JDM Race Suspension anyone? NOT 56k FRIENDLY!!!
Thread Starter
Addicted to the Twisties!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, Co
Rep Power: 314 
JDM Race Suspension anyone? NOT 56k FRIENDLY!!!
Yes...that's right....the "Fat kid" is now runnin' JDM SUSPENSION!!!
This is my favorite part..... 8)
Rears Installed....
Fronts Installed....
Initial Front Ground clearance.....( Looks cool....but a bit TOO low for my tastes, no rubbing, no problems, just too low for a daily driver)
Initial Side Ground clearance....( not too bad, just needs to be even)
Now some front tuckin' pics... (won't be that way for long though)
Now some REAR drop pics..... (just right, IMO)
And now for the overall look pics....
You can see in this one where the ride height is a bit uneven....I'll be fixing that soon.
Stats:
-Height adjustablity
-10k/16k Spring rates (f/r) = 559 in/lb Front/894 in/lb Rear
-15 way adjustable dampening and rebound
-Pillowball upper mount and camber plate
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS.....
Ride Comfort:
Superb. Absolutely PHENOMINAL. I'm serious...these things ride like either a REAL race car (STIFF AS HELL) or like a minor upgrade in dampening (not too much stiffer from stock). Both Greg and I were VERY impressed that we really couldn't feel the STIFF *** springs until I put the dampers on full stiff. So far, so good.... :wink:
Quality:
Again...SUPERB. I found NO flaws in the workmanship, nor any on the materials themselves. They have a VERY nice coating, that appears to be of better quality than even stock. The upper pillow ball mounts are solid, and the camber plates are VERY smooth to adjust.
Install:
Here's where I ran into problems...first...the instructions are in Japanese....duh, JDM. Second, there's THREE pictures to go from..none are very helpfull. Third, the rears were kinda difficult to figure out, apparently you have to separate the upper mounts, and re-assemble while on the car (weird, since I've never had to do this before)...they didn't just slide up through the hole in the body. Fourth, DO NOT LET YOUR AXLES FALL OUT!!! Lemme repeat....DO NOT LET YOUR AXLES FALL OUT!!! (I spent 2 hours trying to get the front axles back into place, then finally Greg got them back in). Other than that, it was pretty straight forward. If I hadn't screwed up the axles, and if I knew how the rears worked prior to install, I'd say 3 hours max for a full install.
Overall:
I'm VERY pleased with my purchase...hell...I'd BETTER be for that much money! lol I DO have a few issues with them, though I'm sure it's just minor mistakes on my part causing them, but they clunk, they understeer VERY badly (prolly due to the HUGE amount of front NEG. camber I currently have....WAY too small of a contact patch for slow cornering...but VERY nice for hi-speeds. The clunking COULD be due to the fact that I used hand tools, so they're prolly not as tight as they should be, and the fact that I never made sure all the rings were tight (oops....dangerous) and the fact that I couldn't get the passenger side steering arm nut back on....(again...oops, dangerous). But all in all.....THEY ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!! 8)
This is my favorite part..... 8)
Rears Installed....
Fronts Installed....
Initial Front Ground clearance.....( Looks cool....but a bit TOO low for my tastes, no rubbing, no problems, just too low for a daily driver)
Initial Side Ground clearance....( not too bad, just needs to be even)
Now some front tuckin' pics... (won't be that way for long though)
Now some REAR drop pics..... (just right, IMO)
And now for the overall look pics....
You can see in this one where the ride height is a bit uneven....I'll be fixing that soon.
Stats:
-Height adjustablity
-10k/16k Spring rates (f/r) = 559 in/lb Front/894 in/lb Rear
-15 way adjustable dampening and rebound
-Pillowball upper mount and camber plate
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS.....
