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Ive done some searching but almost all the advice is for lowering and extreme handling and coil overs and the like. Im looking for that good old fashioned +1 upgrade thats similar in cost to OEM's, that I would have to get anyways.

Its a "new" used car with 140,000 miles 2000 LX (New tires slightly overinflated for better handling), so all I can compare it to is my older Camry. If I go around normal back road turns it kinda throws me into turns and Its putting alot of G forces on my body, like I feel like Im gonna slide off the seat as if I was going 50mph through a 25mph turn but Im doing 30mph. Its like the suspension drops once for the turn and then if I push it any more I feel like I would slide off the road, its like all or nothing. Speed bumps and normal driving feels ok. Doing the "push test" it dosent bounce at all.

So if I do need shocks:

1. What is a good OEM replacement??? This is my daily driver, its a stock 4 door LX folks with a 1.6, I mean Im not gonna be auditioning for The fast and the furious any time soon. But I don't have a baby seat in the back yet either , and handling is very important to me. I would be ok with up to 1" drop. In fact I might like that TOKICO BLUES?

2. Wheres a good place to buy them? And do I just buy the "struts" or are there other small parts I would need also?

3. Is this a DIY job? I don't have any large tools and Im not a mechanic but I would try it if its easy. And I realise I will have to get it aligned afterwords. I did find this http://www.ehow.com/how_6939026_repl...nda-civic.html and this:
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/4...info-pics.html

THANKS ALOT!

 
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tokico blue is a good choice for stock springs as well as lowered. they are a bit stiffer than stock, esp if yours are blown, but worth it for better handling. they will also last much longer. the oems are barely rated for 50k miles but some never even make that far. as for diy, its not the easiest job. took me and two friends all day to do and they had done a few other cars before too. lots of things can go wrong, and you need special tools. i wouldnt recommend it if all youve done is change fluids. you might also need new top mounts if the stock ones are bad, and prolly new tie rods bc the old ones will break coming off.

 
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kyb got some decent ones with adjustable bounce rate, though they will be my choice of shocks, inspect all bushings for any worn parts and replace,
my sway bar linkage went bad after i use lowering springs , so a new sway bar bushings would be a good idea to change if you are going to lower the car
i didnt change my bushings and end up doing the linkage and bushing itself

 
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Thanks for info guys.
I suspect these shocks have never been changed. I will order new bushings for all the shocks as well.

Where is a good place to order from?
Im not going to lower it at all. But I will have to take it to mechanic to install. What parts can I buy besides bushing to make sure Im not paying dealer more than I have to?

 
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^An ebay seller with a good reputation would be my suggestion.

Changing struts is simple, things can go wrong, but if you take your time then anyone with basic mechanical experience can do it. For many of us on the site changing struts was our first major DIY project and any tools you need can be rented from an auto-parts store.

 
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You might get an eyeball on the rubber of your suspension. I was getting too much sway and found not only the front lower l/h wimpy engine mount shot but both donuts @ the fwd end of the rear trailing arms bad. Had suspected shocks but they still bounce back up fine.

 
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dont forget about spring compressor
very important cuz if u unbolt the top of the shock
it can launch and do damage
that was the first tool i got