Title pretty much speaks for itself. What are some of the differences between springs/shocks and coilovers? pros/cons?

 

there are other threads on here about this but, the main thing is that just installing springs onto your old shocks can make your old shocks wear faster since the old shocks were not designed for them. The compress the shocks more since they will lower the vehicle. If you want to stay acura buy the a-spec stuff to lower your can about .7 inches I got tien ss for about $900 fully adjustable good if you plan on buying different rims and tires to accomadate whatever gap you want in between the well and your tire. If that is too pricey you can get the tein basic package for just around $600. Don't do the new springs i thought about it too, but you are much better off putting a new coilovers package on to avoid premature wear of shocks for only an extra $250-$500 depending on your setup

desper

 

Desper's comments are fairly inaccurate. After all the A-Spec is $700 + install vs $150 + install for the springs alone. His own setup is $750 more than the springs so I am not certain where he pulled the $250 difference (wishfull thinking maybe?). Many guys on here have had no problems with a moderate drop (1-inch to 1.3 inches all the way around). The ONLY ones showing any type of premature wear with springs only are the guys trying to slam their cars (1.5 inches or more). As long as you go small, you can go springs. No problem. If your trying to slam, go the coil-overs route.

 

no it's actually fairly accuate, dependent on what springs/aftermarket shocks you decide to use.

IMO, you should go coilovers (either Tein SS or Tein basics), b/c it gives you the option of raising/lowering the ride as you see fit.

 

i dont want to sound like such a noob but what does IMO mean? i know its probably something super obvious but i cant seem to get it, lol.

anyway im going through this same decision myself for my 07 tl-s and was wondering the pros and cons of each. at first i was gonna go for the springs but i really like how the coilovers are adjustable. if i do end up going with the coilovers
1. should i expect a bumpier ride ( the type s isnt so smooth to begin with)
2. What wear should i be lookin foward to on the car
3. i hear that shops usually leave the car uneven, is there anything i can do to prevent this (a way of accuratly installing the setup)
4. what drop hieght should i do for a clean sporty stance that doesnt hit my undercarrige with these chicago sewer lids that pop up and other road debris.(i do realize ill have to drive more carefully but i dont want to be dodging everything on the road)

any help would be great!

 

For the guy ^^ IMO is In My Opinion (you will also see IMHO "humble') and I guess I would consider your response more significant if you stated HOW it is accurate? Are you saying that the $250 price is accurate? If so, please provide details as others here would like to know how to get a set of coil overs for $400. Otherwise, it your claims of accuracy seem .... out in left field IMHO

 

My point that i was making is that the total cost of buying comptech springs (for example) with installation and the total cost of tein basics with install is only about $300 more. More often than not in shops while i lived in jersey would charge more for installing springs than to install new coilovers. Tein Basics usually only set you back around $600.

Yes, the shocks CAN wear permaturely when you put differnet springs on them put YES it does matter on how much you want to DROP them seeing that you will be puting more pressure onto the shocks when they are lower.

This will also depend on how long (how many miles) you have on them if you have fairly new shocks then they will last longer... But keep in mind that you WILL have to replace the shocks eventually... The TEIN's will last much longer.. It is not always about the inital cost , take into consideration the long term cost......

The bottom line is that it seems that buying the springs is for people on a budget, we are not talking about a lot of money difference wise between the two. In closing the TEINS are easier to switch out and if you do not want your car slammed then you can do a less aggresive stance on the TEIN's......

A lot of people will have thoghts on this, and it is all based on opinion... Make sure you are getting the opinions from people that have what you are looking for installed on their car and not people who think they know the difference, make your decision based on that..... I am not looking at talking shit to people about who is right and who is wrong only trying to help ya...

DESPER

 

The last point that i will make is that you just bought a $30,000 plus car do you want to put $200-$300 springs on it?

Some people here do the cheaper route... springs and Privat Netz rims and there is nothing wrong with that totally personal preference.

Others go the more expensive route Tein Basics or SS coilovers and RonJons, Neepers, Maya's, Volk's etc....