Ride Comfort:
Superb. Absolutely PHENOMINAL. I'm serious...these things ride like either a REAL race car (STIFF AS HELL) or like a minor upgrade in dampening (not too much stiffer from stock). Both Greg and I were VERY impressed that we really couldn't feel the STIFF *** springs until I put the dampers on full stiff. So far, so good.... :wink:
Quality:
Again...SUPERB. I found NO flaws in the workmanship, nor any on the materials themselves. They have a VERY nice coating, that appears to be of better quality than even stock. The upper pillow ball mounts are solid, and the camber plates are VERY smooth to adjust.
Install:
Here's where I ran into problems...first...the instructions are in Japanese....duh, JDM. Second, there's THREE pictures to go from..none are very helpfull. Third, the rears were kinda difficult to figure out, apparently you have to separate the upper mounts, and re-assemble while on the car (weird, since I've never had to do this before)...they didn't just slide up through the hole in the body. Fourth, DO NOT LET YOUR AXLES FALL OUT!!! Lemme repeat....DO NOT LET YOUR AXLES FALL OUT!!! (I spent 2 hours trying to get the front axles back into place, then finally Greg got them back in). Other than that, it was pretty straight forward. If I hadn't screwed up the axles, and if I knew how the rears worked prior to install, I'd say 3 hours max for a full install.
Overall:
I'm VERY pleased with my purchase...hell...I'd BETTER be for that much money! lol I DO have a few issues with them, though I'm sure it's just minor mistakes on my part causing them, but they clunk, they understeer VERY badly (prolly due to the HUGE amount of front NEG. camber I currently have....WAY too small of a contact patch for slow cornering...but VERY nice for hi-speeds. The clunking COULD be due to the fact that I used hand tools, so they're prolly not as tight as they should be, and the fact that I never made sure all the rings were tight (oops....dangerous) and the fact that I couldn't get the passenger side steering arm nut back on....(again...oops, dangerous). But all in all.....THEY ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!! 8)
Last edited by FattyMcJ; Sep 9, 2004 at 01:26 PM.
Thread Starter
Addicted to the Twisties!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, Co
Rep Power: 314
Originally Posted by Mr.Modify
SLAM IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
looks good by the way!!
looks good by the way!!
But THANKS!!!
Autocross Junky
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,211
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Rep Power: 380 
Cool, Now you get to spend the rest of the year tuning the damn things...
BTW, The amount of negitive camber you should be running will be determined by how much body roll your getting....
BTW, The amount of negitive camber you should be running will be determined by how much body roll your getting....
Thread Starter
Addicted to the Twisties!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, Co
Rep Power: 314
Originally Posted by usafstud
wanna trade ur BUDDY CLUBS for my JICs?
lol
lol
With the toe problems....construction methods (meaning increased bump steer).....and spring rates of the JIC's (or lack thereof).......speaking for the EP3......
NOT A CHANCE!!!
Last edited by FattyMcJ; Sep 9, 2004 at 02:39 AM.
Thread Starter
Addicted to the Twisties!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, Co
Rep Power: 314
Originally Posted by Zzyzx
Cool, Now you get to spend the rest of the year tuning the damn things...
BTW, The amount of negitive camber you should be running will be determined by how much body roll your getting....
BTW, The amount of negitive camber you should be running will be determined by how much body roll your getting....
Yeah......I'm not too happy about having to tune them, especially when I JUST learned the STOCK suspension, and this is a HUGE jump. (
....another bad idea, but I HAD to have them)BTW...about the camber.....with 10/16k spring rates (VERY minimal body roll) what camber do you think I should be running? From what I've seen (3 other EP's TOTAL with BC's on) the least amount of neg. camber they have is -2* .....I'm thinkin' that'll be good enough for the fast corners, but maybe a bit too much for the slow 90's.....dunno.
