White91Prelude

Preparing to replace the suspension on the 1997 Prelude SH.
Going from stock, to:

Tokico HPK233 Suspension kit
Energy Suspension Bump Stops
Energy Suspension Coil Spring Isolators

Question is - what do I do about the strut boots? Do I reuse the factory, old boots, or do I need to purchase new KYB, Moog, or other strut boots?

Thanks!
David

Kronn 98SH

What are you referring to as a "strut boot"?

__________________
1988 Prelude S - victim of an 80mph backflip
1991 Prelude Si - sold
1989 Accord DX - impounded
1998 Prelude SH - totaled on 3/29/12
2006 CRF150F - sold
2006 YZ250F - sold

White91Prelude

strut boot - Google Search

Strut boots. You know, the things that humans have been using on cars and trucks for tens of years?

Do we reuse the old ones or do I need to purchase new ones for the new struts?

Kronn 98SH

Yeah....we have dust sleeves.

__________________
1988 Prelude S - victim of an 80mph backflip
1991 Prelude Si - sold
1989 Accord DX - impounded
1998 Prelude SH - totaled on 3/29/12
2006 CRF150F - sold
2006 YZ250F - sold

White91Prelude

Lol. If you know what I am asking couldn't you answer the question? The dust sleeve and the strut boot perform the same function. Same part, minus the corrugated tubing.

White91Prelude

Anyone who has installed aftermarket struts on their vehicle please let me know. Thanks!

David

Kronn 98SH

You seem to be trying to mask your ignorance with attitude. It's not appreciated. And to answer your question, you can reuse them or not. The dust sleeves that we have don't have much of a purpose due to their design. Maybe this will help:



Here are the stock suspension pieces (minus struts & springs): You can see the dust sleeves and their size.

__________________
1988 Prelude S - victim of an 80mph backflip
1991 Prelude Si - sold
1989 Accord DX - impounded
1998 Prelude SH - totaled on 3/29/12
2006 CRF150F - sold
2006 YZ250F - sold

White91Prelude

Kronn I appreciate your latest post, however I simply was asking if the "dust sleeve" was reusable or not with aftermarket struts. Based on your latest post I believe you are saying that I can use them on aftermarket struts and that I do not need to purchase new ones.

I also researched long and hard, back into 2003 forum posts that recorded exactly why the Base model suspension kit that I am installing does not properly increase handling characteristics of my SH model Prelude. Therefore, I am confused as to why no one even pointed out that I was installing incorrect parts on my vehicle. However, it is no one's fault but my own.

I am not ignorant, nor am I trying to mask it. I look forward to asking more questions in the future.

TypeT

dont do that!!
buy coilover set, anything else gets the ride just worse!

because sh has whole "better" (read: different) suspension than base
Base vs. SH
"The type SH springs are a little taller. The struts are different as well, the base where the spring is perched sits lower on the Type SH, hence the taller spring. It results in a little firmer spring rate than the base. Lets not forget to mention the front knuckles are different, the raius rods, the front trailing arms, and the roll bars are a couple of millimeters thicker than the base front and rear. In the rear the springs and struts are different on the SH, it has the same condition as the front where the perch that the spring sits on is slightly lower than the base model, and the spring is slightly taller than the base model, It is not as big of a difference between the SH and Base rears as the fronts are though, the rear trailing arms are a little thicker as well but not much."

__________________
Honda Prelude 1997 2.2 VTI

Kronn 98SH

You can use aftermarket shocks and springs designed for a base as long as you replace both (shocks & springs). Very very few companies make parts that mimic the SH suspension. So you'll be fine as far as fitment is concerned. However, the only real way to get a decent stance on an SH is with coilovers. The other options don't account for the difference in spring lengths that TypeT pointed out. Going with regular shocks and springs designed for a base model will typically leave you nose-up.

And yes, you are ignorant. But that's ok. It's the reason we're all here. To learn what we don't know. The trick is to admit it instead of pretending like the new kid on the block knows everything.

Now before this turns into a debate about which components you should purchase, it would be best for you to explain why you're replacing anything at all.

__________________
1988 Prelude S - victim of an 80mph backflip
1991 Prelude Si - sold
1989 Accord DX - impounded
1998 Prelude SH - totaled on 3/29/12
2006 CRF150F - sold
2006 YZ250F - sold

dblair

I believe it's important to consider spring rates when changing to aftermarket springs for more reasons than just the ride. If you vary the ratio of the front to rear spring rate, as most do, you change the over/under steer characteristics of the car. Since the SH has a completely different setup, sway bar size is different, springs, and so on it stands to reason that base springs can change things you might not want changed. Unintended consequences in other words.