Tems

[Mark_F]

If I decided to change my shocks and coils, could I still use TEMS?

[damone]

I think Tokico offer TEMS shocks
TRD also have em

might be one or two others..they're fairly expensive

You could also go to a toyota dealer and get the OE shocks..

[TcmaBoy]

The Tien Flex system uses a driver controlled electronic adjust. It should provide a similar function.

[bgrieger]

Tokico make the only aftermarket TEMS compatible shocks. KYB make the stockers. There are no other kinds. All others replace TEMS.

Ride:
OEM Toyota, well, they're OEM. Respond poorly to aftermarket springs, but work well as stockers. Long lived when used in stock applications too. Pretty expensive as I remember though

Tokico. Known minor quality problems. Not terribly long lived, probably as they're designed as stock replacements, not performance dampers. Used to warranty them for life (and they may still), but you have to pay shipping and send to them before they will send one back. Mixed opinions from decent to poor, with the life being the greatest concern. Cheap, but I guess you get what you pay for.

All Other suspensions replace TEMS. A brief run down of the popular:

Tein Flex kit: they are coilovers, and go about 1500 US. Very nice budget performance setup (I have them myself). Springs are a little too soft for me, and damping needs an upgrade, but great street gear. Coupled with upgraded sway bars and you're gold for light track use too.

Koni Adjustible Dampers/you name the spring: spring and damper combos are always compared to this. Adjustible dampers allow you to tailor the bump to the spring (or is it the rebound...can't remember right now). I've never heard a complaint, except that to adjust them, you must remove them from the car. Eibach springs are the most liked combination, and were my personal preference before I found a Tein dealer in my area. A little more expensive than tokico, and IMO well worth it for performance applications.

Bilstein: non adjustible performance damper. Works well from reports, but I've never driven on them. Fairly cheap too.

Tokico blues: non adjustible non tems version of the above damper. Alright quality, but suited to OEM low budget replacements. About as cheap as you get, and you may as well look to monroe etc at this point.

Other coilovers: you can range from the TEIN SS at the $1k US mark to several thousand for some of the high end external reservoir, independantly adjustible dampers with aluminum bodies. All in what you want, and can afford.

Bob

[Jeeves]

Honestly, in my (and seemingly most peoples) opinion(s), TEMS is worthless.

I replaced the struts w/TEMS compatible ones, and wish I hadn't spent that well earned cash. The "seat of the pants" feeling is almost completely indifferent and the cost isn't justified at all. I plan to put KYB Blues (non-TEMS) all the way around next time, for the time being, I've got the tems all locked to Hard and the TEMS actuators removed.

[ILLICITDRIVER]

if you change to non-tems setup, i think you have got to change the strut mount. i had the tokico replacements with some aftermarket springs and it actually handled way better than stock. but i do agree with the life issue. they usually lasted only about 2yrs, but they do have lifetime warranty, so it's not too bad.

[bgrieger]

Nothing needs to change, except that the tems actuators no longer fit on top. Everything else stays put.

Bob