Props to ProStreet and Alex for the awesome service and price! Support H-T Sponsors!

I ordered some Tein S-Tech springs a while back and was waiting for the fundage for some good strits to pair them with. I got the money up for some KYB GR-2 struts, so I purchased them and installed them yesterday at my house.

I work at a shop, so I used the spring compressor and some extra 1990 Civic strut tops, bump stops, washers, etc. so the install at home would be 100% pain free and an "in and out" swap of sorts.

Of course I took some pics. These pics are more of the overall shots. I am going to put together a comprehensive "how-to" install topic once I snap some very detailed shots of the dissassembly and reassembly of the struts and springs since that's one of the most confusing parts for many people.

These pics are automatically downsized by Imagestation, which means that there is some quality/clarity loss so I apologize. I'd host them on We-Todd, but it's down yet again.

Enjoy the random shots

Tools:



The goods:









Sometimes you need a little help. It's also nice when your help is taking pics while you work.



Front set-up installed:



Rear installed:



Before:



After:



Front gap:



Rear gap:



Remember that those are 185-60-14 wheels/tires. I'd imagine that there would be a bit less gap with some nice aftermarket 15x6.5 or 15x7 wheels with a nice +40 or +38 offset with some 195-50-15 tires. I wasn't after a slammed set-up, so for me it is perfect.

Let me say that the Tein S-Tech/KYB GR-2 combo rides AWESOME. It's almost like a stock ride. No bounce whatsoever, and not too stiff. Seems like body roll has been cut down a bit, but I'm not 100% sure because I'm not pushing the car until I align it tomorrow.

Cruising around town, the suspension soaks up bumps and inconsistencies in the road better than my old 190K stock set-up.

The Tein S-Techs can be had for about $140.00 and have a 1 year warranty against over 5mm of sag, and the KYB GR-2 struts have a full lifetime warranty for the original purchaser on the original vehicle as long as there are no tooling marks or scratches on the strut piston surface or outward signs of abuse or incorrect installation. the KYBs can be had at or just under $200.00 if you look around.

So for around $340.00 I've got a nice even 1.5'' drop that rides as good or even better than stock in terms of comfort, and with progressive rates the suspension can firm up when you need it.

Look for that total "how-to" topic coming soon.

Thoughts?

 

Looks and sounds perfect for comfortable daily driving...can't wait for the write-up, even though I already know how to do it! Your posts are always quality, so it should be good.

Alex

 

nice stuff. All in all, it doesnt look all that much lower than stock, IMO. But for what your goin for it sounds perfect. I'm sure they'll settle a bit yet too.

BTW- is that an alphanumeric shirt??? whatever it is, its hot

 

whats the part # on those springs . i got a set of tein s-tech and kyb gr-2 and it wasn`t all that hot . are those the us model springs . i got the jdm rated springs for a b16 motor in an ef chassis. it rode hard . my part# skho8-s1b00 ef8/ef9 s-tech soft

 

cant blame you for upgrading man... i wanna get rid of my 259K shocks/springs. i hit the bumpstops on a daily basis. and oh my god does it ever bounce.

kinda off topic, but do you guys replace ball joints at your shop? cause i need another one kinda quick. you can move my tire back and forth... having the toe adjust on its own when i accelerate/brake sucks *** and its getting annoying. pm me with some details man

 

yeah i have some shitty *** r1 coil-over setup on my stock sturts and i get whiplash from the ride on the highway. but its so damn expensive to ride low and comfy.

 

that is a perfect drop

not to low not high like stock

looks like that will be next on my list

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by biggdogg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">whats the part # on those springs . i got a set of tein s-tech and kyb gr-2 and it wasn`t all that hot . are those the us model springs . i got the jdm rated springs for a b16 motor in an ef chassis. it rode hard . my part# skho8-s1b00 ef8/ef9 s-tech soft</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was concerned about the springs at first because someone else told me that his were for the JDM model and the front wasn't dropped at all and the back was lowered, so I called Tein and asked them if the part number I had was the right spring.

