Sunnyv8le

First off I want to say I love this site. I've been looking at the site for over a year now, but I finally decided to post today. Anyways, I was wondering if anyone had any problems recently with their TEIN suspension set ups (Basic/SS)? The only reason I'm asking this is because I recently bought the last Basic coilover kit from a distributor that went straight to the manufacturer to get them for me. After installation, the front left coilover started to make rubbing sounds when I turned. The shop I went to was a decent shop, the only problem with their work was it took too long (2 days) and they scratched my rear bumper (gave them an estimate, and they agreed to pay for it). I went back to the performance shop, and they said the coilover was spinning every time I turned. They took the whole coilover apart and readjusted the set up. It doesn't make much noise now, but at low speeds I can still hear it vaguely. I got the coilovers at an awesome price, $770 OTD Cash (Autohaus Motorsports, City of Industry). And the install was $150.00 w/ alignment from another shop (Action Autosports, Corona). So in total it was about $920.00. Pretty good deal in my opinion, but I still question the installation from the other shop cause of the noise. Anyone else having these problems?

Here are some pics after the install and readjustment:
rears: adjusted all the way down w/ 19x9 Moven CL6 rims 255/35/19ZR
front: adjusted to about 1/2 inch from lowest setting 19x8 Moven CL6 rims 225/35/19ZR

sdsilverm3

What are the offsets of your wheels? You may need spacers if the wheels/tires are rubbing against the coilovers. A common problem for coilovers on the W203's. Search my recent posts and you'll see I had a similar problem as you.

Sunnyv8le

Actually I already have spacers on the front. I have a 35mm offset (which isn't right, due to the wheel shop giving me incorrect sized rims) with 3mm spacers in the front. The problem I have is with only one coilover (the front left side/driver side). The front right side is fine with no issues. Do you think it could just be a faulty spring? The performance shop said the right side moved a little still , but i noticed it doesn't make any sounds. If it's a faulty spring, do you think TEIN will replace it for me?

Also my rims are .5 inches shorter than the usualy 19x8.5/19x9.5 set up everyone uses. I figured from the shortness of width I wouldn't have the problem of hitting the coilover. I noticed slight differences between the OEM struts and aftermarket TEIN struts though. Theres a bend in the OEM ones, but with my set up I believe I still have clearance.

sdsilverm3

Does it only rub when you're fully turned to the right or even when going straight? My car rubs slightly against the fender liner when fully turned to the right because the tire touches the liner where the windshield reservoir bulges out.

BTW, I'm running 5mm spacers with +32mm offset and it barely clears the spring seat. You might need a few more mm's of clearance. Can you confirm where it is rubbing?

Sunnyv8le

My issue is not the tires rubbing against the fender though. It's the sound of the spring on the driver side. My front's do not rub with the current set up, and when I go straight it's perfectly fine. It only happens when I turned left or right.

sdsilverm3

When you have issues with contacting the spring I think you may need to raise the spring seats up a little bit. Beyond that a bigger spacer might be needed.


BIGJOHNNY has the same setup as you. Check out his post as i think he is running a 12mm spacer if I remember correctly. 3mm might not be enough.

Sunnyv8le

I don't think changing the spacers will fix anything though, because we tested the vehicle without the tires/wheel on and the sound was still occuring when the wheel turned left/right. This is why I believe its a bad spring. Also I do not have any problems at all with the passenger front side. So I don't think my set up is incorrect, it may be due to faulty parts.

sdsilverm3

Now that you mentioned that it rubs even when the wheels are off I would think you have other issues. If Tein is willing, have them swap out the front coilover or if the front coilovers are not side-specific just flip flop them and see what happens. Good luck because issues like that are a pain.

electromethod

I am going to have the tein basics installed and was unaware of any rubbing issues. hmmm.... off to search I go.

WaveyKat

i have tein basic and when i first installed them i had a squeking noise coming from the bolt part when u mount the shocks from in the hood so i had to reinstalled them and adjust the top hat.."the part that sits on the top of the springs. but now i only get sqeaking sound from the rear it sound like my sway bars bushings so and getting some H&R bars next week...

Sunnyv8le u said u have your coilover adjust to the lowest setting and your rear wheels are not tuck? did they remove the rubber spring pad in the rear?

eddie081

I am waiting for my Teins also, lets get this str8 you don't have to use the pads in the rear right?

Is everyone that have the Tein Basic or SS happy with the setup?

I saw the specs and the C230 sedans seems to be the only one that can't be lower too much front 1.5 and rear 1.3 why is that?

The C320 can be lower to front 2.5 and rear 2.0


Thanks

drexappeal

You have to consider where they took the specs from. The 240/320 they used to figure out how much the drop was from stock was based on a luxury 240/320 (can't remember which one). So those numbers make sense. On the 230, they already come with "Sport springs" as stock, so if we're talking about dropping the car 2.5 front or 2.0 rear from the stock sport springs, there's really no more funcionality behind doing that.

Make sense?

eddie081

Got it thanks

white_w203

might have to go with a 5mm spacer....it is definitely the offset of the wheels causing the rubbing.

Sunnyv8le

It's something to do with the spring, not w/ spacers or offset (as I mentioned earlier, we even took off both wheels placed it on the lift and turned left/right and the noise from the left front coilover still didn't go away). I'm going to contact TEIN this weekend and see what they can do.

eddie081

Could the springs/coils not seated well?