I'm planning on getting springs to lower my car and i was wonder if i would need to purchase new shocks to support the springs. Or can i just put it on my stock shocks?
Originally posted by InfiniteImport I'm planning on getting springs to lower my car and i was wonder if i would need to purchase new shocks to support the springs. Or can i just put it on my stock shocks?
If bouncing like crazy when hitting bumps in the road..is your thing...then stick with stock shocks...otherwise I'd invest in some high quality shocks...preferably koni yellows
ok, and also, i heard that u would also need a camber kit? Can someone write a list of what i really need in order to lower my car please. I would appreciate it very much!
Basically, if u are lowering ur car not further than 1.5" (which would be the 'sports' line), it is not quite necessary to add on the camber kit and as well the stock shocks would be fine unless u are looking for a stiffer ride or depends on how long have u had ur stock shocks been used. (Check TOKICO's website and there is a page quoting the idea of worn/not good shocks).
Originally posted by LCYung Basically, if u are lowering ur car not further than 1.5" (which would be the 'sports' line), it is not quite necessary to add on the camber kit and as well the stock shocks would be fine unless u are looking for a stiffer ride or depends on how long have u had ur stock shocks been used. (Check TOKICO's website and there is a page quoting the idea of worn/not good shocks).
i must disagree...
from experience...
if you are gonna go lower than 1" drop...then you should get
a camber kit...or u r gonna go thru tires.....
also...if you are getting just springs...ur stock shocks should
last you about 6months to about 1.5 years....
then you should invest in some shocks...
some people wanna do all at once..but people like me
can't afford to do it all at once...
but rest assure...when u c ur tires wear unevenly, u r gonna
get PISSED!!!
OK people-he asked what he REALLY needs. Check my setup page on hondaprelude.com. Now that you have that info. Get with the program. I will strongly urge replacing the shocks as the stock ones are not really calibrated for the increased stiffness of aftermarket springs.
Which brand of shocks is up to you-I happen to have been using Koni for a lot of years and trust their products. If you do ANY suspension work-the car MUST be aligned-no maybe on this one as you have changed the toe-in just enough. Any drop over 1" will require that the alignment be checked. The rule is simple--for each 1" of drop there is a change of -0.75 degrees in Camber. 5th gen Preludes have a front spec of 0 degrees +/- 1 degree. The rear is a range of +0.3 to -1.8 degrees. In both cases you want to be slightly negative.
If you have a printout before the drop, so much the better as those settings are very precise and are probably where you want to get the car back to.
Get an alignment and the printout. Compare the data and you can then determine what if any Camber kits you will need. The online sites and 800#'s are great resources.
Good luck
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I've been told that camber kits mess up the suspension on our 5th Gens.....David (99prelude) should be able to explain why...As far as getting an alignment...what if your car still moves in a straightline when you let go of the wheel when it's straight? I don't see why you'd still need an alignment in that case...someone plz clarify! thanks
oh...and I haven't been able to find ANY place that will do an alignment for me....i have 1 1/2 - 2 fingers worth of gap...even Chevy couldn't do it...couldn't get my car up the ramp...managed to even get a Lamborgini Countach up that thing...someone help!! I know there's gotta be some place that has a machine with a lift...that doesn't charge 100+ to do the job...
Originally posted by axngen I've been told that camber kits mess up the suspension on our 5th Gens.....David (99prelude) should be able to explain why...As far as getting an alignment...what if your car still moves in a straightline when you let go of the wheel when it's straight? I don't see why you'd still need an alignment in that case...someone plz clarify! thanks
oh...and I haven't been able to find ANY place that will do an alignment for me....i have 1 1/2 - 2 fingers worth of gap...even Chevy couldn't do it...couldn't get my car up the ramp...managed to even get a Lamborgini Countach up that thing...someone help!! I know there's gotta be some place that has a machine with a lift...that doesn't charge 100+ to do the job...
oh yea...and I forgot to mention..the car is now higher than it is in the picture in my sig...
Originally posted by screwdriver i think its ur front lip that prevents u from getting it done at the chevy. lose it for a while and ask again if it will fit up the ramp.
It is my front lip...my buddy who works at Chevy tried to get it up there himself and couldn't... My kit was installed at a bodyshop..and they did more than just use the screws and double-sided tape...so i don't think taking it off to have an alignment done is much of a possibility ..any other suggestions? thanks
Originally posted by axngen ...As far as getting an alignment...what if your car still moves in a straightline when you let go of the wheel when it's straight? I don't see why you'd still need an alignment in that case...someone plz clarify! thanks
Your car's grip and overall handling characteristics depend greatly on the alignment of the tires to the ground. Increased negative camber, for example, may improve hard cornering but may also sacrifice straight-line grip and stability. Toe settings will also change how your car reacts on turn-in or when you exit a corner.
It is quite possible that the settings are not giving you the best possible grip, yet the deviations are symmetrical so that your car will continue to drive straight.
