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Hello everyone! This is my first post…

I own a 2002 Honda Civic EX Coupe I bought a couple of weeks ago. Now I bought it with 86000 miles and I believe it still has the original OEM shocks/struts. Now I’m almost 100% sure that the front passenger side strut is blown because the car make popping sounds when I turn and the car bounces excessively when I apply pressure to that side of the car.

Now here’s my deal. I will be driving this car in Mexico where the streets are not in optimal condition (a LOT of potholes). I plan to replace all four shocks/struts but I had a quick question. I noticed that on Ebay some people sell the Tokico HP set by itself and also a set with lowering springs. The also sell the D-spec coilovers but these are considerably more expensive.

My question is the following… I do not plan on racing or anything like that, only street driving (but very damaged street driving nonetheless). I just want to have a nice ride and protect my car from the bad streets. Would it be convenient to:

1. - Only purchase the Tokico HP set and leave the OEM springs
2. - Buy the HP and spring set (I think this lowers the car 1.4 inches… I am afraid that with the potholes I could damage my car with this drop)
3. - Or go all out and buy the D-spec coilovers (which also lowers the car)

I am a noob at this and although I did try searching for a similar post I did not find anything. Any input would be VERY appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 
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For shoddy streets, take option 1

 
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Thanks for the response Boilermaker1!

So would it be recommendable to purchase new OEM springs (or aftermarket springs that do not lower the car... do these exist?) or would the OEM springs with 86000 miles on the do fine?

Thanks again!

 
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Springs don't go bad very easily. They should last the car's life and then some.

 
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springs last forever technically. and i would wait til after you come back. driving on blown shocks isn't too bad or dangerous but your new shocks will get ruined down there.

 
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I gotta agree it will be a better choice but if your aggressive take the tokico and eaibach springs

 
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I really appreciate your guys responses... the thing is that I'm going to drive the car down here for a while... maybe a year or two... but I really don't want to get nice new shocks/struts and have them ruined quickly. I assume that the Tokico HP's are performance struts... are there any other struts that can be considered "heavy duty" that can withstand these kinds of streets and not ruin quickly? Or can I rely on the Tokicos for a while?

 
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you sure it isn't a busted tie rod? Popping and clicking while turning is a tell tell sign of a bad tie rod...

 
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I really could not say off the bat... would that influence the excessive bounciness when I apply pressure on that corner of the car? I do the same for the other corners and there's no bounce (feels stiffer too).

 
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I wouldn't know. Sounds like a shocks however, i had a mazda 626 that made the popping noise when turning, and it turned out to be a bad tie-rod. Could it be that because of having a blown shock, you messed up your tie rod as well? I know it isn't safe to cruise with a busting tie-rod because your wheel can fall off....anyone know more about this stuff??

thanks

 
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Can anyone give me their opinion on this matter? Will the Tokico's last even in not so optimal street conditions? I mean the streets are not dirt streets or anything.. hehe.. but they do tend to be bumpy and with the ocasional pothole (and some monster potholes too...). Should I have to worry about anything else because of that popping noise when I turn? Thanks in advance!

 
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Also, I've heard that the HP Blues can't take a large drop... but they are sold with a set of 1.4 inch drop springs. Is this considered a large drop? I wonder how I'll fare here if I dropped the car some...

 
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no one?