I took my car to the dealer to replace my H&R/stock shocks with Tein Basics. I had previously put on new tires that were rubbing occasionally w/ 1.5 finger gap even after rolling the fenders.

Well $1300 later (that's NOT counting the cost of the Teins), I got my care back with the SAME gap and naturally the same rub as well. The service manager said his tech set up the shocks per Tein instructions and he was concerned that he couldn't change the ride height w/o changing the spring rate. Is this true?

I thought one of the better qualities of Tein was the ability to adjust ride height w/o affecting the spring rate.

 

Why are you at the dealer with this?
Just raise the car up and make sure your rim offset or tire width is in the reality of fitting
My 01TL, 235-40 -18s, teins set at "spec" and bad rub, raised 1/2 inch rears, still a little rub - more modding required

Spring rate doesnt change- thats WHY you have coilovers

 

1) The dealer has already charged me $1300 so it seems quite reasonable for them to keep working at it until they get it right.

2) It seems you answered my question but how is the Acura tech could read the Tein instructions but still think the ride height cannot be adjusted w/o affecting ride height?

 

If you are on anything but stock tire size, the tein directions are off for settings

With the basics you can't change the dampening/rebound rate- thats factory set/sealed
Just raise the spring perches up 1/2 inch or 5 threads as I measured on my SS
If thats not enough- go another 1/4" up on the spring perches

Dont worry about the spring rate

 

My god, are you nuts? Did they include petroleum jelly with that? What are the specs on the wheels and tires you are running?

 

^^^X2 Next time, let us know the area that you're in, and someone here is bound to give a better referral to a shop than a dealership. Enjoy the Teins though!

 

I've had the same service manager at Performance (Chapel Hill) since my GSR in '95. The techs usually do good work and I always get good loaners, so I'm usually unconcerned about the expense. I dropped my car off on Thursday morning and then had a loaner RDX until Monday afternoon.

The H&Rs had caused the stock rears to bottom out after nearly 100k miles. The piston on one side was actually bent and the upper mount was warped on each side. Apparently, they charged me for the time the tech spent reading the Tein installation instructions. In the front, I needed my fender liners replaced due to multiple unfortunate encounters with critters that couldn't get under my sub-4" clearance. After the work, they had to align it as well.

I have 17x7 rims 42-offset. I had the fenders rolled but even with the 'factory' set-up on the Teins, I still rub. I was kind of surprised that the factory setting gives just a 1-finger gap in the rear.

 

I think the tein settings are for 16 inch rims
MrHeelToe set mine to their spec, and it required immeditate raise in the rear 1/2 inch to clear 235-40-18s, 45 offset
That made it sort of clear the rear fender tabs. Dremel took care of most of it, still need to do a little rolling to make sure for track day fun.
Amazing what a baseball bat will do

 

Something with your setup is wrong. I run 19x8 with a 40 offset and I dont rub at all with rolled fenders and cut tabs. You must be running some beefy tires or something. Whats your tire size?

BTW- I have barely a one finger gap in the rear. So I'm lower, with wider and bigger wheels, and a lower offset, and I don't rub.

 

That's interesting. I have rolled fenders but I didn't cut the tabs. 225x45 tires on 17x7. The other thing is that it rubs A LOT more on the left (driver) side. I must admit the ride isn't as stiff as I thought it would be. In fact, it really is quite comfortable. I would say it's superior to my H&R/stock set-up but I haven't pushed it yet.

I think the most interesting part is that switching out the front raised it by a lot but putting Tein on the rear didn't change the height at all (1 to 1.5 finger).

It's going back in on Thursday so I guess I need more 'expert' opinions from here plus reading the instructions myself. Funny thing is the wife really liked the last loner (RDX).

 

Half your problem with the old setup was worn out stock shocks. You cant blame the springs on that.
The rubbing isnt due to the shocks and springs, its due to the offset. Just out of curiosity what year do you have?

 

See that i dont know how is possible at all. I have a 18x8 +50 and the rims (front) are flush with the fenders. There is NO way possible i could even think of going that offset without adding fender flares to keep teh tires under the fenders.

 

I have an 02-S.

Yes, the old setup had 100k. It didn't rub with stock TL-S rims 225x45 b/c the offset was correct. I got new rims b/c I wanted to reduce unsprung weight. I knew the offset was wrong but given my car has scraped many a speed bump even at crawl speed (and the fact that I've been up the driveway ONCE) . . . I decided to go with a more reasonable drop. Two-three fingers on all corners probably wouldn't rub.

In sum, I can live with the offset. I just have to 'educate' my installer so he can set the Teins at a height that stays off the tires while having no impact on spring rate.

 

set them as high as the spring perch will allow, thats all you have to do- after consulting tein instructions which give a referance point to measure up from
The design of the Teins has a longer lower shock body than OE, so you still get full travel even with drop
the left side of the car may be heavy due to fuel load
You can really set the car up nice right using a front/rear weight measure to see where your balance is and adjust height to make it right,
Scales available at truck gas stations, free or a few dollars, or do it right and use a race shop with 4 scales to weigh each corner and balance the car height based on that. It may not sit exact level- but it will drive that way!

 

camber...

 

I am 100% in spec, no negative.

 

BTW, if you did not cut tabs, that could very well be what you hear rubbing. Most people cut tabs first. Try that.

 

good example^^ id love to see how those sit all the way down on the teins..

 

Me too, but I bottom out like it is. I guess I could set the damper all the way hard and test it, but I am afraid of the ride quality..

 

what you mean bottom out? hit shit on the bottom of the car? I got mines all the way down, and want to go lower..

 

The damper is a lil soft so yeah. If the bump is big enough, the strut bottoms out. Prolly due to the damper being soft, i dunno.