Tein Superstreet Coilovers?

[Fallguz]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to see trough the whole coilovers on AE86 issue, and I've searched for quite a while now. So far, i've seen more Damper / Spring combinations than coilovers used in here.

I do realize theres alot of possibilities concerning AE86 suspension. But has anyone here tried or seen the TEIN Superstreet on a AE86 before?

http://www.tein.com/toyota.html

http://www.tein.com/ti/l66.html


It is listed in their catalogue as seen in the Links above, but the spring rates they mention are kinda too much for me. (front: 8 rear: 6)


I guess my second question would be:

I want a AE86 suspension kit that offers good stability for mild track use, but needs to be soft enough for use on the streets and mountain passes.

Also, I don't want to do the short stroke mod because the work involved is too hard to do for me, and I only want to lower the car for about 2-3 cm.

So what i'm looking for is a complete bolt-on kit that requires no modification at all, but offers a soft setup.


I'm really looking for coilovers, but I'm open for suggestions if damper / spring combinations really are better for the streets on a Hachi...

As mentioned, I do know theres alot of such threads around in here, but often I don't know in the end if the mentioned setups need additional welding / cutting or if they were bolt-on solutions.

[Mux213]

Fallguz,

Define coilover?

At the front hachi roku comes coilover stock, they are just not height adjustable. At the rear you have separate spring and damper so that is not a coilover setup.

To convert the stock coilover setup to height adjustable at the front requires cutting the perch off and normally welding a ring on (allthough I've used a clamp) and putting an adjustable sleeve on. Especially with the clamp system it doesn't require any specific tools or knowladge. Just a good wrench set and an angle grinder. The adjustable sleeves are easy to obtain and can often be bought with a wide choice of spring rates.

At the rear there are some options for height adjustablility, there is the system that greddy sells where the spring is in the stock position but there is an adjustable spacer underneath, I haven't seen this system sold separately though and its not a coilover setup.
You also have a full coilover conversion as technotoytuning and paradise racing both sell, but these are expensive and usually involve some adjustment to the body to make them fit.

That said, from what I read from your post, I really wonder why you would need height adjustability and what your facination with coilovers is?

Do know that most of the full kits (complete struts with shocks, springs and all the other bits already on) usually have the heigher spring rates meant for track.

If I were you I would buy some good KONI yellow or red adjustable shocks for the AE86, they are a direct swap for the stock shocks and with the lowering you plan they will work great. They are also very easy to obtain here in Europa.

Springs is a bit more difficult to answer, you already mentioned you find the higher spring rates to be to high. Most spring rates that go towards being good for some track work often mean you already go below the lowering you wish so you would have to go custom. For the front the choices are more abundand then for the rear aswell.
You may want to try APEX springs or similar though, they might be slightly too light for you but may be just what you need. They give the proper lowering, good normal road handling but also just that bit of extra stiffness for the occasional track day. Also they aren't expensive.

[NoHachi]

Just to be clear:

The tein SS set you mention ARE shortstrokes. But Tein did all the hard work for you, so they're hassle free

Springrates are not a complete indication of ride quality. The highs speed shock valving has a far greater impact. Problem is, tein uses several valvings for different sets on different cars..so I can't guarantee that it will be comfy. I have experienced a Tein SS set on a miata (same weight and hp) and that setup had more or less stock ridequality but far superior body controll. Koni's with the same springrates tend to skitter over large irregularities due to their emphasis on rebound valving..great on track though . To sum things up: you should really try and catch a ride in the setups before deciding, wish it was easier..

Otherwise I agree with Mux..just one thing to add to his story: with the apex springs, try adding a set of beefy adjustable swaybars to the car. They will add springrate but not impact handling to much. Set them at soft (or disconnect them) for street duty, go full stiff for trackwork.
Also: I would try and get some outside adjustable full length shocks..Not off car adjustable like the koni's are (anyone know whether these exist?), this will allow you to alter the character of the car more significantly.

