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I've been searching the forums for the last couple days and I've got a few questions on upgrading my suspension. First off, I've got a 2002 EX coupe, 5-speed. I'll be keeping the OEM SI wheels, but I do want to lower the car and improve the handling a bit. I want the car to still look fairly stock, so that's why I'll be keeping the OEM wheels

What I've been looking at so far:

-Eibach Pro Kit or Sportlines (not sure on drop, I could use some pictures from other members)
-Tokico HP struts
-19mm RSX-S rear sway bar on rubber bushings.

I'll get camber correction kits for both the front and the rear. I'm currently looking at SPC.

I know increasing the size of the rear bar without changing the front bar will increase oversteer. I'm okay with a neutral to very slight oversteer, but I don't want to come around a turn and have the back end come around on me. I realize that the rest of the suspension and wheels/tires will play a major roll, however, I'd like to get the gist of the conclusions this forum has come to.

Basically, I want a car that sits a tad lower to get rid of some of the wheel gap, be near stock-like ride, and be more confident in the turns. Any help is greatly appreciated as I really don't want to go through a trial-error process. I did lots of research before upgrading my other car and got exactly what I wanted the first time... I ask a lot of questions

 
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sounds good. look in the suspension forum, theres a stickied thread with pics of drops...

you might want to add a front strut bar as well

 
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Actually, I thought of a front strut bar too (even rear).

So is it safe to say I'm on a good track for the performanc and look I want?

 
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Hey Jason,

Sounds like you are on the right track.

I've got a DC Sports Front Upper Strut bar, and Eibach Sway bars.

As far as the Rear Strut bar, that would not really do anything but add looks. The suspension in the rear is already connected to the frame of the car, so adding a reat strut bar does not improve anything (my opinion).

I thought about getting a rear strut bar, but decided it was not worth it.

 
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Tokico hp is your best bet, as for springs i'd go with tein s-tech. Do not use stock struts if u plan on lowering. As for the rear don't waste money on a lower tie bar but a rear sway bar might be beneficial. I put a front upper strut bar on mine and when I didnt have a rear sway bar the rear end felt like it lagged if you know what I mean. A rear sway bar u can get on ebay for like 30.00 and I'd suggest the same for a front one. All a sway bar does is add rigidity, you don't need to spend 100+ to do this.

 
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This is a Daily driven street car right?

Dont forget to pick up a camber kit!!! you may not technially need one, but getting away from the crappy OEM alignment is paramount to a well handling car.

 
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He said he was looking at spc...

 
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so he needs, S-Tech, SPC, Tokico HP. then some Progress sway kit! thatll do the job for near $800 or so!

 
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I would say dont bother with a larger front bar, Given a proper alignment to offset the chassis roll.

 
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I don't want to highjack the thread but Spencer what is your alignment set at? I went to a 03 front sway with a rsx in the rear and corner exit is better but in some places it almost feels like the car wants to push more (usually mid corner after initial turn in). After reading one of your other posts I'm guessing I don't have enough front camber to compensate for the extra body roll.

 
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On my relitivly soft springs (eibach sportlines) I'm running about -2.5 on the nose. I was running a little less then -1 before and I was just eating the shoulders of my race tires (Falken RT-215's at the time). By running -2.5 I was also able to drop the PSI on the front tires from 45-48 to around 38 and still have nimial rollover.

This is with a 15.9mm front bar and a 25.4mm rear, Koni dampers (Full soft on the front, nearly full stiff rear depending on track needs) and Eibach sportlines.

 
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How tail happy is it?

 
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Well, I've got a line on some like-new Eibach springs and I also got a 19mm sway bar for $40. My buddy happen to still have his stock sway bars on his 360whp RSX, so he's selling me his bar. I'm pretty cont ent on $40 and no shipping.

I want an OEM rubber bushing. If I go to the Acura Dealership, will a OEM RSX bushing fit in the Civic mounts?

 
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Eibach springs suck no offense, and you may get some wheel hop.

 
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Yea the stock brackets work fine. Props on doing research before hand.

 
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I didn't get wheel hop when I had Eibach Pro-Kit springs on my 460hp Taurus. Springs aren't the only part that can lead to wheel hop.... But that doesn't matter, I'll never launch this car as there is no point, it's extremely slow. It's also my 'reliable' daily driver, so I pretty much drive easy.

 
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Thanks. That's easy enough. I'll just head to the dealership and get a set.

 
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That reall depends.... I actually dont think its tail happy at all, but then I've driven a whole season of autocross with this setup along with a year and a half of street driving... At this point on the street its handles as well as I could ever ask a car to. Its steerable with the throttle and as long as I dont don any thing stupid like lift mid turn the tail doesnt come lose.


For compitition.... Id say it still understeers too much, but a big part of that is due to the soft springs + Sticky tires = me hitting the front bumpstops on sweepers which causes understeer. Doesnt happen on the street because you simply cant drive the car hard enough to, and my street tires are Far more slipery then my race tires. A set of ground controls are in the works...