ol Dusty

Not usually one to post, I usually search and find my answers covered for ever ago and leave happy but this is kinda a specific question and I've been referred here for help on another forum where I posted a vid of my DB1 on the track. Suspension came up, and I'm currently just running a set of Tokico blues with sk2 sleeves that I got basically free and other then the fact they were installed on another DA, they were never used other then to move the car around my shop, so they were good enough (actually I'm impressed with how good they've been considering what they are) I have a few other supporting mods suspension wise, decent wheels and tires etc but want to improve on the actual springs and struts.

Option 1, I've had good luck with sk2 products in the past, would like to go Pro C but other then seeing them listed for DA and EF on password, every other site including sk2's own site only lists Pro S, which I'm not against either but would prefer the C's, I'm guessing perhaps they can be adjusted out to work but how "proper"? and if so would I want to do different spring rates? Right now I have 10k front and 6K rear, the rears are taken from an old set of V1 Pro S I had from a previous build, I like a stiff front spring rate, stock sway bar, softer rear spring and ITR sway in the rear, I feel it works well with my driving style, car, and the particular tracks I frequent.

Pro - I can go thru my usual performance store, I know they're authorized sk2 dealer and I won't be getting knock off crap,

Con - might not be able to get exactly what I want if SK2 is what I'm going for


Option 2 - Suggested to me by a respected member on another forum, (If you're reading this, thanks for your help so far, and feel free to add input here) Koni yellows with GC coils.

I have no history with either of these products tho I know a little from what I've read online. I'm also not sure if anyone local up here in Toronto is an authorized dealer or if I'd have to purchase online. Not a deal breaker but I prefer to support my local shops rather than paypal. If there were a good option for a Canadian made suspension I'd probably not even be typing this, I'm sure a lot of people on this site can understand buying from your own.

Pro - I've heard from other DA owners that for the price these are the best value and I see on the GC website they offer a complete kit yellows with coil overs

Cons - Can't find local that I'm aware of, and kinda wanna get away from sleeves even tho so far after a few years of abuse I have no issues I can see.

Option 3, please feel free to suggest another suspension setup, and explain why you recommend it.

dirty19

iTrader: (1)

Get the Koni yellows race valved, and GC's.
Tried, tested, and proven. fixed.

polska11111

My setup: (on a DB1) PIC PERFORMANCE 12K FRONT 14K REAR. ACR rear sway bar. ST suspensions front sway bar. full race traction bar. energy suspension rear trailing arm bushings. energy suspension control arm bushings.

Handles great. pretty neutral balance with slight oversteer tendency.

liam821

This. For beginner suspension you can't beat it. It's also adjustable, upgradable, and really affordable. You can also use Bilstein mono-tube shocks instead, which I like better than Koni.

PIC Performance

Good to hear. Although unfortunately won't be bringing the DA coilovers back.

polska11111

I'm using EG/DC coil overs so they were never really for DAs anyways.

billabongrob

iTrader: (1)

There's a reason that this has been the go to for so long... It works. I have some old Konis that I'll be abusing until they get race valved in my DA (db2, whatever...)

ol Dusty

thanks for all the input guys. I really appreciate the help. Tho kinda skewing the results tho I guess is if you say sk2 vs koni/GC at equal price, I know my local vendors charge basically the same for Sk2 as I would see priced online, I'm not certain of vendors near me (yet) that carry GC, tho it may be for some reason they just don't mention them when I've asked for their advice toward suspension options, some suggest Tien, which I've had and seen to many bad experiences with so not to trash talk them, but no thanks...

Sorry point being that unless I find a vendor that offers both for similar price, if I order them online then I'll get killed on shipping and Duty/brokerage fees as well as if there's a problem then I'm waiting for help, and likely paying more shipping etc, again based on past experiences. I know this thread and my post count might suggest n00b status, but I've actually been in the Honda game since 91. I just think sometimes it's better to see what the rest are doing rather than continue thinking what you know is best because that's what's always worked.

liam821

Another option out there is Eibach MultiPro R2. They're made in-house by Eibach (springs AND shocks), and have had great reviews. They're a bit more than the Koni/GC but you're getting more.

MULTI-PRO-R2 | eibach.com/america

* edit, I'm not sure they make them for a DA...

red0

What class are you racing?

Why not just cut the springs, and extend the top hat mounts for the shocks with exhaust tubing?

Colin

iTrader: (1)

They don't make 'em for the DA - but I'd guess you could get the EG/DC ones to work without too much trouble. I've hinted to Tony @ Eibach that they can use my car to develop a DA application, but so far no dice, maybe I need to hint harder

hufflepuff

I really like my tokico illumina with GCC 12k F 10k R setup. It rides okay, and is very composed on track set and "4" front and rear. I've been beating on them two years, no leaks and no detectable loss of damping. For a super cheap setup, it's amazing how it's treated me. Good enough to set lap records in Time Trials.

I know it's inexpensive and not prestigious, but it works and is reliable. My brother and I had konis on Hondas and other marques, and weren't thrilled... but lots of others seem to like them.

fortune coilovers seem to have good reviews?

Colin

iTrader: (1)

^ I also had great luck with my Illuminas although that was before I'd ever put a wheel on track. I was blown away they lasted ~8yrs (~70-100k miles) especially since I was quite slammed for a good amount of those years. But in general I have zero complaints about them and only praise.

I would recommend Illuminas and Yellows equally since they're basically the same price except there are some big selling points for me on the Yellows which the Illuminas can't match:
- Koni has a better warranty
- Koni specific GC coilovers for great fitment
- Slightly more height adjustability due to the snap ring grooves on the Yellows
- Koni's are rebuildable, Illuminas are not
- Koni's can be rebuilt and even shortened to custom / more aggressive specs. This is great for entry level guys - start with yellows, then later on rebuild them to custom specs. If you run Illuminas you'll be forced to buy different suspension when you're ready to upgrade and rebuilding the Yellows should be 50-75% the cost of buying a new setup.

redzcstandardhatch

koni race valves and koni-specific coil sleeves, and for a street/track crossover car, i'd probably (personally), put 500 springs front, 600 Rear, and go with a simple ST rear sway bar, and maybe a stock (or none) front bar.

poly bushings in the arms, a new set of RTA OEM bushings, and go play with your friends.

and, its a 100% race ready suspension if you decide to fully cage it and do wheel-to-wheel.. I just upgraded to koni 3011 double adjustables and sold this same setup to a friend. its fantastic, and not much out there outlasts a koni. I've been racing on koni race valves for several years, and doing track-day stuff on konis for 12 years. never had a single complaint and I tell EVERYONE how much I love them