Deciding to install the tein flex z gr86 kit was probably the easiest choice I've made since picking the car up from the dealership. If you own a GR86, you already know that will Toyota and Subaru did a wonderful work with the chassis out of the particular box, but there's always that nagging feeling it could be just the little little bit lower and a bit sharper.
The share suspension is ideal for the daily driver, however the wheel gap will be big enough to house a small loved ones of raccoons, as well as the body roll throughout heavy cornering leaves something to become desired. After spending way too many hours scrolling by means of forums and watching YouTube reviews, I actually kept coming back to the Flex Z. It hits that sweet place of being affordable without feeling inexpensive, and it's particularly engineered to enjoy nice with the ZN8 chassis.
Initial Impressions and Out-of-the-Box Quality
When the big green boxes arrived, the first thing I noticed was the particular build quality. Tein has this distinctive green powder covering that you either love or detest, however you can't refuse the finish is top-tier. The tein flex z gr86 setup is a full-length ride height modification system, meaning a person adjust the elevation by moving the bottom bracket rather than compressing the spring. This will be huge because this means you don't lose suspension traveling just because you would like to "dump" the car.
Everything felt solid. The threads were clean, the top mounts appeared sturdy, and it also also comes with reinforced rubber mounts to keep the noise, stoß, and harshness (NVH) down. For the street car, that's a massive plus. I've ridden in cars with solid pillowball mounts that clunk and rattle over every pebble, and honestly, for a daily, that gets old real quick.
The Installation Process
Swapping out the manufacturing plant struts for the tein flex z gr86 coilovers is really a pretty straightforward afternoon project in the event that you have a decent set of equipment and a floor jack. Since these come as the complete assembly—top supports and all—you don't need to mess close to with a questionable spring compressor to reuse your OEM parts. You simply bolt them in, torque everything in order to spec, and you're good to go.
One particular thing I truly appreciated during the install was the coaching manual. Even though Tein is a Japanese company, the English language instructions are apparent, and they provide recommended height configurations right out of the box. We stuck pretty close to their suggestions with regard to the initial drop—about an inch all around—to observe how the vehicle would settle just before getting too aggressive.
How exactly does it Actually Drive?
This is the part everyone cares about you about. You don't buy coilovers just to take a look at them in the garage area.
Street Comfort
I'll be honest, I used to be worried the ride would be as well stiff. I've had "budget" coilovers within the past that felt like riding on bricks. But the tein flex z gr86 uses a twin-tube internal structure. In case you're not a suspension nerd, just about all that really means is it's made to be softer on bumpy town streets compared in order to the stiffer mono-tube designs you discover upon high-end track products.
Around town, it feels remarkably close to share, just "firmer. " You are feeling the street a bit even more, but it's not jarring. It soaks up those little cracks and growth joints without making your teeth chatter. If you're using your own GR86 to travel or carry on road trips, you won't regret this setup.
Handling and Cornering
As soon as you get out there of the town and find some twisty backroads, the difference is night and day. The turn-in is much even more immediate. Since the vehicle sits lower plus the spring prices are higher than stock, that mid-corner "leaning" sensation is definitely almost gone. It feels like the car is pivoting on a point rather than swinging its weight around.
The tein flex z gr86 features 16 levels of damping adjustment. I usually maintain mine right in the middle (8 clicks) for everyday driving. If I'm heading out with regard to a spirited Weekend drive, I'll restrict them up simply by three or 4 clicks. It requires about two minutes to pop the particular hood and the trunk area to make the particular adjustment, and you can actually sense the with each click.
Getting the Perfect Position
Let's be real—a big reason we buy the tein flex z gr86 is perfect for the particular aesthetics. The GR86 has such a classic sports car shape, and lowering this just an inch transforms the whole look. It goes from looking like a "sporty commuter" to a "purpose-built machine. "
With these types of coilovers, I has been able to get eliminate the "monster truck" wheel space while still getting able to clean speed bumps and my driveway. That's the beauty of the adjustable mounting brackets. You can fine-tune it until this looks exactly just how you desire. Just keep in mind that in case you go super low, you'll most likely want to look directly into adjustable rear lower control arms in order to keep your alignment in check.
Longevity and the "Sealed" Design
One thing that comes up often in discussions about the tein flex z gr86 is that they are "sealed" products. Most high-end coilovers could be sent back to the producer to be rebuilt if they eventually wear out. You can't do that using the Flex Z.
At first, that sounds like a downside. However, Tein's philosophy right here is actually fairly smart. Instead of paying $150+ per corner plus shipping to have them rebuilt (which can take weeks), you can just buy a replacement damper cartridge through Tein for the fraction of the particular cost of a fresh kit. You simply change your existing spring suspensions and mounts on to the new container and you're back again on the road. For a street car, this will be far more convenient.
Is the EDFC Worthy of It?
In case you really desire to decrease the rabbit hole, the particular tein flex z gr86 is definitely compatible with Tein's EDFC (Electronic Dissipating Force Controller). This is a little module that sits in your own cabin and lets you adjust the particular stiffness from the shock absorbers with a switch. Some versions use GPS and G-sensors to adjust the damping automatically based on how you're driving.
I actually haven't pulled the particular trigger on the particular EDFC yet, yet it's an awesome upgrade way to have. If you find yourself constantly fiddling with the knobs because you would like soft for the highway and rigid for the off-ramps, it might end up being worth the extra money.
Final Thoughts Right after 5, 000 Mls
I've place about 5, 000 miles on my tein flex z gr86 setup now, including a couple of long trips and plenty of mountain runs. I haven't observed any weird noises, leaks, or loose. The car seems planted, looks incredible, and most significantly, it's still fun to drive every individual day.
When you're a professional racer looking in order to shave tenths of a second off your lap time at Laguna Seca, you might like to look at some thing more hardcore (and expensive). But intended for 90% of GR86 owners who would like the better-looking car that will handles significantly better than stock without having to sacrifice their spine, the particular Flex Z is a no-brainer.
It's one of those rare modifications where you feel as if you got more than you paid for. The GR86 is already the future classic, and giving it a suitable suspension setup such as this just feels such as finishing the job the engineers began. If you're on the fence, just do it. Your car—and your eyes every period you look back at it in the parking lot—will thank you.