S TEIN Springs Installed 2005 LGT Sedan

Yesterday I had Modern Garage install my S Tein springs for $160 plus tax. Not a bad deal in my opinion, I haven't the equipment to do it, plus I'm all for doing work on my car, but as low as $160 (exact cost for the springs), I'd rather let someone else do it who has the equipment. Installation took about 2 and a half hours and the rate was a flat rate - $160 to install no matter how long it took them.

 

The springs are green, but you won’t see them underneath the wheel wells.

 

The look is deeper than I expected. Initially I measured nearly 2 and ¾ inches from top of tire to top of wheel well. After installation, I could only measure half an inch. Springs will settle in over the period of six months, so I expect this to drop a little more, perhaps even half an inch. This could be a concern for me in the future because I run 235/40 R18’s on my GT during the summer (Koenig 18” Verdicts on Yokahama AVES100’s). We will have to see if there is any rubbing. With stock springs there was absolutely no rubbing at all and the diameter of the wheel is the same for the 18’s (225/40) as compared to the stock (215/45’s). It’s the 235 that could get me in trouble, but 215’s IMHO are just like pizza cutters.

 

I've got to say that these S springs are not for the timid. It handles most bumps just fine, but if you hit something 2 inches deep, you are going to feel it - hard. I was actually very surprised at how hard you will feel hard bumps. I live in Salt Lake City, in what I consider the king of pothole country. I quickly quickly realized that avoiding potholes is going to be key for me for quite some time. I'm also concerned that once my 18" rims and tires are on for the summer, the rock hard suspension is going to actually make me "bounce" around on bumps.

 

The ride is very comfortable over most roads as long as you avoid the real deep potholes and if you’re going over anything large, it’s defiantly time to slow down. I found the hard ride in bumps only comes from the deep holes, not the built up road crap you almost inevitably have to ride over (as long as it’s not a sudden lift). If you’re going to get these springs you’re going to have to change your driving style. Most of us avoid holes anyway, but now you’ll need to be on hole-alert.

 

I’m still in the process of evaluating these springs, I’ve only had a day now to drive some 30 miles on them. So far, I’m enjoying them. The look is not as “punched” as you see some of the riced out Hondas or BMWS driving around. If the wheel was up under the wheel well too far, I’d have them removed right away. I really don’t care for that look at all.

 

I have yet to find out what this is going to do to my shocks, but as long as I’m careful I think I’m going to be ok for quite some time. If after the summer I find I don’t like the look, I may go to the H Tech spring.

 

Anyway here are the before and after pics:

 

http://www.infymus.com/lgt/frontnormal.jpg

 

Front wheel, stock springs.

 

http://www.infymus.com/lgt/rearnormal.jpg

 

Rear, stock springs.

 

Now for the Teins:

 

http://www.infymus.com/lgt/fronttein.jpg

 

Front, Tein S spring

 

http://www.infymus.com/lgt/reartein.jpg

 

Rear, Tein S spring

 

http://www.infymus.com/lgt/fulltein.jpg

 

Full view, Tein S springs.

 

After a short contemplation, I decided to put my 18" rims on the car to see how they would look.

 

At first I was dismayed, I could not get my 3 ton floor jack under the car anymore as it would no longer fit. I had to use the Subaru car jack to get half an inch then was able to scoot the 3 ton underneath and get the tire off the ground.

 

I will get some pictures up hopefuly tomorrow.

 

Once I got my 235/40 R18 rims on the car, I was dismayed. The tire sticks outside the wheel well by half an inch. These rims are 18x8 and the wheel is 235 compared to 215 stocks.

 

Tein stated that these springs would drop the car 1.5 inches front and 1.5 inches back. These dropped the car 2.5 inches front and 2.5 inches back. I can stick a pencil between the tire and the wheel well in the front and have at least one more pencil in width in size. The rears, the pencil does not fit straight out - only at an angle down. There is less than 1/4 of an inch between the tire and the wheel well, alhough in the rear the tire is at least 1/4 inch inside. If the tire went up 1/4 inch, it would touch the inside of the black wrapping around the wheel well. Not good IMHO, and may not work out in the long run.

 

The front wheel only has about 1/2 inch play betweeen the tire and the black wrapping around the wheel well.

 

My first impressions after mounting all four rims was that it wasn't going to work. If I hit a hard bump, I was going to rub.

 

I took it on a 15 mile run on some pretty harsh streets for a test. I hit plenty of pot holes and I felt them up my spine. I also heard the springs in motion and working during the ride, but this is absolutely normal for the first few weeks as the springs settle in.

 

When I returned home there was absolutely no rubbing at all on any of the tires or the wheel wells. When I turn the front tires side to side, there is no rubbing internally.

