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I have a 2004 Honda Civic LX sedan, complete stock suspension and I'm not looking to modify my car, I want to keep it in its great condition but I do want to see what I can install to stop my car from dipping. I've never done any suspension support work to a FWD vehicle so I don't know what to use on my Civic. The suspension is in great shape, I don't have any body roll but the car dips when I shift and when I go at green lights. It dips both in front and back, separately from going, shifting and stopping. I will appreciate if anyone who reads this can give me advice and yes I will be checking the pages for anyone who might have already asked. And no I'm not trying to shift fast or hard and I've driven manuals for a longtime but I never had a car dip like this car does. So are there traction bars for a FWD or what is there? Or point me to where anyone else have asked this question. Thank you very much!

 
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do you have maintenance history? potentially dampers are on the way out an letting the car squat too much when braking/accelerating.
7th gen civic dampers are soft to begin with
suspension aftermarket have dried down on this gen, only good item i see are the tein, others have been discontinued

traction bars are not compatible with macPherson front "struts" or rear multi-link suspensions.

 
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is this what you refer to as dipping?
is it this extreme during braking?

 
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Struts are probably weak. Kyb is considered to be a good replacement that is like "oe"

 
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Unfortunately I don't. My sister was the original owner but when I asked her about maintenance she just said she did it all on schedule but what, she doesn't remember. I'll definitely check the dampers when I get a chance and thanks for giving brands, that will help me.
The traction bars comment was an example because I wasn't sure what is used on FWD or Civics. But again, thank you for the information, I'm going to learn about this car somehow. I had a Nova race car that I installed traction bars and other goodies to help hook at the track without dipping so I wasn't sure if for FWD vehicles, if they had something similar or what.

 
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HAHAHA no, but it does feel like that sometimes. I definitely don't have any reasons to ever want to attempt getting air haha

 
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I have thought about that and just for maintenance reasons, replacing those are on my eventual list to do. I've checked them and even though they are all in spec on the low because of age, they still are handling strong. I have looked into though and was curious on brands and KYB is always a great choice so thanks for giving a name brand to help me research. But I still wasn't sure if with these Civic's it was just the standard suspension parts to just replace or is there was aftermarket parts I can install to help.

 
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ah, yes

tein is for when using lowering springs. kyb is for stock springs

 
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If want to spend a ton on adjustable coilovers where you can make the shock stiffer, that's an option. I think you just need new ones

 
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I'll go with the KYB, I'm familiar with using those and I'm not going to be lowering this car and no extreme mods. I really needed something stock and in great shape, even if unfortunately its a slow car haha

 
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Right on, yes I think I'll try just replacing the struts and springs first, but I just wanted to check anyways before doing the simple fix about seeing if there was anything else.

If I were to do coilovers, do you have any suggestions?

 
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I am using Tein Street Advance Z coilovers. Adjustable right height as well as dampening force. You could retain stock ride height but suspension would be a bit stiffer.

 
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I would still look into those and take them into consideration. I appreciate any suggestions, so thank you for that information.

 
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ah, remember that civic have a lot more suspension stroke (stock wise) than what you are used too.
Also, a lot lighter, so springs are softer, dampers are softer. Mind you, bump test will not tell you if the dampers are worn...

 
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Thanks for that, I didn't know that about them.

I don't know if this is a silly question but could swapping out springs from a V6 into my 4cyl stiffen it, if it fits, like for example how changing springs from an old heavy Chevy V8 to the V6 for a quick lower job but opposite?

 
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no stock V6 civics exist, sorry
Also, FWD requires stiffer rear springs for handling (google pissing dog civic pictures)

I put a way larger rear anti-roll bar and removed the front one and it still understeer in some cases.

front tires need do braking, accel, turn, rears are just following.
whole different setup philosophy compared to RWD