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Upgrading Suspension.....

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Old 24-Feb-2003, 09:02 AM
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Upgrading Suspension.....

i wanna upgrade my suspension in spring....

so far im going to go with H&R race springs & kyb agx shocks ( good combo? )

what i wanted to know is..... what else can i do?

what do the various upper/lower sway/trut bars do?

do they make a big difference?

what about urethane bushings?

effective? whats the cost?


Thanks!


i drive a CRX
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 09:32 AM
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Bushing will cost $225- $250 for a master kit..

Installation will be around $500 - $700 alone..
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 10:07 AM
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I would get bushings over any braces.... but Koni and H&R would be a better combo. NEVER skimp on shocks. I'd rateher buy top of the line shocks and some used springs than medium shocks and new springs.
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 11:09 AM
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I agree.

Originally posted by bbarbulo
I would get bushings over any braces.... but Koni and H&R would be a better combo. NEVER skimp on shocks. I'd rateher buy top of the line shocks and some used springs than medium shocks and new springs.
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 11:14 AM
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I argee with bbarbulo. Get some Koni Yellows to go with the H&R springs. It's a better combo.

Braces will make an improvement, I've got the Skunk2 Rear Arm Bar (lower strut bar) and it made a big improvement, car feels much stiffer. But I need a front lower strut bar because my car is too *** happy.
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 11:19 AM
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G2 racer, about the braces, his car is a CRX, and that's a pretty old model. My assumtion is that the bushings are worn out rubber, so he has a lot to gain from buying urethane. But yes, a good brace can be useful later down the road after you do bushings first.
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 11:44 AM
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I know man. I'm saying do the bushings first. Then worry about the braces and such.

Got a question for you though bbarbulo, I'm running a stripped rear (no seats, seat belts or carpeting) and a lower strut bar. On some corners the car can be really *** happy, will a front lower strut bar even it out a bit? (oh springs are Neuspeed Race on stock shocks)
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 02:38 PM
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I don't think a rear lower tie bar will make that much of a difference. What type of sway bars do you have on the car, if any? Have you checked your tire pressure lately?

Originally posted by The G2 Racer
I know man. I'm saying do the bushings first. Then worry about the braces and such.

Got a question for you though bbarbulo, I'm running a stripped rear (no seats, seat belts or carpeting) and a lower strut bar. On some corners the car can be really *** happy, will a front lower strut bar even it out a bit? (oh springs are Neuspeed Race on stock shocks)
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 03:32 PM
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thanks for the pointers....... ill save & get koni yellows.....


will that be a good combo?


and...... you guys think its best to get urethane bushings and then go with the braces etc?
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 03:39 PM
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G2, I need more info about your susp setup.... PM me with complete details, like vehicle, modifications, driving style, tires, pressure, etc. Then I can tell you how to fix it. Also need to know how it feels while breaking away, whether it's smooth and progressive or sudden and violent. Does it happen on bumpy corners more than smooth ones? Cuz for all I know, it could be your bumpstops skipping you along around a curve.

dopey, that's exactly what we're saying, H&R (don't get too low unless you are willing to deal with camber and lack of travel + harsh ride), koni yellow, Energy Susp bushings (black, red ones squeak more), and then Greddy/Cusco braces if you can. But I'd even do sway bars before braces to be honest.... Good sway bars will make the biggest diff next to shocks and springs.
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 03:55 PM
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hey guys, i just want to know if the eibach prokit and kyb gr2's are a good combo, that's what i have right now, and i'm planning to add a front and back strut bar i don't know if it will make a difference in terms of improving cornering and to reduce body roll, also would all these suspension mods work if i drive wit my stock tire size?
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 04:06 PM
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You should do the sway bars. IMO, sway bars are the best suspension mod. They completely change the handling characteristics of the car.

Originally posted by gcivic
hey guys, i just want to know if the eibach prokit and kyb gr2's are a good combo, that's what i have right now, and i'm planning to add a front and back strut bar i don't know if it will make a difference in terms of improving cornering and to reduce body roll, also would all these suspension mods work if i drive wit my stock tire size?
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 04:07 PM
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Originally posted by bbarbulo
Energy Susp bushings (black, red ones squeak more)
Bruno, there's a difference between the red and black ES bushings? Please explain because I'm planning to have some installed when I get the suspension done this spring. I thought they were just different in colour!
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 04:12 PM
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When I was purchasing mine, my guy at the shop optauto.com told me the red ones are known to be more likely to squeak. On his recommendation I purchased black ones and I am very happy with the sqeuak free result. I didn't venture to try red ones, so I can't comment.
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 04:27 PM
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hey SW20 MR2 which sway bars do u recommend that is bang for the buck and how much for install?
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 06:19 PM
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Originally posted by bbarbulo
G2, I need more info about your susp setup.... PM me with complete details, like vehicle, modifications, driving style, tires, pressure, etc. Then I can tell you how to fix it. Also need to know how it feels while breaking away, whether it's smooth and progressive or sudden and violent. Does it happen on bumpy corners more than smooth ones? Cuz for all I know, it could be your bumpstops skipping you along around a curve.

dopey, that's exactly what we're saying, H&R (don't get too low unless you are willing to deal with camber and lack of travel + harsh ride), koni yellow, Energy Susp bushings (black, red ones squeak more), and then Greddy/Cusco braces if you can. But I'd even do sway bars before braces to be honest.... Good sway bars will make the biggest diff next to shocks and springs.
sounds good...... thanks buddy!

i allready have a camber kit...... so its all good
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 08:56 PM
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G2 I neglected to mention in my PM that the gutted rear end even though it's not a lot of weight, it may be preventing the rear end from getting traction. Also, have you checked your camber and toe settings. Toe will make your car like what you have described. If you have no money, an alignment is where I'd start. If you have about $1600-2000 to spend though, do as I said in the PM, esp if you are serious about carving corners like a Honda was meant to do. You will NEVER regret any amount of money spent on your susp cause it will save your life...trust me on this. Same with tires.
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Old 24-Feb-2003, 10:24 PM
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I'm not a fan of koni shocks. They are way too stiff/bouncy. I have the koni with eibachs on my si hatch and it feels like I'm riding on racing coilovers. OK for cornering, but the city driving is like being on a wooden rollercoaster. Even highway driving sucks.

On my 96 jetta I have an H&R cupkit and the ride is wicked - good in city, highway, and corners like a dream. I've been told that for the civic, H&R sports with Tokicos is a similar ride characteristic. Every friend with a civic or integra loves the ride of the jetta and wants it in their car.
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Old 25-Feb-2003, 12:37 AM
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I would recommend an ITR sway bar with the Beaks mounting it. It's well-priced and works very well. I have it on my own car.

Originally posted by gcivic
hey SW20 MR2 which sway bars do u recommend that is bang for the buck and how much for install?
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Old 25-Feb-2003, 12:39 AM
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It might actually be the Eibach springs. Bounciness is quite common on their springs.

Originally posted by BIGA10k
I'm not a fan of koni shocks. They are way too stiff/bouncy. I have the koni with eibachs on my si hatch and it feels like I'm riding on racing coilovers. OK for cornering, but the city driving is like being on a wooden rollercoaster. Even highway driving sucks.

On my 96 jetta I have an H&R cupkit and the ride is wicked - good in city, highway, and corners like a dream. I've been told that for the civic, H&R sports with Tokicos is a similar ride characteristic. Every friend with a civic or integra loves the ride of the jetta and wants it in their car.
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