Autocross Junky
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,211
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Rep Power: 380
Originally Posted by FattyMcJ
Yeah......I'm not too happy about having to tune them, especially when I JUST learned the STOCK suspension, and this is a HUGE jump. ( ....another bad idea, but I HAD to have them)
BTW...about the camber.....with 10/16k spring rates (VERY minimal body roll) what camber do you think I should be running? From what I've seen (3 other EP's TOTAL with BC's on) the least amount of neg. camber they have is -2* .....I'm thinkin' that'll be good enough for the fast corners, but maybe a bit too much for the slow 90's.....dunno.
....another bad idea, but I HAD to have them)BTW...about the camber.....with 10/16k spring rates (VERY minimal body roll) what camber do you think I should be running? From what I've seen (3 other EP's TOTAL with BC's on) the least amount of neg. camber they have is -2* .....I'm thinkin' that'll be good enough for the fast corners, but maybe a bit too much for the slow 90's.....dunno.
-2 would be a start, at least on the noes. if you are still understeering on the slower corners, it may be time for a larger rear anti-roll bar... Make sure its adjustible. and Remember your alignments! Toe settings on the back will greatly influence your understeer/oversteer charateristics, toe on the front will influence turn entry. (a Tire pyromiter would be able to tell you exactly how much camber to run)
are these dampers Single or double adjustible? if they are single adjustible, lncrease the Rebound valving on the side of the car you want to have stick LESS. so Start with soft up front stiff in the rear, and tune from there. and you will probably have different settings for each track. if they are double adjustible, congratulations you've just doubled the amount of time it will take to tune them....
Other wise Remember to get the car Corner weighted!!!
Oh ya, Your not going to want that 25.4mm front bar I have for sale... it would be a better Idea to pick up an RSX's 22mm front bar. (Smaller if you could find/fit it... Maybe one of the NON-EX 15.9mm???)
Last edited by Zzyzx; Sep 9, 2004 at 10:25 AM.
Hoollllly sh!TTTT~ bro... i leave co, u leave the em2 then go to ep3 then THIS!!!!!! Wowerz... of course all u dayam CO people wait till i leave to get the good stuff... dayam... u with the EP3 and then steve with his up and coming mod (gotta keep that on the DL) dayam u all..... lol.... Well bro the car looks great!!!! dope suspension!!! good luck with it and everything down there... latlerz.
Registered!!
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,914
Likes: 0
From: California, US
Rep Power: 351 
very nice i wonder how these would ride on my ES hmmmmm.i was thinking of getting the mugen set up for the ep3 but now i think i will look in to these.
once again nice buy
Thread Starter
Addicted to the Twisties!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, Co
Rep Power: 314
Originally Posted by dejuw
is the suspension for civic EP3 the same as in coupe and sedan civics??
thanks
thanks
Kinda...but no. Same concept and style..but a few minor differences. I think only the fronts (or rears) from the Coupe will fit the EP3..and visa versa.
Zzyzx would know more about that than I would...
Thread Starter
Addicted to the Twisties!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, Co
Rep Power: 314
Originally Posted by Zzyzx
-2 would be a start, at least on the noes. if you are still understeering on the slower corners, it may be time for a larger rear anti-roll bar... Make sure its adjustible. and Remember your alignments! Toe settings on the back will greatly influence your understeer/oversteer charateristics, toe on the front will influence turn entry. (a Tire pyromiter would be able to tell you exactly how much camber to run)
are these dampers Single or double adjustible? if they are single adjustible, lncrease the Rebound valving on the side of the car you want to have stick LESS. so Start with soft up front stiff in the rear, and tune from there. and you will probably have different settings for each track. if they are double adjustible, congratulations you've just doubled the amount of time it will take to tune them....
Other wise Remember to get the car Corner weighted!!!
Oh ya, Your not going to want that 25.4mm front bar I have for sale... it would be a better Idea to pick up an RSX's 22mm front bar. (Smaller if you could find/fit it... Maybe one of the NON-EX 15.9mm???)
are these dampers Single or double adjustible? if they are single adjustible, lncrease the Rebound valving on the side of the car you want to have stick LESS. so Start with soft up front stiff in the rear, and tune from there. and you will probably have different settings for each track. if they are double adjustible, congratulations you've just doubled the amount of time it will take to tune them....
