I've finally had time to take these springs through the motions around my area. I took them through some of my favorite turns. Because of these springs, those turns are no longer favorites. Do keep in mind that my statements or entirely my opinions of these springs.
The Numbers
When compared to the Racing Beat Springs that originally come on the MP3, the S-Tech's are very soft. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find out the exact spring rates of the MP3, but through searching on the boards and making a few phone calls to Racing Beat I found the numbers I've listed below. We all know that the MP3 springs are 27% stiffer than the regular Protege Spring Rates. The regular protege rates are listed at 169ft lb. front and 119ft lb. rear. That translates into 215ft lb. front for the 152lb ft. rear for the MP3. The S-Tech's are 179lb ft. in front and 145lb ft. rear. So....if the MP3 came with the factory protege springs, then everything would be perfect. You'd have a nice rate increase when upgrading to the Teins, but using the S-Tech's for the MP3 is actually a step down in stiffness. This may be nice for some, but it is not what I was looking for.
Ride Difference/Quality
The ride is nice (nice to my girlfriend anyway). But, they are too soft in my opinion, especially in hard corners. The rear end of the car seems to step a lot easier than before when I let off of the gas in the middle of a hard turn. Easier than it did with the Racing Beat springs that is. I know it isn't the alignment because, I had my alignment checked after the install. Big bumps seem a lot more harsh with the softer S-Tech's. I think the springs compress too much, that combined with the lower ride height and mildly tuned Tokico struts which aren't made to operate with this low of a spring is a bad thing. I've been in Protege's with GC's, H&R's and Eibach's, and none seemed this soft. I've heard similar comments from other MP3 owners with the S-Tech's installed. We all noticed that the ride was softer.
Final Comments
I'll be selling these and upgrading to a full coilover setup sometime in the distant future. That of course was my whole plan from day one. The S-Techs are just a cheap, temporary fix for my need to lower the MP3. Those of you who own P5's or Protege Sedans will probably really like the Tein's because they will feel a bit stiffer and give you the lower height you are searching for, while still being friendly on your wallet.
Those are my thoughts on the TEIN S-Tech's. I would by no means call these performance springs, they are just too soft for real track or auto cross use. If, you're looking for something you can use on a track or auto cross with, you're better off spending the extra dough for Teins SS Coilovers w/GC adjustable camber plates or JIC's which come with adjustable uppermounts, maybe even NEX coilovers. The springs rates for the Tein SS Coilovers are 336 lb ft. front and 280lb ft. rear. The JIC rates are 393 lb ft. front 225lb ft. front., not sure what the rates are for NEX After riding in Rishie on Seans cars with the JIC's, I'm convinced I'd be happy with something with that stiffness
The Numbers
When compared to the Racing Beat Springs that originally come on the MP3, the S-Tech's are very soft. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find out the exact spring rates of the MP3, but through searching on the boards and making a few phone calls to Racing Beat I found the numbers I've listed below. We all know that the MP3 springs are 27% stiffer than the regular Protege Spring Rates. The regular protege rates are listed at 169ft lb. front and 119ft lb. rear. That translates into 215ft lb. front for the 152lb ft. rear for the MP3. The S-Tech's are 179lb ft. in front and 145lb ft. rear. So....if the MP3 came with the factory protege springs, then everything would be perfect. You'd have a nice rate increase when upgrading to the Teins, but using the S-Tech's for the MP3 is actually a step down in stiffness. This may be nice for some, but it is not what I was looking for.
Ride Difference/Quality
The ride is nice (nice to my girlfriend anyway). But, they are too soft in my opinion, especially in hard corners. The rear end of the car seems to step a lot easier than before when I let off of the gas in the middle of a hard turn. Easier than it did with the Racing Beat springs that is. I know it isn't the alignment because, I had my alignment checked after the install. Big bumps seem a lot more harsh with the softer S-Tech's. I think the springs compress too much, that combined with the lower ride height and mildly tuned Tokico struts which aren't made to operate with this low of a spring is a bad thing. I've been in Protege's with GC's, H&R's and Eibach's, and none seemed this soft. I've heard similar comments from other MP3 owners with the S-Tech's installed. We all noticed that the ride was softer.
Final Comments
I'll be selling these and upgrading to a full coilover setup sometime in the distant future. That of course was my whole plan from day one. The S-Techs are just a cheap, temporary fix for my need to lower the MP3. Those of you who own P5's or Protege Sedans will probably really like the Tein's because they will feel a bit stiffer and give you the lower height you are searching for, while still being friendly on your wallet.
Those are my thoughts on the TEIN S-Tech's. I would by no means call these performance springs, they are just too soft for real track or auto cross use. If, you're looking for something you can use on a track or auto cross with, you're better off spending the extra dough for Teins SS Coilovers w/GC adjustable camber plates or JIC's which come with adjustable uppermounts, maybe even NEX coilovers. The springs rates for the Tein SS Coilovers are 336 lb ft. front and 280lb ft. rear. The JIC rates are 393 lb ft. front 225lb ft. front., not sure what the rates are for NEX After riding in Rishie on Seans cars with the JIC's, I'm convinced I'd be happy with something with that stiffness
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336 front & 228 rear. still need to fine tune it to my liking though.
