Jap Spec Super Street Tiens?

[ellie]

Hi all, There are plenty of threads on tiens but there dosen't seem to be a definitive answer on the difference between aus and jap spec coil overs!

So does anyone know for sure? and can people who actually have the jap spec models in their cars comment on the ride quality because I have a set on hold and am unsure wether to continue with the purchase or redirect and get the aus specs?

I'm sure a lot of people would be interested to know the difference (firm facts! not speculation) and owners personal testomonies (not i know someone)

Any info would be great to help me make my decision

Edited February 25, 2008 by ellie

[CeJay]

Well mine are J-spec teins, and basically they are damn firm, but if your after a better driving experience I've got no complaints.

[ellie]

there have been heaps of jap spec super streets bought! surely someone can throw some info/experience out there?

Edited February 26, 2008 by ellie

[Onthehunt]

i had the aus spec and have been in a car with jap spec. Basically the jap spec has higher spring rates and is firmer then the aus spec ones. if you don't mind a pretty stiff ride go for the jap spec but if you want something a little "softer" then go aus spec.

[nissanskyrice]

i had the aus spec and have been in a car with jap spec. Basically the jap spec has higher spring rates and is firmer then the aus spec ones. if you don't mind a pretty stiff ride go for the jap spec but if you want something a little "softer" then go aus spec.

I have the jap specs in my car and cant complain. especially with the electronic controller. drove from sunny coast to canberra just after new years for summernats and that was a bit unpleasant (my back was still sore for 2 or 3 days after we got back) but drive to brissy n back fairly often and theyre fine for that. if most of your driving is highway id probably go the aussie ones but if not go the jap spec for sure.

[Sydneykid]

R32/33/34 Skylines are not intended to be limos, Nissan sets them up with sports oriented suspension from the factory. The standard spring rates are around 3 kg/mm. Knowing the local conditions, aftermarket Australian spring makers upgrade that by 20-25% to allow for some lowering. Hence it is rare to see a Whiteline, Lovells, Kings etc spring rates over 4 kg/mm. So compare that with what you are getting with the Jap spec and make up your own mind what they will be like.

Don't fool yourself into believing that, in order to handle well, a Skyline has to be hard in the suspension. That's simply not the case, you can have ride comfort and great handling at the same time.

Cheers

Gary

[ellie]

Thankyou for your replies guys ! Anyone else care to add?

Edited February 27, 2008 by ellie

[SS8_Gohan]

i'll add you should ditch the super streets and go check out SydneyKids group buy suspension kits

[Roy]

I will add its piss easy to get good handling. Hell, i reckon i can get a car to handle well with some basic mods and moderate spend.

If you want grip and croner speed then farked if i know how to do that other then hand over foldign stuff to someone that knows what they are doing

Generally, ppl equate slightly firmer suspension wit better "handling" (different to grip) as the car is pointier/dartier.

[ellie]

i'll add you should ditch the super streets and go check out SydneyKids group buy suspension kits

Stick to the topic please! There are countless threads that turn into "Sydneykids group buy is the only good set up on a skyline" beat ups. Then people argue back and forth and so on! so, with the up most respect, lets skip all that this time and keep to the topic at hand.

Disclaimer: No disrespect to SK's set up! i have been a passenger and driven his set up many times and it is fantastic! I actually have all of his set up, minus springs and struts!

So . . . . .To reiterate: I would really appreciate peoples first hand experiences with them and any technical info?

For example: aus spec are 5kg/mm front and 4kg/mm rear with softened valving but all I can find on jap spec are they are 4kg/mm both front and rear! So how can the jap specs be so much harsher unless the valving is much more aggressive? 4 & 4 info found from nengun, slide, fulcrum etc.

[ellie]

I had intended to pm you troy about what coilovers you have decided to run in your car as i intend on road/motorkhana worthy suspension! I am well aware that stiff doesn't always mean great handling and that precise initial handling response doesn't always mean grip and in turn out right speed. I just wanted to get a thread where someone (me) could reference some specs and first hand accounts on jap spec super street tiens.

I appologise if my intial post was to vague.

[Roy]

I am running Tein RA shocks. I have not bothered to check my spring rate, so cant comment on those as the shocks were revalved with new springs put in them. I am happy with them, but i bet that with a bit more time, development = money they could be better again. But im happy with them as they are at present so will wait until my driving catches the speed of the car before chasing car setup any more.

