DA Integra's Only
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: The Highlands
Re: DA Integra's Only
Car looks great, I LOVE those wheels 
Finding the rates you like is going to be subjective, so I don't think I need to suggested a specific rate combo. But I think you're for sure on the right track. What you're on now should be fairly comfortable and like you said, pretty balanced between under/oversteer depending on how everything else is setup. If you want to make it a little more mellow or safer for rainy conditions you could definitely go down to 450/350 and I think you'd still like it.
It's easy to get carried away with spring rates and lose focus on other things - like your driving. Or, even more importantly, that you may not have the "base" you need to even properly form an opinion on the spring rates you have and how the handling is. Ideally, I think the very first thing you should do to a DA in regard to suspension is bushings. I know it's not fun or glamorous, it's not necessarily cheap, and you don't get the looks that you do from lowering, but really its the most important thing with these cars. You could use $3000 external reservoir race shocks with perfectly matched spring rates and if your bushings are the stock worn out ones that car is going to handle like ****. If you haven't replaced all of your bushings, most importantly the rear trailing arm bushings, then don't even think about different spring rates, different sway bar sizes...etc...etc None of those other mods are going to perform properly or to their full potential until the foundation of the car is sound.
Stepping up to something like the poly ES bushings + OEM rear trailing arm bushings is affordable and will make a difference you can feel. But I'd have to say that now, with the availability of good quality hard rubber bushings (Hardrace) I'd go that route if it fits the budget. I'm currently going thru this process of changing from the ES bushings and Mugen RTA bushings that I've had for years and switching to Hardrace (except for the front LCA because Hardrace doesn't make a bushing for our front LCA's) plus PCI offset rear trailing arm bushings.
Finding the rates you like is going to be subjective, so I don't think I need to suggested a specific rate combo. But I think you're for sure on the right track. What you're on now should be fairly comfortable and like you said, pretty balanced between under/oversteer depending on how everything else is setup. If you want to make it a little more mellow or safer for rainy conditions you could definitely go down to 450/350 and I think you'd still like it.
It's easy to get carried away with spring rates and lose focus on other things - like your driving. Or, even more importantly, that you may not have the "base" you need to even properly form an opinion on the spring rates you have and how the handling is. Ideally, I think the very first thing you should do to a DA in regard to suspension is bushings. I know it's not fun or glamorous, it's not necessarily cheap, and you don't get the looks that you do from lowering, but really its the most important thing with these cars. You could use $3000 external reservoir race shocks with perfectly matched spring rates and if your bushings are the stock worn out ones that car is going to handle like ****. If you haven't replaced all of your bushings, most importantly the rear trailing arm bushings, then don't even think about different spring rates, different sway bar sizes...etc...etc None of those other mods are going to perform properly or to their full potential until the foundation of the car is sound.
Stepping up to something like the poly ES bushings + OEM rear trailing arm bushings is affordable and will make a difference you can feel. But I'd have to say that now, with the availability of good quality hard rubber bushings (Hardrace) I'd go that route if it fits the budget. I'm currently going thru this process of changing from the ES bushings and Mugen RTA bushings that I've had for years and switching to Hardrace (except for the front LCA because Hardrace doesn't make a bushing for our front LCA's) plus PCI offset rear trailing arm bushings.
I picked up the car last month, and installed the wheels and tires. Im simply going part by part starting with what is most worn and/or annoying for the daily commute and working my way through the car.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: The Highlands
Re: DA Integra's Only
LOL! I love Honda Tech. Kaboom!
You actually kinda did ask for opinions if you think about it, didn't say anything about real-world experience with hard spring rates, but it IS true that stiff does not always make it faster. And yes, I had that same setup (Koni/GC with 380/250) on my old car and it was very good. I had Race shocks though. Felt perfectly stiff with a good set of polyurathane bushings (a very overlooked mod) and rear LCA's. If you want it really stiff then go for it. It sounds like you know what you want, so...
Try not to get angry this time.
And sorry I'm used to spring rates in KG/mm not in Lbs/in so that's what probably threw me. Next time I will use a conversion calculator. I see now that 350 is only like 6.4x
You actually kinda did ask for opinions if you think about it, didn't say anything about real-world experience with hard spring rates, but it IS true that stiff does not always make it faster. And yes, I had that same setup (Koni/GC with 380/250) on my old car and it was very good. I had Race shocks though. Felt perfectly stiff with a good set of polyurathane bushings (a very overlooked mod) and rear LCA's. If you want it really stiff then go for it. It sounds like you know what you want, so...
Try not to get angry this time.
And sorry I'm used to spring rates in KG/mm not in Lbs/in so that's what probably threw me. Next time I will use a conversion calculator. I see now that 350 is only like 6.4x
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 834
Likes: 1
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 834
Likes: 1
Re: DA Integra's Only
ok hasport also makes one that uses the slave cylinder. I don't see why a cable would care how much hp youve got. All it does is pull the clutch out and then release it. Doesn't really matter how much power the motor has. Plenty of people have 400hp+ and still use cable trans
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 2
From: B.C. Canada
Re: DA Integra's Only
I'll be running a simple 8k and 6k rear on my apexi n1 coilovers on my DA9. Was nice to roll on and dampening is adjustable.
I run koni yellow and GC setup on my 89 civic sedan. Currently I have 400 front and 300 rear. I do not have a rear sway bar as the car never had provisions for one. It's on my list of things to add/fabricate. I set up my alignment to adjust for the lack of rear sway and once I dialed in the koni's correctly it's a whole different car. I'd say it is very comparable to my DA. It understeers much less then the DA but mostly due to my alignment adjustments. I have also been playing with caster lately, but the rack at work is always busy.
In my DB1 I'm running koni reds and GC coilovers. This time off the shelf rates. Stock sways and nothing else. Vehicle has a hard time coming into down turns without understeering alot. The reds just aren't valved properly for these cars and springs. I won't be doing anything to this as it's a DD. I will be making adjustments on the rack and possibly getting a bigger sway up front. But then I'd probably swap springs out before doing that and up the rates all around.
I run koni yellow and GC setup on my 89 civic sedan. Currently I have 400 front and 300 rear. I do not have a rear sway bar as the car never had provisions for one. It's on my list of things to add/fabricate. I set up my alignment to adjust for the lack of rear sway and once I dialed in the koni's correctly it's a whole different car. I'd say it is very comparable to my DA. It understeers much less then the DA but mostly due to my alignment adjustments. I have also been playing with caster lately, but the rack at work is always busy.
In my DB1 I'm running koni reds and GC coilovers. This time off the shelf rates. Stock sways and nothing else. Vehicle has a hard time coming into down turns without understeering alot. The reds just aren't valved properly for these cars and springs. I won't be doing anything to this as it's a DD. I will be making adjustments on the rack and possibly getting a bigger sway up front. But then I'd probably swap springs out before doing that and up the rates all around.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,958
Likes: 0
From: In The Sticks, PA, America
Re: DA Integra's Only
i have tein super streets but i have no clue at all what the spring rates are since they came on another car i got previously but kept them when i got rid of the car. they ride very nice though
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,958
Likes: 0
From: In The Sticks, PA, America