Originally posted by InfiniteImport I'm planning on getting springs to lower my car and i was wonder if i would need to purchase new shocks to support the springs. Or can i just put it on my stock shocks?
I would recommend getting shocks at the same time. Why?
1) The stock shocks are likely not designed for the lower ride height, and may bottom out on hard corners, causing a loss of traction and quite possibly, suspension damage.
2) Improved, properly-matched shocks will likely make a greater improvement to handling than shorter/stiffer springs, because controlled wheel movement is critical to maintaining contact with the road. A soft spring is actually good for overall grip, so long as body roll is not overwhelming. A stiffer spring with a shock that is too soft will result in bounciness, meaning that the shock is not doing its job (damping the oscillations). This is clearly bad for handling.
3) The labor to replace the springs is not insignificant, especially if you are paying someone else to do it. Replacing the shocks later will entail basically the same procedure a second time.
Your car's grip and overall handling characteristics depend greatly on the alignment of the tires to the ground. Increased negative camber, for example, may improve hard cornering but may also sacrifice straight-line grip and stability. Toe settings will also change how your car reacts on turn-in or when you exit a corner.
It is quite possible that the settings are not giving you the best possible grip, yet the deviations are symmetrical so that your car will continue to drive straight.
3. i should get a camber kit or else i'm gonna go thru millions of tires.
I'm going thru with my plans during the spring so that's why i'm getting the infos together. Thanx for all ur help. Oh yea, correct or add to the list..please. I don't wanna screw up cuz it's my first time.
Originally posted by InfiniteImport ok, let me get this straight...
1. i should get new shocks with my springs.
2. i need to get an aligment.
3. i should get a camber kit or else i'm gonna go thru millions of tires.
I'm going thru with my plans during the spring so that's why i'm getting the infos together. Thanx for all ur help. Oh yea, correct or add to the list..please. I don't wanna screw up cuz it's my first time.
if u got da $$$...this is what i recommend u 2 do:
1. get Springs and shocks...
2. within a week...get camber kits and alignment...
I would hold off on the alignment until the springs SAG!! give it about 500-1,000 mi.
Myung, I personally didn't need a camber kit w/ a 1.5' drop on Neuspeed Sports and KYB AGX's.
I'm quite sure riding on stock shocks has something to do w/ur camber probs!!!
nope...i was dropped 1.3 inch with Eibachs and my camber was
-1.7 all 4 corners...
which is way out of camber...you won't notice any EXTREME wear,
but you'll c it soon enough...i mean...u'll probably get 6000 or 6
month less life out of your tires...some people don't seem to mind..
but if you take corners crazy...you'll probably get about the half-life of the tires...
ALSO..YOU ARE RIGHT..YOU SHOULD WAY ABOUT 3~4 weeks
for the springs to sag...sorry i had my springs for like 3 years
and i forgot about it...
also...WHO HAS STOCK SHOCKS? I GOT KONI YELLOWS>>>
It's kind of weird but I've been ridding through 3 sets of rims and tires already, with the longest set were used for like 2 years and when i take the wheels and tires off to sell them....I see no uneven wear on the tires or anything as well as on my other sets of rims and tires...my tires look perfect and there were never a trace of negative camber. I went through rims and tires alot just because i get bored of them easily..never because i have to replace them. My car is a 98 with 52k miles now and the first set of rims/tires were on there when it has 10k miles, I have Skunworks coilver and the car is normally lowered 1 1/2 inches (Black Widow kit) I have stock shocks and my car rides much smoother than my friend's Civic hatch with Teins. I was gonna invest in some shocks and camber kit earlier but I really don't see a reason to do it. Im I just lucky or something? Can some one explain t a lowered Lude with 51k and factory shocks and no camber wear what so ever?
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98 Honda Prelude SS San Marino red
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Originally posted by VIETLUDE It's kind of weird but I've been ridding through 3 sets of rims and tires already, with the longest set were used for like 2 years and when i take the wheels and tires off to sell them....I see no uneven wear on the tires or anything as well as on my other sets of rims and tires...my tires look perfect and there were never a trace of negative camber. I went through rims and tires alot just because i get bored of them easily..never because i have to replace them. My car is a 98 with 52k miles now and the first set of rims/tires were on there when it has 10k miles, I have Skunworks coilver and the car is normally lowered 1 1/2 inches (Black Widow kit) I have stock shocks and my car rides much smoother than my friend's Civic hatch with Teins. I was gonna invest in some shocks and camber kit earlier but I really don't see a reason to do it. Im I just lucky or something? Can some one explain t a lowered Lude with 51k and factory shocks and no camber wear what so ever?
you are not lucky...
it's just that with 1.5 inch drop...you won't c crazy uneven wear...
you'll only notice it when u probably drive over 20k...
i didn't know the wear on mine until i drove for like 20k...
and rotated the tires and saw the damn wear...
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..any other suggestions? thanks
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