Anyone who installed lowering springs, especially Tein's, need some help....

[RonStealth]

I was trying to interpret the Japanese translated English on the vague instructions for my Tein S-Tech springs and it appears that they recommend cutting the front bump stops only and not the rears. I accidentally installed my reassembled front struts without cutting the bump stops and am currently working on the rear. The last thing I want to to is completely disassemble the front suspension again just to cut the bump stops if unnecessary. Couple questions:

1) Is it necessary to cut the front bump stops?
2) Anyone who didn't on their lowering spring install, have the car bottom out shock travel?
3) Do I need to trim them in the rear as well?

Final unrelated question, the Tein's rear appear to be progressive with closer wound coils on one end. What is the correct orientation of the spring? Wide coils on bottom or top? I thought the wide coils would be bottom and narrow on top but an online intrax install website shows the opposite. Thanks!
http://www.ipsmotorsports.net/images/tein%20stechs.jpg
https://www.msu.edu/user/nguyenn/Ste...suspension.jpg

Thanks for the help.

[badboyvr4]

When I installed my Intrax springs back in 96 I believe the instructions had me cut mine.

[Monster Stealth]

I had tein s-tech's on bilsteins on my old 94 RT-TT and never cut them. Never had a problem either. I would run it and it becomes an issue then fix it.

[etecnifibre]

Originally Posted by Monster Stealth

I had tein s-tech's on bilsteins on my old 94 RT-TT and never cut them. Never had a problem either. I would run it and it becomes an issue then fix it.

And if it does become and issue, I would imagine you could carefully get in there and cut the external stock bumpstops.

[tachyon_ftl]

I just swapped in Tein S-Techs, with Bilstein shocks in back and Bilstein cartridge inserts in front. I have been running them for a few weeks now, and the fronts have internal bumpstops so I'm in the same shape as you - the bumpstops are not cut down. I haven't noticed anything in particular, the fronts don't seem to bottom out on rough roads. So, I agree with Monster- if the fronts are done, leave them be.

Don't trim the rears. You're right, Tein doesn't even recommend it, and I haven't seen any problems there either. I am running the OEM rear bump stops, because as far as I could tell the Bilstein shocks don't have them internally like the cartridges do in front.

As far as the spring orientation- look really closely at how the bottom of the spring fits the bottom spring perch. The diameter of the Tein rear springs is in fact slightly different at top and bottom. The "small end" of the Tein will fit perfectly- the "big end" will be a little loose. Since there is only about 1/4" difference in diameter, it is easy to miss if you aren't looking for it, but it's there. I think that you're right, on the Teins the more closely wound end goes at the top. But check the diameters- that will set them.

[RonStealth]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I ultimately decided to pull the fronts back off and cut the bump stops down as indicated. This was mainly because I didn't want it to be a problem after a $100 alignment and it would require a re-alignment if I did them later. I tried to cut them down with a dremel and a razor blade without success while installed on the car. Nothing pi$$es me off more than having to do the same job twice.

I'm working on this project after work a couple hours each day, so I basically lost a day of progress today and only got 1 of the 2 rears assembled with the new springs since I had to redo the fronts. Hopefully by the end of the weekend, it will be finished. I know I'm slow, but my OCD requires everything to be perfect, especially on a 16k mile car, and I'm cleaning all the shocks/struts and hardware before reassembling.

As far as the rear coils, I confirmed what you said tachyon, the tighter winds go at the top. I left the rear bump stops alone. Hopefully I'll have some pics soon.

tachyon_ftl Did you install camber arms on the rear?

[tachyon_ftl]

RonStealth wrote:

I know I'm slow, but my OCD requires everything to be perfect, especially on a 16k mile car, and I'm cleaning all the shocks/struts and hardware before reassembling

Join the group, most of us are that way! I spent more time sandblasting and repainting my front struts than assembing and installing them. I also forgot to put the damm bump stop in the back on the first one I did... since I didn't need them for the fronts... and I had to take it apart again too.

Yeah, I have a set of adj control arms from Terry (Maximal Performance). They're excellent- have him build you a set.

Paul T

[RonStealth]

Paul, that exactly who I ordered a set from yesterday. Hopefully the turn around time isn't too bad. I want to get the new wheels on the car! I can't wait to see how it comes out.

[tachyon_ftl]

Hopefully it'll come out something like this:

[RonStealth]

Looks awesome! Can't wait to get this thing on the ground. Hopefully will have preliminary pictures this weekend, then an alignment early next week!