how comfortable are tein basics?

[peabe]

compared to goldlines with konis? just curious. whats better comfort wise? a. stock shocks and goldlines b. tein basics they both seem to have the same spring rate. if anything, it seems like itd be more of a comfortable ride with the koni shocks/goldline setup.

[Dewmerz]

I can tell you going from stock struts and Tein H-Techs to Tein Basics was a good move for me. I have the ride height set a little lower than where the H-Techs had me but the ride overall is better. Even my fiance likes it better.

If someone in your area has basics see if you can get a ride to see what it feels like for yourself. That is how a few of us in NorCal ended up switching.

[peabe]

someone around here, does but he took them out already.

thats why im tryin to figure out whether i should go with tein basics or a full koni set up.

anymore help would be nice. please?

You can't compare the ride between the two really the basics have a way better ride than the goldlines.

[peabe]

Originally Posted by Stylis

You can't compare the ride between the two really the basics have a way better ride than the goldlines.

so the tein basic set up will be better than the koni/goldines setup?

[Dewmerz]

Originally Posted by peabe

so the tein basic set up will be better than the koni/goldines setup?

The only reasons I would pick the Basics over koni/goldlines is the Basics are a matched set from Tein and have height adjustability. If you are looking at purchasing a lip kit in the future the height adjustment can come in handy. I have the Ken Style lip kit and the Basics at about 1.5in drop and scrape if I am not careful. With the Koni/Goldline setup you would not be able to come up that .5in.

Think about what you are going to be doing long term and then decide if you want to spend $600 on Koni/Goldlines and have dampening adjustment or $700 on Basics and have height adjustment.

Just my opinion. In the end do what is best for you.

[squirrel]

What Brian (dewmerz) says.

I have TEIN Wagon coilovers that were designed for the bB, but the Basics are similar. I've converted a few peeps when I gave them a ride in my xB.

I have since added custom springs from TEIN as I wanted to improve the overall handling some more. And I am also able to go an inch lower now also, should I choose.

[RageStevens]

maybie, just maybie? Brian when I see ya next can you or Brad give me a test ride?

[Dewmerz]

Originally Posted by RageStevens

maybie, just maybie? Brian when I see ya next can you or Brad give me a test ride?

Sure. We'll figure out a time. Might not be until the end of September though. I still need to check out Brads with the custom springs installed. I want to compare the ride being different spring type/rate.

[peabe]

im just going for maximum comfort in ride. and if you guys are sayin tein basics are the way to go, them im goin for'em

[SciFly]

I'm getting a kit through JSC Speed (a dealer/member here, you can PM Jon).

JSC Speed, Inc.
79 Steamwhistle Dr.
Ivyland PA 18974

215-364-5929

He gave me Tein USA's customer service number.
562-861-9161

Changes in the newly revised, presently-shipped Tein Basic xB kit: The front spring stiffness is raised from about 170-something, to 224.

So, these presently-shipped xB kits may ride a bit more stiffly than the sets already out there on cars, upon which this poll is depending for ratings.

I am gladder for the 224 rate because I hold out for sharper handling, over cushy ride.


Customizing: my xB has no rear seating and normally there is no payload in the car other than just myself. So, I don't want or need a high rate rear spring--- if I look at the matter simplistically.

To get what I want I've ordered the Tein Basic kit for xA because the xA kit's rear spring rate is lower than that of the xB kit. The xA kit's front rate is, however, 224. Mark at Tein USA tells me the parts other than the springs are all identical, other than for part numbers.


I'll find out how I like this kit soon enough.
IF you wish to try other spring rates after installing your kit, Tein does sell alternative springs for the Basic at relatively nominal prices.

hope this helps,
reid

[Dewmerz]

Congrats on the order. In case you are looking for front camber adjustments in the future I can tell you the Cusco camber plates will fit. We installed my Basics and Cusco camber plates and did not have to re-use any parts off of the original front struts. Without the plates I believe the top hats and dust cover have to be re-used. The Cusco's might be a expensive option but I wanted to leave the possibility of running camber available in the future when I find the right set of wheels.

The Tein SuperStreet pillowball upper mounts will not fit on the Basics.

[peabe]

Originally Posted by SciFly

I am gladder for the 224 rate because I hold out for sharper handling, over cushy ride.

i dont go fast at all, and im more about comfort of the entire ride. i cant stand the bounciness. so im looking more towards comfort

[SciFly]

Originally Posted by peabe

i dont go fast at all, and im more about comfort of the entire ride. i cant stand the bounciness. so im looking more towards comfort

Now, I don't know that the new Basic spring rate will really be bouncy.

Understand, too, htat if you are not dropping to the maximum allowed the ride would prolly be -softer-, because the Basic's spring isn't getting so much cocked in "preload" (your height adj. compresses the spring).

