Alot of us got in on the group deals for the TEIN springs and KYB GR2 struts. For those people, answer these few questions (please) ....

1) Are they installed?
2) Did you do it yourself (or with a friend, etc)?
3) If number 2 is yes, how long did it take you?
4) How long have you had them installed?
5) How do you like it now (after they've been installed)?
6) Give me some comparisons between them and the stock setup.

I'm still waiting on the springs from TEIN. They ran out the day before they were to ship my order (probably from a GD), so I had to wait until they made more. But they are in transit now.

I'm just trying to get a feel for how people like the setup. If you had other springs/struts on your car before this combination, what is the difference between the old setup and this one?

Thanks.

 

1) Yes
2) Yes
3) about 3.5 hours
4) just over a week
5) very happy
6)stock setup Teins and GR2s

 

92 ser 02 se how happy are you exactly. is the ride good? i have never had a lowered car but i want something like a bmw loooks a ride. a 328i. just wondering

thanks

 

1. Front are installed(need help removing trunk liner, I know, I'm and idiot on interior crap)
2. I did the fronts myself, the second strut/spring only taking 20 minutes. First one took 1 hour, as I have never done it before.
3. 1hour 20 minutes for the fronts only. Expect less for the rears, once I figure out the trunk liner clips....
4. I just finished the fronts and took it for a ride(pics too)
5. The front now looks like it should from the factory. I looked at 5 series BMW's when comparing for this car and loved the low look of the BMW. The Max desperately needed this swap!!!
6. On my test drive over roads I have driven the car on for the last 25K miles, the new front springs feel surprisingly similar to the stock ride. When you hit a sharp bump or pot-hole, you notice the variable rate on the Teins must increase extremely fast. The sharp bumps are felt more, but the KYB GR-2s do a nice job getting it damped quickly. I would like more damping in the shock, though, but it is MUCH nicer than stock. Believe it or not, I kinda like the current look with the stock rear springs, but the driving position gives you a "looking at the road" feel. The rear Tein springs are going to have to go in.

Somebody post or e-mail me on how to remove those trunk liner clips, I will install the rears immediately. tajessen@earthlink.net I am taking pics of the install. Before and after.

FYI: I do recommend a strut spring compressor to remove the factory spring/strut combo. It is also helpful, but not necessary, to install the Tein/KYB together before inserting into the car. You do not need a spring compressor on the re-install of the new Tein springs. If somebody can host pics, I will e-mail my pictures, including a stock front spring and a Tein spring laying next to each other. The Tein is over 2 1/4" shorter.

No rubbing with my 19s and 245/35s, either. No camber bolts used in the install and the alignment feels good. I will have it aligned this week, though.

Todd

 

Okay, I finally figured out those clips in the trunk, so the rears are installed. I need to revise me statements a little. With the rears on, the ride is a little stiffer than stock. On roads that are typical of where I live, not large bumps and decent pavement, the ride is more predictable and responsive. When you get to broken pavement or continuos unsetteled pavement, the ride is a little hard. I personally don't mind this, but some may. I still wish the GR-2s had a little more rebound damping. Maybe I will try another shock once these go bad, but it isn't enough that I want to change them out.

The rear install took about 1 hour total to do both. I am fairly good at automotive stuff(except interior), but I have never done this work on a Maxima before. Very similar to other vehicles, though, and nothing tricky.

Todd

P.S. I have pics of this install. I can e-mail them or somebody could host them and post a link for this thread.

 

Or you can just set up a cardomain and take a few more moments of your time. PS: wait a week it will ease up more.

 

Most people say that the first week is bone-jarring, but after that it softens up. Please post in a week or so to see if the harshness has subsided. I'm REALLY close to getting these myself.

Funny, I never even looked at the wheel gap on a car before. Now it is the first thing I see

 

I'm seriously considering the Tein/GR2 setup on my 2K2. My only concern is that I live on a residential street with those long/wide speed bumps. This may be a stupid question, but I've never dropped any of my cars. My main goal is to improve handling and I don't want to have to compensate when going over bumps, dips or driveways. How will the Max handle dips/bumps with the Tein/GR2 setup on stock rims? Will I have to take them gradma slow to clear the stock front lip?

Thx!

 

I would say grandma slow on any car that is dropped no matter how low or high with any speed bump...

I always drive slow over them, unless I'm rockin the Pathfinder then it's as fast as she goes!

You don't wanna drive fast over speed bumps with any regular car, especially if it's dropped

 

When I say grandma slow... I mean like almost coming to a stop. I've seen people driving on my street with slammed cars that have to crawl over the bumps and take dips at 45 degree angles so not to scrape their lips. I like to take the bumps at 15-20 MPH. I don't want the wifey beotchin' about driving my car because she can't drive normally. Wait a minute.... maybe this will get her to stop driving MY CAR!!

 

BONE JARRING? Hell I was the 1 who first stated that but I think I used the words... "To the point it can cause a seasure " It was really bad on mine, might me due to the fact I used Toks but Its fine now, even potholes dont bother me. The first week avoid them as ALL costs. My cd player skipped a few times the first week too, but like I said it no longer bothers me and is just fine. As for the grandma slow thing, well look at my sig...that thing is low. I havnt had any problems yet. It just takes some common sense, the speed bumps arnt anywere near being a problem I had 5 people in the car be4 and didnt bottom out on speed bumps.

 

if youre worried about car being too low and having problems with speedbumps, i'd say go with Eibach springs, the drop is not as low as tiens, but the handling is great. but it you just want that slammed look, i say go with tiens. I am very happy with mine. My car hugs the curves with ease. If you live in Houston, you know what downtown roads are like here. they're the worst. potholes everywhere. but i drive around with no probems.

 

I don't think you would have to use too much more caution over most speed bumps with this combo. I still have over 6" of ground clearance on the car, which is more than the Vette. There are some specific driveway entrances around here that I avoid like the plaque in anything but our truck(they have the steep ramp on each side with a nice, high center crown). I took the Max for a ride downtown today and had a bunch of stops I had to make. No problems with any of the entrances, parking lots, or typical speed bumps(not speed humps like I have seen in some neighborhoods, but I don't think they would be a problem).

Todd