imported_BlitzSix

Hey guys.

You know I feel bad making this thread because i'm SURE it has been asked before, but I *did* search and a bunch of irrelevant stuff comes up. Maybe I'm using the wrong keywords, so feel free to give me tips. Also feel free to link to threads that have discussed this.

But basically I need to know what springs I can get. I will be using stock shocks for a while at least. I know I will get hated on but honestly on my 240sx I had Eibach sportlines on stock shocks and it felt amazing. It wasn't bouncy at all, very firm and peole have told me that the car felt like it was on coils.

Requirements: I want a 2.5 inch drop. Preferably not less. It's not a daily so having it slammed would be fun. Nothing too crazy $$ since I'm not hardcore and just want something I can throw into corners, I doubt I will auto X or do anything serious. I'll probably get them used too.

Thanks.

imported_mikepasini

i wouldnt be throwing anything in corners with stock shocks... especially civic oem shocks...

civics = economy cars = economy shock = ****ty and soft

240s = sports coupes = sports shocks = decent and firm damper rates

thats why it felt better on the 240 because the shocks are better designed for a firmer spring rate.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

actually, Hondas have fantastic stock shocks.... but the truth is your shocks are 14 years old and are prolly NOT fit for performance use. if you wanna truly build a hot weekend car, save money till you can do urethane bushings, shocks, and springs at least.

if you wanna build a mAd tYt3 VT3C crUiZeR FTMFL, then go ahead and get H&R race springs and slam that beeyotch.

anyways, I'm a fan of H&R products... paired with the right shock, they work amazing! I use the full H&R race coilover.

imported_bananax

damn, I'm lookin into getting H&R OE sprins(1" drop i think) or something similar, I guess these would work well with stock shocks? I don't want to rip my car around corners :P but I want it to roll less in turns, and i don't want to give up too much comfort ^^(Currently using SIR suspension)

imported_BlitzSix

Well the thing is that I don't want to spend a lot of money. If I wanted to build up an amazing handling car or whatever I would've just kept my 240, put it on coils and thats it.

The whole reason that I bought a Civic is that it suits my current lifestyle (ie, being poor). Civics are good on gas, relialble, look nice with a few mods and are cheap to mod. So, my goal is to not even touch the engine, just lower it, get skirts and front and rear lips, maybe some wheels, and really I'm set. So I will have a nice looking car that will not be expensive for me to run.

I totally understand your thing about doing things right the first time and if I want to build a nice car I should save and get good stuff, but I just don't want to spend that money right now. So that's why I just want to do it like this for now... obviously if I end up having extra cash then I can put it on coils and upgrade bushings etc.

But I don't think you should knock someone who doesn't want to build an amazing car... I mean I'm not some riceboy who is going to cut springs and put a 10ft wing on it and make a ghettofab car, but I just don't "need" a really great car now. If I did then I would build it and make it mint from the ground up, but then if I spend tons on suspension it will handle great and I will need more power, etc and it gets expensive. . I will do the bodywork, enginework, and suspension work on this car to learn off of and hopefully it will be somewhat fun to drive and last me a long time with minimal maintenance, and that's all I want righ tnow.

Also, you guys said that I won't be able to throw it in corner but the handling WILL at least improve over stock right? And wil the H&Rs drop it 2.5 inches ?

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

ok see, the center of gravity will come down, and thus overall grip on SMOOTH ROADS will increase. on rough onramps etc. you will suffer a loss of traction due to the springs not being matched to the shocks!

look, I know your situation and I know it's tempting. I'd love to lower my daily driver, but I'm fully aware of the consequences of doing it the ghetto way... so instead I put up with driving a rusty stock Civic on a daily basis.

there is doing it ghetto, there is doing it right on a budget, and there is straight ballin like some of the honda-tech people. what you're proposing is doing it ghetto, what I'm proposing doing it right on a budget. I'm not saying to ball out and get Tein EDFC or Ohlins. i just want you to improve your car, or leave it stock. any other way is taking away from the car.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

if you have 99-00 sir shocks that are in good shape, I see no problem with going to a OE type lowering spring like the Eibach, or H&R OE. however note that progressive springs won't really do much to combat body roll in corners since well... they're progressive. I prefer linear rate springs for that purpose. you might be able to get away with something like the H&R Sport on stock 99-00 SiR shocks for a year or two if you drive carefully (ie. not try to get air off railroad tracks or speed bumps)

chris_si98

hm... even with 99-00sir shocks and a 2.5" drop they still won't last for that long.

