Mex

iTrader: (5)

For those wondering about the fitment of springs and coilovers on the 2003 civics, I just finished installing ground controls on a 2003 EX. the suspension is exactly the same as the 2002 model year. The front perch uses a metal bearing ring, while the 2001 model year uses a plastic ring with grease on it. Coilovers made for the 2001 model year will not fit correctly on a 2002 or 2003 year civic unless you recieve a new upper perch, which can be obtained by calling the manufacturer directly. This is because the bearing rings are shaped differently. please note that springs will fit any 2001-2003 civic just fine.

Weaponx12o

iTrader: (1)

damn.. once again, suspension god has enlightened us.

good stuff Mex!

03CivicEX03

i ride in 03 civic but my rear coil-over is 01 model civic is there any different but.. the front is 03 civic coil-over.

tekgnosis

so wait, you're telling me that my new tein's won't fit?

I have an 02 LX sedan, and just bought the Tein SS. they haven't come in yet, but should I go to the dealer and buy some bearings?

VNlilMAN

iTrader: (7)

i remember when i was called the suspension God .. dont post much here anymore tho. but you guys have people like mex and robb anyways so big ups to them

Grey

iTrader: (61)

Any coilovers will "fit" either way, but they'll slide around and make knocking noises. The thing is that most manufacturer's of coilovers don't know about the differences in the 2002 and 2003 suspensions. just get the 2001's little plastic rings and you should be all set. I discovered this a while back when installing a set of Tein SS coilovers on noname's (7thgencivic.com peep) car.

Mex

iTrader: (5)

if you wanna get the 2001 bearing ring, you'll neet to get the entire upper mount as well since that's different too. i'm sure if you contact the manufacturer they'd send you a new upper mount piece free of charge.

tekgnosis

man, are you serious? so the SS won't be a direct fit?

again, I have a 2002 LX sedan, and the SS coilovers are fairly fresh.

Mex

iTrader: (5)

well, it all depends on how the tein spring cap is designed. i captioned a couple pics below to help explain (taken from b+g coilovers)








that is how mine are currently set up because i haven't gotten around to calling b+g about a replacement part. the only thing that worries me is the fact that all the weight is being put on the very center of the bearing ring rather than being spread out over all the contact area available.

tekgnosis

a ha, I see what you're saying now.

any idea on a part number, so I can go order it from honda?

d00d, you're a suspension god!

I think I'd be screwed if I didn't find this out! I'm looking to install my tein SS's within a couple of weeks.

03CivicEX03

hey mex
i have 01 GC coil-over in back(rear) it fit but it making those knocking noise everytime i start moving the car. Let says if i get the 03 GC Coil-over for back(rear) would it be the same or it will fit prefectly.

Mex

iTrader: (5)

the 01 GC rears fit fine on an 03.. they did on my install. the only part ground control had to send us was the front spring perch, and I think new sleeves for the front.

sovereign82

iTrader: (2)

I was just talking to Grey about this...but for people with Tein SSs...if you have the 2002 model you'll need to buy the plastic ring for the 01 suspensions...Tein supplies you with a Gold Ring that goes ontop of the springs...u put the plastic ring inside the gold piece, then put the gold piece onto the springs...make sense? it will when you go to do the install.

Matt

tekgnosis

it would suck if it makes sense when I go to do the install!!!

my car will be in peices, and it will be the weekend, when the dealer is closed

where can I get this part other than the dealer? can I order it online right now?

any idea about a part number?

thanks!!!

sovereign82

iTrader: (2)

Buy it from the dealer on Friday . I'll find the part number later. If you want to try to find it yourself, search on Majestic Honda on this page...they sell parts online and have a full breakout. I'll do that later if you dont have time...but I have to run now.

Worse case scenario...If you cant get the piece by this weekend, do the install anyways...then next weekend add this piece. Its just a light popping noise when you crank the wheel. It doesn't do any harm to the car.

