Rep Power: 0

Does anyone feel that the stock suspension for the 2001+ EX is really flaky and weak??

Just wondering, because I got used to it, never thought much about it until I sat in a corolla. The bumps on the roads are much less harsh than my civic, BUT the car handled much better than my civic as well... how does that work?? The suspension feels, well, weak, such that I have to slow the car to practically a halt in order to get into my driveway, and it's also too soft that if I tried to take a corner a bit fast, the entire car leans like it wants to roll over.

That didn't happen at all with the corolla... my buddy practically drove onto the driveway and i didn't even feel a bump, and yet it handled turns much better than the civic... could my suspension be shot, or is this a common problem??

Thanks a bunch!

 
Rep Power: 380

deals with spring rates and shock valving. and don't confuse body roll as a sign of a well/poorly handling car.

theres alot of little things you can do to improve a mostly stock suspension, Shocks for example would greatly help (Koni, or Tokico when they come out). you can also tweak the handling balance by changing the anti-roll bars.

 
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I wondered the same when I drovemy mother's corolla for a week, the damping of the car was better, my civic kinda bottoms out, dunno, I think my struts are blown.

 
Rep Power: 359

you also have to remember that toyota has TRD and makes there ish better.

honda is going the econmical route

 
Rep Power: 403

yea, weird, the same thing happened to me when i drove my friends Mercadies S430....


well i have upgraded my suspention some what with bar and what not, alll i need are dampers, i think i can take a slowrolla now...

 
Rep Power: 306

HAHHA, me too! I have a 2001 LX sedan, and its a bad ride compared to everything else. I drove my sisters 97 corolla, my bro-in-law 2000 elantra and 03 civic, my dads 2003 elantra, and my friends 94 accord with 215/45/17 wheels, and they ALL have a smoother ride than my civic on stock wheels, lol. I never really noticed how bad it was, till I hit small potholes/bumps in the road, and it feels like i've hit huge ones. I dont know what it is. My brother said he always felt the suspension was like that even the first time he got it. I rode on my friends 2k2 civic coupe dropped on b+g w/ 215/45/17 wheels, and he still had a better ride than me! So, I might be planning on getting some hayame's to get a better ride. I dunno yet though. At least im not the only person who feels the 2k1 civic has a harsh ride, even at stock height with no rims.

 
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Ahhkk... i guess i just have to live with it... can't afford the suspension anytime soon...

however: unless you replace the struts, the problem will persist, no? as in, if you put on some springs on the stock struts, you'll keep having the same problem?

 
Rep Power: 0

It's the shocks. So yes, the only way to fix it is to install a real set of shocks. It doesn't have to be expensive either. Something like KYB GR-2 will completely cure you of the problem, plus making your car rides and handles better than your friend's new Corolla, which btw is very average (very compliant but mushy and devoid of road feel).

And don't mess with the springs, cause the OEM shocks are already underdamped for the stock spring rate. It'll only exhibit worse body control if it has to fight with stiffer springs.

Now you know why everyone is screaming about their shocks in this forum. Honda really dropped the ball on this one.

 
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Alright thanks! I went to the dealership today and tried to find out if it's possible to get different kind of struts than the ones intended for the civic... i.e. if it's possible to get the "sport" package suspension, or get the struts from the SIR (or the SI in US) on my car, and maybe pay for the difference... if there's a difference... since it's covered under the warrantee anwyays... will update later once i hear from them!

 
Rep Power: 315

I noticed on a web site earlier today that the 2002 models had "a new steering pump and rack and sportier shock tuning, primarily to improve steering feel."

I'll definately be getting some better shocks this year. I hate the bouncy ride.

 
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yea i feel its weak or something but im use to it already

 
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Just checked with the dealership... looks like i'll have to fork the money over to get anything interesting... so stock struts for me after all! Good luck with the rest of you guys having that bouncy feel in your civic!

 
Rep Power: 0

KYB and Tokico struts are supposed to be available here by spring 2004 (but take that release date with a grain of salt). From my experience, replacing any OEM shocks on any car with a set of aftermarket shocks is a cheap and worthwhile mod, especially if your car has a compromised suspension, ie. blown shocks or botched factory suspension tuning (the current generation Civic).

Don't bother with the Honda dealerships for this type of work. Ask around for a good independant mechanic in your area.