EFCivicSedan.com

nala619 · EF Sedan Nut Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 175

whats the difference between the two besides that coilovers are adjustable? and im wondering how the ride is if your on coilovers? thanks

~Sp33~ · Site Admin Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2414

Well, a full coilover includes a shock as well. The basic benefits are:

1) Easier installation
2) The springs are best suited to the shock according to manufacturers specifications.
3) Usually it's safer to go lower with a full coilover, then just using springs too.
4) Most coilover setups have adjustable dampening too, which is really handy if you use the same car for daily commuting and weekend drives.

The benefits of using just springs, well...

1) It's cheaper.

That's all i can think of. Some people mate up springs and shocks quite successfully, but for the assurance of a good setup, if you can afford it, just go with a full coilover.
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nala619 · EF Sedan Nut Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 175

mm i see. thanks. you broke it down for me a lot. i was debating to get either a friends coilovers(skunkworks, im guessing thats pretty old school?) or tokico blues which is used for $100.

EF2dudesocal · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject:

i have coilovers and they ride pretty nice u can adjust to stiff setting or smooth and one plus thing u can adjust ur ride hight anytime u want. i really like them.

88Dark_CivLude · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:14 pm Post subject:

Depending on your local jurisdiction if the car is "too low" and you get a ticked 4 it it only takes 10 mins to put the ride back at stock height with coilovers! ya get the ticket written off then adjust the car back to being wayyyyyy to low! Cool

boy oh boy was that cop mad lol

im using NuSpeed Co's and had to use my stock struts the tokico blues i got with them were got were for a teg Sad

but If you do use your stock struts get a new set or aftermarket ones... I had a run in with old super bumpy road and some train tracks today and my exhaust and cd player hate me now lol
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Phase 1:
D15/16 mini build W/ upgrade to OBDI
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ksconekiller · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject:

nala619 · EF Sedan Nut Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 175

well im on stock struts w/ the aftermarket intrax springs. im dropped about 2" i believe so? and im not sure what to do considering that my stock struts are almost blown. should i just run w/ the intrax & get new struts? btw yeah my car is a daily and thanks for the help all.

~Sp33~ · Site Admin Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2414

It all depends on what you can afford.
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nala619 · EF Sedan Nut Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 175

im actually tryin to save for the skunk 2 set up & also the UAC. ive heard the skunk 2's are pretty good?

~Sp33~ · Site Admin Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2414

nala619 · EF Sedan Nut Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 175

yeah ive heard from people that own hatchs but none from a sedan, anyone out there have exp w/ the skunk 2's?

Type-S EF · EF Sedan CrAzY!!! Joined: 20 Nov 2006 Posts: 536

Which model from skunk2?
Im going TEIN because i can buy individual parts, I drive my cars hard.
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ed3tsmith · Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:57 pm Post subject:

i have skunk2 lowering springs. they ride nice on my kyb agx's

Type-S EF · EF Sedan CrAzY!!! Joined: 20 Nov 2006 Posts: 536

ed3tsmith · Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject:

lol my kyb's are on the 4th setting. which is pretty stiff. i feel everything lol.

ksconekiller · Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:51 pm Post subject:

I have Koni sports with Progress lowering springs on my sedan. Love them.
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88Dark_CivLude · Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:31 am Post subject:

ksconekiller · Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 8:07 am Post subject:

Just be aware that the Tokico blues are not designed to be used with lowering springs. They were designed as a stock upgrade. If you want the best success with lowered springs without a coilover setup, you'll want to do KYB AGXs, Tokico Illuminas, or Koni Sports (something that was designed for a lowered application). How long has your friend had the lowering springs on that del Sol? If it's been more than a few months, I'd be surprised if the shocks aren't blown.

Coilovers with those Tokico blues would be okay, I suppose, as long as the coilover allows the shock to extend enough at ride height. If it still compresses the shock too much while driving, it will wear out just like with lowering springs. You'll also get the most performance from the springs if the shocks match them.

Replace shocks and springs together if necessary to make them work together. If you're taking everything apart to replace springs, you might as well do it right and put a good shock on the car.
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nala619 · EF Sedan Nut Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 175

88Dark_CivLude · Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject:

Xian · Regular User Joined: 22 Aug 2008 Posts: 67

Quite a bit of good info above... a few items I'd like to point out and clarify:

Coilover's is a general term that refers to stock like shocks with threaded height adjustable coilover sleeves AND it refers to shocks that have the threaded portion built onto their body.

