Rep Power: 0

Hey board, need some major advice here before I go spend some money.

My car has about 56k on it, so I'm kinda sure the shocks need replacement. What's throwing me off is that when I bought the car, it was already lowered. How far and what they used is a mystery to me. So I'm wondering, if I decide to change the shocks, will I have to mess with whatever they used to lower the car? Oh, when I went for an alignment last year, they told me I needed a camber kit for the back of the car, which they ordered and installed for me.

Add to the problem that I have a slightly hanging exhaust pipe that needs to get readjusted thanks to a parent backing it into a cement block in a parking lot. But I figure I won't be as much at risk of scraping going over speed bumps if I get some decent shocks in there.

So the Qs are these:

1) Should I do the front and the back at 56k?
2) Will having the car lowered change anything about working on this project?
3) What's a medium price range to look at for the shocks? It's a daily driver that sees some constant driving back and forth, so I don't need top grade, ready for racing, but I'd like to spend a little more for quality.

If it'll help identify what's been done to the car, I can take some pics/video. Just let me know where to point.

Appreciate all the help I've received from the boards thus far. You guys are lifesavers!

 
Rep Power: 352

when you say shock, it means the whole assemble: spring+strut
is that what you mean? or do u mean strut alone?

1. yes you should. if the car has been lowered on stock struts, there is a good chance they will blow, but it also depends how low and which spring they used.
2. working on what project? what are u talking about?
3. get tokico blues. they are good shocks and will improve the ride quality of ur car.


i would also advise to jack ur car up and check to see what springs you have.

 
Rep Power: 0

Not really sure, lol.

I guess when I say shocks, I mean it feels like I need to replace whatever it is that makes the ride smoother.

I'll get some pics today when I get off work so you guys can tell me what's part of the car and what was changed/added.

By project, I meant ^the above^. I'm just looking to make it so that going over bumps in the road ain't so rough. But I think whatever they used to lower it go somewhere in that vicinity, don't they? Just wondering if I'm gonna have to mess with those things when working on the car. Anyone else with a lowered ride have input on this?

 
Rep Power: 352

most likely they have just changed the springs. meaning the struts they didnt change.

so if u want to have a smoother ride, get some tokico blues (those are struts)

then also get a camber kit, its a must.

 
Rep Power: 303

I think he already has them installed, as he said a shop said that he needed them and installed them for him.

In regards to what has been done and what you need. Sounds like they only changed the springs. I agree that Tokico Blues are a good choice, I have them on my car, and I can assure you it's a huge difference. If springs were changed you will want to know how far of a drop you actually have, as anything over 2" will in time blow Tokico's. You also ask what will you need...do you mean in terms of tools? Will you be doing this project yourself? You will need a spring compressor as you prob don't have one. It can be done with U bolts, but thats ghetto/dangerous as hell, so I recommend getting the proper tool. If I left something out or you don't understand just ask again and I will try to be more direct in my approach.

 
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I can get the spring compressor from AutoZone. Spoke to someone at the car shop behind where I work today, and he said it's just a matter of changing the spring when the shocks are changed. But from what I _think_ I understood looking up Tokicos, those can be adjusted?

I have the camber kit installed already on the back. For the first year I owned the car, I didn't know the previous owner didn't have one on there. Now for how far the drop goes, I don't know. I suppose I can go by the springs that are in the front now to get an idea?

And while I'm messing with all of this, I'm seriously considering picking up the car a bit. There's a few spots where I cringe as I hear the scraping. Since I'm putting in Tokicos, I can adjust the front when this gets done. What about the back? Is that just a matter of adjusting the camber kit?

Depending on what needs to be done, I might try it myself. However, this is pretty important to get done right, so I may plunk down the cash to get it done.

Sun was going down by the time I got out of work today, so I'll try to grab those pics early tomorrow. Huzzah for day off from work.
================================================== =============================
Did some searching right now. Might these be what everyone's talking about?

http://www.car-stuff.com/carparts/ho...741198820.html

 
Rep Power: 303

That'd be them, although they do make 4 way adjustable ones as well. If you choose to do it yourself, be carefull when seperating the tie rods, you may rip the boot in which case its another 50 or bucks per side. You can get a tie rod seperator or watch the video on here about hitting the strut with a hammer and then tapping the tie rod up. Thats what I did and it was fine. You will also need an alignment when all is said and done. Don't be surprised if your steering wheel is way off center when all is said and done. Very few springs are lower than a 2" drop so you should be ok there as well.

 
Rep Power: 812

can you see any marking on the spring?

 
Rep Power: 228

i thought i knew a fair amount about cars, and my car. but how important is a chamber kit.
i have new springs with a 1.5inch drop and getting shocks soon.

and yes there is a great DIY on here about changing springs.

 
Rep Power: 352

lets hope boilermarker01 doesnt see this post you just posted.....or else he'd ban u

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/4...ml#post2821068

 
Rep Power: 228

wow ... i feel stupid!

 
Rep Power: 812

camber kit is THE MOST important part of dropping a car. without it, you cannot properly align the car and you will replace tires every 6 months or less. ANY drop requires a camber kit, even 0.5 inch. and any modification to the suspension components requires a new alignment.

 
Rep Power: 0

Had another problem I took to get straightened out yesterday with the exhaust that took only two min. But since we had the car on a lift, I asked what was down there.

They're still OEM springs, just cut. There's supposed to be more coils there, so that's how he could tell they were cut. Figured I spent the money on a camber kit last year, so might as well keep the front springs and the current drop.

On not having the camber kit, it'll seriously mess with how your tires wear out. I had a bump on my rear right tire. For a long time there I thought the noise which only came when driving at higher speeds was something wrong with the car. Guy at an alignment place showed me the bump that formed. Thing looked like a freakin' tumor. Camber kit installed, realigned the car and the noise wasn't coming up as much anymore. About 5 months later I got new tires all around and everything's fine. Car even felt smoother and faster after the kit was installed, probably since being dropped without it was putting the wheels at an odd angle.

Which leaves me wondering how much of a hassle the idiot who had the car before me could have saved had he been on civicforums and asked around before he dropped it.

Gonna order those Tokicos next week. Going out of town for the weekend plus it's payday. YEAH!!!

 
Rep Power: 812

cut springs are very dangerous. so if you get shocks, have them install new springs too while everything is apart.

 
Rep Power: 352

REPLACE YOUR SUSPENSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.


it is VERY VERY VERY dangerous with cut springs.....ESPECIALLY OEM SPRINGS.

springs have a certain compression ratio and when they are cut, it totally throws everything off.

that is about the stupidest thing you can do to a car is cut the springs.


this is what will happen if u cut ur springs:








this was resulting from cutting eibach sportline springs 1" (and tokicoblues)

making a turn on a curved road, lost control spun out, and hit a tree. TOTALLED.

......because of cut springs...


and thats how i totaled my first car....stupid huh?

spend over 8k on mods, and only cheaped out on suspension.

 
Rep Power: 352

REPLACE YOUR SUSPENSION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.


it is VERY VERY VERY dangerous with cut springs.....ESPECIALLY OEM SPRINGS.

springs have a certain compression ratio and when they are cut, it totally throws everything off.

that is about the stupidest thing you can do to a car is cut the springs.


this is what will happen if u cut ur springs:








this was resulting from cutting eibach sportline springs 1" (and tokicoblues)

making a turn on a curved road, lost control spun out, and hit a tree. TOTALLED.

......because of cut springs...


and thats how i totaled my first car....stupid huh?

spend over 8k on mods, and only cheaped out on suspension.