Coilovers

[Steviewevie]

Yeah ok I know it's a bit of a stupid question. But I don't understand the difference between coilovers and lowering springs. I know that the springs are, well, just springs, and the coilovers are springs with dampers (?) built into them.

What's the advantage of coilovers, I presume then that their dampers replace the OEM ones in the car ? But how does that help ? What's different about that setup as opposed to just the lowering springs ?

I'm just looking to learn, I'm not really interested in actually get them for my car (well, not at the moment, anyway !).

[Tony-Bones]

A fixed drop is just that "fixed" and normally fitted to the original dampers.

Coilovers are height adjustable to your hearts content, some can also adjust the coils preload and the damper ratio is normally also adjustable.

Point to remember is that every time the height is changed the Geometry needs resetting.

[Rob]

google is your friend for questions like this.

[84Stoney]

google is your friend for questions like this.

Or Wiki...

[84Stoney]

Point to remember is that every time the height is changed the Geometry needs resetting.

I met a guy at a cruise in an IS200, slammed to the floor. Said he had Tein Flex coilovers and the handling was rubbish.

Had fitted them himself, dropped to lowest height, not set up the damping settings at all (no idea what setting they were on), not had the geometry done at all.

Oh, and this guy says he is a mechanic, glad he's not my mechanic!

Does anyone know an easy way to identify Tein coilovers? As there are different models.

[sparkystav]

yeah Teins are normally Green.

[Steviewevie]

Wiki has some good explanations on coilovers but it doesn't really seem to compare them (unless I missed it) to standard springs, and Tony's reply here has summed it up for me nicely :)

[84Stoney]

yeah Teins are normally Green.

Yes they are.

But is there any way to tell the models apart? As they do S.TECH, BASIC, SUPER STREET, SUPER STREET(M) and MONO FLEX.

[coolrides]

Point to remember is that every time the height is changed the Geometry needs resetting.

I met a guy at a cruise in an IS200, slammed to the floor. Said he had Tein Flex coilovers and the handling was rubbish.

Had fitted them himself, dropped to lowest height, not set up the damping settings at all (no idea what setting they were on), not had the geometry done at all.

Oh, and this guy says he is a mechanic, glad he's not my mechanic!

Does anyone know an easy way to identify Tein coilovers? As there are different models.

thats prob cause he slammed it too low and prob did not get geometry reset, or probably cant get it reset as its past its limit of adjustment. i think mines on full limit now and i could prob go lower but no point as i already hittin ramps occassionally

[84Stoney]

thats prob cause he slammed it too low and prob did not get geometry reset, or probably cant get it reset as its past its limit of adjustment. i think mines on full limit now and i could prob go lower but no point as i already hittin ramps occassionally

He was an allround fool!

I been thinking about droppin mine a bit, but the geomerty is perfect and I have to watch me HKS exhaust on standard speed humps if there are 4-5 people on board, so gonna leave as is.

Previous owner fitted them though, so dont know what model they are. Could ask TDI to check their records, but would be wasting my time!

[coolrides]

thats prob cause he slammed it too low and prob did not get geometry reset, or probably cant get it reset as its past its limit of adjustment. i think mines on full limit now and i could prob go lower but no point as i already hittin ramps occassionally

He was an allround fool!

I been thinking about droppin mine a bit, but the geomerty is perfect and I have to watch me HKS exhaust on standard speed humps if there are 4-5 people on board, so gonna leave as is.

Previous owner fitted them though, so dont know what model they are. Could ask TDI to check their records, but would be wasting my time!

what colour are they. any damping adjustment, will take pic of mine when doing my breaks see if that helps you any

[el_gencer]

When i had my Tein Type Flex installed the handling was improved not made worse. Ok i'll admit they didn't feel right but thats because i didn't get geometry done them till a few months after the initial install. I cant remember what my ride height is set to (its the Charlesworth default ride height install), but after the geometry was fixed by the Doc the car feels like its stuck to the road. By the way they are bright green and say type flex right at the top.