Just got my Xa last night :D Gonna drop it with Tein S springs, now the question, how good are our shocks on the Xa? I had Tein S springs with stock shocks on my RSX before and it was not bouncy and all... what about the Xa, any of you Xa'ers dropped your car with your brand new factory shocks? If so, how's the ride :?:

This is my first post on this board thanks for the help!

 

I installed my s-tech with my 15K miles stock struts and its fine. Noticed a little rough ride, but nothing major though. I think the ride is about the same as the stock, just my struts are about to go considering how many miles I have on the stock ones.

 

you think your stock struts are about to give out after 15k miles?

 

Yes, I drove 15k miles on stock suspension in Boston roads and now I'm lowered, so the dampering is different. The stock struts aren't meant to take lowering springs spring rate, so the struts will get worn out faster. Beside, I live in Boston (i think u would know the boston area), so potholes are my eniemes. I'll be buying new struts very soon, I think I'll go with Tockio or the TRD strut.

 

I'm very curious to hear your logic that stock struts will wear out faster when the cars are lowered...

And also why you think your stuts are wearing out at 15k. If I read your message right, you drove 15k on stock. Replaced springs and now want to replace struts, claiming that *now* they are going bad almost immediately because of the springs?

Although I live in California, I was born and raised in CT and yes, I am familier with Boston roads.

Just admit that the primary reason why you want to change the struts is just because you want the stiffer ride and because you want to modify the car. ; ) Nothing wrong with that.

If you're tossing struts after just 15k, let me know because I might buy them off you! I'll be in the area around Christmas!

 

Let me try to explain it why I said the stock struts can't take lowering springs.... Lowering springs are shorter than the stock springs and the stock struts are made to take teh spring rate of them. With the aftermarket springs shorter, the strut has to travel more and it will wear out more because of the stress its getting. I say this because I see many people with just aftermarket springs and stock struts and they are bounching everywhere. I had my springs on my car for about 3 weeks now, the first two weeks was fine, but I'm starting to see that my car bottom out easier than before and bounces on bumps. I'm saying that stock struts with aftermarket springs are good for someone on a budget and less miles on their strut. This is all my opinion so people don't have to go by what I said, but I'm just stating what I'm seeing in my car. I knew what I was getting myself into when I didn't bother getting coilovers (I'm poor and on a budget). I'm probaly going to remove the strut and put my stock springs on them in case I need to go back to stock, and buy new struts from another company such as tockios.

Btw, tein s-tech springs are made for sportier stiffer ride than teh H-Tech, I think the h-tech would be good for people that want a softer ride. I'm not saying I hate my s-tech, but i feel that my struts are going to go before 20k miles.

 

I asked exactly the same question and here is the answer from TEIN:

When we perform the R&D testing, we measure the wheel travel and perform a corner balance on all four corners to get the true weight of a stock vehicle. We then send the data to Japan so they can make the prototype. When the prototype spring arrives in the US, we install it on the vehicle to test proper fitment, insure it has the right drop, and has the right spring rates. The vehicle is then driven on multiple test drives to ensure proper ride comfort and performance. When the R&D department feel's they have designed a lowering spring with an aggressive drop and has some performance without sacrificing the ride quality, they send the data back to Japan. Tein Japan will then take this data and start mass producing the S.Tech spring. The reason why we do the R&D testing this way is to insure the best balance in a lowering spring. One piece of important information that most consumers forget is the damping force of the shock. We produce the springs
to match the shocks to ensure proper spring control. TEIN takes a lot of pride and years of experience in all of the products we manufacture. Also note that the S.Tech spring is mainly designed for a better look and good balance. So to answer your questions, we R&D and develop our lowering springs to be compatible with the OEM shocks. We perfrom the R&D testing this way because that is the only constant variable on all vehicles. There are a lot of other suspension manufactures out there and it would be impossible for us to find out all the different damping force that their shocks provide. If you have anymore questions or concearns please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your interest in Tein High Performance Suspension.

Best regards,
Sales

Staff @ TEIN USA INC.
9798 Firestone Blvd.
Downey, CA 90241
Phone: (562)861-9161
Fax: (562)861-9171
www.tein.com

 

I've had the same experience as TakumiJr. The stock shocks are underdamped for the S-techs and wear out quickly. It kills me when I hear so much misinformation on the S-techs with many people saying that they are "softer than stock". They certainly are not. The higher spring rate needs more dampening to ride steady. Especially if you have gone with heavier wheels which is commonly the case for the people running 17's or larger. The shocks wear out because the suspension moves too much (not damped enough for the stronger spring and heavier wheels). The end result is a bobbing car that is especially noticable at night when your headlights are going up and down while the car next to you is smooth. Not everyone will have the same experience as suspension is a combinatiion of spring, mass(wheel weight) and dampening. From my experience and setup, the stock shock is not a good match for me. I'm still waiting for Koni to confirm that that the Echo shocks will work for the XB. The Tokico's are pricey and offer no warranty.

 

i think toyota standard manufacter shocks are cheap

but hey

checkout KYB (not toyota) shocks for xA & xB

 

my s-techs are tha same rate as stock,180 lb.

 

more than the spring rate is that with lower springs the shocks are compressed more than stock and at that lower stance they miss the proper valving that is built into the shock. often if it starts getting worse you can put stockers back in and no problems are to be had cuz the shocks are at the correct valving again. ive gone thru a few sets on my supra. basically you need shorter shocks if you lower your car. many shops build em/ revalve stock struts. check out www.ground-control.com they offer shock rebuilding/ custom revalving. they also sell lowered shocks. be prepared to pay out the ___ tho. about 200 per shock. they still wear out but last the normal age not an accelerated rate. and when they go you can get them rebuilt for alot cheaper than a shock replacement. if that is too rich for your blood(as it is for me) you can buy the lifetime warranty shocks from an auto-zone or a kragen and then when they wear out every year or so just take em back in. and the shocks for these cars are cheap too. .. or if you have machining tools you can be the ultimate diyer.. get a stock strut/shock and then cut the actual strut/shock rod.... and then rethread the shock/strut at however much lower the springs are than stock aka. if they are 2.0 inch lower springs cut the strut rod slightly less than 2 inch then rethread id cut like 1.5 inch on a 2.0 inch setup. same with rear. only prob is the metal is strong so it's a _____ to rethread it as needed.
- Darren.
p.s. i personally just buy cheap lifetime warranty shocks from auto-zone. and with approx a 2.25 drop on my supra they last for about a year or so. so i got lifetime shocks for like 180.00both front and back. p.i.t.a. tho. but to me worth it.