i really appriciate all the responces so far, my friend has a civic with the SS and i drove his car the other day and talked to him about his set up, he said to just spring for the SS just because if needed the option to do so will be there, but also looking at rocks comment makes me lean twords basic again. i do understand that i could tweek it for the MAXIMUM performace possible, but am i really going to feel that big of a difference by doing so?

and on the basic kit, compared to the SS, what level of stiffness (out of the 16 available) would you say the basic is measured at?

 

sorry to vear off topic slightly, but if the tein ss offer damper adjustment, and at the softest they are rock hard, and the tein basics offer no adjustment(leaving me to concur that the ride is just as hard), then is there any setup that offers a good ride but good performance? i don't mean buick soft, or race car performance, but a happy medium of the two? or does the tein basic deliver?

 

feel free to go off topic like that, just as long as its about the tein set up, the more i learn the happier i am

 

Yes, I agree. I'm watching this thread to help me make my own decision between Basic and SS.

 

I have an '02 ES. I must have TEIN. But i have heard that they make nothing for my ride Is this true?? Am i destined to suffer with an inferior suspension?? Say it isn't so!!!

 

They should fit, I think. I didn't see much on the Tein site, but RRM has the Basic kit listed as "Fit 02-04 LANCER OZ, LS and ES!"

 

Yes they fit the ES, but you have to change the 4 upper strut mounts of your ES with the ones of an OZ. This is gonna cost you around 150$ at the dealership.

 

this wont affect my RRM strut bar will it??

 

Whats the minimum drop on the teins? With the amount of snow we get up here it'd be nice if there was a way to get a stiffer and more responsive ride without having to turn the front end into a snow plow.

 

it shouldnt, the bolts at the top of the strut arent changing their position

and damn it, i have an ES, another 150 buck??? sheesh, just another reason to lean twords the basic damper

 

I found the hieght adjustments at the tein site:

FRONT
Approx Lowering
Height Adjust Range
mm/inch
Max/Min(mm/inch)
-36/-1.42 ⇔ -66.52/-2.62

REAR
Approx Lowering
Height Adjust Range
mm/inch
Max/Min(mm/inch)
-4/-0.16 ⇔ -48.88/-1.92

 

i dont think you need to buy new upper strut mounts for the ES. correct me if im wrong, but im pretty sure everything you need is included in the tein coilover kits.

where's urbanknight when u need him?

 

Here I come to save the day!!!!!!!

But you're right, the Tein coilover kits will fit all 3 models without any additional parts. The kit uses a different size spring anyway, so they include new perches with the kit.

 

Not bad, just kinda put off by the talk of a really hard ride. It'd be nice to have a ride thats sporty but not like hit a bug and you feel it.

 

actually you need to buy the front two upper strut mounts and upper strut bearings. i got the mounts from a wholesale website for $40 a piece and the bearings from mitsubishi for $13 for both.