Tein Tension Rods VS OEM Tension Rods

[jobestudios]

Okay, so I got that balljoint thats dead on my car, the dealership wants to replace the whole LCA, so that will cost $95. They also said my tension rods are going too, the bushings are completly cracked to hell. So overall it will cost 400 with labour$

So, what should I do, buy a Tein Tension Rod package for 200$ and do the labor myself, essentially saving 100, or should I just leave it at Nissan and have them replace the stuff.

Cliffs
Option A) Leave at Dealership, OEM parts (right LCA and two tension rods)
Option B) Drive it home, Tein Tension rod with OEM right LCA

Questions:
Is there a noticable difference between OEM and Tein Tension rods?
Is is too hard to replace Tension rods and Lower control arms?

[g6civcx]

The tension rods will make a big difference for you, even if you get new OEM bushings. They're very easy to install. I don't know what car this is, but usually you just need a socket/ratchet, a wrench, and a breaker bar. Just remove and torque the new ones in place. Pretty simple. Took me under 15 minutes to do with no lift and no power tools.

There may be a big difference going to Tein as well.

Just make sure you torque them to specs and no more. Since most aftermarket tension rods are aluminium. If you torque the bolts too much then you may strip the bolts since they're pressed on, and not welded on. So just use a torque wrench.

LCA you may want to have someone installed since it's a little more involved. If you haven't done one before it may be a little tricky, but if you're set on it, get an FSM and go on from there. You don't have to use special tools by just beating the hell out of it, but do yourself a favour and go to your local parts store and get the appropriate tool to remove the various joints. Will be worth the $20-30.

[Irukandji]

Questions:
Is there a noticable difference between OEM and Tein Tension rods?
Is is too hard to replace Tension rods and Lower control arms?

It all depends on how much work you've done on your own car. Personally I hate paying for someone else to work on my car, since the mechanic will overcharge/not do the job right/cut corners etc (just from my past experience). The tension rods are a very simple install and you should be able to do it easily with the right tools. Whether or not you should buy the Tein tension rods totally depends on if you actually need them. Frankly, you should be fine with new bushings for the tension rods ($20 on flebay).

Sparknotes: get tension rod bushings and have a machine shop press them in. LCA and tension rods are easy to swap/install with the right tools.

GL

[jobestudios]

Its a s13, I'm going to ask my instructor at the tech college if I could do it during my lab day, because then I could use an impact wrench, torque wrench and a lift. Plus I'd have ASE certified mechanics who are my teachers if i needed help...

[theicecreamdan]

install everything yourself, none of it is all that involved, and then take it in for an alignment.

[jobestudios]

yeah, when me and my freind were out in the snow doing his sr20de swap, we dropped it through the bottom, so I dont think there is anything that I haven't seen under there.

[Cronic]

if you are goig to keep the car stock, buy the replacement bushings and have a machine shop press in the bushings. do the labor yourself its really not hard at all its just 3 nuts and 1 bolt per rod.

however if you plan to upgrade suspension components, I highly reccomend getting the spl tensin rods from splparts.com, they are far superior to the teins. and they are only $169.

[NemeGuero]

+1 for SPL and install the bishes yourself.

AND ALIGNMENT! I need one really bad..

[Wei240]

diy,
if anything just the tein tension rod, if you know how to install a strut bar, you'll know how to replace a tension rod...