Interesting info on Tein RA vs Tein RE

[X-TNSIV]

FYI, I just spoke with the Tein reps at the D1 drift contest.




I asked the reps why the Tein RE's tend to understeer so much on my car and why they decided on the spring rates that they did?

here is the info on my setup.

Tein RE's: full soft in front, 3 clicks in the rear
Front camber -.8 degrees
Rear camber -2.0 degrees
Comptech adjustable sway bars at full soft in front and full stiff in rear
SO-3 tires 225/35/18 front and 275/30/19 rear

here are the 3 key points that I discussed with them concerning their spring rates. (I know that Chris from SOS was trying to work something out with Tein on changing their spring rates, but I don't believe anything successful came out of it)

1) I told them that most people who mod their wheel combos generally are running a much wider rear wheel/tire ratio vs stock, thus naturally inducing more understeer.

2) the suspension on the Tein RE's tend to be very aggressive in spring rates in general.

3) the suspension has a natural tendency to understeer pretty heavily due to the spring rate choices between the front and rear of the car.

from what I was told, Tein uses the same driver to tune each line of their suspension kits.

-The Tein RA is tuned by one of their U.S. drivers, and he likes it a certain way.

-The Tein RE driver is from Japan, who likes the suspension much stiffer and likes a different feel from the car.

I've never driven a car on Tein RA's so I can't comment on the suspension differences in person, but if you are looking for coil-overs and want the "softer" version, go with the RA's.

I haven't done my research to actually see if the spring rates vary between the sets or not...I'm simply restating what the reps told me. Maybe the main difference is in the strut valving???

Allen

 

[Nimbus]

RE and RA both come with the same spring rates: 10k/150mm front, 12k/200mm rear.

I had no understeer problems at all with my Type RE. I think your other variables like alignment specs, sway bars, tire contact patch have more to do with your understeer/oversteer issues.

 

[ncdogdoc]

I thought those that complained said the Teins oversteered, not understeered

 

[Ponyboy]

Yeah, I'm thinking that it's your alignment and swaybar settings. Most everyone complains (if it's not driver error) that the Tein's have a tendency to oversteer. Not saying your wrong or anything.

If I'm not mistaken, your alignment and swaybar settings would indicate a setting for understeer. Maybe try front 2 degree neg camber and rear 1 degree rear camber. And make the front sway firm and the rear a bit softer. That should turn the rear end around a bit.

 

[kenjiMR]

I'm currently running TEIN RA with 10kg/10kg. Dali street/track adjustable bars.
I'm still fiddling with the damper settings, but the sway bars are currently set to full soft in the rear and full stiff in the front. WIth this setup, the car understeers just slightly.

Tires are 215/45/17 and 265/35/18.

It seems like your sway bar setting is opposite of what I have. It seems like your car would oversteer instead of understeer.