I would say buy my current suspension set up (eibach sportlines and tokico blues) but the springs are only a 1.8" drop. You mentioned you watned to auto-cross and whatnot, my suggestion would be looking for some used coilovers. Weither they be tein, omni, pic, etc.

zeeman

iTrader: (1)

2.5" drop on stock shocks will be OK for 3 months, then it'll get bouncy as hell and actually handle worse than stock IMO, if you hit a bump while turning it'll bounce all over the place and be harder to control, that to me, isn't increasing the handling of a car.
You can buy used shocks/springs for a decent price, and IMO would be worth the wait to save up a little extra cash.
I had my car lowered 2.5" on stock shocks, it was OK (at best) for a few months, but thats adding a lot of extra abuse to the stock shocks, so they didn't last very long. And once they were blown it was brutal driving that pos.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

this other poster is talking 1 inch drop via H&R OE springs.

chris_si98

I should start reading the full thread before I post.

oh well. lol

imported_BlitzSix

Makes sense, I did not think running them with stock shocks would be that bad as it was fine on the 240. but thanks for your advice.

imported_mikepasini

go ahead and use stock shocks on a 2.5" drop... doesnt matter how good your shocks are made, but for balance you need matched/compatible spring and damper rates otherwise the ride will feel unbalanced. ilike balance because balance= control and control=safety!!!

i have h&r race and my kyb agxs can barely handle them... they are fun. but i am thinking some koni yellows might be a little better... if i spend anymore money on my suspension i am going full tein coilover... EDFC...


and 240 shocks have a much firmer damper than a stock honda shock... i know you know your stuff bbarulo... but you should be recommendinig somethinig potentially unsafe to someone who seems at risk... like i want to throw my car in corners...

hell be going down some country road rip into a turn and hit a bump and go bounce... lol... and hes done... id much rather hiti a bump and go thud...and remain perfectly stable.

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

did you even bother to read the whole tread or are you talking out of your *** for no reason?

imported_bananax

so what else can I do to stiffen up the body roll? Sway bars or Strut tower bars?

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

key component to weight transfer is gonna be springs and shocks. then sway bars.

strut tower bars are not suspension peices. they are chassis parts. therefore, they have no effect on the suspension, other than preventing chassis torsion.

imported_bananax

damnit :P thx should I even bother with the H&R OE over SIR?

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

I can't tell you... only you know what you expect/want your car to feel like. Ppl who personalize cars each like it set up a lil differently, so you just gotta try it to see what you think. To me, it's more or less the same.

imported_mikepasini

I was making reference to him putting spring with a 2.5" drop on stock shocks. If he thinks it going to feel like his buddy's 240, it won't, they have much firmer shocks off the production line. I was just saying with that kind of a drop and with the impression of him more or less wanting to drive agressively, then a stiffer shock setup would be highly recommended especially if he wants to get the most out of the springs.

imported_alwaysoverkill

2.5" is a big drop, for any sort of ride quality i'd go coilvers for sure. Personally though, had Buddy Club coilovers, had H&R Sport with Tokico Illumina and maybe i'm gettin old, but i'm looking forward to just matching OEM ITR springs with Illuminas this weekend.

Because its not a daily driver, a good coilover would fit the bill, but its not cheap. If money is a big concern, get a soft spring like Tein S tech or H&R Race or...(shameless plug) buy my H&R Sports that will lower 1.8/1.6.

Either way, atleast get some KYB shocks minimum to go with it, or leave it alone until you can afford to do it right.