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Hi all,

I have a 99 civic EX and a week ago I noticed that the left rear side sits lower than the right rear. I could put three fingers between the wheel well and the tire on the right side, and barely two fingers on the left. The front is fine - both sides allow for 4 fingers. Suspension is not lowered. I took of the left rear wheel and the strut was wet, so I ordered a pair of KYB struts. My father told me that the reason for car sitting lower is usually a snapped spring, and not a bad strut. So I ordered a pair of coil springs. I drove the car for a week, each time it felt like the left rear was dragging behind the rest of the wheels. It just felt as if the whole weight of the rear was on the left wheel with blown strut and bad coil spring.

Well, today I drove the car and it handles again like it used to two weeks ago and earlier. The back does not bounce (never did), and now I can put three fingers on both left and right rear. So I am very confused now. I saw that the strut was wet, and I didn't see any broken spots on the spring, and the car did sit lower on one side and that side was dragging because of that, but now it looks fine (I didn't look at the strut), both sides on the same level, and it does not dragg anymore. What can it mean? Should I still replace the struts and the coil springs?

 
Rep Power: 235

Honda OEM springs are usually pretty weak, you probably have spring sag with the car being that old. I can only go about 50K miles before I start to get spring sag on my OEM springs (DFW roads suck).

With the wet strut and it riding like crap last week and doing fine this week I would say your strut is bad. The reason it rides "fine" now is that the strut is stuck in the upper position and last week it was stuck in a lower position.

 
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That makes sense. So are you saying that the car can alternate between normal and bad as long as my strut is bad? Do you think it will be wise to replace the springs with the struts? And when your car sags after 50K miles, do you leave it that way or replace springs each time?

 
Rep Power: 235

yes, yes, and I replace them with new OEM because I can't find aftermarket at stock height. I have to stay at stock height because I have 17's and deep skirts. Plus I wouldn't be able to get in any of the parking lots around here. lol

*Make sure you replace suspension parts in pairs (left and right). If you only replace one side it'll put more pressure on the other side and you'll be changing out that side in very short time.

There's a huge Honda following in the Houston area. If you need help find one of the Honda gangs or go to http://honda-tech.com/ to find somebody in your area.

 
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But aren't stock springs around $200 each? Majestic Honda has them for $140-$150, but still it's a lot of money to spend every 50K miles... I ordered Moog - they were cheapest, but I don't know if they would be at stock height. Do you think I should do alignment right after replacing struts and springs, or should I wait some time for springs to settle?

Where can I find "Honda gangs" in Houston? Through Honda-Tech website? What are the benefits of finding those guys?

 
Rep Power: 235

Yeah, kinda expensive. I've had the car for about 120K miles. Immediately replaced 'em and I'm on the end of my second set. I would let them settle before alignment, the alignment of the front depends on the alignment of the back. NTB around here has an unlimited alignment for a year.

Yes, you can find people in your area thru honda-tech. It always helps to have friends on hand with experience for whatever problems arise. Just be warned that Honda guys tend to be cocky.