mhorton

I know this has been discussed before, but I still need some help with my specific situation. I need to change the suspension in my '91 CRX. After the B16A swap the front was sagging badly while the rear was jacked, so I put in Eibach pro-kit springs and KYB GR-2 struts, later I added a traction bar. This leveled it out, but the car is sitting much lower than the 1.2" drop specified by Eibach, the UCAs are slamming the shock towers on bumps, the adjustable ***** joints I made the mistake of installing are trying to punch a hole through the sheet metal. Every tiny bump feels like a giant pothole and I bottom out easily. I have 2 1/2 - 3" max clearance. I drive 36 miles a day in this car, the majority over rough back roads. Not only do I worry about damaging the car, it is not good for my bad back. Less importantly, unlike most Honda modders I don't like the look of a car that is too low. Stock is too high, but mine is to low. I prefer the top gap to equal the gap at the side of the wheelwell, no less no more.

So what I want is: A set of coilovers that perform at least as well as stock but can handle the extra weight of the B16, yet are still tolerably soft. I would like adjustable height so I can raise it muself if it sits lower than specified. I can't afford much right now, I'm hoping for ~$500. I can't afford top of the line. (I can't afford the supercheap ebay either since they will break and/or not meet my needs and need to be replaced later. That is just throwing away money.)

Realizing that that combination likely doesn't exist, does anyone have recommendations for the closest compromise?

Also, what should I ask for the Eibach / KYB set with 5-10K on them? Maybe I can get some of them cash for the new setup that way.

Tom-Guy

I'd get a set of Ground Controls in the spring rates that the pro-kit comes in. 275f and 225r. Ground Control will sell them to you in the $250-275 range, and you can keep your GR-2 they are fine for those rates and height.

I'm buying a pair of new springs for my old GCs to replicate that exact setup.

BigBird

If you want to stay at the same height with then I'd say the ground controls but higher spring rates so they don't bottom as bad but the ride will be stiffer.

Tom-Guy

Upon further reflection, I think old boy needs an alignment or possibly has bent or somehow damaged suspension. B-series swaps add a whopping 40 lbs to the front end, there should be no sag.

I wouldn't own any of the popular matched suspension Omni/Tein/K-sport/etc crap on the market for anything I plan to drive. It's too stiff, makes the ride unpleasant. I've yet to be in a Pro-kit equipped car that I - and everyone else riding in the car - didn't like. There is a reason I want to replicate the spring rates, and use my GC threaded collars to set ride height where I like it.

mhorton

Thanks for the replies. For some reason I thought the B16A was ~150 pounds heavier.
If the ground controls are decent quality and can give me some extra height I may go that way. I can live with the ride as long as the UCA aren't hitting the top, which is probably the worst of the roughness anyway. Eliminating that should make the ride better.
I don't really see what could be bent or broken, both sides are equal so wouldn't it have to be bent/broken on both sides? I've had it all out and nothing is obviously broken. I replaced one UCA because I was stupid and tried to press out the ball joint without removing the retaining clip and bent it, so one side is new... Right now the UCAs rest at about 55 degrees with only about 2 inches clearance to the shock tower. (less then that with the ajustable ball joint bolt.)
I'm almost starting to wonder if I got the wrong springs from Eibach, maybe they put sportline springs in a prokit box? I remember I didn't need to use a spring compressor to assemble them, the spring was so short the strut bolt was high enough with just a little hand pressure.

BTW, does the traction control bar make bumps harder? Since it eliminates all horizontal play.

Tom-Guy

Nope. 40 lbs. An automatic D-series drivetrain is heavier.

Pro-kit shouldn't lower you until you are tucked, they should balance your ride height so the wheel gap is balanced - how you've stated you like it. A friend ran them on his ED sedan with LS/turbo recently... I've been trying to buy them off of his since he parted out the drivetrain and is building a wagon now. I am pretty sure you got the Sportline springs. I'd call some people up and see about an exchange.

seerex

Jd what do you think about these; http://tunertoys.zoovy.com/product/4...rt_Spring.html

Tom-Guy

I think they mean slight understeer, and lower a car more than I like. Better than most springs though.

You check these out yet? http://tunertoys.zoovy.com/category/...ngs.coilovers/

hatrack48

Those are what I bought from TT. Haven't tried them yet, waiting to finish rest of suspension. I got the comp.-drag setup.
The thing I like about these are, for 20.00 a corner I can change the ride performance to my fit my needs weather it be going in a
stright line, street, or x-cross

seerex

Yes, I saw them; but for a little over $300 I can get just the springs and kyb shocks. Do you think it will ride ok?