Other wise Remember to get the car Corner weighted!!!
Oh ya, Your not going to want that 25.4mm front bar I have for sale... it would be a better Idea to pick up an RSX's 22mm front bar. (Smaller if you could find/fit it... Maybe one of the NON-EX 15.9mm???)
About the camber...I'll be getting it aligned next week sometime, after the camber kit goes on, (front AND rear), and after I've got every thing (height wise) the way I want it. But I haven't really had time to adjust that....
OH...and BTW...tightened the rings on the struts, and finally got the nut onto the passenger tie rod end....BINGO....SILENT, SMOOTH, and PERFECT.
I'm in heaven......as to quote Mike from ephatch.com - "My 141 whp Civic rides like a Ferarri !!!"
er sumthin'
Thread Starter
Addicted to the Twisties!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, Co
Rep Power: 314
Originally Posted by dj02
very nice i wonder how these would ride on my ES hmmmmm.i was thinking of getting the mugen set up for the ep3 but now i think i will look in to these.
once again nice buy
Mugen = VERY nice (a guy in my car club has them) but 1) They're not adjustable (pretty much just a stiffer version of the stock coilovers), 2) They're not very stiff, IMO, and 3) Mugen = $$$$ (too much $ for what they really are, IMO)
These.....PHENOMINAL!!! I'm SOO impressed, words can't define.
For all you Hayame guys...if you can afford these....you'll see what a REAL coilover feels like...OMFG.
Registered!!
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Planet Earth
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by FattyMcJ
Kinda...but no. Same concept and style..but a few minor differences. I think only the fronts (or rears) from the Coupe will fit the EP3..and visa versa.
Zzyzx would know more about that than I would...
Zzyzx would know more about that than I would...
your buddyclub looks awesome and of high quality coilover
Thread Starter
Addicted to the Twisties!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, Co
Rep Power: 314
Originally Posted by dejuw
so i guess the buddyclub coilover won't fit sedan..? or will it fit with some mods?
your buddyclub looks awesome and of high quality coilover
your buddyclub looks awesome and of high quality coilover
Hmm...
I honestly don't know if they would fit the sedan. My suggestion is to call Buddy Club or Shutoko-R (ask for Mike, tell him that FattyMcJ from ephatch.com sent you). He knows more about the BC's than I do. But after looking at the available set-ups...I don't think they will fit.
Click for a link to BC's on Shutoko-R's website
Click for information on contacting Shutoko-R
Hope that helps some...
They look awesome man. Congrats. 
Thread Starter
Addicted to the Twisties!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,693
Likes: 0
From: Littleton, Co
Rep Power: 314
Originally Posted by RobearRacing
Where did you pick these up from?
ROFLMAO
Um...can't tell ya...
ROFLMAO
Dude...you KNOW you hooked me up on these...and yes, Rob @ Robearracing is the MAN!!! (Now I just need my camber kit and sway bar, and I'll be set. lol)
Rob > ALL
(BTW...I also purchased my old EM2's Koni's and front strut bar from Rob....which is why I came back...great service !
) <- There ya go...free plug. 
Registered!!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From: Merritt Island, FL
Rep Power: 0 Jason. You make me so jealous. I am stuck waiting to get my big reenlistment bonus from the Army before I can do the coilovers. And that means I'll be paying out the nose on shipping to Germany. But on the up side I'll get to send good pics of my car at Nurburgring.
And $2k is a little outside my self imposed suspension budget. I'm looking more along the lines of $1-1.5k. Any suggestions?
And $2k is a little outside my self imposed suspension budget. I'm looking more along the lines of $1-1.5k. Any suggestions?
Last edited by gangrel138; Sep 12, 2004 at 09:35 PM.
