Tein Type Flex Coilovers
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:16 pmLast week's cruise was great, but also very bad as it pointed out that my car was missing something. So I ended up getting a set of Tein coilovers upon returning home. 
Damn you Team Tein!
Anyway, I got them installed this week at the same time as the swaybars, slotted rotors, and brake pads. The results are simply incredible. Night and day difference in handling now. Again, thanks to Phat GT for making it all happen.
Now before you judge me and say to yourself "God, not another mod. This guy is full of himself." Let me just say that I used to run a website dedicated to the performance modifications for the Honda Legend back in the states. When I first started out I had no guidance or information because at the time it just wasn't a car people modified. So I made a lot of mistakes, and eventually logged them on a web site. I just hope by posting up the results and feedback of the mods I've done for the Liberty as well, it helps people to decide whether or not a particular mod is right for them.
Teins - Ride quality is still surprisingly good. Definitely no problems during a street run on the medium firmness setting. You also dial it for a softer or firmer ride, whatever the situation calls for. Yes, the sharp bumps are felt a bit more, but the ride feels more controlled.
I've only lowered it another 10mm in front and 5mm in back, and hopefully it'll drop another 3 - 5mm upon settling. I think that's good enough for now. I'm extremely picky when it comes to fender gap, and regret getting springs because how much fender gap is determine by the spring, not by the owner.
Now I have control over how low I want it. 
Swaybars - I just got the value Whiteline swaybars for front and rear. The car now corners without fuss. Whereas before, even with the Tein S.Tech and Bilsteins, it would always resist when I do a sharp turn. Now it just glides through the turn. Highly recommend for anyone who takes corners as if they were being pursued by drug dealers.
Brakes - Dixcel slotted rotors and brake pads came highly recommended from the Phat man. And his word is the definitive word when it comes to Liberty performance parts IMO.
I didn't think the Brembo's could get better, but the Dixcel's provided much better bite.
I have to re-adjust how hard I step on the brakes now because when I apply the brakes, I find myself lurching forward because just a little press starts to stop the car very quickly. I have yet to bed them in so I can only imagine they will be even more effective then.
Best of all? Low brake dust so I don't curse as much when wiping down the wheels because I'm such a clean car fanatic.
Also the little girl squeal I get when reversing is gone! No more strangers approaching me and telling me I might have a cat under the wheels because it squeals. Bummer, forgot to take any close up pics of the rotors.
Grille - Oh, the last pic also depicts my facelifted grille. The old grille with the pink STi badge went with the STi wheels. But with the new wheels, it required a grille that matched. So I put the Corazon badge on the mesh, making sure to offset it so as to prevent trouble makers like markii from complaining.
Dixcel's slotted rotors
Ai-ya! The sways are yellow!
Re-badged grille
Damn you Team Tein!
Anyway, I got them installed this week at the same time as the swaybars, slotted rotors, and brake pads. The results are simply incredible. Night and day difference in handling now. Again, thanks to Phat GT for making it all happen.
Now before you judge me and say to yourself "God, not another mod. This guy is full of himself." Let me just say that I used to run a website dedicated to the performance modifications for the Honda Legend back in the states. When I first started out I had no guidance or information because at the time it just wasn't a car people modified. So I made a lot of mistakes, and eventually logged them on a web site. I just hope by posting up the results and feedback of the mods I've done for the Liberty as well, it helps people to decide whether or not a particular mod is right for them.
Teins - Ride quality is still surprisingly good. Definitely no problems during a street run on the medium firmness setting. You also dial it for a softer or firmer ride, whatever the situation calls for. Yes, the sharp bumps are felt a bit more, but the ride feels more controlled.
I've only lowered it another 10mm in front and 5mm in back, and hopefully it'll drop another 3 - 5mm upon settling. I think that's good enough for now. I'm extremely picky when it comes to fender gap, and regret getting springs because how much fender gap is determine by the spring, not by the owner.
Now I have control over how low I want it.
Swaybars - I just got the value Whiteline swaybars for front and rear. The car now corners without fuss. Whereas before, even with the Tein S.Tech and Bilsteins, it would always resist when I do a sharp turn. Now it just glides through the turn. Highly recommend for anyone who takes corners as if they were being pursued by drug dealers.
Brakes - Dixcel slotted rotors and brake pads came highly recommended from the Phat man. And his word is the definitive word when it comes to Liberty performance parts IMO.
I didn't think the Brembo's could get better, but the Dixcel's provided much better bite.
I have to re-adjust how hard I step on the brakes now because when I apply the brakes, I find myself lurching forward because just a little press starts to stop the car very quickly. I have yet to bed them in so I can only imagine they will be even more effective then.
Best of all? Low brake dust so I don't curse as much when wiping down the wheels because I'm such a clean car fanatic.
Also the little girl squeal I get when reversing is gone! No more strangers approaching me and telling me I might have a cat under the wheels because it squeals. Bummer, forgot to take any close up pics of the rotors.
Grille - Oh, the last pic also depicts my facelifted grille. The old grille with the pink STi badge went with the STi wheels. But with the new wheels, it required a grille that matched. So I put the Corazon badge on the mesh, making sure to offset it so as to prevent trouble makers like markii from complaining.
Dixcel's slotted rotors
Ai-ya! The sways are yellow!
Re-badged grille
Bob.
..