"Raine's SC300 (KEIRA 2.0) From the Beginning to End."
She's looking good and getting even better.
07-02-12, 12:46 PM
#23
03.29.07
Comfort Spec
- I finally ordered a set of TEIN CS-T (Comfort Spec) coilovers. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure why I chose these first, maybe the whole "luxury car is comfortable" idea. Anyhow, the CS-T's had mild valving and 10kg/6kg spring rates.
After installing them the first time, the ride was nice and comfortable – as advertised. Turn-in was a little more crisp, there was less dive during braking… but the ride height was high. Back to the garage, I jacked up the car, adjusted the coil overs lower, and then checked the ride height again - still too high. Car went up again, and I dialed the coil overs to the lowest setting as possible – even if the springs weren’t held in place at full extension - and WTF it was still too high for my taste! From the photo above, the CS-T's at lowest setting were almost identical in height to the Espelir ASD setup! No bueno for me, but I had to wait until the next weekend to install the solution.
Comfort Spec
- I finally ordered a set of TEIN CS-T (Comfort Spec) coilovers. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure why I chose these first, maybe the whole "luxury car is comfortable" idea. Anyhow, the CS-T's had mild valving and 10kg/6kg spring rates.
After installing them the first time, the ride was nice and comfortable – as advertised. Turn-in was a little more crisp, there was less dive during braking… but the ride height was high. Back to the garage, I jacked up the car, adjusted the coil overs lower, and then checked the ride height again - still too high. Car went up again, and I dialed the coil overs to the lowest setting as possible – even if the springs weren’t held in place at full extension - and WTF it was still too high for my taste! From the photo above, the CS-T's at lowest setting were almost identical in height to the Espelir ASD setup! No bueno for me, but I had to wait until the next weekend to install the solution.
Last edited by raine; 08-01-12 at 01:29 PM.
07-02-12, 12:48 PM
#24
04.06.07
Back to FLEX
- The next weekend I pulled the CS-T's off the car, and in their place I installed a new set of TEIN Type-FLEX coil overs that I ordered during the previous week. I ran the FLEX coil overs on my S14 and they've proven themselves to be excellent street performers, their daily ride was still comfortable, and I had never had any reliability problems with them. The most important feature though compared to the CS-T’s were that the FLEX had fully adjustable damper lengths so I could set the ride height where I wanted it to be independent of the spring preload. The FLEX came with 14kg/8kg spring rates.
Much better, that's more like it!
Quickie pic with Dorothy, one of our models at the old office. Those gold emblems have to go.
The FLEX coilovers solved the ride height problem with room to spare. I’ve tried many different brands/models of coilovers over the years, from stiff Cusco’s to teeth-rattling HKS drift spec to springy Megan’s to Tanabe’s that were actually on par with the FLEX but a pinch more bouncy on rough road… and overall for a daily-driven, street car I prefer the FLEX. I’m sure people who may have the above listed coilovers or other brands might disagree, but this is personal preference. I think the combination of performance handling/ride comfort/coilover features/price of the FLEX as the best choice for a street driven vehicle – emphasis on STREET DRIVEN – because if you think about it, that’s where most of us drive, right?
Back to FLEX
- The next weekend I pulled the CS-T's off the car, and in their place I installed a new set of TEIN Type-FLEX coil overs that I ordered during the previous week. I ran the FLEX coil overs on my S14 and they've proven themselves to be excellent street performers, their daily ride was still comfortable, and I had never had any reliability problems with them. The most important feature though compared to the CS-T’s were that the FLEX had fully adjustable damper lengths so I could set the ride height where I wanted it to be independent of the spring preload. The FLEX came with 14kg/8kg spring rates.
Much better, that's more like it!
Quickie pic with Dorothy, one of our models at the old office. Those gold emblems have to go.
The FLEX coilovers solved the ride height problem with room to spare. I’ve tried many different brands/models of coilovers over the years, from stiff Cusco’s to teeth-rattling HKS drift spec to springy Megan’s to Tanabe’s that were actually on par with the FLEX but a pinch more bouncy on rough road… and overall for a daily-driven, street car I prefer the FLEX. I’m sure people who may have the above listed coilovers or other brands might disagree, but this is personal preference. I think the combination of performance handling/ride comfort/coilover features/price of the FLEX as the best choice for a street driven vehicle – emphasis on STREET DRIVEN – because if you think about it, that’s where most of us drive, right?
Last edited by raine; 08-01-12 at 01:29 PM.
07-02-12, 12:50 PM
#25
06.01.07
Middle Buttons
- Within seconds after installing the FLEX coil overs, I missed having the convenience of EDFC (I also had it on my S14) so I bought the newer v2 (black) EDFC controller and installed it into the car. I thought of fitting the EDFC control box behind the shifter, but the depth was too shallow, so as an experiment I took apart the controller face and custom fitted it into the shifter surround instead.
