Rep Power: 0

OK, so I know I'm probably gonna catch some flak for this, but here's the story:

I bought a lowered 2000 Honda Civic Ex. I don't know how much it is lowered or what equipment was used, other than that the coil springs are yellow. The dude was running 18" rims on it for some reason, and I got some 16" rims to replace them. Today I bought some 205/45/16 tires to put on them, and had them mounted at the shop. The rear wheels were rubbing, so the guy told me to put in some 1" twist-in coil spring spacers to get clearance. I bought them, and he put them in. Now the rear shocks are bottoming out with some frequency, and a squeaking has developed. I don't think the shocks are blown (yet).

Is there any way fix this that will not cost me a lot of money that I don't have? Would replacing the metal twist-in spacers with a rubber ring-shaped spacer help? Is there a shock extender or spacer that would help? Or do I basically just need to totally replace the coil springs and/or shocks?

 
Rep Power: 380

Given the spacer, its unlikely that you are bottoming out. you may be "topping" out the damper rather as in you are running out of droop travel rather then bump travel.

Alternately you may be experiencing coil bind...

anyway, the best fix is to replace the springs with something that doesn't require a spacer for clearance.

Alternately you could buy a camber kit and set the car up with the necessary clearance.

its tough to diagnose such issues with out being there.

 
Rep Power: 380

Given the spacer, its unlikely that you are bottoming out. you may be "topping" out the damper rather as in you are running out of droop travel rather then bump travel.

Alternately you may be experiencing coil bind...

anyway, the best fix is to replace the springs with something that doesn't require a spacer for clearance.

Alternately you could buy a camber kit and set the car up with the necessary clearance.

its tough to diagnose such issues with out being there.

 
Rep Power: 0

Is it going to damage my current suspension to keep riding like this? Basically, I am very short on money at the moment, and if I can wait till I can afford some coilovers or something I would prefer that.

Also, relating to the squeaking noise, I can reproduce it by bouncing the rear of my car while it is parked. Does that give any clues? It seems to be getting milder since last night... could it be the springs themselves reacting to the spacers?

I appreciate the help. Like I said, I bought the car the way it is, and I'm very ignorant about modding of any kind. Basically I just want my car to work.

 
Rep Power: 0

Problem solved. Wrong size spacers, they were too long.

 
Rep Power: 380

makes sense, probably were topping out the dampers.