i will be installing spring/shock and swaybars over this holiday weekend. does anyone have experience doing their own install on the S? i have done several VW's but those are a different animal.

i have read all the DIY threads i could find and my big questions are about the pre-load and torqueing properly. also the sways appear to be a little more involved than just a simple swap. again something about pre-load and torqueing the bolts.

if you have experience post up advice. if you want to help turn wrenches, i'll supply food and beverages.

parts arrive today.

TIA,

matt

 

really easy when are u doin this? this weekend?

 

Oooh I would like to hear some good info on those two things also. I did a spring install on my S and these two things were what I had the least knowledge on..

 

yes, doing the install either friday or saturday.

 

i would love to help ... just not sure what my schedule will be for this weekend.

Anychance you want to start tomorrow? I'm not doing anything between now and Thursday. Just let me know. Oh ... and next week is open too (unless the Dragon calls my name loud enough )

 

had some time this morning before the festivities started, so went to work on the car.

i got the front finished, sway, springs/shocks are installed.
did it by myself, super easy install.

still need to do the rears.

 

you know when i am up in NC working... after work.. I have to fight that same problem... go home to my little hotel room and pretty much nothing.. or go for a little ride and lookie there's the Dragon's Tail and a couple back an forth runs.. and hey... now i can go sit for the night... it's like i drove the Dragon after work every evening for weeks.. it was awesome....

i should be looking at springs an sway bars... and and and and oh and driving lesson's...

 

finished. only thing left is the rear sway, HTG didn't have the rear sway bushings. i should have them next week at the latest.

rears were easier than the fronts. if anyone is nervous about doing suspension installs on this car don't worry, it's easy. just need 8, 10, 12, 14 deep well, 17 mm sockets, rachet and a torque wrench.

CR suspension quickie review:

streets were a little damp in areas and tires were not super hot, but my initial input is honda did a great job on this suspension. very little squat during launch (not drag racer launch, just quick launch off the line), very little front to rear transition during gear changes, nose stays flat during initial turn in, and nose stays flat during high speed lane changes. my tires are RE050A PP (225 and 255) , i noticed more understeer. i heard the front tires howl and felt some plow.

not a kindey killer ride, just nice and firm. road undulations are amplified, the car does gets a little jouncy.

if i did the math correctly, based on Honda press releases the suspension differences between my 2007 and the 2008 CR suspension is as follows:

spring rates: +45% front, +26% rear.
damping rates: +60% front, +37% rear.
sway bars: Front= 26.5mm vs. CR 28.6mm. Rear= 25.4mm vs. CR 26.5mm.


quick edit: people don't forget to re-torque your wheels after they have been off the car. i installed and torqued the wheels then went for my spirited ride. i always re-torque after my test drive from an install and sure enough, all lug nuts needed to be re-torqued. (and yes, i have an excellent torque wrench)

fyi,

matt

 

Nice!!! Good advice. Safety first.

 

tasty stuff there Radio ... i'm sure the understeer will go away once you have the rear sway installed. I'm seriously considering this myself.

thanks for the info!