The EDFC, if you don’t know, allows the driver to adjust the dampening of the coilovers remotely. Normally to adjust dampening on coil overs, you have to get out of the car, pop the hood (or trunk), turn a dial, close the hood/trunk, get back in your car, then go. With the EDFC just push a button and the electronic motors on top of the coil overs do the adjustment for you! You can go from full soft to full stiff in about 2.5 seconds. The EDFC also has 3 presets you can adjust for your own dampening settings. Contrary to what some people think, the EDFC does NOT change ride height.
Anyhow, the EDFC is great – I have my personal “daily driver” setting in the “P2” memory slot. I have “P1” set at a stiff setting that works for windy, curvy mountain roads (i.e. heading to the casino heh!) and in “P3” I have a third setting that’s dialed in for absolute comfort… for the ladies, I guess. Hah! Anyhow, I always recommend the FLEX/EDFC combo to anyone that asks.
Middle Buttons
- Within seconds after installing the FLEX coil overs, I missed having the convenience of EDFC (I also had it on my S14) so I bought the newer v2 (black) EDFC controller and installed it into the car. I thought of fitting the EDFC control box behind the shifter, but the depth was too shallow, so as an experiment I took apart the controller face and custom fitted it into the shifter surround instead.
The EDFC, if you don’t know, allows the driver to adjust the dampening of the coilovers remotely. Normally to adjust dampening on coil overs, you have to get out of the car, pop the hood (or trunk), turn a dial, close the hood/trunk, get back in your car, then go. With the EDFC just push a button and the electronic motors on top of the coil overs do the adjustment for you! You can go from full soft to full stiff in about 2.5 seconds. The EDFC also has 3 presets you can adjust for your own dampening settings. Contrary to what some people think, the EDFC does NOT change ride height.
Anyhow, the EDFC is great – I have my personal “daily driver” setting in the “P2” memory slot. I have “P1” set at a stiff setting that works for windy, curvy mountain roads (i.e. heading to the casino heh!) and in “P3” I have a third setting that’s dialed in for absolute comfort… for the ladies, I guess. Hah! Anyhow, I always recommend the FLEX/EDFC combo to anyone that asks.
Last edited by raine; 08-01-12 at 01:29 PM.
07-02-12, 12:52 PM
#26
08.28.07
Splashy
- Picked up a set of rain visors the SC300. They use double-sided tape to attach to the window frame, and installation was a matter of minutes. This was one of those “impulse buys” and afterward I learned that there were actual factory rain visors (Toyota-branded) that cost 3-times more. $100+ for essentially the same item but with a Toyota brand on it. Alright – it’s not a “genuine Toyota” part but so what? It’s a simple piece of plastic. Nothing mission-critical here.
Splashy
- Picked up a set of rain visors the SC300. They use double-sided tape to attach to the window frame, and installation was a matter of minutes. This was one of those “impulse buys” and afterward I learned that there were actual factory rain visors (Toyota-branded) that cost 3-times more. $100+ for essentially the same item but with a Toyota brand on it. Alright – it’s not a “genuine Toyota” part but so what? It’s a simple piece of plastic. Nothing mission-critical here.
Last edited by raine; 07-03-12 at 01:34 PM.
07-02-12, 12:54 PM
#27
09.14.07
Softer Skins
Browsing the forum classified ads, I saw a post pop up where the seller was offering a super clean, super soft, OEM tan leather interior set complete for about $150 (if I remember right). Two complete front seat leathers with headrest covers, complete rear seat leather, and center console compartment lid leather, all flawless with the exception of a small section near the drivers side shoulder where the threading needed repair (though the leather was fine). I picked it up ASAP because though I got my leather seats all nice and clean, there was a lot of cracking, especially on the driver and passenger seat bottoms. The new leather was off a 1998 car too, so less mileage and a lot softer to the touch than what was in my car. Luckily for me, one of my friend’s parents owned A&L Upholstery, a local shop near me. I had them repair the stitching and swap out my old leather for the newer leather.
Super smooth, soft to the touch, and smells good. Oh the leather seating surfaces are new, too :P That’s Tatum, another one of the models at the old office.
(continued on post #31)
Softer Skins
Browsing the forum classified ads, I saw a post pop up where the seller was offering a super clean, super soft, OEM tan leather interior set complete for about $150 (if I remember right). Two complete front seat leathers with headrest covers, complete rear seat leather, and center console compartment lid leather, all flawless with the exception of a small section near the drivers side shoulder where the threading needed repair (though the leather was fine). I picked it up ASAP because though I got my leather seats all nice and clean, there was a lot of cracking, especially on the driver and passenger seat bottoms. The new leather was off a 1998 car too, so less mileage and a lot softer to the touch than what was in my car. Luckily for me, one of my friend’s parents owned A&L Upholstery, a local shop near me. I had them repair the stitching and swap out my old leather for the newer leather.
Super smooth, soft to the touch, and smells good. Oh the leather seating surfaces are new, too :P That’s Tatum, another one of the models at the old office.
(continued on post #31)
Last edited by raine; 07-30-12 at 02:02 PM.
07-02-12, 02:14 PM
#30
I'm surprised how well you've documented everything you've done to Keira 2.0. And I'm also surprised that with hundreds of people who viewed the thread there's only 29 posts, lol! I guess people would rather get drift, swap, boost, stance, etc builds...