True about coilovers??

[krz2fer]

Ive got 16s on a stock 92 civic LX car. I've worked mostly on outward and interior appearence. I'm thinking about lowering the car maybe a max of 2 inches so the tires meet the rest of the car better (with a smaller gap). I don't want the wheel well lip going over the tire or anything super low cars have...

Half of the places I read that coilovers will work fine for doing that lowering job. Other places I go say coilovers alone wont work and it will mess up without non-stock struts.

Please give me all the help you can, as I am definitely a novice at suspension topic.

Thanks

[Rob]

for overall best results I would go with coilovers on aftermarket shocks....here, check out gc...

http://www.ground-control.com/

and here.......http://www.koni.com/

No matter how you lower your car, you will need new shocks/struts. Lowering your car allows for less travel on the shocks you have, making them work harder, and messing them up. If you go with lowering springs, coilovers, or airbags, you will need loweres shocks/struts as well.

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

If you'd just buy true coilovers, they come with a perfectly matches spring/strut combo. Otherwise, yes, you need to upgrade your stock struts with coilover sleeves like GCs.

get new struts, stock will blow

[krz2fer]

There are tons of coilovers on eBay to choose from...

but what about the struts? If I'll need new struts as well, since stocks will blow, where can I get a good set that's not insanely expensive?

I've read buying the parts separately saves money over all-included kits. Any links to help me out? thanks

[ebpda9]

how fast do u need them ? i might be able to offer you a good deal in a few weeks.

i would reccomend koni yellow. i have them with some ground control coilovers and i love very second of the ride. a camber kit will be required too.

[krz2fer]

Don't need them fast at all. Doing research for a future mod (probably over summer). I'm reading that buying coilovers and struts separately save a LOT of cash. Since I'm a novice in the suspension category, I'm trying to learn all I can about it before I make a purchase.

What the difference between shocks and struts; Anything? Also, what is a camber kit?

Whatever I get, the springs/coilovers and struts will need to be yellow based on the cars color scheme (yellow emblems, pedals, calipers).

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by krz2fer
Don't need them fast at all. Doing research for a future mod (probably over summer). I'm reading that buying coilovers and struts separately save a LOT of cash. Since I'm a novice in the suspension category, I'm trying to learn all I can about it before I make a purchase.

Good to do your research!

What the difference between shocks and struts; Anything? Also, what is a camber kit?

Not really, shocks in a Honda are called struts. Shocks (like in a truck) are physically separated from the spring, but a strut has the spring fit around it.

If you lower your car far enough (usually >1.5", but depends on car), you'll get too much negative camber. This is when the top of the tire tilts inward. This results in poor tire wear and is corrected with this kit. You need to just get your car lowered, take it in for an alignment, and see if you need this kit. Also, since you're considering coilovers, you need to know that you need an alignment each time you change the height of your car.

Whatever I get, the springs/coilovers and struts will need to be yellow based on the cars color scheme (yellow emblems, pedals, calipers).

Good luck with this one. I'd pick quality components over color. You won't really see them anyway.

[krz2fer]

Once the springs, struts, camber kit is purchased, how much does something like this cost to be installed?

[krz2fer]

What if I lowered just 1.5inches all around? Would coilovers alone work for that?

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by krz2fer
Once the springs, struts, camber kit is purchased, how much does something like this cost to be installed?

Between $100-$250+ depending on the shop.

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by krz2fer
What if I lowered just 1.5inches all around? Would coilovers alone work for that?

You still really need aftermarket struts. If you're looking for a 1.5" drop on stock struts, try the Eibach pro kit springs.

[krz2fer]

So to sum things up...

Up to a 1.5in drop, coilovers or springs will be ok on stock struts.

1.5in-4in drop or greater would need springs/coilovers, new struts, and a camber kit.

This about right?

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by krz2fer
So to sum things up...

Up to a 1.5in drop, coilovers or springs will be ok on stock struts.

1.5in-4in drop or greater would need springs/coilovers, new struts, and a camber kit.

This about right?

Coilvers often have very stiff spring rates, so you might blow stock struts with coilovers set to any height. You might get lucky though, its kind of a toss up. The reason I suggested the pro-kit is because they are designed to work with stock struts (though aftermarket is always better).

1.5-2: You will MOST LIKELY need a camber kit. Some people need them with any drop. New struts needed.

2+: Camber kit, struts for sure.

[krz2fer]

Thanks a lot for the help and info... looks like whats best is to save up and get everything together and do it right the first time... I've def heard that slogan more than once in relation to this topic. Thanks again

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by krz2fer
looks like whats best is to save up and get everything together and do it right the first time... I've def heard that slogan more than once in relation to this topic.

Exactly! That's what I've decided to do, which is why I haven't lowered my car yet... I'm hesitant to spend well over $1k to lower a 9 year old car.

Hope everything works out well for ya.

check this out, you dont have to spend alot of money to lower a car. If you go with a moderate drop, you have sooooo many choices. A good setup would be H&R sports and kyb gr2(1.5 inch drop) for like $400 total (that is my setup and it handles much better then stock,much!) or get nuespeed sport springs with kybs or get koni reds(special d) --- mix and match what you want and its all really cheap! go to www.tirerack.com and read up on suspension, check prices and so on....

[krz2fer]

thanks a lot... i checked that out and it does indeed offer a lot of choices. only bad thing is you have to save up for this mod, them save up some more to get it installed

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by krz2fer
them save up some more to get it installed

If you have the tools, you could do it yourself. There are a lot of people on the board that could help you (myself excluded :o )

[krz2fer]

this is true... my friends dad also owns a shop, maybe i can get discount or free if i work with him.

is there a big difference between matching up shocks/struts versus coilovers/struts? are coilovers known to ride more harsh?

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by krz2fer
is there a big difference between matching up shocks/struts versus coilovers/struts? are coilovers known to ride more harsh?

The only coilover sleeve/strut combo I'd use would be Ground Control/Koni Yellows. This combo will be stiff but fairly smooth, which is what most people want.

I'm not sure what you're asking matching up shocks and struts, they are basically the same thing, and your car uses struts. If you mean springs, it just depends on the spring rate that you choose. Eibachs are supposed to ride very well.

[krz2fer]

yeah i meant springs/struts... my bad. ok, thanks for the info.

Originally posted by 94_AcCoRd_EX
The only coilover sleeve/strut combo I'd use would be Ground Control/Koni Yellows. This combo will be stiff but fairly smooth, which is what most people want.

Ground Control and Koni Yellows are the way to go IMO,
Thats what im getting

I have adjustable coilovers about 2.5" drop.

Yes, stock struts will blow.


(lucky lil me, Honda replaced it for me anyway...hee)
This is a good topic though, I hadn't read much on it. *whistles and toddles off to buy some aftermarket struts, feelin dumb*