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Making the car better for high speed handling?

 
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Old Dec 20, 2006
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Making the car better for high speed handling?

What can I do to my 05' Civic Lx-G (4Dr), for it to handle nice when going fast, ie. highway+ speeds. I don't like how the car becomes very light and bouncy.

What would basic mods that can be done?

Thanks
Old Dec 20, 2006
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Upgrade your suspension, whether it be full coilovers or a decent set of struts such as koni, bilstien, or tokico. Then you can start looking into strut tower braces and sway bars. Slamming your car to the ground is not necessary but a little drop will give you a lower center of gravity. Suspension tuning is a black art but that should give you a starting point of things to consider.
Old Dec 20, 2006
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nicely explained... lol
Old Dec 20, 2006
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is it the factory struts really soft, thats why its bouncy and stuff?
Old Dec 20, 2006
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That is part of the reason but also the springs too. Try some S techs and tokico blues if you want a firmer more stable ride but keep some comfort. There are many threads about suspension so just keep searching you'll find the answers you're looking for.
Old Dec 20, 2006
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i think some rep should follow an explanation like that
Old Dec 20, 2006
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Well you should go with some strut bars and some good suspension like one that has a gas chamber, some good control arms for front and back and get good bushings for your suspension and swaybars good to get a b piller bar also cand under carage braces to but it all depens on you cause I'm 80% done with my suspention and I love it .............
Old Dec 20, 2006
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I would choose a good set of shocks and springs rather than full coilover, i dont think you have the potential to use them to the fullest on the streets however on the track its a different story but Id had much better handling with my tokico shocks and handr springs rather than my 900$ megans
Old Dec 20, 2006
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do yall think 2.5 low? or what thats what i wanna drop....
Old Dec 20, 2006
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do sway bars they make a big difference i have the rsx sway bars and they make my car handle so good
Old Dec 20, 2006
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Dont forget a good set of tires , wont feel comfortable goin 90-100 switching lanes with steelies and those dunlops or firestones they come with
Old Dec 20, 2006
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where do you get the rsx sway bars?
Old Dec 20, 2006
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You need something to create downforce to get the car to feel better.
Front lip, and/or splitter will help a lot.
I'd take high performance tires and some front end downforce for highway driving
Old Dec 23, 2006
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Springs give you a set drop am I correct? What other springs would give like 1" drop? I am not wanting something too low, because, i dont want my front bumper acting as a snow plow when it snows.

Those Tein S Tech are for 2dr civics, it says on their site 2dr coupe Incl 04+ (exc 4Dr). Has anyone tried it on 4Drs?


Thanks
Old Dec 23, 2006
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well im not sure what website you were looking on but they make it for 4DR too. I have a 2005 civic lx 4dr and I have tein s tech springs and koni yellow adjustable shocks and I love it. Also I got this really good deal on ebay that came as a package for brand new: front strut bar, rear strut bar, and lower tie bar... all for like 140 or so! lol really good deal : )

Yeah but other than that...I was kinda thinking of other ways to help improve airflow on the highway.
**Some things that would help would obviously (besides suspension) be like a front lip and side skirts, which I plan on getting, or maybe a front carbon fiber splitter to improve downforce in the front even more, and possibly a spoiler. Idk if our stock spoilers do much?? exspecially on 4dr? I dont have one.



But anyways... I had a question about airflow on highway. Has anyone here on this site put anything under the car, for example a front splitter, or something in the middle of the car underbody? I was thinking of putting some abs plastic or possibly CF material under the rear bumber..connecting the right/left/back sides and of course a space for the exhaust. Like a custom made rear diffuser for downforce in the rear and improved air flow

I think it would be pretty original for our cars (unless some1 already did it lol)

I know the new concept SI has a cf rear diffuser.
Old Dec 23, 2006
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ooo wow... i was just looking for pics of what I was talking about and found this saweet kit! 2005-2006 Civic Type N Body Kit
Old Dec 23, 2006
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new mugen 4dr civic- IGN: Mugen Civic Si Image thats kinda what im talking about except it wouldnt have to be covering the outside of the bumber, it would be more hidden. Im thinking of doing this instead of buying a new rear bumber
Old Dec 23, 2006
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the s tech springs are the same for the 2dr and 4dr. tein dun make separate springs for them. that's why if you have a sedan, the rear sags with oem shocks. with a tokico, then it'll balance out and it feels way better
Old Dec 23, 2006
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check out my buddies site Vortekz.com

makes your car a baby Evo-MR lol
Old Dec 23, 2006
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Suspension ... Suspension ... Suspension!!!

