Teins Suspension Question? Plz Help!

[Myth33]

Ok so I'm told my new 34 has come with Teins HA Coilovers. Car rides and handles beautifully despite being a tad on the firm side (thats all cool). My concern is the noises coming from the car!

Problems: 1) There is a 'hiss-hiss' sound coming from the left rear shockie. The 'hiss-hiss' sounds like air being pushed as the shockie goes up and down, and happens on any mild road bumps at any speed over about 20Kms/hr.

Problem: 2) There is a knocking sound coming from the front of the car over mild bumps. The knocking sound almost sounds like it is coming from the middle of the car but is hard to tell. Its not super loud but noticable none the less.

After leaving the car with this suspension specialist, I phoned to find out what the story is? The guy apparently reckons that after a peliminary check "there is nothing wrong with the suspension". This has got me a little confused. Sure the car is handling beautifully but are these noises typical?

Is hissing from the left-hand rear shockie at any speed over 20kms/hr normal with Teins? and what about the knocking sound?

One other thing I did was take some photos of the suspension before I sent my car in. Please have a look at this photo and tell me if this looks normal? I dont' know anything about suspension but it looks like a twisted rubber jacket or something?

Cheers

[mitchy_]

my rear shocks hiss too, but i can only hear it going over more aggressive speed bumps, or sudden bumps, other than that the exhaust drowns it out if it makes noise...

edit: ive got tein HA too..

[Myth33]

my rear shocks hiss too, but i can only hear it going over more aggressive speed bumps, or sudden bumps, other than that the exhaust drowns it out if it makes noise...

edit: ive got tein HA too..

Interesting. My left rear suspension is making noise about 75% of the time that I'm driving it. Almost any travel in that shock makes the hissing, yet there is no noise coming from the right one. Doesn't seem typical to me.

[usuckpoo]

Guys.

Honestly, Teins suck.

Having had 4 sets of HAs ovr 3 different cars, i can pretty much tell u the damper quality is very poor.

The reason why u get the feeling that teins are firm is becos the coilovers are usually oversprung, and the dampers have alot of "stiction" which means they dont absorb small high frequency bumps very well.

From my experience i get the gas noise whenever there is significant shock travel..

But the knocking noise from the front of the car is NORMAL. Apparently Tein shocks coupled with the design of the wishbone suspension seems to result in light knocking noises which u will not seem to find on other suspension makes such as cusco/hks etc. Im sure of this because i actually emailed Tein Japan to ask them of this....And their reply was that due to the structure of the suspension and the make of the car these knocking noises are expected but THEY DONT KNOW WHAT CAUSES IT.

Thats the last time im buying Teins.

[usuckpoo]

Ok so I'm told my new 34 has come with Teins HA Coilovers. Car rides and handles beautifully despite being a tad on the firm side (thats all cool). My concern is the noises coming from the car!

Problems: 1) There is a 'hiss-hiss' sound coming from the left rear shockie. The 'hiss-hiss' sounds like air being pushed as the shockie goes up and down, and happens on any mild road bumps at any speed over about 20Kms/hr.  

Problem: 2) There is a knocking sound coming from the front of the car over mild bumps. The knocking sound almost sounds like it is coming from the middle of the car but is hard to tell. Its not super loud but noticable none the less.

After leaving the car with this suspension specialist, I phoned to find out what the story is? The guy apparently reckons that after a peliminary check "there is nothing wrong with the suspension". This has got me a little confused. Sure the car is handling beautifully but are these noises typical?  

Is hissing from the left-hand rear shockie at any speed over 20kms/hr normal with Teins? and what about the knocking sound?

One other thing I did was take some photos of the suspension before I sent my car in. Please have a look at this photo and tell me if this looks normal? I dont' know anything about suspension but it looks like a twisted rubber jacket or something?

Cheers

Btw the rubber jacket is the original rubber dust boot to prevent dirt from getting to shock.

