Question about REAL Coilovers...

ok i have been doing my HW (or at least trying to) on coilovers... i am not asking about the cheap ones (anymore). People have "enlightened me" on the subject but here is a question i haven't seen before... or at least recently.
Like in the "which coilover" thread there was a remark about Tein. Now from here i have read about A LOT of Tein Fans and not too many haters on em. So after deciding on wanting them (to lower my car but givev it more a sporty feel), i have read some things talking about watching out for "snap oversteer" and about the spring rates being high. I am still tryin to learn the lingo, but i am about 1/2 way saved up almost 500 bucks, so what should i be looking for exactly?
I want a "stock feel" 'cause i commute a lot of and i like being comfortable. But i also want the performance end of it as well. i am willing to spend maybe like 1k (hopefully a little less), Plus buy new performance struts. I am trying to do it right the first time as SilverY2kCivic always recommends.
I can't find any real information (in laman's terms) on the Tein products. I don't know what exactly (if anything) in their line would suit me.
Bottom line is... if i wanted my car to ride like crap then i would cut the springs...

Thanks in Advance.

So are you 4 sure about getting the tien's ?? Have you heard about the H&R coilover Cup? In my mind mabe better then the tein.(my opinon) As for the spring rates the front are 447lb and the rea 335lb. To me that's pretty good but, for you that would be to stiff. If you want a good ride then you can't go lower then 1.5 front 1.7 rear. I have that hight and it works perfect. I went a little lower and I would rub to much.(but I have 17'') Is that all the money you have $500 cause your going to need more then that Tein SS are about $1000.00
Now For me I like to think that I have a good setup. GC coilover sleeves, Tokico illumina's and spoon front strut bar, DC upper and lower tie bar.For the hight I just see like this put ur finger between the fender and the tire if you got about a finger n 1/2 then that perfect. I haven't rub yet.Oh before I forget it rides Kooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!! really it dose. I probally say right their with stock unless it's bumby road. Good luck

Actually Tein aren't as expensive as people thing. Like the Tein Basic Dampener retails for $750, and is usually obtainable for cheaper than that. It's the SS model minus the 16-way dampening adjustment. I've rode on the H&R cups and my car rolls on Tein SS, hands down the Tein feel much better than the H&R's.

As for Tein streetability as Dezoris mentioned, Tein if you get the right spring rates, they are VERY MUCH streetable. Even the drift made Tein HE's are streetable when set on the softer settings for dampening. People have a misconception that true coilovers are meant for track and "off road" use only, and that just simply isn't true, the Tein SS is living proof of this.

OK the tein basic's are $750 but arn't the SS like about 1000.00. Come on are you serious! Tein being better then the H&R. I Herad alot of good thing and my friend just got some a man do thy feel awsome I think part becuas they ride on softer spring then the SS. But can you tell me why the tein feels better?

H&R's IMO German's know whats up!

The Cup kit is actually a normal coilover spring/shock

H&R does make kick ass fully adjustable coilover for both street/race

Cup kithttp://www.hrsprings.com/site/products/images/cupkits.jpg

Coilovershttp://www.hrsprings.com/site/products/images/coilovercollage.jpg

Eibach Spings & Shocks
I never hear anyone ever using the Eibach Pro-damper(shocks) with Pro-kit or Sportlines.

OK the tein basic's are $750 but arn't the SS like about 1000.00. Come on are you serious! Tein being better then the H&R. I Herad alot of good thing and my friend just got some a man do thy feel awsome I think part becuas they ride on softer spring then the SS. But can you tell me why the tein feels better?

First off, if you get Tein SS for retail ($1000) you're getting ripped off, plain and simple. I got mine for $850. That means the shop I got them from should have the Basics for about $650-$700.

My bad, when I hear H&R, I think of the full coilover kit like the one in the bottom pics above. Those cost about $300-$400 MORE than the Tein SS (about $1200) and they feel about that much LESS than my Teins. I've felt both, I wouldn't just blab this out without first experiencing both which I have (well the H&R full coilovers that is). Yes they feel pretty plush, but they don't allow the performance adjustabilty that the Tein SS offer, and that to me is very important. Nice to have even if you don't plan to race on them. Sometims you want it stiff and bouncy, and when you're rolling with a girl in the car, you'll want it as comfortable as can be. The H&R cup won't offer that, you're pretty much stuck with what you get. I can't speak for H&R (you might want to research this yourself) but with Tein you can custom order them to your preferances as far as spring and even shock valving rates. You can order them to factory specs, and for $50 more per corner (so $200 total) you can order and extra set of different springs so that you're ready for anything.

ok...fine if you put it like that he should get the Tein SS. Man you really are a master when it comes to automotive.lol

You got the SS for $850? Where? and do they have and online shop. Over hear in the bay they got them for $1000.00 minnum