You don't need coilovers, a good shock and spring setup will do just fine. However lowering your car too low actually effects the performance of the suspension because the geometry is effected. Additionally you gain some bumpsteer. To bring your suspension back to original geometry and eliminate bumpsteer, I recommend you buy J's Racing Roll Center Adjusters and SPL Tie Rods.

I have both on my car, and its pretty damn low; right above the tire. My car feels like its completely stock, the steering is nimble and light. When I hit bumps and high speed straights or corners the suspension geometry is maintained by the RCAs so everything is soaked up by the suspension and there no bumpsteer. The tie rods give you more steering feel and feedback; and will allow for proper tow adjustment when lowered. Additionally because of the RCA your suspension will feel less bumpy(in your face) and more pronounced(lets you know how the road feels without requiring asprin).

I think if your going for performance setup the RCA and TIE RODS are 100% must. Another good upgrade is an ITR rear sway bar 22mm. You can pick those up for roughly 100 bucks and it will make your car pretty damn neutral. My car tends to oversteer instead of understeer...usually on understeers by driver mistake and oversteers when push to hard.

OH I forgot, also if you get coilovers then make sure you get your car corner balanced. There absolutely no point in getting coilovers if your not going to get your car corner balanced.

Last edited by Boggie1688; Dec 23, 2006 at 03:58 PM.
Old Dec 25, 2006
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those rear bumpers look really good, but im 99% sure the underbudy ducting is purely cosmetic
Old Dec 25, 2006
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you can swap me for my setup plus some cash. Im putting my ride back to stock.
I have koni adjustable yellows, with eibach sportlines. I also have a neuspeed strut tower bar and rsx rear sway, it would definatly take care of what you need it for.
Old Dec 28, 2006
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Originally Posted by Boggie1688
Suspension ... Suspension ... Suspension!!!

You don't need coilovers, a good shock and spring setup will do just fine. However lowering your car too low actually effects the performance of the suspension because the geometry is effected. Additionally you gain some bumpsteer. To bring your suspension back to original geometry and eliminate bumpsteer, I recommend you buy J's Racing Roll Center Adjusters and SPL Tie Rods.

I have both on my car, and its pretty damn low; right above the tire. My car feels like its completely stock, the steering is nimble and light. When I hit bumps and high speed straights or corners the suspension geometry is maintained by the RCAs so everything is soaked up by the suspension and there no bumpsteer. The tie rods give you more steering feel and feedback; and will allow for proper tow adjustment when lowered. Additionally because of the RCA your suspension will feel less bumpy(in your face) and more pronounced(lets you know how the road feels without requiring asprin).

I think if your going for performance setup the RCA and TIE RODS are 100% must. Another good upgrade is an ITR rear sway bar 22mm. You can pick those up for roughly 100 bucks and it will make your car pretty damn neutral. My car tends to oversteer instead of understeer...usually on understeers by driver mistake and oversteers when push to hard.

OH I forgot, also if you get coilovers then make sure you get your car corner balanced. There absolutely no point in getting coilovers if your not going to get your car corner balanced.
Thats pretty good advice, would that get rid of the floatyness traveling at higher speeds? Also how much would that cost?

Originally Posted by ryangt
you can swap me for my setup plus some cash. Im putting my ride back to stock.
I have koni adjustable yellows, with eibach sportlines. I also have a neuspeed strut tower bar and rsx rear sway, it would definatly take care of what you need it for.
I'd still like to keep my stock stuff rolling around, just incase for when I need to sell, i'll part out the mods and sell it sep.
Old Dec 28, 2006
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Cool Hey

Originally Posted by ryangt
you can swap me for my setup plus some cash. Im putting my ride back to stock.
I have koni adjustable yellows, with eibach sportlines. I also have a neuspeed strut tower bar and rsx rear sway, it would definatly take care of what you need it for.
How much you looking to get for your set up? I would be interested in a swap.
Old Dec 28, 2006
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Originally Posted by Boggie1688
Suspension ... Suspension ... Suspension!!!