 

I have yet to put 800 pounds of friends in the car and see if I can get out of the driveway.

 

Updated: Here are the pictures after installing the summer rims and tires.

 

http://www.infymus.com/lgt/infylgt1.jpg

 

http://www.infymus.com/lgt/infylgt3.jpg

 

 

http://www.infymus.com/lgt/infylgt4.jpg

 

http://www.infymus.com/lgt/infylgt5.jpg

 

http://www.infymus.com/lgt/infylgt6.jpg

 

Cheers!

nice write up. Is it just me or in the last pic your car is right hand drive??

if it's ain't scraping it's not low enough . i like the drop. i was thinking about purchasing tein h sprigs

nice write up. Is it just me or in the last pic your car is right hand drive??

 

LOL, I didn't think anyone would notice. Good catch. Yes, the picture has been reversed so the sides would look in comparison.

An update for any of you...

 

I am working with GRIP Motorsports to try and exchange these S TEIN springs. The drop is too far - 2.5" and 2 3/4" drop on one rear side. I am going to move to the H TEIN springs instead.

 

Right now I'm just trying to swing an exchange with them because they have a 10 day return policy. If they won't take them back, I won't buy the H TECH's from them. But I don't want to pay $160 to get the springs off, $160 for new springs, and $160 to put new springs on, then the shipping to get the springs back to them over night. I'm almost to day 10 already.

 

I'll keep you posted.

why do you think it's too much of a drop? are you getting rubbing issues?

It is far too much of a drop. 2.5" all the way around and one corner (rear) is 2.75" drop. I am shipping these S springs back and going with the H springs instead. With my summer rims, I can't even get a finger between the wheel well and the tire. I haven't seen significant rubbing at all yet, but I am not happy with it at all, so I'm returning the S springs.

i thought tein claimed only a 1.5" drop

 

http://tein.com/ti/s70.html

it does.

and mine do too.

your product seems to be a defect.

It looks only about 1.5 inches lower (maybe 1.75) then stock to me. It looks almost the same as my car with ION springs. Are you sure your before measurements were taken on flat level ground? Or maybe the car was on a hoist and then lowered and the before measurements were taken before the car was moved?

Are you sure the shop you used installed everything correct? What offset are those rims? They sick out alot.

Looks kickass to me! If there is no rubbing I wouldnt change a thing.

i kinda like the drop. i just want to hear some comments on the ride quality.

Yeah, your rear drop looks like my iON rear drop. 1" my a$$.

It looks pretty much like what Tein claims in there pics. Sorry to hear they arent working out for you, I was looking at getting some of these. I will probably go with the H Tech springs myself.. We will see. Thanks for the article and the pics. That is great. If you get the H Techs would you mind putting some pics up of those?? Thanks a lot man..

I had s-tech, mine was that low for 8 months, no rub'n no problems..........loved them......

 

Man I need to get springs for the B......sigh

I plan on putting the s-tech in my car. Ride comfort is not my concern, coming from my last subie running DMS 50mm coilovers.

Yeah, your rear drop looks like my iON rear drop. 1" my a$$.

 

The back end does look much lower than the front. I have a LGT Wagon as well as an LGT Sedan. I don't think I'll do anything with the wagon for a while.

i just got the S techs myself, but haven't installed them just yet.

For an update, I talked with Grip Motorsports and he is going to exchange the S springs for H springs. They should be in today, or early next week. After I get them installed, I'll do a new writeup.

 

The ride is very hard as you would expect from such a low drop. You feel every bump on the road. The problem is that there is less than 1/4 of an inch on one of the rears will most likely cause me problems in the future.

 

When it's all done I'll do another writeup on the H springs.

good luck with it.

One word guys ... "40mm" by DMS. Comfort, performance, and a little bit of drop to help fill up the wheel arch gap if you want. Robson Tuning will help you out with these

-mark

One word guys ... "40mm" by DMS. Comfort, performance, and a little bit of drop to help fill up the wheel arch gap if you want. Robson Tuning will help you out with these

-mark

 

Thanks for the kind words.

just got mine installed on Monday. wow! car handles like a dream and looks GREAT!

Update: The H Tech springs are in but not yet installed. They will be installed most likely next Friday. When they are on, I'll post up a full response.

 

This weekend I drove 260 miles out to the Casinos and back. When I hit some of the bumps on the road at 80 mph (you know the ones where the pavement is uneaven on bridges or pavement types) I actually felt like the front tires were going to come through the dashboard. It was like someone took a gigantic bat and bashed the front of the car.

 

I dislike these S TECH springs very much and can't wait to get them off.

 

Cheers, I'll write up more next Friday, and then a little more after I've ridden the H TECH springs for another week.