Both the guy at Prostreet (where I bought the Teins) and myself were told from the Tein guy that these were the USDM model springs and that if I had any problems they'd take them back even after being installed.

I'll look at my box and invoice tomorrow to see what the part numbers are so you guys can be sure you get the right ones.

The drop is perfectly even if it's parked on level ground. the back looks to be the ssme as the front, which is cool because I hate it when the back sits lower. Also the side-to-side height is the same too.

I let a co-worker of mine who has an EF with KYB AGX and Suspension Tech. springs drive the car a minute ago and he said he might get the S-Techs too because the ride is so smooth.

As soon as I align it and pop this rear swaybar on i'll take it for a spin later and tell you guys my harder driving impressions.

 

I've been looking for a good combo for my 90 Si. I might have to try that combo.

 

this looks like just what i want, to do to my car. i dont want to drop it anymore then it is . i just want it to handle better in the coners. plus i 'm 6'1 so i dont want to roll out of my car and i live where it snows. did you have to add cambers kit to the car ? looks good . cheers

 

looks good.

 

looks good, i think i will do that in my stock HF

 

Looks very good. So far i've heard nothing but good things about teins s techs. A friend of mine has them on his 97 teg and it rides beautiful with a nice looking drop.

 

can you take pix after the springs settle too?

 

Yup those GR2 are very good struts for the price. They can take a good drop I have them on my H&Rs Sports for about 7 months with no problem and my drop is a bit lower then that.

 

Nice! What motor do you have?

 

Nice I'm gettign ready to put the same set up on my eg

 

nice set-up and instal.....im glad you had no probs.....

me and my friends have had some tuff times replacing/swapping struts and springs.... but we've learned over time


Modified by 99EKhatch at 11:04 PM 1/7/2004

 

deff going to be looking into this combo for my ef!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C5-EH2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">



Thoughts?</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL, those are way awesome pics bro. You totally remind me of one my best friends, hehe.

Anyway, that looks like a great drop. As for myself I think I'll be using Tanabe 'Grip-Feeling' springs, they have a similar drop. I'm still debating on shocks though, I was convinced on Tokico Illuminas but those GR-2's look much more attractive with that price tag and warranty.

 

Glad you are enjoying your springs!! Let me know if there is anything else I can get you

Thanks again!

BTW, part number on those is: SKA36-AUB00 and we have it on our site here:

http://www.prostreetonline.com...AUB00

 

Bump.

 

Just so everyone knows if anybody cares you can go with 89 accord fr. gr-2 struts for the sameprice and they sit 1.25inches lower (because of the shorter strut body) and they ride wicked. I have an insane drop in the front and the accord gr-2s take it like a crackwhore. Not only do you get 1 or more inches of a drop but you also get more travel.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by H.crx-si &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just so everyone knows if anybody cares you can go with 89 accord fr. gr-2 struts for the sameprice and they sit 1.25inches lower (because of the shorter strut body) and they ride wicked. I have an insane drop in the front and the accord gr-2s take it like a crackwhore.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes I too was aware of the Accord struts up front, but in my case I only wanted the mild 1.5'' drop that the Teins offered.

Nice tip though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by OOsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

illuminas are adjustable and all tokicos carry a lifetime warranty as well. just some food for thought.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hate to rebutt, but my experiences with Tokico products has never been good ones.

The blues are just way too soft for anything mildly over stock rates, and the Illuminas aren't too impressive either.

If I were looking for adjustables at a good price I'd go with KYB AG-X over Illuminas all day.

I'm basing my opinion on the various customers' cars I've seen/driven/ridden in here at my shop with different suspension set-ups.

I've also owned 2 sets of KYB GR-2s and one set of AG-X as well.

IMO KYB &gt; Tokico.

Also KYB has a lifetime warrantee to the original purchaser as long as the stut shafts have no scratches and the struts do not how gross signs of incorrect installation or outright abuse.

And then there's Koni...different story there. IMO Koni are some of the best off the shelf struts money can buy. I love my yellows on my 1992 hatchy.