Installed Tein SS coilovers and pillowball mounts today.(Long)Now w/pics!!!

PatScottAKA99XE · Apr 10th, 2003, 07:44 PM

6 month wait is finally over. I installed my Tein SS coilovers today along with Pulsar VZ-R pillowball mounts. Just thought I would share my experences with you all.
1. These really are good looking parts. Looks like they will last a while.
2. The install was straight forward. No problems at all.
3. Set ride height a about -2.5" front and -2.0" rear. I will remeasure tommorow with acurate numbers.
5. My Courtesy Nissan front and rear strut tower braces still fit fine. The Tein mounts give plenty of extra bolt to allow STBs.
6. Aligned the car to these specs(for now) -1.6 degrees of camber(front), .18 degrees of toe(front). The rear on B14s is unadjustible but here are the specs for my car. -1.4 degrees of camber and .33 degrees of toe. Tell you one thing.. As a full time technician, bein able to adjust camber with camber plates is really nice.
7. Test drive after install and alignment was with the dampers set on 10 front and 10 rear. Drove on a really nasty cracked and bumpy paved road. I was able to drive the road way faster than with Sportlines with out getting my fillings knocked loose. What a joy. Didnt feel any harsh damper bottoming, ride is stiffer than stock, but not jarring. No loud or weird noises were heard from the set-up either.
8. The drive home was a mix of high and low speed corners on a well paved road and a stretch on another crappy one. Note, I didnt really hammer down at all(still on snows and its public roads). The car did feel more responsive and had less body roll. I did get sprited on one decreasing radius corner and notice less understeer as well. Cant wait to get the summer wheels on and really test these things out.

All and all I really love the way the car rides now. Of course I was on Sportlines for two years so why wouldnt I. Once I get the 205/40/16s back on a have lived and played with the set-up for a while I tell you how Im feeling about the set-up. Take this into consideration when reading this: I have ownend this car for 3 years. One year on stock suspenison, two on Sportlines/stock dampers/STBs, and less than 12 hours on Tein SS/pillowball mounts/STBs. I havent driven B14s with tons of different set-ups, just stock ones and mine. I cant really compare these to the other coilovers out there. Hopefull someone who has driven all the others and trys out the Teins will be able to make comparison notes.

p.s. pics soon

LIUSPEED · Apr 10th, 2003, 07:52 PM

awesome pat !!! awesome !!

nak1 · Apr 10th, 2003, 09:01 PM

i know i love mine... i have rode in a couple of other lowered vehicles with various setups but this one is the best i have seen for ride comfort and performance in one package.

sethwas · Apr 11th, 2003, 02:12 PM

Ok,
All you people missed my birthday. I expect $10 each from about 90 of you, then I'll fill in the rest so I can get me a set of these.

Seth

PatScottAKA99XE · Apr 14th, 2003, 06:00 PM

Pics:

nak1 · Apr 14th, 2003, 06:14 PM

looking good pat!

LIUSPEED · Apr 14th, 2003, 09:20 PM

thank goodness that pic isnt on the highest settin or im gonna be tripping.

PatScottAKA99XE · Apr 14th, 2003, 09:29 PM

Ok so I remeasured the drop, guess what? The front is dropped about 3.3" and the rear is dropped about 2.6". Lil more than I thought. LOL After putting the 16"s on the ride did get stiffer. With the Teins on you can really feel the switch from 75 series tires to 40 series tires. Its still not too stiff for me at the moment. Time will tell though if I am going to like the rates and having the dampers set on 10(out of 16). I am going to try measure my overall suspension travel ASAP. If its looking like I have them set too low(I have a feeling they are), Ill bring them up some so I dont ruin the dampers. BTW With the 16"(16"X7.5") wheels and Kumho 712s(205/40/16) the car sticks like crazy, even in rough corners.

I cant imagine what it will be like with some swaybars for tuning.

NISMO-CONVERT · Apr 14th, 2003, 10:15 PM

Finally! looks sick dude (especially on the snows) Don't know if its the ilusion of black but it looks like its scraping, and definatly looks nice with the 16's.

Can't wait to get some for my Spec V

Oh money woes, gonna be a long wait till I get my set. But im back to rollin on 17's instead of cruddy 15" snows.

Greg200SE-R · Apr 15th, 2003, 03:17 AM

Pat, you are making all of us drool and puncture our boxers. Oh, it's just me? Well maybe that's because I've ridden on these coilovers on my friend's car, a B15 GXE (NISMO-CONVERT, you're gonna f@!k'n love these!).

That's a nice drop you got in those pictures pat. The wheel offsets worked out smooth too - I plan to play with different offsets to get my rims and tires further out of the wheel well. When we all get our Teins, the whole GB is gonna have to post pictures.

another question, if you don't mind. What were you planning to do to account for the springs settling? I heard that by about a month after putting them on, the springs have settled to their final positions and that can drop the car as much as 1/4 inch lower than first installed. Any opinions on this? If this is the case, 2 alignments may be required for best peace of mind and best tire life? Thanks.

PatScottAKA99XE · Apr 15th, 2003, 05:14 PM

Yeah, If that is true(sag), then I will just reset the height and do another alignment. I do my own anyway so its not a big deal.

Greg200SE-R · Apr 15th, 2003, 07:55 PM

Gee it would be nice to be able to do my own alignments! Have you ever thought about bending the rear beam to get rid of the considerable toe-in? I'm sure you could get your hands on the right equipment. I wish there were an easy, home-brewed and accurate method to do this. I'd do it in a second. Looking forward to riding on some Teins like you, man. Thanks.

NISMO-CONVERT · Apr 15th, 2003, 08:28 PM

Its been a long time since I have done alignments, (because of the shop I am at now does not have a rack) but if I remember correctly you can get adjustable shims the go between the drum backing plate to and rear beam. The computer shows you how to cut and shim to adjust for inaccurate rear toe, camber or both. just my .02

sethwas · Apr 15th, 2003, 09:36 PM

Man,
That's low. I hope you don't drive around town like that, cuz people will think your shocks be broke.

Seth

PatScottAKA99XE · Apr 15th, 2003, 10:15 PM

Greg,
Yes I am thinking about that. I have talked with a board member from VA that is going to set up a bender. It will be nice to have on on the east coast.

J,
I dont belive you can do that on a B14. Our new Hunter rack is the type that allows monkeys to do alignments. It gives you nice pictures of the parts needed and how to make the adjustments. Nowhere to my knowlage does it give info for B14 rear adj. Plus I would belive that if it was that easy tons of people would have done it already instead of building the costly beam bender to do it. As for a B15, I think you are in the same boat. After seeing your car on the rack it looks very, very similar to mine. In fact B14 rear struts with GC coilovers will bolt up if I remember right.

Seth,
Hell yeah I do! I have been doing a little "testing"

and boy does it handle good and ride well, even on these crappy VT roads.
You would not belive how many people take second looks and give the thumbs up now and the only thing to change is the ride height. Its really kind of annoying. I dont want people to notice my car unless I want them to. Oh well.