Does it matter much from one manufacturer to another or does one companies spring with a 1" drop ride essentially the same as another's? I'm considering lowering my car after putting on some 17" wheels a few weeks ago but don't want a much harsher ride. How low can I go before realizing a substantial degrading in ride quality? And does it matter which manufacturer produces them.

 

Spring rates will vary from one manufacturer to another - it may also vary within one manufacturer if they have different lines (ie. sport vs street vs race etc).

If you want a similar ride to stock but want a lower suspension, you will lose load carrying capacity because the same spring rates will have less distance to absorb the load. Most lowering springs are at least proportionately stiffer (ie, if the spring length is reduced 10%, it will be 10% stiffer) so that you don't lose load capacity. In most cases, they are also a bit stiffer even because people would want an improvement in handling.

Once you start going down the path of changing suspension, you'd better really know what you are doing - otherwise, you may be compromising too much from what the Honda engineers spent hours and hours and $ and $$ determining.