I chose the RA as you can buy them in good condition for reasonable dollars (approx $1000-1100 delivered) You can get them cheaper if you hunt around and waste many hours of your life on yahoo etc. I purchased my RAs new with no springs etc so worked out well.

Other reasons for chosing the RAs was that they are a nice alloy body with adjustable height platforms so i could easily throw a range of springs at it. The main reason is that for the dollars i was able to get an adjustable height alloy shock body with adjustable damping/rebound....which is readily able to be revalved/rebuilt by a Melbourne workshop who works on my car...so hoped to let his knowledge of Skylines and these shocks short cut my quest for the optimum setup on my car.

So, that is the RA, which are basically the same as the Tein RE shocks. Looking at results people i know have got out of the Flex and Super Streets with std valving just new springs, then i have to say if you can get them at the right dollars you need to have a hard look at them.

The newer Monoflex and Aus Super Street would naturally be better again then the older Flex so woudl be interesting to see how a friend woudl go in his car that currently runs Flex?!?!?!

I think at the end of the day you can get very good results from a number of shocks provided the alignment is right, ride heights are right and the shock is running a sensible spring rate that suits the valving.

So many ways to skin a cat....i think with suspension its easy to spend lots of money for small percentage improvement in performance, i mean im not interested in spending double the money to gain 0.5 seconds over a single lap. Over a race distance it may be different with regards to how the tyres last and shocks perform with regards to consistancy...but its just not worth it as i only get 2-3 flat laps before temps on my std motor become a concern or i back off as i hide from the EPA guy for noise

[ellie]

cheers for the reply Troy, good info!

I had thought about going the flex route but was being realistic with my intended use and decided to scale it back a bit! I have riden in a couple of aus spec cars (both with no other suspension mods) and found them to be a really nice compliant ride. The R33 felt way too soft even after corner wieghting etc. and the silvia felt much better than standard gear but felt almost like the valving didn't match the spring rates?

It was a comfy ride and absorbed shocks very well but felt as if the rebound was way to soft causing an almost bouncey feel in reaction to a shock.

(I am very aware that a skyline and a silvia are worlds away in suspension characteristics and these are only my oppinions!)

I understand it is a physical impossibility with in the realm of a forum to explain how firm a ride the jap specs are. I was really more interested in how people actually felt about them by the seat of their pants?

Enjoyable? Too firm? good shock and spring rate match etc.

Cheers for your replies

[n15m0]

I have had the jap spec "super streets" in my 34 for more than a year now and can't be happier with it...I've had super rock hard jap coilovers before and I can tell you these are nothing like that at all...slightly firmer ride but still maintaining comfort and handling...

I have recommended these to a few other 34 members and they have had positive experiences as well.

Only difference between the jap and aus spec "super streets" is the valving and also you get the warranty from the aus spec ones...other than that they are identical in spring rates.

Don't get confused by the amount of ppl on here quoting "jap spec teins" as opposed to "jap spec tein super streets" its like comparing apples to oranges.

[Kaido_RR]

i will add my 2cents

im running tein circuit master Type RS, with 10kg F/R spring rate. i currently have the damper and rebound both set to soft. Atm i'm back to daily driving my r33 and find the ride to be firm but still comfortable, on the odd occasion i go over a large bump in the road it is hard.

My father drives the car and has commented that the ride is alot better compare to my old setup (d2 with very large spring rate above 14kg) and that he doesn't mind driving the car now because it is comfortable

don't know if this help you but i through i add my opinion

[ellie]

Nismo especially! I wanted someone who has had them for a while to comment. I'll find out for myself soon enough when they arrive. If they ever do?

Thankyou for all the replies!!!

[N1GTR]

Jap spec

[ellie]

I was actually informed today by a friend of mine that his S15 that i had a couple of rides in actually had the jap specs in it so from my memory = They were much better matched and road really nicely. Got a little bit dicked around on delivery but should arrive tommorrow or the next day at the latest!

will post if anyone cares too know?

[hulk]

I am getting mine done today too with the Tein pillow ball mount. Hopefully it wont dissapoint

How are you finding yours ellie?

[ellie]

I'm finding mine. . . .NOT F#@KING HERE YET! I was told that they would arrive on the 26th-27th and have practically been met with a wall of silence and 3 failed promised delivery dates since then by a trader off this forum who shall remain nameless at this stage! Supposedly I will be getting them on monday arvo apparently and I haven't forgotten this thread and will post my findings once I've had a little time with them!

I'll also have to get some scales off a mate and set up the corner wieghts before I get a complete view of how they perform for the relatively mild cost