Miracle

This is in regards to posts here in this thread: http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1732312, as well as Andy asking for help... and this is what I have come up with.

If you are like some people I have seen, and I have helped Andy (OnlyUK7thGen) to get this figured out. His coilovers would not line up properly with his OEM tophat and bearings.

If you are like him, you would have found that with some manufacturers, you cannot use the OEM front strut bearings, which are made of steel, with aftermarket coilovers.

<FONT SIZE="2">I do not know about other manufacturers, but this FAQ will handle mainly KW, Tein Basic and Progress coilovers. I am assuming that any other coilovers, which require use of the OEM bearings or tophats, will be inclusive in this article.</FONT>

When you look at the KW manual, aside from all the German language, you will find this:



It will be telling you, basically, that if you have the steel front upper strut bearings, you will need to replace them with an OEM plastic bearing to fit the KW top hats, because the KW top mounts will not fit with the OEM steel bearings.

If you notice, KW gives an OEM part number for the bearings you need, which will be a plastic bearing. That OEM part number is INCORRECT. Their number is listed in the manual as a OEM Honda part #51726-S4A-004.

The ACTUAL part number for the OM plastic bearings, as found in a 2001 EM2, is actually a 51726-S<FONT SIZE="2">5</FONT>A-004.

As referenced from : https://www.hondapartsdeals.co...B++28

Here is the exploded diagram of the front strut assembly from hondaautomotiveparts.com. The strut bearing in question is labeled as # 9, and it is the correct part. It costs less than 15 bucks.:




<FONT SIZE="4">EDIT: http://www.progressauto.com/20...d.pdf is the catalog for Progress products. on page 8, it gives footnotes for the Civic 01-03 and 04-05 as #20 "Some vehicles will require OEM upper strut bearing, part #51726-S5A-004" For the 75.1006 coilovers for both 01-03 and 04-05. So this article applies to both KW and Progress both.</FONT>

Modified by Miracle at 1:24 PM 11/27/2006


Modified by Miracle at 1:52 PM 11/27/2006

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Yoshimi

Nice job Kevin. I swear to god, i was ready with the razor blades on this one. You would think KW would make sure they got their facts straight before releasing a product onto the market, but... what do i know...?

Thanks for your help mate, you've just saved me buying new KW upper seats suitable for the steel top bearings, and i dread to think what they would have cost.

However, on the recommendation of my local Honda dealer, i did go ahead and buy some new top bearings on special order (non-refundable) at a cost of $80... which i now have no use for, and i am $80 lighter.

Thanks KW. F**king ballbags... I know KW make top quality products and are renowned for excellence, but that misprint cost me money!!! (And maybe other people too...).

I'm not knocking the product, the coilovers feel like they're hewn from solid granite, are INOX Stainless Steel coated and are used in various European Super Car race series', but...

Oh well, you live and learn.

On a lighter note, thanks to my main man Kevin for helping me out of this quandry. I'll buy you a million virtual beers mate, with, erm, virtual money....

Thanks a load Kev!

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WayOutWest

Miracle

Also according to Tein, their basic dampers, the ones that DO NOT come with top hats,
Say that you also need the 01 front upper bearings to make the coilovers work on the 02+ EM chassis.

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Miracle

UPDATE: I have just clled the dealership that runs http://www.hondapartsdeals.com, and the manager verified, by having the part in his hand, that Honda OEM # 51726-S5A-004 IS plastic.

That is the part you need for the install. :D

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Yoshimi

Good work, 007.

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Sean DM

i bought new top bearings too when i went to coil overs just so i would have to worry about them breaking as soon

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JDM_ESK1

good info !


now I have a question here... according to a few members that have the Tein SS coilovers without the pillow ball mounts.. it comes with two rings, a gold and a green one...

one is for the 01-02 style strut mount whereas the other is for the 03-05... would these mean that I wouldnt need to purchase this extra part from the dealer? or would I still need it.. sorry a bit confusing

Yoshimi

Sorry mate, can't help you on this one... i've had enough grey hairs sprout on my head just trying to sort out the KW mistake.

Good luck though, and get ready to be frustrated....

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WayOutWest

skipbarber

it's true, atleast mine came with both sets of rings..

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Yoshimi

I know! It's friggin' ridiculous... KW should have either supplied both kinds of upper seat or both kinds of bearing in the package. Oh well, she should be suited and booted by this time tomorrow... i cant wait!!!

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WayOutWest