[Sydneykid]

Hi guys, the hissing noise is usually a sign of a damaged top seal on the shock. As the shock is compressed, instead of the air compressing in the chamber it escapes out through the seal. This is not a goood thing. The air pressure (usually 100% nitrogen) is there to remove the bubbles that form in the hydraulic oil. The bubbles flow through the valves with out restriction and consequently don't provide anywhere near as much dampening as the oil. This also makes the valves knock as they get oil/air/oil.

The other common cause of knocking is worn spherical joints on the tops. Sphericals are not designed for road car use and consequently wear out very quickly and need replacing.

Hissing and knocking, sound familiar?

[NJR 34GTT]

I have Tein HAs in my 34 and they don't make any hissing sound whatsoever, nor a knocking sound.

As you go over significant bumps you can hear the shocks moving but no hiss nor knocking from the front. I'd get them checked over.

[Sydneykid]

I have Tein HAs in my 34 and they don't make any hissing sound whatsoever, nor a knocking sound.

As you go over significant bumps you can hear the shocks moving but no hiss nor knocking from the front. I'd get them checked over.

Yours haven't worn out yet, be patient:cheers:

[Myth33]

Yours haven't worn out yet, be patient

That fills me with confidence

Look to be honest the car handles like its on rails. Body roll is so close to non-existent its not funny. Overall I'm happy with the Teins, as I have said before its just the noises that I found a bit strange.

Just to update my situation, I have been told now that one of the shocks was losing Gas or something. Sounds like what 'Sydney Kid' was talking about. Anyway they said they are going to fix it up and re-seal the unit. So hopefully one of those noises is at least gone when I get the car back. Hopefully its that annoying hissing!

[Beer Baron]

you may find they have trouble replacing the gas in there. they will either not bother, and just replace the seals and oil and re-assemble. or to do it properly they will have to drill a hole and insert a valve so they can put the gas in once the shock is all assembled as they are sealed from factory. I have had Tein HAs before and I bought them brand new. the right rear blew the top seal after about 3 months. I complained to Tein Japan who didn't want to know about it. They basically said tough luck.

Gary is exactly right on the problems too. they are notorious for blowing the top seal as bits of dust/dirt/grit get in there and get worked into the seal by the piston moving up and down. also the pillowball upper mounts dont last long and knock like crazy once they have had it.

[L 33]

Is there are cheap way besides changing the tein unit itself to make them a bit softer.

[Sydneykid]

Is there are cheap way besides changing the tein unit itself to make them a bit softer.

I feel like a CD on replay........

Put the rear springs in the front and buy new rear springs, around 200 to 250 lbs per inch. Sell the rediculously hard front spings to some poor unsuspecting fool. Cost = almost zero,l if you do the fitting yourself.

[Oosh]

I feel like a CD on replay........

Put the rear springs in the front and buy new rear springs, around 200 to 250 lbs per inch.  Sell the rediculously hard front spings to some poor unsuspecting fool.  Cost = almost zero,l if you do the fitting yourself.

Very interesting, I'm glad this particular record is broken because I hadn't come across a previous playing, something to think about after I get my fronts rebuilt.

I have a feeling i wont want to go back to the bone-jarrers after cruising around on stock susp. for a couple of weeks.

[n15m0]

dave,

take it to these guys at slacks creek which should be just round the corner where you live.. They reconditioned my coilovers in the past and were real good. Clunking sounds normally means a leak somewhere. Get them all checked out and reconditoned if neccesarry. They will come out brand new. around $137 per corner well worth it

http://www.shockreco.com.au/

They have undergone a change of management since I was there last but have been told they are still good.

let us know how u go.

cheers

jon

[Myth33]

Thanks for the info Jon, you mentioned that place last time we met. Sounds good.

I will wait till I pick up my car first to see if it is any better, then I will decide on my next move. I'm not too interested in selling or swapping out the suspension at the moment as I'm really enjoying the handling.