[Mux213]

nohachi,

So far I've only found on-car adjustable shocks with shorter strokes

[Lipinhu]

Quote:Also: I would try and get some outside adjustable full length shocks..Not off car adjustable like the koni's are (anyone know whether these exist?)

I think TRD shocks, made by tokico, are ajustable in car. Front, 4 settings; rear, 8 settings.

Check it here http://trdparts.jp/english/parts_shock.html

I saw a complet set on eBay a week ago for $395 USD. I think its a nice price. But not my priority now

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-AE86-...2344QQrdZ1

[Fallguz]

Wow, great feedback! thank you guys.

Mux213 Wrote:Fallguz,

That said, from what I read from your post, I really wonder why you would need height adjustability and what your facination with coilovers is?

You have a good point there - The main reason I want(ed) to go the coilover route is because i'm not 100% satisfied with the shock / spring combination i'm running on my 200sx. (H&R Springs with koni yellow shocks, and before tried APEX springs with Koni yellow shocks)

But after reading all the feedback, i may have to rethink this issue. I don't care too much about height adjustability, though I would like to be able to control the damper settings a little. So adjustable shocks with a good matching set of springs would also be a possiblity for me, especially since they seem to be much easier and quicker to install.

I just don't want to end up with a setup that, in the end still does not suit me and my driving too much, yet cost almost equally as much as a nice set of coilovers. But it seems it's not as easy on the AE86 as on the 200sx. (since there are very affordable bolt-on coilover kits for it)


In the end, I think I must put it this way:


I was looking for coilovers because I'm having the impression that a complete kit, that is manufactured and tested together, with adjustability and everything should be able to perform better than if I just take a relatively random spring and a different manufacturer shock and combine them.

But it seems you guys have a good idea of what kind of setups perform well on the Hachi, so for the sake of this i will look at often used Shock / Spring combinations again. :wink:

I just want to avoid to end up with Springs that don't match the Shocks too well..


I think the Tokico shocks you mentioned seem to be pretty popular, so i'll look more closely at that.

But since this thread has now shifted to Spring / Shock combinations, I think we should continue the discussion in the other thread that's already active in this forum.

[Mux213]

Hey Fallguz,

Yup, there is alot more out there for the 200sx unfortunately.

There are some complete kits for the AE86 though, you mentioned tein, there is another thread discussing a brand called Ksport thats got a nice set. Also D2 has a set and lets not forget TechnoToyTuning and Greddy.

These sets do cost alot and often their springrates are on the high side allthough technotoytuning you have a wide selection.

Still, they do cost a bit and as you say, spending so much just to find out its not what you want..... Unfortunately not to many of us here in Europa have bought these sets yet so its hard to comment on their ride quality. And as noHachi very accurately stated, you can change the ride quality alot by (incorrectly) setting the shock strength on your adjustable shocks.

Anyways, look around in the technical section, plenty of information already written down on these sets

[Fallguz]

Lipinhu Wrote:Check it here http://trdparts.jp/english/parts_shock.html

I saw a complet set on eBay a week ago for $395 USD. I think its a nice price. But not my priority now

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-AE86-...2344QQrdZ1

Thanks, i will check this out!

NoHachi Wrote:great stuff about Tein coilovers

Thanks for the clarification If they are short stroke, then they're not suitable for me because the car would drop too much, as I see it. I really don't want to go lower than 30 mm.

Mux213 Wrote:Anyways, look around in the technical section, plenty of information already written down on these sets

Can do.

[Fallguz]

Oh, one more question guys:


Can I use long stroke shocks, but lower the car with springs by 20 - 30 mm without compromising the damper performance noticably?

[Mux213]

Fallguz,

Depends a liiiitle on the shocks but I don't see how so little lowering will do any harm especially if the spring rates are higher then stock.

I drove around with KONI Yellow AE86 shocks slightly lowered without problems.