JIC or TEIN

[EricP]

planning to get full coil over suspension. I posted about a month ago about this. It was only Tein's i was interested in.....but recently did some research on JIC. WHICH IS GOOD?!?!?JIC OR TEIN??

[adey]

I think you'd be happy with either. Back when Tein were first coming out with stuff, everyone seemed to like their stuff a lot; people were buying HAs left and right, while a couple of 240 guys picked up HEs.
However, there's been a little bit of a shift lately away from TEIN, towards JIC in particular, as well as others. People don't tend to think that Tein are that great anymore, with complaints coming in from HA owners in the snowbelt who speak of rusting components on their HAs.

I know one or two people who absolutely hate their TEINs, and very few who like them that much. Sitting in an FC3S 'vert with teins and 8/6 spring rates (same as my JIC spring rates on my 240) I can say that the dampening of my JICs are superior to that of the tein HAs, but that's not exactly comparing apples to apples. Maybe red apples to green apples, but they aren't aimed at the same market.

Someone like Dousan36 though, who has HEs in his 240 and has driven my 240 with FLT-A2s might be able to give you a better overview. Generally though, I'd say that JIC are probably better pieces than Tein HEs or HAs. If you plan on getting something like the TEIN HT, RE or even RA... then they may be worth their money, but if you're staying with the lower-end HA/HE/HR and possibly the new FLEX, then you might consider your alternatives.
ZEAL and APEX'i seem to be very, very good pieces, JIC and HKS are also quite good.


edit: may I also suggest you take a good look at a relatively well matched set of shocks and springs; they can do wonders to the performance of your car for a much lower price.
Coilovers have basically been decided to only be useful if you will be going to track days and/or auto-X, although if you plan on competing in auto-x, your coilovers may put you in a highly, HIGHLY competitive class...

[SilviaDriver]

i talk to a couple of people and they all suggested to go wtih the JIC FLT-A2s

thats what ima get in the near future, but not right now my koni adj. and sportline are good enough for now

[christopher]

I would agree that you should look into getting springs/shocks. Just check it out because you could save yourself some money. If you don't need the height adjustability for any practical reason, it is worth looking at.

That said, if you are getting coilovers for sure, I would go JIC. I don't know, they just seem to be better right now. Clearly both Tien and JIC are good but for the money, the JIC's seem to be the ticket. Where I live most people go with coilovers if they drive in the winter, or else they'd just be snow plows. However those who garage their cars in the winter all seem to roll on springs/shocks.

Good Luck.

[Dousan_PG]

i have HEs HATE THEM.
i rode in adeys' car. my god even on the softer settings his suspension was stiffer then mine on the stiffest. so jealous. i want to knock him on the head unconscience and swap haha..

im never getting Teins again. puny shock too. soft valving. bad for me (track whore). JUNK

going w/ Kei Office XRs soon. maybe few months order them


i say go w/ the JIcs. might cost more but you wont be disappointed!

[EricP]

Well....i was getting TEIN FLEX for $800(brand new). I think that's a fairly good deal. If i am going for JIC's what the price i'm looking at cuz i can't really look at retail prices. They are just really not accurate.

[Dousan_PG]

eric, it depends what you do!!

if you go to the track..a lot or quite alot, then get JICs. if you are 90% street then get teins, comfort is for tein. JIC is much stiffer so more of a 'track' weekend warrior (like almost every weekend) setup.

it depends on what you do

also dont get coilovers if yo'll never adjust them. just get shocks and springs and save money. but the teins are pretty cheap (imho because of quality and options). BUT the Flex is a good setup. i have a friend who has it and he enjoys it VERY much. no complaints. and you can add the EDFC to the Flex. good option.

sounds like your a street guy. get flex then

[FRpilot]

im thinkin about getting type flex for my daily driving 240 since everyone says that they are awesome for the streets.. where did you find type flex for $800? or is it just a hookup you got?

[EricP]

ya i'm mostly street. NEVER been to a track. I do mtn runs though.

[EricP]

it's a hook-up.

[Dousan_PG]

eric, i say go w/ flex. good street and if you do the mountain stuff great for that too. you can even do some good auto-x on them. my friend drifts w/ them (but has a lot of other suspension mods too).

and for that price, cant complain! great price

[KAisbetter]

i have the jic flta2... and i like them alot...
i would have to recommend jic over tein... i have used both...

[TRUENOCOUPE]

Have any of you guys blown a JIC FLTA2's within months?

Im totally going with JIC right now and Im about 98% sure Im going to order one for my S13 but im doing a couple of research see if any of you guys have any trouble for drift set up.

Thanks
Al

[nokeone]

blah blah blah

the majority of the people using these coilovers will not notice a drastic difference between Tein and JIC...

only those track whores like Dousan, Adey, Trueno, etc who do events at least once a month and maybe more will notice a serious difference...

i have the TEIN HE's and must say that i am quite pleased...i have not even set them to the stiffest damper yet..i am on 6 of 16 all the way around...so i could tighten them a full 10 more clicks...and they are great...they performed perfectly fine at DD6 in San Fran...

of course the JIC FLT-A2's with their 30mm Strut Piston will be superior..but there is also a few hundred dollars difference between them...

anyway just my opinion..

:)

[TRUENOCOUPE]

Do it once, Do it right and money shouldn't be involve if trying to hit the right stuff.

This is why I go deeper on research rather than jumping on the wagon.

[KEINsm]

I am very skeptical of JIC's. They are not a company that is known to produce good suspension.
It is only recently that they have improved little by little and released the FLT-A2 line.
Tein, on the other hand, has a very long history of specialized suspension development in international racing such as the WRC.
Plus, they now have a full rebuilding option here in the US.
If you want to compare apples and apples, take the JIC FLT-A2 and compare it with any of Tein's R-series coilovers.
The H-series is designed for street use and isn't in the exact same category as the FLT-A2's.
The Tein RS (which is one of the only coilovers which provide bound/rebound adjustment) would be the best choice for those seeking lap records.

If I had the money to get the FLT-A2's, I would save up a little bit more for the Tein R-series which most circuit racers in Japan say is clearly better.

[TRUENOCOUPE]

hmm...

Thanks for the advise. Is not what history made its what the driver needs. I can honestly get some ghetto AGX 8 Way Adjsutable and make my own Coilovers and probably work well with the JIC's or Teins. Reason why Im going straight purchasing a complete coilovers to save time and research and Development.

I might go with Teins R's, I have read an article over at Grassroot and it seems to be a very nice Coilover set up.

Thanks again.

-Al

[nuttypboy]

I have a question. If any of you found Tein RA's and Jic FLTA2's for around the same price, which would you pick?

[Ni5mo180SX]

The FLTA2s. You have to keep in mind, the FLTs are JICs highest line, equivilant to say the Zeal B6s in terms of features and quality. The difference lies in the fact that the Zeals are nearly $700 more. For what? The Zeal name?? I dont see whats so special about Zeal other then the fact that they have a complete lack of support for grass roots/amateur drivers i.e. $250/pair brake pads :confused:

As far as a comparision with Tein, I intiially thought Id pick up a Tein setup but quite a few of my friends were ending up with blown shocks (they had models ranging from HA-RA). Also, I wasnt so keen on the RA having such a long stroke compared to the FLT.