Ordered some Tein s techs a while back and just got around to putting them on about a month ago. Well, I started putting them on and got rained out, so was only able to finish the front springs, then about 3 week later, which was last week on Monday was able to put the rear on.

I hadn't been driving the car since I only had the front on and still had the stock on the rear. The front dropped completely after a couple of days. It's nice and low, looks really good. But it's been a week since putting the rear on and there is still a 2 inch gap from the tire to the fender and has stayed like that. That's more space than the stock had.

Anyone have any idea of what's going on?
If there has already been a discussion on this, I apologies, just send me a link, please don't slam me.

Thanks.

 

Did you add any preload to the springs?

 

there is no way to preload the rears. just be patient.

did you cut the bump stops?

 

you sure you swung the sway bar back to normal position?

 

Did everything right, except forgot to cut the bumb stops. Strange thing is, I didn't cut the front bump stops either, but the front is fine. Also, I used to have an Eclipse and didn't cut them on that car and everything was fine there.

I emailed TEIN about forgetting to cut them and they said it may only be bad for the strut because of when I hit bumps, they didn't mention anything about the springs not settling. But I was kind of thinking it was the bump stops. I can't do anything right now, so when I get a chance I will redo the rear and cut the stops and see what that does.

 

bump stops aren't your problem.
not to repeat, but are you absolutely sure you installed the sway bar back in the correct position?

 

My S-Tech's sit just a tad too high in the rear for me as well. I have had them on for a year. Sometimes it looks correct...other times it looks like it sits high on one side, depending on where I park.

The correct question here is if you are on stock shocks. If so, it will be a little high with S-Tech's. If you go aftermarker, like Koni Yellows or Blisten HD's, the rear will actually look a LOT better. Hope that helps from another S-Tech user.

 

^

i have/had same thought, my rear didn't go as low as i though it would. I have stock shocks still as well. But i swear i see stock rx8's that look like they tuck the wheel more then me

i wonder, measure from the ground up to the fender (as long as ur on stock wheel size 18x45) this will work, see what the difference is..)

 

Positive the sway bar is connected correctly. Checked it earlier and everything looks good.

I can only assume it is the bump stops, or, it just needs more time to settle. Here are some pictures I just went outside and took. If you notice, the front is slammed, but the rear is just kind of floating. I don't mind if it is a little above the wheel, but this is too high. Honestly, it's the same height as my stock springs were if not a little higher.

This is the only mod I have other than my ignition wires, and I really don't consider that upgrade really a mod. Everything else is stock.

 

And by the way, SilverHokie, those are some nice wheels.

 

Here is a shot of my rear wheel S-techs on R3 Bilsteins. I can squeeze two fingers on the rears, and only one on the fronts. Idk what is going on with your drop, something just doesnt seem right...are you sure your back springs are actually REAR springs?

edit: Must be the stock shocks you have then.

 

Lies, the Jew and I have done it... just gotta take a jack and jack up beneath the rotor area (I forgot where) loosen the control arm bolts and retighten them so the bushings are preloaded... lol

ill upload pics of my car on Tein S. Techs and Koni Yellows..

 

I measured 27" from ground to fender on the rear and 25 1/8" on the front.

WTBRotary, I will try to preload the rear in a couple of days when I get a chance and see what happens.

 

The same has happened to me. I installed the twin stechs and the front did drop nicely, but the rear is just the same as stock. I thought they would settle with time but it has been around 8 months since I installed them and they look the same.
If there is a real way to preload the rear suspension I would be really happy for I don't want to spend $1000 in coilovers.

 

SPHINX144, maybe me and you just got a bad batch. But, I will try to preload like WTBRotary said. If that doesn't work I will just have to wait and get coilovers. I planned on getting coilovers later on, but I wanted to have a nice height on my car as I was waiting until I got the money.

 

The proper way to measure (on flat ground) is from the wheel center to the fender, not to the ground. Think about it, More weight in the car will make the fenders closer to the wheels. Pics are worthless, measure again and post up the specs. Not all 8's are equal, tire size, brand, air pressure, etc. all can affect the height a little bit. Also, are you sure you put all the bushings back in correctly and that the rears are fully seated? Did the safety screw that goes in from the bottom go all the way in?

 

referencing expo1's thread

 

I preloaded everything before I tightened any bolts. This picture was the next day and it has settled pretty good for me. I'm on stock shocks with less than a 1/4 of gas. Hope this picture helps.

 

I thank everyone for the help, I really appreciate everyone trying figure out what's going on. Although, again, the sway bar is in the right place. Everything was put back the way it was taken off or loosened. Also, I didn't completely remove the sway bar, only a side at a time was removed just to move it out of the way as the strut was taken out. And then after the strut was put back in the sway bar was tightened back up. Then I repeated the other side.

I will measure the height tomorrow the correct way, but I can tell you it is not sitting at the height it should be. I will redo the rear here in about a week when I have a chance and I will preload everything. That is the only thing I can think of that would be the problem. I am hoping that will do the trick.

 

hmm, looking at the picture again, that may not be the best reference

I only say sway bar because when I was installing my shocks, I guess I didn't swing the sway bar all the way back to normal position. I didn't remove them either, just swung them out of the way. When I lowered the car off the jack, the car was HIGH and I immediately noticed that a lot of the weight was resting on the endlinks, causing them to bend.

But seeing as you're sure it's installed correctly, I guess the search continues.

 

Ok, finally got a reply back from TEIN conserning the springs, here's what they said,

"Thank you for your reply. Not cutting the bump stops will not have an effect on lowering the vehicle. The estimated settling time is usually a week or <100 miles.

Not getting the full drop out of a RX8 when installing any lowering products is very common due to the multi arm link set up. For more information on how to properly install these springs, please give us a call at....."

I will give them a call on Monday.

 

Let us know what they say. Did you undo the bars to get the rears out? I'm not sure how you would remove the assembly without doing that but some have done it to my surprise.

 

Hm, I love the part about not getting the full drop. I did not see that one on the web site.... Just did H-Tech and D-Spec. Yes, please post the "special instructions" It will be one week and about 350 miles tomorrow. Still have half an inch to go. The car looks great and handles great, but that half an inch would be cool....

 

raise the rear, put on jack stand, take off rear wheels, lose all nuts and blots on links on cross member side, jack up the rear wheel one at a time until the jack point just lift off the jack stand, and tight the nuts and bolts.

 

That was the installation procedure. Might try raising them a little more and see what happens.