chart.

As I recall, the chart linked to above used to list spring rates for each product that usually had a range of +/- 2 kgf/mm. That seems to be gone.

I'd imagine that you could always buy some slightly softer springs from Tein and swap 'em out.

Guess that's not the answer you're looking for, though. I read this forum and others pretty regularly, and I haven't heard a single word about a change in the spring rates on the Flex for the S13.

[Nismo_Freak]

Hi all,

(I don't think this has been mentioned before... I did a quick search and nothing came up)

I just noticed that Tein updated the spring rate ratings for their S13 Type Flex to 7/7 on http://www.tein.com/ti/p04.html(I noticed this after I had installed my new Flex coilovers and experienced an unexpectedly bouncy ride even on the harder damping settings)

My question is does anybody have any idea why Tein would up the spring rate so greatly for the S13 (from the previously listed 5/4)? The S14s are still listed as being a reasonable 6/5... 7/7 is almost as hard as the HE's 8/6 (and averages out to the same if front and back are summed). I've emailed Tein with the same question, but since it's a long weekend I don't expect an answer any time soon, and I figured I would ask here as well to see what you guys know/think.

That is the test vehicle... they are giving you specs on what was placed on that vehicle along with the photo.

Also remember, the coilovers come pre-set to the hardest dampening position.

[variable]

That is the test vehicle... they are giving you specs on what was placed on that vehicle along with the photo.

Also remember, the coilovers come pre-set to the hardest dampening position.

Are you certain of this? Also, I have tried all the damping settings from full hard to full soft and the car still feels somewhat bouncy at times (though a little less at full hard). Hopefully this will go away as the springs "break in" if that's even possible.

The numbers printed on my springs:front: Q070EHC1 (or "l", it was hard to read)

rear: V070EFC (there might be a last character, but I couldn't quite read it, as I was trying to read the numbers with the coilover installed on my car)

Those codes seem to indicate 7kg/mm springs, if the scheme they use the code the spring rates is somewhat consistent. e.g. the basics use a 6kg/mm spring with code SL060, and the HEs use 8 kg/mm springs with code SQ080. Of course that's all just wild conjecture on my part, so I could be wrong, I guess I'll find out for sure when Tein responds to my email.

It might be just my luck, though, to get a set of Flex dampers with the 7/7 instead of the 5/4, or whatever it should be, if you're right. I'll probably have to do what BadMojo suggested and buy the lower rated springs from somewhere (does anyone know the exact procedure for that, do I get them directly from tein or can a shop just special order them for me?).

Thanks for the responses.

[BadMojo]

I'll probably have to do what BadMojo suggested and buy the lower rated springs from somewhere (does anyone know the exact procedure for that, do I get them directly from tein or can a shop just special order them for me?).

I believe you would need to buy them from Tein. Before you go in to all that, just wait for an email response or even call them up tomorrow. I've found them to be pretty helpful. They can tell you what the situation is.

[Nismo_Freak]

Are you certain of this? Also, I have tried all the damping settings from full hard to full soft and the car still feels somewhat bouncy at times (though a little less at full hard). Hopefully this will go away as the springs "break in" if that's even possible.

The numbers printed on my springs:front: Q070EHC1 (or "l", it was hard to read)

rear: V070EFC (there might be a last character, but I couldn't quite read it, as I was trying to read the numbers with the coilover installed on my car)

Those codes seem to indicate 7kg/mm springs, if the scheme they use the code the spring rates is somewhat consistent. e.g. the basics use a 6kg/mm spring with code SL060, and the HEs use 8 kg/mm springs with code SQ080. Of course that's all just wild conjecture on my part, so I could be wrong, I guess I'll find out for sure when Tein responds to my email.

It might be just my luck, though, to get a set of Flex dampers with the 7/7 instead of the 5/4, or whatever it should be, if you're right. I'll probably have to do what BadMojo suggested and buy the lower rated springs from somewhere (does anyone know the exact procedure for that, do I get them directly from tein or can a shop just special order them for me?).

Thanks for the responses.

You know, how would a trade sound to you?

I got 6 / 5 on mine, and 7 / 7 would be a decent upgrade.

[variable]

You know, how would a trade sound to you?

I got 6 / 5 on mine, and 7 / 7 would be a decent upgrade.

Heh, that actually sounds like a really good idea if not for a few things:

1) I'm in Hawaii and shipping the springs from you to me might be fairly expensive (and so not really worth it, unless new springs themselves are extremely expensive).

2) The car is my daily driver and I don't think I would be able to do without it for the time it took for the springs to be exchanged (I don't think I would want to go through all of the trouble of swapping the original stuff back in and out again; they were also sort of unhappy--see the attachment; I don't think bushings are supposed to look like this are they?).

Thanks for the offer though; I'll just wait for what Tein has to say. If the bounciness subsides I think I can live with the harshness.

Getting back on topic, if Tein mentions anything interesting about the spring rate (such as confirming that they changed it to 7/7), I'll be sure to post it here.

[Nismo_Freak]

Cool, In my dealings with Tein in the past they have always lowered spring rates and kept the overall valving harshness alot softer for US roads. They seemed very unlikely to change it to Japanese spec because they were afraid US drivers may not like it and the shocks would wear out too fast.

The difference is fairly large, as my friend has a set of 24 way adjustable HR's from Tein Japan on his GC8 Impreza. Old school Teins hehe.

[variable]

Ah, I got a response from Tein (I hope it's okay to post it here verbatim):

Quote »Many car enthusiasts has brought to our attention that the J-spec Type FLEXwas too soft, therefore we conducted R&D and manufacture an applicationbased on our findings. As for a comparison between the Type FLEX and HE,they are totally, different. You simply cannot compare spring rates andassume the set ups are the same. The internal valving is very different ,as well as the damper design.

As for your spring options, you can change to as low as 2 kg, however, wewould definitely recommend a revalve. For purchasing information, pleasevisit your nearest TEIN authorized dealer. thank you.[/quote]

Looks like the US spec Flex damper is somewhat different for the J spec one (physical dimensions too, apparently, as the "default" setup measurements are different as well, as I learned from a previous question I sent them--the instructions downloadable from the Tein.com site differs from the instructions that came with my dampers).

Heh, it looks like I could go with 2 kg/mm springs f/r. I wonder how that would feel. A question for anyone running the Flexes on an S-13 with the 5/4 springs, is it really that soft? I'm getting used to the ride of the dampers now, and I've noticed that with another person in the vehicle it doesn't seem as bouncy... maybe I should just eat more.

Oh well, off to bother Tein with more questions (they're probably getting tired of me by now), such as if their stated range of +/- 1 kg/mm rear is strict limit, i.e. I'm limited to 6/6 (or 5/6) w/o revalving, or if 6/5 or 5/4 is still close enough.