Go with your personality and your budget whatever fits you....


desper

 

leedogg, i'm not sure how much the current banter is helping u.

springs only - u buy aftermarket springs and run them on your stock tl shocks. the stock shocks are not made to ride at any level except what they come from the factory at, so a big argument (dunno if this is true or not, but it makes sense in theory) is that they will wear prematurely due to the excess stress since they are not designed to ride low. i would not go this route...while it's the cheapest way to go, it's really not all that cheap when u include installation and factor that my guess that yes, the shocks probably will not last their standard oem life and u will have to replace them sooner or later. $$around 150-200 plus installation

springs/shocks - u buy aftermarket springs and shocks. hopefully if u go this route u get a set that are matched or will work well together. some shocks have a few, like around 3, settings where u can adjust the height to levels predetermined by the manufacturer. most don't. i would not go this route cus while it's cheaper, it's only by a little. $$around 4-500 plus installation

coilovers - when u buy coilovers u get a matched spring/shock combo from the manufacturer. they are fully height adjustable and u can also adjust how stiff they are on tein superstreets. all tein coilovers are rebuildable (for a price from tein) after they get old/too dirty. keep in mind that while u can fully adjust coilovers u need to at least have a jack/jack stands to readjust the height yourself and if u have the superstreets u will need to remove the backseat and front sway bar to readjust the damper settings also. tein also makes EDFC where u can automatically adjust the damper settings inside the car, but that is waaay more factoring the EDFC unit and installation where they have to route wires from all 4 coilovers to the unit inside the car. $$around 7-950 plus installation

as u can see from these boards if u have a TL, tein basics or superstreets are the most popular. word is that basics are a little stiffer than the stock shocks, which aren't all that soft to begin with.

 

AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!

I'm so confused now as to which way to go. Budget is a big factor for me, because I'm buying a house.

 

i'll show you how they're accurate.

Springs alone (comptech) are about $220 (or so i foudn online). $250 + $500 (remember, he said $250 - $500 depending on your setup) = $750. That's enough for the tein Basics. Also, if your springs wear prematurely, then you would then have to get another set of shocks from the dealership. They are about $100 - $150 depending on where you get them. Assuming it's only $100. That's $100/ shocks and there are 4 of them on the car. $250 + $400 = $650 , that's withing the $250 - $500 range for Tein Basics AND Tein SS.

If you decide to go Koni shocks w/ springs. Those are $250 for the springs, and about $500- $600 for all 4 shocks. That makes the total $750 - $850, which is still within the $250 - $500 price difference for Tein Basics and Tein SS.

Hence, his arguement is accurate.


To help the guys who are on the fence, it all comes down to preference. If you want a big drop, go Tein S Tech w/ koni shocks. If you want a minimal/smaller drop, go A-Spec or H-techs w/ koni shocks. If you want coilovers that are stiff and have and are height adjustable, go Tein Basics. If you want coilovers that are height and stiffness adjustable, go Tein SS. They will all run you around $600 - $1000 depending on what you want.

 

hay leedogg,

Coilovers come with a new shock, so that is why they cost more. I like the Tein SS because you have the choice of ajusting your ride stffness and softness. With springs, once you put them in, you cant raise your car unless you take them out.

The Tein SS were good for me because I live in the windy city and we see alot of snow in the winter and this is my daily driver.

 

Good summary man. Thanks

 

For mostly normal driving where you just want a little drop, and you are not the type of person who keeps busy by changing the ride height for track days or canyon runs-

Go with some good replacement shocks and springs. These bolt together and stay in one setting- cheapest way to go

If you want the ultimate in adjustments, coilovers have a threaded exterior so you can change the height of the lower spring perch

The Tein controller uses a small electric motor mounted to the damping adjuster on each shock, so you push a button inside the car and the motors tighten or loosen the ride firmness
In the TL you must remove many things to get to those same adjusters

see www.tein.com for more info

As for the car not siting level with coilovers- simply contact acurazine vendor
MrHeelToe heeltoeauto.com 1-949-295-1668 Marcus

He will preassemble your TEINS and set them to all be the right height

Hope that explains the basic differance and reason for jump in $$$
between systems

 

according to one of the vendors, Mr. HeelToe, the basics are the superstreets with the stiffness setting in the middle. they are the exact same thing as the superstreets except u cannot adjust the damper stiffness, just the height.

keep in mind that after u get dropped u need to get an alignment. the lower u go, the more u will have negative camber, although if u get it as close as u can to spec it will not be a big deal and u won't need a camber kit.

 

there are other good coilover setups there is the nsx coilovers, you have eibach, h+r etc..

 

if you do springs make sure you go no lower than 1"inch or you will damage the stock shocks. Actually you probally will not even need an alignment but always get it checked just in case.

 

Why dont you do what i did? I first bought springs and used them with the stock shocks. By the time your shocks need to be replaced you will have plenty of time to save 600 for the Basics. My stock shocks lasted me 35k after dropping my car with springs only.
Just my 2 cents....

 

What springs give you less than an inch drop?

 

Did you need a camber kit.
With 20x10 in the back