What kind of suspension???
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Vic, British Columbia, Canada
Rep Power: 0 
What kind of suspension???
I just wanna lower my 7thgen civic... without damaging my suspension. What should I buy and what brands to buy from???
I only want to lower it, not really wanting to race or anything. Just lower it with a smoothe ride.
I only want to lower it, not really wanting to race or anything. Just lower it with a smoothe ride.
Registered!!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: LA, California, USA
Rep Power: 0 Eibach Pro-Kit Springs.
A mellow 1" drop, and it should ride all-around better then stock, cause stock spings suck (at least on my 2001).
I'd recommend doing the struts at the same time, but there is no comfortable replacement for the stuts, everything is on the sporty side.
Adding Koni reds to complete the package would be nice too, but they don't make them (yet! -wake up Koni-)
BTW: Tirerack.com has a review on Eibach springs and koni shocks, and you can buy them there.
A mellow 1" drop, and it should ride all-around better then stock, cause stock spings suck (at least on my 2001).
I'd recommend doing the struts at the same time, but there is no comfortable replacement for the stuts, everything is on the sporty side.
Adding Koni reds to complete the package would be nice too, but they don't make them (yet! -wake up Koni-)
BTW: Tirerack.com has a review on Eibach springs and koni shocks, and you can buy them there.
Registered!!
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Rep Power: 0 Ok I hope this will help you alot ... because I asked the same question about a week ago ... and it took me forever to get a clear picture (thanks to vnlilman: I think I got it)
1) if you are dropping you got a couple options. Adjustable coilovers (Skunk2, Tien RA) but these are more expensive (approx. $1700 tien SS -$2200 tien RA CDN). If you get them though the will allow you to slam it to the ground or just drop it slightly. A coilover consists of a full spring and strut assembly. Dont know exactly which companies fit on the 7th gens ... but look at the member's rides section I see some Tiens, Skunk2 etc.
2) If you are like me (which sounds like it when you say you don't race or anything you just want a basic 1.5" - 1.7" drop) Basically, you have the choice of just changing your springs to either a Neuspeed Sport, Eibach Sport (about $300-$400 CDN for the set of 4) etc these are generally rated well from what I gather and good companies.
*******
Beware only changing your springs and keeping your factory struts is risky. Some people say that they have dropped there civics with only springs and the ride is ok and the struts haven't blown. However, some people just drop it and within a few months they blow. It is up to you. I guess depending on how low the drop you want and your driving, road conditions etc... will determine how long the factory struts will last you.
Also you might notice that sometimes the spring drop is inconsistent. For instance on the Eiback webpage under the application guide<click it> then select your car model and year ... under the civics ... it says the Eibach Sportline comes with a 1.4" drop. But then back on the main page www.eibach.com <click>performance suspension and then <click>Sportline Kit (USA) ... and under here is says they drop to 1.75"-2.25"
I am guessing I would trust the first one of the 1.4" drop because that was modeled for the 2dr 2002 Civics. But be careful ... on the neuspeed webpage www.neuspeed.com ... when you go the the car model and year etc. It doesn't tell you an actual measurement in inches ... everyone has told me the neuspeeds are more of a 1.70" drop (and someone in my city said that having that drop with stock struts and factory rims (185/65r/15 I think are standard) might run into clearance problems as he has the neuspeed sports, says there great but also has 205/45/16's) I dont think that makes any difference but that was his 2 cents worth. So be careful not to get a lowering spring that is too low.
3) You can change the strut and get springs. So far ... from what I gather the only struts available for our 7th gen civics are the Koni Yellows (approx $700-$800 CDN). www.koni.com These are supposedly really amazing struts and have only heard good things about them (this is what I will probably be getting in the spring)
*******
The ones for our generation are the full struts in the back but only inserts in the front. Inserts means that they will have to cut your factory strut ... take the insides out and slide in the Koni Yellow Insert. They only keep the factory strut housing (due to the McPherson front struts to keep some type of metal bar or something). Also, you might be worried about the cutting (at least I did, cutting to me didn't seem a good choice) but again from what I gather this is a pretty routine job done by good speedshops. Directions are located here www.koni-na.com/pdf/boltstrut.pdf Heard they do it to alot of VW's
If you do decide to get coilovers and have winter like me (canada) it isn't a good idea to keep them on. They are threaded and will maybe rust, get dirt and gunk which will cause them to get messed up. Some people do say that putting a good thick grease or vasoline on them will stop this but are you gonna risk $1700-$2200 CDN on vasoline and abit of grease (not me anyways).
*******
These cars are pretty new right now ... so from what I can tell not alot of stuff is available when comparing to the other 6th gen models. If you aren't in a rush like me I would wait till spring ... just in case something else comes out that is better or cheaper etc. If you want a nice drop that is cheap go with the spring/Koni yellow's. This will be nice.
I encourage anyone that thinks I have made an incorrect statement here in this reply to please correct me.
