So, the Tein Basic setup seems like good bang for buck,quick question for you experts
 

I've been searching hours and hours on end just getting knowledgeable about all things Miata but need to pull the trigger on a suspension (and Tein is about to raise prices so I want to buy today or tomorrow)...I have a 94 5 speed w/Torsen that I'm planning to turbo to around 250rwhp and it will be a daily driver, keeping this in mind the Tein setup seems like a pretty good deal for what you get. I would really like to be able to adjust ride height (at least a little bit as I know the Basic aren't as adjustable as say the Flex)...seems like there are a lot of guys happy with their Basics and looks like the most I would need to add is maybe a front swaybar to bring it to neutrality...so overall seems like a very good option. Will I outgrow the Basics with the power goals I'm looking at? Should I definitely get upgraded spring rates with the Teins? I appreciate any input/opinions. Thanks! :bowrofl:

It's not so much outgrowing them because of any amount of power, but outgrowing them because of the type of driving you do.

I say get something else for that kind of money. Get some of the higher spring rate GC springs and match them with some of the stuff at www.Fatcatmotorsport.com

i woudl get something else too IMO. the basic is WAY to much for what it is.

Have you looked at Koni yellows? Pair them up with desired spring rates and get GC's, revalve them to race spec later if you need more, way better choice than Tein Basics if you ask me.

I don't get why you all are saying the Teins are so expensive and that it'd be much better to go with Koni yellows.

The Teins can be ordered with different spring rates, they already come with superior, MCP bumpstops, are height-adjustable out-of-the-box and can be revalved later if need be as well.

The grand total for 4 Koni yellows, 4 MCP bumpstops and boots and the GC spring/perch kit is just under a grand ($980, to be exact, unless you find better prices than the typical Miata vendors).

With a Miata.net discount, Basics can be had from Adrenaline Racing for ~$700, come with the MCP stops, boots and helper springs in case you run the car really low.

On top of all that, you can spend another ~$80 to convert to the superior NB upper shock mounts using all brand-new, OEM hardware.

So you've saved ~$200, and you've got a superior suspension. I can totally understand why you'd want to go with the Konis, though...

One of the things that brought me to Tiens was that they are designed as a system. I didn't have to mix and match any parts, they are made by company that can do repairs/revalves in the US at published prices and a reputation for building good systems.
While the spring rates arn't optimal for factory FRC, a sway bar or slight bump in the front spring rate bring them back. Good street ride, good for autocross and from what I've heard they are good on the track. I'd definitly recommend picking up ss's or flexes for the adjustability. You also can go fairly low on them too.

I have tien basics and they ride pretty nicely, but they cause the car to oversteer pretty badly. With a front sway bar and the rear bar removed, I have learned to make the car drive neutrally with some adjustments to my driving style, but I think a higher front springrate would be a better solution. The ride is acceptable for a daily driver and handles slow bumps and wavey roads well, but sudden changes in the road (like a pothole) can be quite jarring, but at least they dont bottom out.

koni = adjustable and race proven

tein basic = NOT adjustable, and just for fanboys so they can say "i have tein stuff"

i would rather have some koni yellow and ebay coilovers for a grand total of like $500 and have race car handleing. but thats just me

maybe that's true for the basics, but I don't think you can say that about all Tein offerings. I think the Flex are proven to work pretty well.

well I bought the Tein's today, so I guess I'm a fanboy, haha...it just seemed like the best all-around system for what I'm looking for right now...

yes, the flex is nice, but its also $1400. :jerkit:

If you buy from a "sponsor". I got them from a local vendor for ~1100 cash money.

So you post to ask about your springs, everyone tells you not to buy them (with good reasons to back it up), then you buy them anyway?

You're gonna do well here.

I agree with brandytaylor.

Plus if you are going to pay that much for the Tein flex why not get Ohlins or something else like the new system FM is coming out with.

Tein have had read about a ton of problems with Teins failing.

how many race cars have tein? not many
how many race cars have koni? tons

its easy to see a pattern here

Well, he said the car's a daily driver; he said nothing about tracking the car and/or needing adjustable damping curves...

Pitlab, the Ohlins are ~$2,350 to the Tein Flex's ~$1,350. Saying that if you're going get Flex, might as well spring for the Ohlins is like saying if you're going to buy a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, you might as well just buy a Rolls Royce Phantom.

Also, I would definitely not recommend going the Koni/Fleabay coilovers route. The Ebay coilovers I tried out for a few months were barely worth the $40 I spent on them.

Not everyone said don't buy them...did you not read? I did some searches initially and there were plenty of good things said about the setup (from people using them on the street-which is what I'm doing)...jeez, thanks for the nice post-great welcome to this site. :jerkit:

On my previous car, i have Koni Yellows w/H&R springs (320 front and 275 rear).... LOVED IT.

But now i have Ohlins DFV Customs.......

well if you are going to spend the cash, might as well spend it on something that works not on a name.

And who said e-bay springs, I sure didnt. I said GC custom rate springs with the konis.

Sorry, I should've clarified. I think Bryan Taylor suggested he'd rather do Koni Yellows w/ eBay coilovers than Teins.

To each their own :-)

Yeah but maybe not the pattern you think. Most privateers that road race motorcycles have historically raced Suzukis. It is not because it is a faster bike, but because Suzuki pays out better purse money than the rest; If you get on the podium with a Suzuki, you get more money than if you did it on another bike. I'll bet Koni does the same.

Yea, and Koni's never fail. :giggle:

I've seen more "highpriced" Teins fail than Konis.

Dont put words in my mouth, I never said that Koni's never fail, nothing in this world is perfect.

Plus high spring rates, konis, Fatcat bumps and mounts can give a nice ride on the street and great performance at the track.

I guess this is really kind of like do I buy a turbo kit or piece it together to get exactly what I want, some guys, like the OP simply do not have knowledge/desire to figure things out on their own and therefore get a off the shelf kit, ie. tein basics.
You order them, they get there, and you just bolt them up...DONE!!!

I've seen the opposite. I like the valving on the konis, but anytime I've seen them installed on a car lower than stock they tend to leak within a few years. Teins tend to last longer on lowered cars with abuse, and are alot more durable than most of the other japaneese brands. YMMV

lol becuae those slammed cars dont really see track time :giggle:


Guess we will have to agree to disagree.

I've seen teins take serious track abuse, as well as curbs and offroading. However the bilsteins seem to own all when it comes to longevity and durability.




I've seem megans take track abuse better than konis. :giggle:


That's just what I've seen though, I don't discount your experiences.

I totally agree on the bilsteins.

I'm about to revalve mine and use them instead of the AGX on my car, that is trouncing cars with more exensive set ups (+1 for my co-driver.)

I am actually surprized no one mentioned them before, including me.

I love my R-pkg Bilsteins on a smooth surface. Great transitions.