Matt

BrotherSound

iTrader: (2)

so let me get this straight,.
I have a 2002 EX coupe. to get the Tein SS to fit right. I need to buy the 2001 plastic bearing ring?

what about the mounts, do i need to buy the 2001 mounts? (mex mentioned earlier that the bearing rings & the upper mounts are different in the 2001 model, & you have to get the upper mounts as well as the bearing ring)

thanks!

tekgnosis

Thanks Matt!

I'll try to find what it is I'm looking for.

Is this the only peice I should be worried about?

man...I should have bought the flex...I imagine it doesn't have these problems! (it comes with the mounts, non?)

Mex

iTrader: (5)

Click here, you need to order 2 if illustration 9 (bearing piece), and one each of illustration 10 and 11 (left and right mounts). the 2001 bearing ring is not interchangable with the 2002-2003 upper mounts. Again, has anyone contacted TEIN to see if they make a spring cap designed to fit a 2002-03 model? If they do then you're worrying about nothing, just get the free replacement part from them.

If you decide to buy the replacement bearing ring, make sure there's grease on it before you install it, otherwise it will fail to serve its purpose!

sovereign82

iTrader: (2)

Mex,

I think that is why they have you replace the OEM ring with their Gold Ring...

Matt

sovereign82

iTrader: (2)

http://www.tein.com/ti/inst/ka22u.pdf


Page 9 of that PDF..."Spring Seat" is the Gold Ring I'm talking about btw.

Matt

Mex

iTrader: (5)

their gold ring looks to be designed the same way mine is in the 2nd picture I posted. you have to use the one they provide because the oem spring cap is made to fit a spring that's 3x as thick. the problem is if you use it on a 2002 or 2003 model, it won't sit right on the oem bearing they expect you to be using. I just got off the phone with B+G and showed them the picture of how my spring cap rests on the bearing ring. amazingly, this is the first they've heard of this problem. the guy said they've sold like 70 kits for the 2001+ civics and surely someone other than me must've noticed the problem.

here, finally i have more pics to help explain. the following picture shows the oem upper mount and bearing ring from a 2001:



here it is from a 2002+:



notice the difference? look how the b+gs should fit on the upper mount:



and look how they fit on the 2002+:

Distinctive

iTrader: (5)

ahhh memories.....GC users..for an 03...all you need to do is buy the sleeve and perch for the front...$60-68shipped...i got a 01 kit off criminal for 200 and sleeves and perches for 64 and...mex and i lowered it sunday and it looks sweet.....thnx agin mex.

tekgnosis

sovereign82, mex...thanks guys!

I think I'll ride with a crap ride for a little while, and then buy the parts.

thanks again!!!

sovereign82

iTrader: (2)

It will still ride o'so'nice....It just may make a few noises. No biggie.

BrotherSound

iTrader: (2)

by the looks of it, if you get the 2001 set-up it'll drop it an additional 1/4"-1/2" or so? because of the way the spring cap sits on the ring in the 2002 set-up. and its flush with the upper mount in the 2001 set-up.

i think for $75 I'll just get the 2001 parts. then I can pre-assemble the front Tein kit before i put it on so it'll be like a full swap. no taking apart the stock assembly to get the mount & ring!

tekgnosis

d00d, that's a great idea!

maybe I'll do that!

I need to find a totalled honda in this area, make sure it's a 2001, and then go theif the parts from it

anyway to tell if its a 2k1? I know the differences between 2k2 and 2k3, but I'm not so sure about the 2k1's

sovereign82

iTrader: (2)

Well depending on the color, 01s Mirrors didnt match the paint...

Example:

White Cars had Black Mirrors

Also the interior patterns are a little different.

Matt

6fingaz

so the only problem is the sound that it makes right


can i order the parts from honda dealership ?? or can i only get it from the coilover company ??

sovereign82

iTrader: (2)

just get them from Honda...I will be hopefully doing reinstall this weekend and ill let u guys know how it turns out.

Matt

ncwcivic

iTrader: (2)

is this only for front or also rear