You don't need coilovers, a good shock and spring setup will do just fine. However lowering your car too low actually effects the performance of the suspension because the geometry is effected. Additionally you gain some bumpsteer. To bring your suspension back to original geometry and eliminate bumpsteer, I recommend you buy J's Racing Roll Center Adjusters and SPL Tie Rods.

I have both on my car, and its pretty damn low; right above the tire. My car feels like its completely stock, the steering is nimble and light. When I hit bumps and high speed straights or corners the suspension geometry is maintained by the RCAs so everything is soaked up by the suspension and there no bumpsteer. The tie rods give you more steering feel and feedback; and will allow for proper tow adjustment when lowered. Additionally because of the RCA your suspension will feel less bumpy(in your face) and more pronounced(lets you know how the road feels without requiring asprin).

I think if your going for performance setup the RCA and TIE RODS are 100% must. Another good upgrade is an ITR rear sway bar 22mm. You can pick those up for roughly 100 bucks and it will make your car pretty damn neutral. My car tends to oversteer instead of understeer...usually on understeers by driver mistake and oversteers when push to hard.

OH I forgot, also if you get coilovers then make sure you get your car corner balanced. There absolutely no point in getting coilovers if your not going to get your car corner balanced.
ok, so u have the ITR 22mm Rear Sway Bar on ur 05 civic, but y the ITR22mm and not say the rsx-s 19mm or a progress 20mm???
Old Dec 28, 2006
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wow so many people on this forum now thinking they know some **** about cars...not saying i know everything but i work with cars and **** every day so i know some things...damn what happened here?...R.I.P. 7thgencivic...anyways first off you dont need corner balancing if u get coilovers...thats a crock of **** you dont neccessarily need rca's or tierod ends only if u do extensive suspension modification...for high speed handling you need to lower the center of gravity which your car has so it gets less "bounce" while going high speeds...of course better tires, and good springs/shocks or coilovers will help because it will also keep the tire contact to a maximum...rear lower tie bars help and chassis underbracing will help the most at stabilization

i have a tanabe under body cross brace, tanabe 22mm rear swaybar, dc sports rear lower tiebar, b&g coilovers, upper strut bar and i have no problems handling most types of corners and high speeds...not to mention some falken azenis RT-615 tires
Old Dec 28, 2006
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swap

Originally Posted by XxmanglerxX
How much you looking to get for your set up? I would be interested in a swap.
stocks + 200
Old Dec 28, 2006
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I'm sorry if you feel my suspension setup is extensive, but I do like to push my car in turns.

As for the corner balancing, you CAN ONLY get it if you have coilovers. The RCAs are a must for maintaining suspension geometry. Look it up on the J's Racing website; but simplified it says without RCA you have increase body roll and suspension stiffness(bad stiffness due to improper geometry). Tie Rods ARE A MUST as well if you are lowering your car, like I said above it helps you adjust the toe because the stock rods become to long.

All of those components added together and when used properly can help you achieve maximum cornering speed for your car. Especially when you have West End Alignment work on it. You can believe or not believe, but I think all the strut bars and all the crap aren't worth it until you get all this stuff. These parts will make more of a difference than any strut bar can.

Oh yea I do have RT-615s too..

Oh and seriously...you want the RCAs I can't stress how good they are...

As for the prices of the parts, the RCAs = $330 Tie Rods = $340 umm the last time I checked most distrubtors in the US only have the DC5 rods, which is what I have. They fit...but I would honestly wait and try to get the EP3 rods special order...I just couldn't wait.

As for the question about the sway why not 19mm or 20mm, I just wanted something that would oversteer more than understeer. Going with the 22 I don't regret it, I feel my car is more neutral than ever, and my rear rarely slides out. I can't recommend or dislike the 19mm or 20mm because I have never tried them.

I honestly don't see a lot of real drivers throwing in strut bars and braces before real suspension work is done. Your not going to see as large of an improvement with strut braces than with the items if mentioned.

Last edited by Boggie1688; Dec 28, 2006 at 02:23 PM.
Old Dec 28, 2006
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The car is light, its not going to ride like a lexus. You'll need to add weight if you want it to ride like a tank at high speed.
The feel will get lighter at speed, its just aerodynamics at work, to a point, better damped shocks will help, but the car just won't ride very well no matter what you do. Its an econobox, the whole car is a compromise.
Old Dec 28, 2006
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Originally Posted by ryangt
stocks + 200


Email me at michael5a5@aol.com. Maybe we can work something out.



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