At our shop we isntall H&R products regularly & test drive each vehicle! We have a few "race cars" we maintain - 5 out of the 6 run H&R coilovers. I've had the luxury or driving a m3 race car around blackhawk farms & also Road America w/ H&R coilovers. That damn thing has Ferarri F40 brakes front :headshake

You got the SS for $850? Where? and do they have and online shop. Over hear in the bay they got them for $1000.00 minnum

From a local shop near me in the So. Cali LA area. They do have a website, but they don't sell from off the site, it's all a local walk-in order and pick-up deal there. It's all about shopping around and checking every shop near you that you hear about or happen to pass, that's what I did. Also go to Tein's website (http://www.tein.com) and locate all of the authorized Tein dealers near to where you live, the shop I got mine from happened to be on that list.

yea... well i have 500 now but i am still savin up. Even though i don't do autocross or acually race, you know i might wanna have some fun when i do mountain drivin :-). When it comes down to it i rather be ready for "anything". I don't have a problem spending the money, i just want to get the "right" thing. So the Tien SS is what should be lookin' at? I rather try and be smart about it and learn from other people's mistakes...

and how much do they drop?.... 2.3 in front and 1.6 in back...?

yea... well i have 500 now but i am still savin up. Even though i don't do autocross or acually race, you know i might wanna have some fun when i do mountain drivin :-). When it comes down to it i rather be ready for "anything". I don't have a problem spending the money, i just want to get the "right" thing. So the Tien SS is what should be lookin' at? I rather try and be smart about it and learn from other people's mistakes...

and how much do they drop?.... 2.3 in front and 1.6 in back...?

The Tein SS (and Basic Dampener for that matter) on 6th gen '96-'00 Civics drop a maximum of "3.3 front, and "2.8 rear with a minimum of "0.5 all around I believe. I have mine set to about "2 drop roughly on my car.

aighty, cool... that sounds like what i am looking for...

So are the basics a decent coilovers ? is it still going to be an awesome upgrade from skunk2 coilovers on OEM struts ? My friend just bought OBX true coilovers and i couldnt effing believe how amazing of a difference there is ... its so comfortbale and rides nice and corners are amazzzinggg

yeah my friend has OBX coilovers on 94, i think, integra and they are fairly good- a little rough imo- but by no means complete crap. he said about as good or better than Skunk 2 byt cheaper, at least for him, dont know reg. price. I am thinking w/ going w/ tein though too. I've only heard good reviews, esp. if you get a good price on them. This is rare w/ any product coilover or any other performance part- there are always a few people who completely hate a product. Yes the price is usually the only complaint but save if u really want them- thats what I'm gonna do. As far as drivability though only good things bout that. :grinyes:

well I have the money, it's just I don't know how worth it it's goign to be for the basics, i want them but i wanna make sure that they are gonna be just as good as OBX full coilovers.. my friend paid 600 for his and they feel awesome, but will tein basics be the same / better ?

well I have the money, it's just I don't know how worth it it's goign to be for the basics, i want them but i wanna make sure that they are gonna be just as good as OBX full coilovers.. my friend paid 600 for his and they feel awesome, but will tein basics be the same / better ?


BETTER! OBX is like between APC and Ichibahn for products. I haven't ridden on OBX before, but i can tell you, my Tein feel better than the $1200 H&R full coilover system.

Tein will be better for a simple reason. Suspension is Tein's business. That's all the do and specialize in. They are to JDM suspension, what Alpine is to car audio. That's all they do, and you can only get them from authorized shops. Tein is the same way. I'd trust a company that all they do is design and manufacture suspension goods, than a company like OBX who yeah sells them with their name on it, but they probably don't even make it themselves.

Hey, but do you have tein basics ? thats all im really curious about ya know cuz i cant afford much more right now.

I run TEIN SS. Nothing comes close to them no matter what others say. They are 16-way adjustable and have the easiest way to adjust them. They can provide a smooth enjoyable ride and also give you a race car feel whenever you want it. the TEIN SS's are capable of like dropping the car to the ground but never go to low, otherwise you'll ride mostly on strut and that could be very......STUPID!!!! But make the right choice, go TEIN, I got mine for 900 and installed myself. Simple easy. Just make sure you have a good spring compressor or be in for a long time of frustration.....

Hey, but do you have tein basics ? thats all im really curious about ya know cuz i cant afford much more right now.

TEIN basics will give you the ability to drop the car but they wont give you race feel when you want it cuz they are not dampening adjustable.... Save the money, I did its hard, but well worth it in the end. You'll thank yourself later for getting the TEIN SS. trust me, like I said I run them on my civic

Sweet thanks for the info :)

Hey, but do you have tein basics ? thats all im really curious about ya know cuz i cant afford much more right now.

I don't have the Basics, I have the SS which like I said are IDENTICAL to the Basicis, just with the addition of the 16-way dampening adjustment. You won't be dissapointed with either one of those that you choose to get.