I'm getting realy close to upgraded my shocks/springs to some coilovers. I had almost settled on TEIN Comfort Sports with EDFC for my G35, so that I could maintain stock ride comfort for day to day driving and then stiffen it up for the track. TEIN CS's have spring rates of 7.0/7.0 kg/mm F/R.

However, I have heard good things about the Tanabe's with the TEAS (same thing as EDFC, in cabin electronically adjustable dampening force). Looking at the Tanabe website, the SUSTEC Pro 7's have a 10.0/10.0 F/R spring rates and the SUSTEC Pro 5's have 10.0/8.0 spring rates. Other than that, I can't find any differences between the two. Is there something I am missing? (I am going to email Tanabe as well, to get their answer, but if anyone has any experience, I'd love to hear opinions.

Obviously, both of those would be much stiffer than the 7.0/7.0 spring rates of the TEIN Comfort Sports, but it may be worth it, considering I track my G about once a month.

Dave

 

Well, here's the answer I got:

Someone explain it to me?

 

Tanabe Sevens are a full coilover setup includes:

front adjustable camber plates
ride height adjustability
damper and redbound adjustability

Tanabe Fives are an entry level coilover setup includes:

front adjustable camber plates (i believe are optional)
ride height adjustability
damper and rebound adjustability

the main difference between the 5s and the 7s are that the 5s are more balanced between street and track. as opposed to the 7s which is a track setup with harsher, stiffer settings.

 

There are no adjustable camber plates for either kit, the ride hight adjustment and damping force adjustment are a given.

David, what the tech response was alluding to is the Seven's ability to adjust ride hight separate of the spring perch adjustment. The entire damper assembly may move up and down in the lower casing, without affecting the spring perch collar, and by default, spring pre-load. So, you can move the spring perch up and down the damper body and alter spring pre-load and ride height, or you can move the entire assembly up and down in the lower casing, which will not affect spring pre-load or travel but change ride hight. If you look at a picture on their website of the Seven, you will see a threaded collar that allows the entire damper body to move up and down in the lower casing independent of where the spring perch is set.

The other difference will be the valving. My understanding is that the Seven's use a slide valve mechanism that can vary flow restriction on the fly, as opposed to individual settings based on orifice size/shim stack arrangement. How well this works is speculation right now. I have not seen anything quantifiable on these coil-overs.

If you get them, you might be the first to put them through their paces on the track, so please post a review on them if you do.

Will

 

i stand corrected ^

 

Resolute,

Thanks for the explanation. Just to clarify... the ride height and spring pre-load can be adjusted independently of each other with the Pro Seven, but not with the Pro Five?

 

Thanks, Will. That does help explain it. I think I will begetting the fives this summer, based on my desire for an in cabin adjustable coilover, that is suitable for daily driving (40 or so miles to work), and also is better than the stock 6MT setup on the track.

Dave

 

make sure you research replacment part costs...someone else just found out the hard way (z350boy)

 

the pro 7s are great coilovers. I've taken to track and performed great. I drive the car everyday and its a great ride as well. talk to reggie at tanabe

 

i've also read that the dampening on the 7s are almost softer than stock when adjusted to its lowest setting can anyone clarify? im looking to upgrade my suspension once tax comes in. I want something that can perform great for weekend tracking as well as daily driving.

 

Digging up the dead post...LOL

Hey Dave, did you end up getting the Tanabes? Which did you get the Fives or the Sevens? can you review them for us?

Thanks in advance,

teh Sponge

 

I got the Pro Sevens. Intense has installed them, but my car is still at Intense pending completion of the powertrain portion of the build. I hope to have my G back soon (next month?). Once I get my G back, I intend to post my review on the Pro Sevens.

 

Never got the Tanabes. My other hobby (triathlon) ate up what limited funds I have available right now.

 

im intrested to see who is running the pro 5s on a Z, looing into getting them and the TEAS system as well.

 

Getting the Tanabe Sustec Pro 5 with TEAS and they should be coming in the shop next week and installed on same day hopefully. The owner of the shop owns a NISMO 350z setup with the Sustec Pro 5 with TEAS and let me have a feel on what it feels like. It handles real well, sharp corners and it even has the auto leveling depending on how fast you are running, which I thought was kind of neat. Makes the Z feel, or seem, like driving a primo sports car...kinda like driving a Ferrari I guess...not that I have driven in one.

 

Hmm... too bad they discontinued their Pro7 line. Would've love to get those things... TEAS sounds awesome too.
http://www.tanabe-usa.com/coilovers.asp

 

they also have the S-OC for the Z which includes a helper spring
http://www.tanabe-usa.com/s0c.asp?id=6

 

I always wondered about those helper springs... can you get extra drop by removing them?

 

I would think you have to replace the primary spring as well. I don't know if the damper's valving is designed to work with the helper spring or if it can work with a linear single spring. Might want to ask someone from Tanabe

 

You need to select the right product for your needs vs thinking you can get extra droppage by modifying. Your far better off getting a full height adjustable system that can cover your needs vs going to low and forcing the bumpstops into the suspension roll a lot more often they they should be.

Pro 5 and Pro 7 would be good for ride quality (damping wise, spring rates could be lower for that), but poor on the track. Tanabe has shock dyno's you can see. Good things for comfort at full soft. Moderate gains in performance at half stiff. But past that and compression control becomes absurd. And like a lot of Japaneese dampers, rebound control has very little range in all settings.