LannyM

Last year, people were buying the CL7/JDM Tein FLEX, with 10k front and 6k rear spring rates.

When I called Tein the beginning of this year, they told me about the new CL9 USDM Flex, with higher spring rates to compensate for the extra weight of the TSX vs the CL7. (I've never looked that up; just took their word on it.) Those rates are 14k front and 8k rear. They also added a rubber upper mount in the rear.

I've been very happy with the USDM Flex; no noise, and definitely not too stiff.

So, I was surprised to see that the Tein website now lists the 10k/6k springs again.

The drop, while still being more than one needs, is not as dramatic as what was listed for my set. The specs said my front was capable of being adjusted down over 4"!

I think only VWong has done that ........

Anyway, here are the latest specs.......



And one gratuitous pic of my car, on the off chance that someone looking at this thread has not a seen a FLEX equipped car .....

JTso

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, I notice that too. But according to the info on the main page, it still listed as 14/8. I wonder if one the them is a typo...

http://www.tein.com/acura.html

Also, according to the "new" spec, it listed the Flex uses pillow upper mount for both front and rear. But the install manual still listed as rear rubber mount. Therefore, it could be a typo.

LannyM

Hmmm......the spring part numbers (as well as the rates) in your link are different. And they don't match the SS/Basic #s either, although the rates are the same.

Those are the part #s that they told me they'd send me if I was unhappy with the 14k/8k springs.......

Probably just a typo when they redid the site for the umpteenth time........

savage

what rims are those? they look like the new rsx-s rims...

sorry for being off topic

LannyM

You got it. Got em off a C-RSX member. 17 x 7, 45 offset.

vwong

The reason for the different spring p/n between the FLEX and the Basic/SS is because FLEX uses different diameter springs. FLEX springs are 65mm I.D. while Basic/SS springs are 70mm I.D.

MrHeeltoe

iTrader: (1)

They are 14/8...the page you are looking at is a type-o.


The SS and Basic use softer springs (10/6)


All the specs on this page are correct:
http://www.tein.com/acura.html

JTso

iTrader: (2)

I contacted Tein tech support today and asked about the different specification on the Flex. The tech said they did lower the spring rate to 10/6 from 14/8 due to some complains about it being too stiff. However, the tech still thinks the 14/8 is better for the TSX. He also mentioned that the springs have changed but the shocks are the same. You will need to look at the part numbers on the spring to identify what you have. The 3 digits after the first two letters identifies the spring rates.

14/8
SL140-01200
SV080-01225

10/6
SL100-01200
SM060-01250

vwong

Also, the last 3 digits denote the natural length of the spring. i.e. 200 = 200mm.

LannyM

Hmmmm......I'm glad I got in on the 14/8s. Someimes I think they're too soft....

Haven't seen any complaints about the 14/8s. Comne to think of it, I don't know too many people that even have them. Wonder how many they sold......

jmathew34

so is anyone with the tein flex's having noise issues?

xizor

so the new version has a longer rear spring now? I wonder why that is

Chris_F

hmm, i wonder what spec they'll bring to australia... i'm guessing the 10/6.

LannyM, cars looking awesome, the 17's seem the perfect style and size for the oem kit and drop

vwong

From my experience on playing with different spring rates in my Prelude, when going stiffer spring rates, the length will be shorter to compensate for lack of compression from the springs. I have TEIN TypeHA coilovers in my Prelude. It came stock with 8k (200mm long) rear springs. With my ride height, I had just under 1" of threads left. When I went to 10k springs, I stayed with 200mm long springs. I had to lower the spring perches all the way to the lowest point in order to stay at the same ride height. Then, when I upgraded the rear spring rates to 14k, I went with 150mm long springs because I knew I wouldn't be able to lower the rear to stay at the same ride height if I were to go with 200mm long springs (afterall, 14k 70mm I.D. springs don't come in 200mm long anyway). But that was with HA coilovers that don't have overall shock length adjustments like the FLEX. I'm still trying to figure out why they only shortened the rear spring length and not the front when going from 10/6 to 14/8.