Mark at Tein USA advised me that while the Teins are -made in Japan-, the specs for the USA marketed products are set by -Tein USA- to suit the majority requests of the USA market.

He said that the reason the original kits were set SOFTER on the xB than on the smaller, lighter xA car, is that the early reports from forums like this one, were to the effect that a lot of people complained that even the stock xB ride is "too harsh". We, the majority, do not find the stock ride on stock tires is too harsh. In fact, for me the stock xB ride is remarkably gentle for such a light, short-wheelbase car. Load it up with people and it becomes even sweeter riding.

Of course, this is all subjective. *If you think the ride is harsh, then it is harsh because no one else can tell you your taste*

It is very likely that Tein knows what they're doing and in this revision, they give better cornering but -probably not a really harsher ride- than the stock xB.

this is just my guess and presumption. I don't actually -know- anything definite so much, beyond very basic tech about springing-. I do not know any of the spring tuners' art

Again, to your quote:

i cant stand the bounciness.

If you read this sir, tell us whether your car is bone stock at present, OR is it on big rims with rubber band tires, maybe?

The point being: the higher the sidewall of a tire the more primary shock absorbtion. tall tires ride softer, much softer, other things being equal.

[gnar-de-gwar]

im kinda on a budget, but i like to drive on mountain roads, would the basics be able to handle driving stresses of mountain roading?

[Dewmerz]

Which roads in Temecula are you talking about. If you are talking about the Somewhat rough paved roads on the west side of Rancho California I liked them. I have not driven them on the wine country roads yet.

[FuN_b0x408]

i never ridden in a box with the other set up but i got the basics and im lovin da ride

[SciFly]

Originally Posted by Dewmerz

Congrats on the order. In case you are looking for front camber adjustments in the future I can tell you the Cusco camber plates will fit. We installed my Basics and Cusco camber plates and did not have to re-use any parts off of the original front struts. Without the plates I believe the top hats and dust cover have to be re-used. The Cusco's might be a expensive option but I wanted to leave the possibility of running camber available in the future when I find the right set of wheels.

The Tein SuperStreet pillowball upper mounts will not fit on the Basics.

Thanks for this information, Brian!

In case you are looking for front camber adjustments in the future I can tell you the Cusco camber plates will fit.

Hmmm.. dunno! So I understand now that as I drop the front via the adjustable Tein Basics, then negative camber appears.
Presume I drop..say, 1.5" in the front. (the rear is going down as far as possible, even up to 2.5", providing no muffler drag-itis crops up.

I'll have some negative camber at both ends, natch.
Because I don't care so much to maximize tire life, but DO want the most grip in cornering, here is how I will align the toes:

Adjust toe-out by "ear" and by feel until I have about neutralized the steady-state tire scrub occasioned by full time negative camber.

I will do this on Ray's back porch, which is roofed, open, polished concrete terrazzo about 40' long.

Rolling the car by hand will squeak the tires if they scrub. And also, the rolling resistance drops to a minimum when toe is most nearly ideal. A spring scale.. on the towing eye might be an aid, too.


This tuner's process from Model T days will allow me to set the xB's toe out, front and rear, to a nicety unobtainable by mere number crunching or trial and error.

Slick, eh?

noooo! squeeeaky!

[Dewmerz]

Originally Posted by SciFly

Hmmm.. dunno! So I understand now that as I drop the front via the adjustable Tein Basics, then negative camber appears.
Presume I drop..say, 1.5" in the front. (the rear is going down as far as possible, even up to 2.5", providing no muffler drag-itis crops up.

At around a 1.5" drop I cannot see any visible camber being created on the front. Even seeing squirrel at the extreme opposite below 2.4" with one of the collars removed I could not visibly see any camber until he added the cuscos.

I like the look of 2 degrees on the front if the 3 degree rear camber platesare used. It has a nice flow to it. There are a few pictures of squirrels xB with this setup somewhere here or he can post them up himself.

Right now I am running no additional camber front or rear. If I had the right wheels to complete the look/feel and there were rear camber plates less than 3 degrees I would probably go for it and put them on and dial in a degree or 2 in the front.

Honestly I am no expert. I do my best to read everything I can and figure out how things work. I am only speaking from my personal experience. There are people on here who have been at it much longer than me with much more precise knowledge.

[gnar-de-gwar]

They're are some pretty fun roads, if you take this back road to hemet, it leads to this other backroad named sage and its pretty windy, not insane windy though, then there's one off the freeway, just a quick little run, and I have yet to go on palomar mountain road, I heard it was INSANE shiz, like touge stuff. what were you doing in temecula by the way? your location doesnt scream local at all. But yeah, basics yay or nay for mountain roads?