Some folks consider the coilover sleeves to be a half-assed approach to a suspension (these folks typically don't do much more with their cars than street drive and are more concerned with "JDM titeness YO!" than an actual effective suspension system). There's nothing wrong with factory style shocks and sleeves (Ground Control sleeves are probably the most possible).

Coilover Sleeve's only purpose is to adjust your ride height and allow you to corner weight your car. One of their benefits vs. drop springs is that you can easily get new springs at the specific rate you want/need. Their major drawback is that these springs are linear and not progressive. This means a typically rougher ride.

Shock selection is as important or possibly more important than spring/coilover selection (assuming you're not too low and riding on the bumstops aready). Get a shock that is going to work for your intended spring rate and ride height. Koni Sports "yellows" are a great street shock on the off the shelf valving and can be revalved and/or shortened if you get serious about autocrossing or racing. They're typically good to around 500# spring rates and don't blow due to lowering (unless you've cut down your bump stop too much and allow their internals to bottom).

If you're happy with your current springs, keep 'em and upgrade your shocks. I'd suggest checking out the Koni's as they're effective, reasonably priced, and have a lifetime warranty.

Christian

edit & PS
KYB AGX's are also VERY prone to blowing out at low ride height... I believe they even mention this in their literature. Illuminas are a good option but they tend to have more compression damping than the Koni's... this is a good band aid if you need to run soft springs but still higher wheel rates. The Koni's run relatively soft compression damping but have fairly high rebound dagmping. Their adjuster knob only impacts rebound (which is all 98% of us really need).
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hondacivicdx · Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:17 pm Post subject:

Have you thought about teins or tanwabee? I like tokico's but everyone is different.

JDQCIVIC4DR · Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 1:47 am Post subject:

functions full coilover kits go about $600 pretty stiff i like them. just dont buy ebay cheapo coil over they strip sometimes. plus if you go air borne sometimes the coil doesnt line up and messes up the alignment.
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Xian · Regular User Joined: 22 Aug 2008 Posts: 67

89civicracer · Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 8:30 am Post subject:

Buncha good info in this thread. .
I am looking at upgrading me suspension once funds allow it. .
Not sure exactly which way i want to go. .

I've got Tein SS coilovers in the RSX-s and i love it. . .I have springs and shocks in the Honda and it has done me fine for over 10 years. . (granted, i think one of my shocks are gone). . but i am still debating whether to go with coil overs or springs for the honda?

I'll look this thread up again at decision time.. Wink

JDQCIVIC4DR · Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject:

i meant to say those coilover that are too short that move like cut coils once the car is raised up in the air when the coil falls to the side ( i had a set of jamex that were cut on my prelude) and the spring would goto the sides not aline with the struts. so one side would be higher. basically dont buy cheap springs
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89civicracer · Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 1:19 pm Post subject:

Not buying cheap is a given. . you cannot buy cheap and think it will perform well. .

Xian · Regular User Joined: 22 Aug 2008 Posts: 67

I run relatively short (6") springs in the rear of my car. With the back end completely in the air, there are several inches between the top of the spring and the upper spring perch. I've never had them side load. Cutting stock or lowering springs pay give you different results and is a practice that I wouldn't suggest in the first place.

Good stuff ain't cheap and cheap stuff ain't good. Wink

Try and shop in the middle price range... good quality without being too pricey.

FWIW, the RSX is a tough nut to crack... Honda really didn't do their homework on the front strut/kuckle assembly. As such there's not much you can do to make it right. I've heard consistent issues getting them to have any shock reliability on the front. The front strut shaft ends up with massive side loads and tends to blow seals pretty regularly in race trim. Add to this low camber gain at both ends, bump steer issues, and a horrible motion ratio... the result is a suspension that is best when it doesn't move at all. The rates I've heard for a track car are completely recockulous... 2000i#'s up front and 3000# in the rear. Wow.
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Mr.ef2sedan · Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject:

hondacivicdx · Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 8:16 am Post subject:

Iwas looking at tien's there expensive really? but that's up to you.