I have a 5th gen Prelude and my ex got me Skunk2 coilovers. When I used to work at a performance shop (way before full spring/shock kits were available for Hondas) we used to sell coilovers such as the Ground Control kits and VIS kits. I remember that, those coilover kits were bouncy as hell and not really as performance oriented as they were for looks.

Anyways.. since she got me the kit, I wasn't gonna just sell it or some **** so I installed them and ofcourse, my car is bouncy as ****. So I invested in some Tokico 5-way shocks. But the car was still pretty bouncy. Better but not great.

So I got the Tanabe front and rear sway bars. Now, the car feels a lot better and is planted through corners but still noticably bouncy. I want a solid BMW like ride. How the hell can I do this?

Should I get rid of the Skunk2's and just get a set of Eibach springs or a set of Neuspeed's or something? I hate having my car slammed and from what I remember, the Eibach's weren't bouncy. And the Neuspeed's were solid but too low.

I've ridden in an RSX, del Sol, Integra 4 door with Tein suspension. The full shock/spring combo thing and I don't like those either. Even those seem kinda bouncy. And stiff as hell but not very solid.

How can I get a solid ride like a BMW without being race car like stiff and w/o the unstable bounce? Any suspension guru's in here?

 

You should buy a BMW.

 

It really depends on the spring shock combination. Our Skunk kit on the CRX has custom rates for the springs and Koni "yellow" shocks-very stiff. Now to your Prelude-been there and my answer having tried a number of things is Neuspeed Sport SPrings and Koni "yellow" shocks. This combination along with the Neuspeed rear 25mm bar is great both on the street and for HPDE events. Ride height is just fine overall (I have a picture or 2). When I sold the car the buyer knew exactly how it would ride and likes it. The Koni's allow for infinite adjustment within the range offered. Set them close to 1 turn and you will have a very tight car.

 

the problem is not in the springs themselves but rather in the type of spring that you've chosen. The springs you have a not a progressive rate spring, meaning that the first inch of compression is the same as the second. Factory springs have a softer first inch or so of compression which allows you not to feel all the little bumps. At this point you could put a helper spring in the set up that is rated about 100 pounds and this would improve the ride quality a bunch without breaking the bank or throwing out the whole set up. The other option is to trash the whole spring package and put in a set of Eibach Proline lowering springs cause they maintain the progressive spring set up, I personally like these the best.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6h22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You should buy a BMW. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Haha Personally, I think besides the handling, BMW's are mostly overpriced POS.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jc836 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It really depends on the spring shock combination. Our Skunk kit on the CRX has custom rates for the springs and Koni "yellow" shocks-very stiff. Now to your Prelude-been there and my answer having tried a number of things is Neuspeed Sport SPrings and Koni "yellow" shocks. This combination along with the Neuspeed rear 25mm bar is great both on the street and for HPDE events. Ride height is just fine overall (I have a picture or 2). When I sold the car the buyer knew exactly how it would ride and likes it. The Koni's allow for infinite adjustment within the range offered. Set them close to 1 turn and you will have a very tight car.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Can I see those pics? I remember the Neuspeed Sports, they were green right? And not as low as the race? I was thinking about the Eibach's but maybe those would be better. Would the Neuspeed Sports be more inline with the Eibach Sports?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScareyH22A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Would the Neuspeed Sports be more inline with the Eibach Sports? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes.

&lt;-------Rocking Koni's and neuspeed sports w/o any issues with bounce or ride height.

 

hmm, this would probably be more apropo in the suspension forum...

bouncy is a function of a lot of thigns, but most significantly spring rates and what dampers you're on. illuminas are a decent shock, but if the springs are too stiff the tokicos might be overmatched.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bad-monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmm, this would probably be more apropo in the suspension forum...

bouncy is a function of a lot of thigns, but most significantly spring rates and what dampers you're on. illuminas are a decent shock, but if the springs are too stiff the tokicos might be overmatched.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Have you ever posted anything in the suspension forum, if so, then you know it's like watching grass grow. And you're right about the shocks being overmatched. But I don't believe there are any shocks I can buy and use with the Skunk2's that would be a perfect match.

 

Do you even know what the spring rates are?

Have you bothered to find out?

Have you tried searching the term "spring rates," "shocks" or "valving" on this forum, the Prelude forum or the suspension forum.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6h22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Do you even know what the spring rates are?

Have you bothered to find out?

Have you tried searching the term "spring rates," "shocks" or "valving" on this forum, the Prelude forum or the suspension forum. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, yes, and yes. I want responses from different people that may have real world experiences with different set ups on preferrably their 5th gen Prelude. STFU w/your all knowing bs and post something that's helpful.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScareyH22A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yes, yes, and yes. I want responses from different people that may have real world experiences with different set ups on preferrably their 5th gen Prelude. STFU w/your all knowing bs and post something that's helpful. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Well what the **** are they?

Have you tried calling Tokico to see if their valving can handle those rates?

