Buying used Tein CSG Flex A's, what to look for?
 

Hello,

I am looking locally at a set of Tein CSG Flex A's for my BRZ and the seller is letting them go for $1350 CAD. They have apparently been driven only 1 year over 10,000k kms. I am new to suspension modification and such and buying used for my first set, i don't really know what could be a lemon.

So far my only concern with the seller is that the coils seem to have rust on small parts of the coil and the odd bolt here and there. Is this just surface rust that isn't really to be concerned about? What do you think I should test out prior to forking over the cash?

Well they are $1k (USD) brand new so offer them half that asking price...

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Really? I'm looking at CSG site right now and it says $1595. It doesn't say USD or CAD but given its a .com and there's no currency change option, i'm pretty sure thats the price right now

I mean it could be that you guys just pay more for it in Canada for whatever reason (import tax, shipping)? Still I buy lots of used crap but suspension stuff... Would you buy a used mattress? Kind of a pain to change too would hate to do it again in 6 months.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

I suppose you're right in some respects...what do you mean by change it in 6 months? Implying that it could blow on me in that time?

Depends on how many pot holes the last guy hit...

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

$500-700 or GTFO

Buy new.

Tein Flex A =/= CSG Spec Tein Flex A.

The internals are completely different, as are the damping curves.

Ah OK I didn't realize the CSG version was a different valving range. I still don't like buying used suspension parts but I guess that makes the asking price slightly more reasonable. You could try and ask him for $1k but they are sold out on the CSG site...

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

CSG stuff is never just a rebrand; there is always significant change and increased performance to justify the label.

With them being in CAD, they must have cost a pretty penny to bring in from CSG. current conversion rates put that at 1070$. Thats a pretty fair asking price. the Flex-A's from CSG are really nice coils. Do you plan to track the car or do a lot of back road driving?

Sadly i already told the seller I wont be buying from them. Primarily from the concerns here and others as well as being kinda anxious on spending that amount of money right now.

As for intended use, My motivators for buying coils are:

-Possibility of fitting wider wheels in the future

-lowering a tad bit for looks

-increasing comfort level


If it happens to let me zip into corners in a more planted/quicker way when I go on the backroad once every few months then that's a bonus but even at stock I am pretty happy with how the car handles.

I'm looking into the lowering springs but even those I see aren't super ideal supposedly because given the 80k kms my stock suspension has and springs just being there for looks, I might not get as good a value in the long run.

Here is what I recommend when your ready:

Bilstein B8 Shocks, RCE Yellow Springs, SPC Camber Bolts. This setup is exactly what you are after IMO without needing any extra adjustments.

Shock:
https://www.ftspeed.com/part/228424-...s-complete-kit

Spings:
https://www.ftspeed.com/part/rce-brz...-toyota-86-201


If you can do the work yourself, try the current dampers with yellows, SPC bolts, and an alignment to get some negative camber. Then as the current dampers wear out, you can buy some B8's when ready and carry over the springs.