What is the best setup to get about a 1.5" drop for my daily driver?
Guys I've looked and searched threads here and on other Prelude sites and found everyone has their own opinion about suspension. Seems suspensions are like hot women - depends on what you like if they're hot or not.
So here is what I am looking for... This is the only car I have, so I am looking for a nice ride. I also want to lower the car height about 1.5" to get a better look around my wheel and tire combo. That's it.
Seems simple if you know all about this stuff, but since this is my first time to modify the suspension I'm hesitant to jump before I have all the info I can.
Here is the info you may need to make recommendations:
Model Year: 2001 Base
Current Mileage: 175K
Current Shocks/Springs: Stock
Current Wheels: RSX-S
Current Wheel Size: 17 x 7
Current Tire Size: 215/45 r17
Also, is this something I can do myself? I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but I don't want to get killed by a flying spring! Any links showing steps would be helpful.
Thanks!
__________________
2001 Pearl White Prelude (base)
SS Auto (rebuilt @ 166k)
Currently 188k+ miles
i have tanabe df (i think, might be gf, have to check teh drop specs on their site) and i like them a lot. they are on kyb's. have had h&r which i hated, and eibach's which were just too low for me. dunno if i'd get kyb's again, when i replace it will be with koni or maybe f&f coilovers.
__________________
If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't.
Most people choose the koni yellow sport struts with ground control springs as a good DD setup. Im looking to change my suspension too. I cam across these new BWR full coilovers that seem great for not sacrificing spring compression like transitional coilovers.
I have tokico illuminas with ground controls and probably OTS eibach springs (on the car when I bought it, so I don't know the spring rates). My setup is fairly stiff (I have the shocks all set at "4" out 5), but it's not unbearable as a DD. It's also quite a bit cheaper than the koni/gc setup.
Your car has already from the factory been dropped 2" relative to the 1st gen Prelude and 1.2" relative to the 4th. Dropping it another 1 1/2" will yield you a ground clearance of only 3" which is ridiculously low for a street driven car and will probably result in damaging impacts with the ground over time.
Also by installing non stock springs ,you disturb the geometry of the finely tuned Honda suspension in a way that just installing a camber kit will not correct .This distortion of the suspension geometry caused by the different type springs may lead to an improvement in the cars performance in some respects but usually at the cost of other important perimeters that may include cornering ability,braking , stability while accelerating, overall ride quality,abnormal tire wear issues, and depending on what state you live in, wither of not your car is street legal.Modifying your suspension so that you can better tinker with the suspension alignment properties will involve cost and will require a lot of tinkering with the alignment to get a result that in an """overall""" sense may not be as good as the stock set up .To see what kind of quagmire you may be getting into, just look at the thread in the link below.Just keep in mind that that you own a performance orientated and tuned sports car and not some modified 4 door family and deviating from the stock set up may just provide you with a lot of grief and little gain.
^Please go away, maybe when I'm done painting I'll show you a car that has been lowered but still within stock alignment so that you'll shut up. Just because someone tried to rip you off cause you don't know anything about suspensions other than what you read in a magazine doesn't mean you should be preaching to others.
__________________
New Formula Red 93 BB2: JDM OBD1 H22a/T2W4 Accord Euro R transmission
@kadidle those coilovers you found seem to be allot like the Function and Form 1s which Honda4life made a recommendation to me awhile back.
@lilredlude so I read the specs on the KYBs and the Konis. Both are adjustable shocks and I do like that aspect of being able to soften the ride a bit over $hit streets and firm it up at times. Are the Konis that much better since you say you might change to them? Also, thanks for the link to the NTPOG - nice!
I have almost 3 inches (well 2 plus) of clearance between my tires and fender so I'm not worried about removing that space. My goal = better tire/wheel fit, nice DD ride. Simple
__________________
2001 Pearl White Prelude (base)
SS Auto (rebuilt @ 166k)
Currently 188k+ miles
Your car has already from the factory been dropped 2" relative to the 1st gen Prelude and 1.2" relative to the 4th. Dropping it another 1 1/2" will yield you a ground clearance of only 3" which is ridiculously low for a street driven car and will probably result in damaging impacts with the ground over time.
Also by installing non stock springs ,you disturb the geometry of the finely tuned Honda suspension in a way that just installing a camber kit will not correct .This distortion of the suspension geometry caused by the different type springs may lead to an improvement in the cars performance in some respects but usually at the cost of other important perimeters that may include cornering ability,braking , stability while accelerating, overall ride quality,abnormal tire wear issues, and depending on what state you live in, wither of not your car is street legal.Modifying your suspension so that you can better tinker with the suspension alignment properties will involve cost and will require a lot of tinkering with the alignment to get a result that in an """overall""" sense may not be as good as the stock set up .To see what kind of quagmire you may be getting into, just look at the thread in the link below.Just keep in mind that that you own a performance orientated and tuned sports car and not some modified 4 door family and deviating from the stock set up may just provide you with a lot of grief and little gain.
i got koni yellows (infinte adjustable), and eibach springs and i enjoy them very much. The ride can be firm, or it can be soft it depends on how you set the struts.I think tires and tire size will have just as dramatic effect on ride quality as your suspension setup. Although i like a firm, stiff ride, a gentle soft one can be achevied witht my setup as well.