L8tr
1) if you are dropping you got a couple options. Adjustable coilovers (Skunk2, Tien RA) but these are more expensive (approx. $1700 tien SS -$2200 tien RA CDN). If you get them though the will allow you to slam it to the ground or just drop it slightly. A coilover consists of a full spring and strut assembly. Dont know exactly which companies fit on the 7th gens ... but look at the member's rides section I see some Tiens, Skunk2 etc.
2) If you are like me (which sounds like it when you say you don't race or anything you just want a basic 1.5" - 1.7" drop) Basically, you have the choice of just changing your springs to either a Neuspeed Sport, Eibach Sport (about $300-$400 CDN for the set of 4) etc these are generally rated well from what I gather and good companies.
*******
Beware only changing your springs and keeping your factory struts is risky. Some people say that they have dropped there civics with only springs and the ride is ok and the struts haven't blown. However, some people just drop it and within a few months they blow. It is up to you. I guess depending on how low the drop you want and your driving, road conditions etc... will determine how long the factory struts will last you.
Also you might notice that sometimes the spring drop is inconsistent. For instance on the Eiback webpage under the application guide<click it> then select your car model and year ... under the civics ... it says the Eibach Sportline comes with a 1.4" drop. But then back on the main page www.eibach.com <click>performance suspension and then <click>Sportline Kit (USA) ... and under here is says they drop to 1.75"-2.25"
I am guessing I would trust the first one of the 1.4" drop because that was modeled for the 2dr 2002 Civics. But be careful ... on the neuspeed webpage www.neuspeed.com ... when you go the the car model and year etc. It doesn't tell you an actual measurement in inches ... everyone has told me the neuspeeds are more of a 1.70" drop (and someone in my city said that having that drop with stock struts and factory rims (185/65r/15 I think are standard) might run into clearance problems as he has the neuspeed sports, says there great but also has 205/45/16's) I dont think that makes any difference but that was his 2 cents worth. So be careful not to get a lowering spring that is too low.
3) You can change the strut and get springs. So far ... from what I gather the only struts available for our 7th gen civics are the Koni Yellows (approx $700-$800 CDN). www.koni.com These are supposedly really amazing struts and have only heard good things about them (this is what I will probably be getting in the spring)
*******
The ones for our generation are the full struts in the back but only inserts in the front. Inserts means that they will have to cut your factory strut ... take the insides out and slide in the Koni Yellow Insert. They only keep the factory strut housing (due to the McPherson front struts to keep some type of metal bar or something). Also, you might be worried about the cutting (at least I did, cutting to me didn't seem a good choice) but again from what I gather this is a pretty routine job done by good speedshops. Directions are located here www.koni-na.com/pdf/boltstrut.pdf Heard they do it to alot of VW's
If you do decide to get coilovers and have winter like me (canada) it isn't a good idea to keep them on. They are threaded and will maybe rust, get dirt and gunk which will cause them to get messed up. Some people do say that putting a good thick grease or vasoline on them will stop this but are you gonna risk $1700-$2200 CDN on vasoline and abit of grease (not me anyways).
*******
These cars are pretty new right now ... so from what I can tell not alot of stuff is available when comparing to the other 6th gen models. If you aren't in a rush like me I would wait till spring ... just in case something else comes out that is better or cheaper etc. If you want a nice drop that is cheap go with the spring/Koni yellow's. This will be nice.
I encourage anyone that thinks I have made an incorrect statement here in this reply to please correct me.
L8tr
Registered!!
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 0
From: San Mateo, California, US
Rep Power: 0 people ask the same thing over and over again. that's why.
People still update their rides and many people are sick of this site because of the above reason. No one uses the search button and now no one cares. Over the past two weeks, I have seen this question at least 30 times. I've responded to most just for the post counts. Thats all and I have nothing better todo. I do not have a garage and its hard to work on you car when it is cold, windy, and dark outside(working on interior).
People still update their rides and many people are sick of this site because of the above reason. No one uses the search button and now no one cares. Over the past two weeks, I have seen this question at least 30 times. I've responded to most just for the post counts. Thats all and I have nothing better todo. I do not have a garage and its hard to work on you car when it is cold, windy, and dark outside(working on interior).
Registered!!
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 0
From: San Mateo, California, US
Rep Power: 0
Quote
[hr]Originally posted by: VNlilMAN
[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/IMG] ya sorry, tired of answering the same questions too. i probably answered this atleast 25 times.[hr]
[hr]Originally posted by: VNlilMAN
[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/IMG] ya sorry, tired of answering the same questions too. i probably answered this atleast 25 times.[hr]
The Standard One
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 11,659
Likes: 1
From: City of Angels, California, US
Rep Power: 416 ya thats why i made an suspension FAQ, to eliminate some of them. maybe i should work on it a little more. but then the thing is some are in different situations, like some have a kit, others dont, some like it slammed, some only want performance, different tire sizes, budget, etc... but ya i guess i'll work on it..
oh and post count for me dont even matter. my title will always say moderator
. well unless if i get banned or "dismissed" [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/IMG]
oh and post count for me dont even matter. my title will always say moderator
. well unless if i get banned or "dismissed" [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/IMG] 
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
juror
Suspension DIY
6
Jul 30, 2019 03:28 AM
