Quick suspension question :)

[Phil_D]

Quick question for you...

Do the lower model 156's and 147's share the same basic suspension setup as the their GTA counterparts, obvioulsy damping, spring rates amd rebound are different but is the basic layout exactly the same ?

If for example you wanted to bolt GTA suspension into a JTD/Twin spark etc... will it bolt in and visa versa ??

Many thanks

Phil

[Damien_C]

What are you thinking Phil

[Phil_D]

I am thinking about sticking some Tein Coilovers into my new 147GTA when i lift it

They fit everything bar the GTA but according to Tein this is just because the could not test them on a GTA..

I have had Tein suspension in my other Jap cars and they are superb, they have now released coilovers for Euro cars and i think i might give them a try as long as they just bolt straight in. I can also sort the spring rates to make them correct for the GTA as Tein are willing to let me do some development with them.

Anyone know the weight difference between the JTD and 3.2 V6 Engines ?

[GhostyDog]

Cmon Phil, you know there's never a quick question when it comes to tuning

[Damien_C]

I saw the Tein's all right Phil. They are pricey though 1550 euro Ex vat They are top notch but my god they are hard on Irish roads. Loads of my buddies have em on their Hondas and they bouncy badly but on a smooth road they are unreal.

What about a set of KW's bud?? They are great I have em on my car.

[David C]

Yes it will all fit.
The upright is different, but a spring/damper unit from a std car will fit a GTA.

[Phil_D]

Excellent news lads, many thanks..The joys of owners forums Should be able to get them a fair bit cheaper than quoted price. The Euro Damper will be nowhere near as harsh as the jap spec stuff thats for sure.

[156Chris]

as a side note ... Koni make 2 versions of the FSDs, one for "normal" 156's and one (£100 cheaper) for the GTA ... the only difference between the 2 is the rebound rate of the rear shocks ... (I think Pud237 is in the process of putting GTA FSDs onto his V6 ...)

[David C]

Originally Posted by Phil_D

Excellent news lads, many thanks..The joys of owners forums Should be able to get them a fair bit cheaper than quoted price. The Euro Damper will be nowhere near as harsh as the jap spec stuff thats for sure.

I was looking at these for mine when they were announced a few years ago. Looked good but didn't have the £££ at the time (still don't... ).

[Damien_C]

Originally Posted by Phil_D

Excellent news lads, many thanks..The joys of owners forums Should be able to get them a fair bit cheaper than quoted price. The Euro Damper will be nowhere near as harsh as the jap spec stuff thats for sure.

Sorted As that would be the only complaint I would have with them. They are really made for Japans perfect roads. You must come to a meet with the car so that you can show us how well the GTA is on the Teins

[Pud237]

Originally Posted by 156Chris

as a side note ... Koni make 2 versions of the FSDs, one for "normal" 156's and one (£100 cheaper) for the GTA ... the only difference between the 2 is the rebound rate of the rear shocks ... (I think Pud237 is in the process of putting GTA FSDs onto his V6 ...)

Yep, as David C said above the fitment of the spring&shock OR coilover unit is exactly the same on a GTA as a normal 156/147, so I thought I'd save meself a ton and get the GTA ones, there's GTAs on here with these dampers and Eibach springs, same springs as what I've ordered, and its not like the rear of a GTA is all that much different to the rear of a standard 156 is it.. Thicker ARB is the only difference I can even think of

[GhostyDog]

Originally Posted by Pud237

Yep, as David C said above the fitment of the spring&shock OR coilover unit is exactly the same on a GTA as a normal 156/147, so I thought I'd save meself a ton and get the GTA ones, there's GTAs on here with these dampers and Eibach springs, same springs as what I've ordered, and its not like the rear of a GTA is all that much different to the rear of a standard 156 is it.. Thicker ARB is the only difference I can even think of

What changes were made to widen the track, aren;t the GTAs supposed to be 2" wider or something?

[156Chris]

Originally Posted by Pud237

Yep, as David C said above the fitment of the spring&shock OR coilover unit is exactly the same on a GTA as a normal 156/147, so I thought I'd save meself a ton and get the GTA ones, there's GTAs on here with these dampers and Eibach springs, same springs as what I've ordered, and its not like the rear of a GTA is all that much different to the rear of a standard 156 is it.. Thicker ARB is the only difference I can even think of

Have you finished fitting them yet ??? (or has the cold winter of up t' north stopped you for a bit )

[David C]

Originally Posted by GhostyDog

What changes were made to widen the track, aren;t the GTAs supposed to be 2" wider or something?

The change in track is just down to the different offset wheels.

It isn't 2" difference though!

[Phil_D]

Looks like it will take till Feb/March to get the Teins into the UK for the 147 unless of course i air freight them in but that will cost a fortune for one set...

[Damien_C]

How much they looking to send it over? I know my KW's took a while to come from Germany about a month.

[Pud237]

Originally Posted by GhostyDog

What changes were made to widen the track, aren;t the GTAs supposed to be 2" wider or something?

What David C said, just half an inch more width on each wheel, plus the change in the offset. I think the total track width is only 1" more.. There really aren't that many differences that can't be retro-fitted to a non-GTA car. The hub carriers are the only really different suspension component..

Originally Posted by 156Chris

Have you finished fitting them yet ??? (or has the cold winter of up t' north stopped you for a bit )

I don't think I'll be doing them for a while.. Its gonna be 2009 before I get around to doing the back, I think I might hold on for a warm spell too. My ex-mechanic grandad works with me and he's seventy now so I don't want him working out while its freezing, but his pride wouldn't let him sit inside while I worked out in his garage.. Some of the little 'techniques' he knows have saved me loads of time. Like splitting balljoints, freeing stuck bolts, its not about strength, technique is so much more important and I as I don't have formal training I'm learning loads from him

[Phil_D]

Originally Posted by Damien_C

How much they looking to send it over? I know my KW's took a while to come from Germany about a month.

About £150 on top of the coilovers to fly them from Japan...

[David C]

Only just noticed it says "Special order item from Japan" for the Tein 156/147 units. I'm sure it didn't say that originally. Mind you, they probably would have been special order, even though they didn't mention it!

[Phil_D]

Yeah stuff that is usually special order, i air freighted in a set of Coilovers for and Evo X took about 4 days but cost a fortune to get them lol

[Damien_C]

Originally Posted by Phil_D

About £150 on top of the coilovers to fly them from Japan...

Pricey but not too bad really if you want them immediately.

Originally Posted by Phil_D

Yeah stuff that is usually special order, i air freighted in a set of Coilovers for and Evo X took about 4 days but cost a fortune to get them lol

Nice I saw an EVO X when I was coming back from belfast sounded cool. You still have your FQ??

[Phil_D]

Sold the evo bought a tvr cerbera sold it and now just have the gta until the summer comes then its tvr time again. Very much along the same ilk as the alfa lots of soul and passion

[Caldo Bollente]

Nice, take it you're getting the EDFC kit for them as well?

[Phil_D]

Sitting on boat with my new gta downstairs. Was looking for somewhere to put the edfc in it but its proving difficult maybe in the glovebox

[Caldo Bollente]

How about the cup / card holder slot, fabricate some sort of fascia or holder to go there?
Shame the lcd illumination isn't red for the oe look could stand out a bit, nevertheless still be a great feature to have, glovebox might be the one, get the copilot to change the settings on the move