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got a question for all you civic owners. i am going to use Ground Control coilovers, can i keep my stock struts or do i need to use aftermarket, like koni or something. i know you can keep your stock struts if you just use lowering springs but i want coilovers so i can adjust the height for the winter. let me know your imput. thanks.

 
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you should first read the suspension FAQ. as for your reasoning for getting coilovers, one thing i heard the salts on the roads mess up the threads on the coilovers so you cant adjust them anymore. just something you might want to know...

 
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thanks for letting me know about that. i didnt see that section. after i put in the question i read a bit about the threads locking up etc. i may just go with springs after reading everyone's forums about how bad coilovers are, ride quality, bad handling, etc. anyone have any suggestions what i should use? i have 195/50/16 tires right now and want to upgrade to 215/45/17 but i also want to use my stock tires in winter and i dont wanna drop it too low to the point where my stocks dont fit well under the wheel wells. do true coilovers lock up as well?

 
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eh, the 17s and stock tires are about the same size so if one fits the other will fit. and dont worry you have the ride height to worry about before rubbing(the fender well touching the tire). do you plan on getting a kit? cause this should have an influence on the choice of drop you want too. i cant give you a good recommendation cause i have never dealt with snow but i would think you guys arent driving in a 1 feet high pile of snow or anything. its what an inch the most? but ya i have no idea, what its like... also other factors you want to consider are why do you want to drop it? to have a slammed look? to kill the fender gap, for performance? how far are you willing to go? would you spend money on a camber kit(about $155) or new shocks later down the road? are you willing to drive more carefully?

 
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im not using a kit, i like to keep it simple. and i will drop as far as i can without rubbing. im also looking for performance. also that damn wheel gap is horrible looking, to me anyway. there is a good bit of snow, more then an inch at times, in northern pennsylvania but i think if i only drop it 2" or so i shouldnt have a problem. i dont have a problem spending the money if it is worth it. thanks for your input man, i know im a pain but after reading some of these forums it got me thinking. i dont wanna f*** this car up. i paid alot for it.

 
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naw dont worry, thats why we have the boards here, so you could ask/answer questions. but as for rubbing, you could probably drop your car 3" without rubbing, thats why i say you should worry about ground clearance before rubbing because 3" is pretty low. i always recommend neuspeed race(2.25 front, 2.0 back). you should have no fender gap and would look fairly slammed. not sure if its high enough for your environment tho. but ya with neuspeed race your going to need a rear camber kit. you probably will have to get new shocks after awhile too. i have neuspeed sports and it just isnt low enough for me, wish i would have gotten the race.

 
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thats alot vnlilman. you seem to know what u r talking about from all the other forums. your imput has been helpful. a friend of mine is a NOPI dealer and can get parts cheaper then what is on the site. lemme no if there is any parts you need or want, i can get you a price. mrstoltz2002@yahoo.com.

 
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4banging, if your talking about suspension,it will always involve vnlilman, get used to it!!!

 
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If you're going to lower your car at all, do yourself a favor and get some good aftermarket struts (like Koni). The factory struts are not designed to handle the reduced suspension travel and higher spring rates of aftermarket springs/coilovers. Alternately, you could get a true coilover setup like Tein or JIC that has both the springs and the struts in one.

One of my Ground Control coilovers is locked up right now (sitting weird on the thread and can't be adjusted). GC promptly mailed me a free replacement coilover free-of-charge. I live in Houston where it never snows and I've never driven through salted roads, so I dunno what caused the lock-up.

 
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no problem, ya if i ever need anything i'll hit you up.

"4banging, if your talking about suspension,it will always involve vnlilman, get used to it!!!"
haha thanks but not always true, i still have alot to learn such as all those bars(tie/strut/sway bars). but ya as i always said, dont value my opinions more then others cause i'm just a newbie myself. there are much˛ more people, that know more then i.