coilover setup
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Dry Branch
Rxtech06, I started out budgeting $5,000 for suspension mods, and the first thing I had to figure out was whether or not I'd be able to put up with a drop in normal street driving. Steep driveways and speed bumps can be a pain even at the stock ride height. So, before spending big bucks on suspension mods I'd end up hating on the street, I decided to "drop on the cheap," just to make sure that I could live with the car afterward. As a result, we installed an Eibach Pro Kit on the car. The idea was to drive the car for a while with the drop, and then either go back to stock, or go all out with suspension mods.
To my surprise, the car (an early AP1) was more planted with the Pro Kit, and it was hard to find situations where the ride quality suffered. I decided to try dialing in the setup by tweaking the alignment. Well, to make a long story short, the Pro Kit springs and the OEM Honda Spec Showa coil overs, produces more than satisfactory results. Note however that I am also still running the OEM S02's, and the same setup would not work well if I ever opt to upgrade the rubber. So, if you're planning on sticking with the OEM tires for a while, you might want to try a good set of aftermarket springs. Since I only have experience with the Pro Kit, I can't say how well other springs might work, but the Pro Kit will reduce the gap, drop the car an inch, and will have very little impact on the handling (of an early AP1). I also have no idea how well the Pro Kit works on an AP2, but if the springs are well designed for use with the stock dampers (aka shocks) then the only real downsides are the cost (which isn't much) and the problems that always come with lowering (that being speed bump and driveway clearance).
Here's what I'd suggest. Drop on the cheap using quality springs, dial the car in using alignment, and drive it that way for a while. If the setup doesn't float your boat you can always sell the springs later on (when cash is flowing more freely) and dump as much money as you like into suspension components.
To my surprise, the car (an early AP1) was more planted with the Pro Kit, and it was hard to find situations where the ride quality suffered. I decided to try dialing in the setup by tweaking the alignment. Well, to make a long story short, the Pro Kit springs and the OEM Honda Spec Showa coil overs, produces more than satisfactory results. Note however that I am also still running the OEM S02's, and the same setup would not work well if I ever opt to upgrade the rubber. So, if you're planning on sticking with the OEM tires for a while, you might want to try a good set of aftermarket springs. Since I only have experience with the Pro Kit, I can't say how well other springs might work, but the Pro Kit will reduce the gap, drop the car an inch, and will have very little impact on the handling (of an early AP1). I also have no idea how well the Pro Kit works on an AP2, but if the springs are well designed for use with the stock dampers (aka shocks) then the only real downsides are the cost (which isn't much) and the problems that always come with lowering (that being speed bump and driveway clearance).
Here's what I'd suggest. Drop on the cheap using quality springs, dial the car in using alignment, and drive it that way for a while. If the setup doesn't float your boat you can always sell the springs later on (when cash is flowing more freely) and dump as much money as you like into suspension components.
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Oct 5, 2014 07:34 AM