Before and After Pictures of Tein S.Tech Springs
 

Just wanted to share my before and after pictures. I installed them myself. Big difference. I love them.

You like? Any questions?

Any change on the rear? I only see front end pics.
Why don't you have clear corners?
How is the ride?

I just finished doing the fronts. Haven't done the rears yet. I'll probably do those in the next week. I'm not expecting much of a change in height for the rears.

I've been debating on the clear corners. I think they look great with the black, white, silver and grey cars. The whole neutrals on neutrals looks great. The clear corners, those cars, look better than the orange. I'd go for that.

On the red, however, the orange ones kinda blend in and don't draw too much attention to themselves providing a more (overall) flowing look. The clear (kinda white looking) corners on red kinda pops out and draws your attention to that point.

I'm going for a subdued black on red theme (not completely there yet). That's why I went with the body colored strakes as opposed to the chrome ones. I would like to eventually get black wheels in keeping with the red/black theme.

Here is the basic idea - it's just a toy model but you get the idea. Imagine red instead of yellow and there ya go.

http://www.rccartips.com/mazda-rx8-body-kit.jpg

Oh yeah - as for the ride.. haven't driven it enough to tell. I just finished.

I'll take it out, put it through its paces and report back.

i been thinking about the s-tech too. Is it hard to install ? how long did it take you?

Thanks for the pics MightyRed! I'm getting my S-techs and Koni shocks installed this week. Can't wait! :ylsuper:

So the picture of the 8 in your sig is only with the front springs installed?

the s techs made your tires less shiney =(

Lucky! I may have to wait a bit on the shocks $$$. But I do want to get those next. Maybe the Tokiko D-Spec. Nice thing about those is that they are both compression and rebound adjustable.

And yes - the picture in my signature is with just the front springs installed. The front fender is about 1/2 inch lower to the ground than the rear fender. I'll probably do the back springs next weekend.

Hard - kinda. It's not too tough. You just need the right tools. 12mm, 14mm, 17mm sockets and a 17mm wrench. Metric allen wrench. Spring compressors, jack stand.. Thats about it.

The first one took forever. Did the second one in 45 minutes start to finish.

Well I decided to go with the Koni's because I've heard very good reviews. Not to mention that Driven Performance Equipment had a group buy here on the forum at a great price. He still has one set left. ;)

rear install? Feel?
 

Have you had a chance to install the rears?

How do you like those springs? If you had to do it over, would you go with another brand?

Thanks

True - but shiny means slippery.. and now that they're less shiny (because of the S.Techs) that simply means the springs have given me more traction.

It's a trade off. Less show - more go! Strike that..

It's got show and go.. yeah!

Haven't put the rears in yet - might just wait until I get new shocks and do both at the same time. So far I really like the new springs. They are stiffer so they tighten up the ride a bit for better response and it feels like they actually reduce body roll a bit. Plus the added advantage of lowering the center of gravity helps with handeling and aerodynamics overall.

Here is a breakdown of the different springs:
Tein HTECH 1" front / 0.3" rear
Autoexe 1" front / 0.8" rear
Eibach 1.2" front / 1.2" rear
Intrax 1.3" front / 0.9" rear
Tein STECH 1.4" front / 0.7" rear
Tanabe 1.4" front / 1.2" rear
B+G S2 1.6" front / 1.6" rear
DropZone 1.8" front/1.8" rear

Since the front fender is higher than the rear fender to start, I wanted to drop the front more than the back to make it level. Therefore, any springs that drop the front and back equally are ruled out.

Next I wanted to drop the front more than an inch - that rules out the H.Tech and Autoexe. Tanabe would have been a good option but they were about $230 with shipping.

I got these S.Tech's brand new - never used for $100! You can't beat that.

Overall I'd say I got the perfect springs at the perfect price. I'm completely satisfied. I got exactly what I wanted.

not bad.
the rear will most likely taking you at least twice as long.
i wouldnt go hard on the corners/bends with a different spring loadings ;-)

Thank you!

More info than i asked. awesome stuff!

I'll prob go with the same springs. I receive my sr motor exhaust at the end of this week. we'll see how that goes!

You know, you guys shouldn't really be swapping springs without swapping shocks at the same time. Unless you care nothing for performance and just want the look, shocks are going to improve your handling much more than the springs. You should really do the entire set together, though. The stock shocks aren't designed for the lower, stiffer springs. A set of adjustable shocks to go with your springs will allow you to fine tune the handling to your liking.

^damn good advice :D:

I agree with that - and plan to put in Tokiko D-Spec's all the way around just as soon as I can come up with about $550. I'm going with the Tokikos over the Konis because they are both rebound and compression adjustable. The handeling is very important to me - it's one of this car's strong points and what I love about it.

I was thinking about waiting until I get the shocks to put in the springs (do them together) but the large space over the front wheels was really getting on my nerves. Now it looks real nice and - in the mean time - the slightly lower center of gravity combined with the slightly stiffened ride has improved the handeling a bit - I think.

I agree with what you're saying - however.. check this out.

I've always thought that the car had alot of understeer when you get on it hard in the turn. Sice I changed the front springs and kept the rear stocks - it's almost perfectly balance now.. to the point of aaaaalmost having just a touch of oversteer.

Makes turning much easier and faster and I get just a hint of drift.

BTW - how about these wheels?

did you paint your stock wheels or had them powder coated. Looks good.

I helped my brother put clear corners on his red (he also has red strakes) and the car looks awesome! The orange doesn't blend with the red at all IMO.

Good luck with the mods.

I just installed my tien stech did you notice a drop immediately or did it settle over time?

I noticed an immediate drop. But that was also because I put the tires on the ground and loaded the suspension before tightening the upper control arm bolts.

If you tighten up the arm bolts first, the suspension may take time to load (settle).

As for the wheels.. I spray painted them myself. They actually turned out pretty nice.

If you haven't put in the rears yet, dont, wait for new shocks, trust me, the last thing you'll want to do twice are the rear springs...

I did springs only, and i am always thinking about how much it's going to suck to have to do everything again when it comes time to do the springs!