Are you running your car off the bumpstops?

How is it that, having looked through all the information you say you've looked at, you're still confused about what's going on?

I own a 99 Prelude. And have tried more than one suspension combo on my car but hey, if it's not boulevard pimpin' it's not your kind of real world experience.

The problem with people like you is you want everyone else just to give you an answer as if it's owed to you, without bothering to even present the pertinent info, or to research your question thoroughly enough to know what details are important.

Good luck with you mad tiite dropped, bumpstop riddin', bouncy, wanna get it to ride like a BIMMER, Prelude.

 

Often times I see bouncy rides are the result of being lowered too much and the car is riding on the bump stops. Check to see how much shock travel you have when the car is sitting on the ground.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bb6h22a &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well what the **** are they?

Have you tried calling Tokico to see if their valving can handle those rates?

Are you running your car off the bumpstops?

How is it that, having looked through all the information you say you've looked at, you're still confused about what's going on?

I own a 99 Prelude. And have tried more than one suspension combo on my car but hey, if it's not boulevard pimpin' it's not your kind of real world experience.

The problem with people like you is you want everyone else just to give you an answer as if it's owed to you, without bothering to even present the pertinent info, or to research your question thoroughly enough to know what details are important.

Good luck with you mad tiite dropped, bumpstop riddin', bouncy, wanna get it to ride like a BIMMER, Prelude.</TD></TR></TABLE>


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScareyH22A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey, if you've got nothing progressive to add, stay off this thread. Otherwise, since it sounds like you know what you're talking about, enlighten us w/some tangible information.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RineRacing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Often times I see bouncy rides are the result of being lowered too much and the car is riding on the bump stops. Check to see how much shock travel you have when the car is sitting on the ground.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've got my Skunk2's as high as they'll go. I don't have the car here right now but I'm running on 215/45-16's and I've still got like an 1" gap between my fender and the tire treads. If the car was here, I'd measure the center of my wheel to the fender and give you something to work with. Anyhow, I can't raise the rear anymore and my front is raised just as high to match. They're still kinda bouncy.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScareyH22A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've got my Skunk2's as high as they'll go. I don't have the car here right now but I'm running on 215/45-16's and I've still got like an 1" gap between my fender and the tire treads. If the car was here, I'd measure the center of my wheel to the fender and give you something to work with. Anyhow, I can't raise the rear anymore and my front is raised just as high to match. They're still kinda bouncy. </TD></TR></TABLE>

It's not the ride height or fender gap that's important, it's the distance between the top of the shock body and the bump stop. However, by your description you might not be on the bump stops but it is still something worth checking out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RineRacing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's not the ride height or fender gap that's important, it's the distance between the top of the shock body and the bump stop. However, by your description you might not be on the bump stops but it is still something worth checking out.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I did cut my bumpstops in half if that matters.

 

get lower rated springs. look at the springs for trade sticky up top. quit ******* whining while youre at it.

and ride and handling arent just in the shocks and springs. its also in the design of the suspension and condition of bushings to name a few other things. if you want a bmw feeling, buy a goddam bmw.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">get lower rated springs.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Just did.

 

buy my eibach coil springs you'll be happy

Skunk2's springs aren't even real there like a stapler that was twisted to resemble them or some other sweat shop trick of recycling

If you want a lowered and smooth ride billstein non adjustable shocks and neuspeed sports in the way to go

 

The reason everyone complains about Skunk2 products is that they come with a higher spring rate than most of the other companies. They're borderline too stiff for even the best off-the-shelf shock. Pair that with the fact that most people put them on with stock shocks, or some cheap aftermarket product, then yea... the ride sucks.

Even with good shocks though, 400+ lb springs aren't going to be comfortable -- unless of course, you're a member of the "high spring rates make me a man club".

 

I know of several people who have skunk2 coilovers on their preludes & are happy with them b/c they matched them with OTS Koni Yellows. Thus, you might consider upgrading your shocks IMHO.

 

I highly recommend GROUND CONTROL adjustables springs with the use of your tokiko illuminas. Very good combp and very well worth the price. I had a similar setup, tokiko blues, with bouncy springs....busted out the ground's...very good combo ...adjustable affordable stiff enough IMO
-AREG

 

In it's last incarnation before it was stolen, my suspension on my 00 Prelude was OTS Koni Sports ("yellows") with 425lbs/in springs both front and rear with the stock swaybars. The car was set up for Solo2 STS. It was very neutral and surprisingly comfortable. The ride was fine for the steet. It was more comfortable than the stock suspension on my S2000 IMHO.

Andrew

 

Drop an e-mail for pictures.
The Neuspeed Sport springs are firmer than the Eibach ProKit. On our Prelude they worked just fine for both road and HPDE. I installed them with Koni "yellow" shocks and the dampers were set to about 3/4 turn from full soft for highway driving.
BTW: The Skunk2 and Ground Control kits use 'linear rate' springs while the Sport and Prokit use 'progressive' rates.