TEMS strut question

[Kristian_Wraae]

I just got a set of new TEMS struts and I had someone fit them.

What I'm worried about is that the motors don't look like they point the same way:

I was there when he mounted them and he mounted the struts to the springs in a machine that compressed the spring and then mounted the entire strut spring assembly on the car mounting them at the strut tower first. But because the body of the strut didn't align with the where it mounts to the wheel hub he had to turn the body relative to the metal rod that mounts to the strut towers.

So my question goes. Can the body of the strut be rotated relative to the rod without breaking/ruining the strut or misaligning the TEMS? In other words could he have broken something by mounting them this way?

 

[Kristian_Wraae]

It looks to me like the drivers side suspension support should be turned 120 degrees clock wise to make the TEMS motors align.

Can the struts survive something like that? Can I turn it back?

Should the flat side of the of the piston rod face outwards on both sides or inwards? Or inwards on one side and outwards on the other?

 

[SupraMario]

I really dont think it matters, the TEMS system is just a small motor that turns the top of the pin on the strut to adjust the pressure in the strut from basically hard to soft or vise versa. Also the Struts themselves can't really be installed incorrectly. There is really only one way they can fit in.

I hope that helps, as your questions are a bit confusing.

 

[black89t]

it turns the pin? i thought it pushed down on it.

 

[Poodles]

Turns it.

After looking in the TSRM, it's kinda vague on exactly how it's supposed to be set up. There are only 3 settings for the struts, and they're supposed to be installed in the middle setting. The top nut holds the bracket thet the motors mount to in place, and I THINK it has to be aligned 90 degrees to the center of the adjuster...

Anyone with TEMS feel free to chime in...

 

[mkiii222]

Basic rundown of TEMS:
The tip of the strut is D shaped. The opening on the upper mount is D shaped to match.
The TEMS motor mounts to the upper mount one of 2 ways, which are 180 from each other. So either way it will turn the same amount in either direction. The motor turns what looks like the tip of a flat head screwdriver, adjusting the damping force of the strut.

Your installer has one of the upper mounts turned, and the TEMS motors installed 180 of each other.

It will function just fine the way it is, and once you put the covers back on you won't be able to tell. But this is one of the many reasons I spent the 4 hours doing this job myself (KYB uppers, B&G springs, Tokico Illumina II TEMS struts - and I researched the KYBs, and have since called them to tell them that their mounts work with TEMS).

 

[Poodles]

Wasn't sure if the shaft was D shaped to hold the bracket, so I didn't say anything about it

Should be fine then unless the bracket was rounded off...

 

[92TealSupra]

it looks like the bracket that the tems is bolts too, is the only thing that is not off a little there, I installed my strut ( took them off last night ) and put them back on and everything for me lined up.

How much did you pay per strut? If they're toyota? 270.00? EACH?

 

[suprabad]

Have a look at this...

http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Library/TSRM/MK3/manual.aspx?S=FA&P=37



.

 

[Kristian_Wraae]

Thanks guys. I'll get the car on a lift and turn the drivers side 120 degrees counter clockwise. That way they will be the same on both sides.

I just wanted to know if turning the piston relative to the strut body would destroy anything. But I guess it wont.

And yes I have sort of realized that doing things yourself is the easiest way to make sure it's done like you want it to.

Btw the struts are very good. The car handles way better than before (both fronts were shot...).

Just had all new brakes, all new struts and new door mirror rubbers. So smooth ride, great braking and silent cruising. :sonic:

 

[Nick M]

I really dont think it matters, the TEMS system is just a small motor that turns the top of the pin on the strut to adjust the pressure in the strut from basically hard to soft or vise versa. Also the Struts themselves can't really be installed incorrectly. There is really only one way they can fit in.

I hope that helps, as your questions are a bit confusing.

Actually, valves inside are turned. There are differnet sized openings for the fluid. That is what the motor is for.