Bouckaroo so the eibach are lowering springs and you run the Konis with them. What kind of drop do you have? The more I look into this the more I believe I'll be the happiest with adjustable struts with adjustable height like GC or something.
__________________
2001 Pearl White Prelude (base)
SS Auto (rebuilt @ 166k)
Currently 188k+ miles
@lilredlude so I read the specs on the KYBs and the Konis. Both are adjustable shocks and I do like that aspect of being able to soften the ride a bit over $hit streets and firm it up at times. Are the Konis that much better since you say you might change to them? Also, thanks for the link to the NTPOG - nice!
i've never used koni's, but a lot of people like them, and i still want adjustable. i've had 2 different sets of agx's on 2 ludes, and the adjusters broke on both of them. i tried to get my current ones the same in all 4 corners by turning them all the way one way, but they never even stop turning. these came on the car, so dunno what kind of abuse they went though, but my last set i got brand new and i know they didn't go though any abuse and the adjuster still broke. my current set also leaks - but again, i don't know what they've been though.
__________________
If you don't know what you want, you end up with a lot you don't.
There are three differnet settign on the konis for height, as wella s two different size springs you can get. Right now iam on teh middle setting and i have a bout 1.75 inch drop. It is very nice and aside form havignto go slow and angled over big speed bumps i have had no issues. I once had tein ss in my car and i foudn them to be pain int he ass as no matter how i set tehm, after a while of dirvin git seemd they would also we out ont eh ride height. I dunno, i tossed em and bougth the cheaper and less adjsutable koni/eibach setup. Since i amde the change i have enjoyed it throroughly. I also have other stuff doen on mysuspension so i cannot jsut say it was that that made the diffenrence.
Dude, if you want the real deal, get Tein Type Flex Coilovers. They are a little more expensive than your average strut but they are worth the price. (I paid $1,150 not including labor) They are reliable, durable and won't let you down. I just had mine installed a couple of months ago. I actually had a 1.75" drop on my 5th gen and it looks and handles great. I have no regrets. Also, it's a daily driver and my only car. It has 16 levels of adjustment so when the winter comes, you could just raise it back up to stock spec, and when the summer hits again, lower it back down. ;0) It also is EDFC compatible which is a huge plus. Not many coilover over set-ups could do that, that I've seen anyways. I hope this has helped in your search.
@lilredlude guess I'll go for the Konis too if i choose that route since you've had those problems with the agx.
@antdrig where did you get those at that price. All I've found are over that price. They do look like quality stuff. Found some on eBay for $950 something until I saw they were in Malaysia.
I do appreciate all the input. Guess I just need to digest and see how much I want to spend. My baby is worth it.
__________________
2001 Pearl White Prelude (base)
SS Auto (rebuilt @ 166k)
Currently 188k+ miles
I got them at Slowmotion Motorsports in Sunbury, OH. Any performance parts store should sell them. They are awesome; I wouldn't put anything else, suspension-wise, but Tein. Ebay? I don't trust them for a minute. Not with car parts anyways. Remember, you never know what you are getting. You take a risk with everything you buy. As far as her being your baby, I know how you feel. When it comes to a passion, no amount of money will suffice. Money is not an issue when it's something you are passionate about. I have put a lot of money in mine; the suspension was $3,000+! If you are unsure of something, do your research. It's your money and I'm sure you don't want it wasted. Anyways, I am not going to go on a rant like I probably already did, but it's really personal preference dude. I have been yearning for a Tein set up for a couple of years now and I finally had the opportunity to do it so...I did. I hope this helps you. Please, don't hesitate to ask me anymore questions. Oh, and if you decide to get a set of Tein coilovers, get the Type Flex. I wouldn't pay no more than what I paid. Then, again, it's your money, not mine! ;0)
Be aware when you choose your springs that changing the ratio of the stiffness front to rear will affect over/under steer. Many of the spring manufacturers offer their springs with a bigger increase in stiffness in the rear which will reduce under steer or even cause a little over steer. Most of us consider that a good thing. The attraction of GC is that you can specify spring rate.
On the other hand I'm running a Progress rear sway bar which also causes a bit of over steer. If I added springs that had a greater stiffness ratio in the rear my over steer would probably be excessive. I'm running Eibach pro's which increase both front and rear about 15%. Along with Koni's from Neuspeed which offer 5 spring perch locations vs the stock Koni's 3, the ride is firmed up just about right, the drop is about an 1 1/4" and the alignment is within spec. The Progress bar has 3 settings which allow me to fine tune the oversteer.
Decisions decisions decisions....
Daily driver that has a nice ride and lower it about 1.5 ... I thought that would be easy - silly me.
Right now I'm trying to decide if I want to get Function and Form 1s for now and then to Tein Flex later when I can afford it easier. Or just bite the bullet and go Tein Flex and have it done. I can get FF1s for just under $600.00 and the Tein Flex I've only found about 1250.00.
__________________
2001 Pearl White Prelude (base)
SS Auto (rebuilt @ 166k)
Currently 188k+ miles
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
Linear Mode
