Honda Civic needing of suspension upgrades...

[ultimagtrlover]

So, my friend has a '98 Honda Civic 4-door sedan, 5-speed, non v-tech, I believe it is the LX. Nevertheless, he wants to improve the suspension to better the cornering. We would like to focus on reducing roll and improving max grip. His tires are wearing down at the extreme ends of the tires (he likes cornering!!). Please suggest specific products to help acheive this. For example, don't just suggest a roll bar, suggest the model 44535 roll bar from Comptech...links would be nice too. I have some ideas on what to do, such as Eibach lowering springs, or a coil-over kit, then larger sway bars, but I am not too familiar with the companies who modify these cars. Tires are already the best he can get for his purpose. Thanks

[.RJ]

Better Tires - Max Grip? Azenis... but plenty of good street tires out there
Alignment
Koni Shocks (Yellows, Sport... same thing)
Ground-Control Coilovers kit w/ Eibach Springs
Suspension Techniques or Progress Swaybars

I'm not going to dig up part numbers, sorry.

After that, you will start getting into the point of diminishing returns for $$ spent on handling.

[Sijray21]

price range? Adjustable or not (affects price range)?

tires make a huge difference in handling, but does he care about treadwear? all-season? stock wheels?

[Sijray21]

Better Tires - Max Grip? Azenis... but plenty of good street tires out there
Alignment
Koni Shocks (Yellows, Sport... same thing)
Ground-Control Coilovers kit w/ Eibach Springs

i have this exact set-up on my integra for auto-x's and hpde's. I have another set of wheels/tires for daily driving, but the suspension set-up is the same for daily driving. It's a little rough at times, but i love it.

Spring Rates for me are 500# on all four corners.

[.RJ]

300-350 lb springs are going to be much more friendly on the street. You could even use stock ITR springs if you want (245/245#, progressive rear)

I recommended swaybars because the civic doesnt come with any, I dont think. Jason's integra has front and rear (21mm/13mm).

[ultimagtrlover]

Right now my buddy has $600 to spend. The tires he has on now must stay. They are BFGoodrich traction TA's. He needs an all-season tire.

[.RJ]

The tires he has on now must stay. They are BFGoodrich traction TA's. He needs an all-season tire.

Well you're going to be chasing your tail....

If only $600 to spend, start looking for used konis, ITR springs and some swaybars.

[ScottyB]

if you are on a low budget i would go with tires, a proper performance alignment, and a rear sway bar.

since tires are apparently out of the question for now, i could recommend a rear sway bar first. they are inexpensive and effective, and as a bonus they're easy to install. for the sake of a budget try to stay OEM, with an integra type-R rear bar. it will most likely be noticable but not too extreme.

an alignment will not only sharpen the car's reactions but it will enable him to get the absolute most out of his tires, because a huge amount of wear is due to excessive toe-in on alot of car. minimize toe and maximize camber within the abilities of the stock suspension.

don't forget tire pressure tuning!

i've had personal experience with this avenue of suspension modification. on my old '01 accord i fitted larger, wider wheels/low-profile michelin pilots and a rear sway bar from an Acura TL type S. the difference in the bar alone was great (lift off oversteer in the wet easily), the addition of the wheel/tire package was eye opening. even though it was a heavy and slow car those additions helped me to be able to mix it up at autocrosses and made spirited driving much more confidence inspiring.

[D_Eclipse9916]

^^^^ Everything has been said beautifully.

If you cant afford an alignment after shocks and springs, wait....

I would say rear sway bar first, then wait till you have the money to do konis and ground controls WITH an alignment.

[ziich]

if you are on a low budget i would go with tires, a proper performance alignment, and a rear sway bar.

since tires are apparently out of the question for now, i could recommend a rear sway bar first. they are inexpensive and effective, and as a bonus they're easy to install. for the sake of a budget try to stay OEM, with an integra type-R rear bar. it will most likely be noticable but not too extreme.

I think the typeR rear bar would be too extreme for this application. Firstly, it's too big of a bar for his subframe (22-23mm), without proper reinforcement (ASR subframe kit, Comptech, Beaks (ehh...)). Plus it'd be too much oversteer without a big front sway/better spring rates.

But perhaps an integra GSR/LS rear sway or an aftermarket Suspension Techniques (19mm) or SRR rear sway/tiebar kit (19mm). Suspension Techniques also has a (1") front sway which is just about the same as the OEM 99-00 civic Si front sway bar. I like the SRR kit for ease of installation, bling, and a bonus tiebar. I think that can be had for $250 right now. Or used OEM is a good route also.

Get a used OEM GSR/Si or typeR front strut bar $20-$80.

Then maybe a used shock/spring setup, like KYB AGXs and H&R Race springs. But buying used suspension is always iffy because you don't know what those shocks have been through.

[ziich]

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1716103">http://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1716103</a><!-- m -->
$195 shipped for that SRR combo now! hmm, might get one for myself.

some other good suspension goodies at good prices here
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://honda-tech.com/zeroforum/48">http://honda-tech.com/zeroforum/48</a><!-- m -->

[.RJ]

http://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1716103
$195 shipped for that SRR combo now! hmm, might get one for myself.

Thats a big waste of $200.... much better thing to spend your $$ on for better handling.

[Maengelito]

if you are on a low budget i would go with tires, a proper performance alignment, and a rear sway bar.

since tires are apparently out of the question for now, i could recommend a rear sway bar first. they are inexpensive and effective, and as a bonus they're easy to install. for the sake of a budget try to stay OEM, with an integra type-R rear bar. it will most likely be noticable but not too extreme.

I think the typeR rear bar would be too extreme for this application. Firstly, it's too big of a bar for his subframe (22-23mm), without proper reinforcement (ASR subframe kit, Comptech, Beaks (ehh...)). Plus it'd be too much oversteer without a big front sway/better spring rates.

But perhaps an integra GSR/LS rear sway or an aftermarket Suspension Techniques (19mm) or SRR rear sway/tiebar kit (19mm). Suspension Techniques also has a (1") front sway which is just about the same as the OEM 99-00 civic Si front sway bar. I like the SRR kit for ease of installation, bling, and a bonus tiebar. I think that can be had for $250 right now. Or used OEM is a good route also.

Get a used OEM GSR/Si or typeR front strut bar $20-$80.

Then maybe a used shock/spring setup, like KYB AGXs and H&R Race springs. But buying used suspension is always iffy because you don't know what those shocks have been through.

i had the BSQ kit which was like $25 or so and it held up fine. i had an LS rear sway bar that i gave mikey but he then threw away. and i dont think he'll have a problem with oversteer using the type R oem bar. i guess it all depends on why he wants to improve cornering, but i think the type R bar with some reinforcement will be more than enough if he stays on all season tires

[ziich]

http://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1716103
$195 shipped for that SRR combo now! hmm, might get one for myself.

Thats a big waste of $200.... much better thing to spend your $$ on for better handling.

32mm hollow ASR bar? =P

[.RJ]

Dont need that one either... you can find a stock ITR rear bar pretty cheap if it will fit on your car like maeng said. The few times I drove my car on the street with that retarded large rear swaybar I have it was oversteer dorifto magic on every offramp. Even for the track, I'm going to go from 800lb rear springs & 32mm swaybar to 1100 lb springs & 22mm swaybar.

[ziich]

he can have my 13mm Si rear sway for $40 =P