ianae86

Hi, I just signed up and hoping someone can help me out. I just bout a '93 Del Sol Si and it came with 17" rims. It rides kinda high and I was wanting to lower it but know nothing about suspension. Can I use lowering springs on stock shocks? What about coilovers, anything cheap but decent out there? I'm on a tight budget but I hate the handling on the rims. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

imm0rt41

Using lowering springs on stock shock isn't a good idea, since the shocks will have to work a lot harder. If you absolutely have to use your stock shocks with the lowering springs, make sure you cut the bumpstops. You can google this to find out.

I would recommend you look into a set of good coilovers though as it will be a better choice in the long run. I would search on these forums for stuff people are using on their sols and see how they like them. I have personally become fond of the TEIN Super Street coilover on a sol. My buddy has them, and while you may or may not like the ride, I know I do.

Spade

Just purchase some Eibach Prokit springs. Your stock struts will be for another 24,000+ miles.

I did that and only after two years did I finally decide to pick up some replacement struts and I didn't notice much of a difference.

Overall, the struts had about 40,000 miles on them before the springs and another 22,000 after the springs.

I suggest the prokit because 1. it's a million mile warranty on the springs (I've seen Neuspeeds collapsed after 26,000 miles) and 2. with 17s on there already, they're probably a little wider and you'll want a little bit of space between the fender and the tire.

ALSO, follow the instructions of the Eibach kit when installing them, if it doesn't say to cut the bumpstops, don't cut the bumpstops.

ianae86

Thanks for your advice everyone. I've never done any suspension work and I will prolly have to have whatever I get installed. Any rough estimates what I'd be looking at to have springs installed on my stock struts?

dohcVTECeg2

loook for a write up. suspension work is farily easy. and youll be kicking yourself in the head if you pay for it.

P.S. i would get rid of the 17's i would go with 14's, 15's, or 16's nothign less nothing more

nocturnaldragon

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dohcVTECeg2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">P.S. i would get rid of the 17's i would go with 14's, 15's, or 16's nothign less nothing more </TD></TR></TABLE>

A big part of your handling proplem is going to be from those huge rims and teeeny tires.

The smaller the tire the worse it handles and the more road imperfections you feel, You can get a nice set of 15" that will look just as nice and save money when its time to get new tires as well. The lower profile the tire the more they cost.

Also if you lover the car with the 17" you may run into proplems hitting the fenders with the larger tires.

As for lowering it I run a tokico set up and am happy with it.

Spade

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nocturnaldragon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

A big part of your handling proplem is going to be from those huge rims and teeeny tires.

The smaller the tire the worse it handles and the more road imperfections you feel.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

What the hell is wrong with you!?!

Have you ever done any research?


It shouldn't cost more than 300 to buy the springs and have them installed

ianae86

Spade, is your "what the hell is wrong with you?!", in reply to myself or nocturnal dragon? As far as clearance issues my whole reason for asking about cheapest/most effective lowering solution is cuz' I'm not made out of money. Therefore I don't really have much to go buy 4 new wheels/tires. A friend had a 93 civic with seventeens on coilovers with no clearance issues which is what most of my info is coming from. I realize less rubber = rougher ride but its the "loose" feeling steering from the ride height that is my main concern. But 300 for springs and install sounds reasonable.

jadugartir

yeah i jumped the gun and put my lowering springs on my first civic while it had stock shocks because i had just replaced them with brand new stock shocks, and with just shy of a 2 inch drop i still blew the new shocks after a couple thousand miles. Just wait and replace both at the same time, i swear it will be worth it.

ianae86

Your shocks only had a couple thousand miles on them and blew out from new springs? How would changing them both have made a difference. I'm not just misunderstanding am I?

B_Something

Throw some H&R Sport springs on there 1.8" drop in the front and a 1.6" in the rear, they ride good on stock shocks.

ianae86

I checked out the H&R site. Just a tad more exspensive then the Eibachs. Is it really gonna have that bad an effect on the stock shocks if I got aftermarket springs?

Spade

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ianae86 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Spade, is your "what the hell is wrong with you?!", in reply to myself or nocturnal dragon? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Usually my responses are to the one I quoted If not, I'll address that specific person.


Check the warranty on H&Rs. In fact, check the warranty on everything you're going to consider.

Honestly, it took me well over 4 years to build my civic to where I wanted it.....slowly and surely. Do you really want to have to replace something worn out, you already "upgraded" later down the road? That's why I say Eibach. If the springs crap out, you can get replacements for free because they're covered under their million mile warranty.

ianae86

That's a good idea. I think my plan is probably going to be to get the eibach pro kit springs and just install them on my stock setup. I will probably upgrade other suspension components as money comes in but I've got to drop that ride height soon, haha.

nocturnaldragon

Im going from experience here the lower profile tire the more you feel from the road aka every little bump you feel.

As for the research behind it ohhh I don't know the fatter sidewall on the tire the more it absorbs before it even gets to the suspension. The skinnier and stiffer it is the less it absorbs and passe's on to the driver.

How was that?

ianae86

Yeah, the less rubber the more you definitely feel. I expected that much, it's just the awkward handling from the higher center of gravity that is killing me. The rubber seems to grip well I just can't test it when I'm sitting this high, haha.

nocturnaldragon

Yea I know exactly what you mean, at high speeds the car dident feel safe to me it was just to high for my likeing, so I lowered it about 2" and it feels so much better now. I should of went lower for looks but ohh well Im happy with it.

Spade

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nocturnaldragon &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The smaller the tire the worse it handles </TD></TR></TABLE>

How's this? You don't understand ****.

The smaller side wall provides less flex between the contact patch and the rim. Therefore, how on earth could it possibly handle worse? Granted there are differences between tire manufacturers, however if you take the same tire and the same width but decrease the side wall, the tire will allow the vehicle to handle better.

Do you honestly believe that being able to feel the road more is "worse handling"!?! If so, you've got some studying and research to do before you blab a flat faced, uneductated lie to someone.

Before you waste others time by spewing **** out of your mouth, go do some research and speak based on knowledge not a lack of understanding.

ianae86

what size rims are you guys all running? I just really wanna make sure this install is as hassle free as possible. The eibach pro kit shouldn't rub on 17"s?