I am looking to do some things to increase my traction. My car was running 225whp on 6psi on a stock block, but I recently had the block rebuilt, so I will be boosting more like 15psi (I expect somewhere around 320+whp) and with this I think I should do something about my traction. I am going to use some BFG traction t/a kd tires, get a new quality bushing set, some motor mount inserts and probably get some tein lowering springs (as the tein coilovers are a bit pricey). The only thing in question is whether or not to get a traction bar. I have read the info in the threads on the full race bar vs. the l-con bar. It seems like these are pretty comparable bars as far as price and quality. But what I really need to know is which will give me more room for my charge piping. I dont want to spend a lot more time changing/cutting/grinding than I have to installing this bar. Anyone know which of these gives more clearance?? Thnx.

Also, if anyone has any other suggestions for my setup go ahead and chime in.

 

do you have a diff? even if you do have a stock one you will see more improvement with a ats

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crx Jimmy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do you have a diff? even if you do have a stock one you will see more improvement with a ats</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm sorry, like I said I'm pretty nub at this suspension stuff.....Are you talking about a differential and also I dont know what an ats is. Can you elaborate?? Thnx.

 

Tein S tech springs are really soft, which will negativly effect your traction, since the back of the car will sag under heavy accelation, which will raise the front of the car putting less weight on the driving wheels (if we are talking about FWD anyways, which is 95% of all honda's). I would go with stiffer springs & better shocks if you are putting down that much power to the wheels... Ever considered better brakes?!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dirk-EG &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ever considered better brakes?!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Deffinately!!

I'm gonna get a set of brembo drilled rotors for the front and a set of good brake pads. Do you think I should get drilled and slotted or just drilled? Lots of people say that drilled and slotted really wear out pads quick. Do you think drilled will stop well enough? Also, I dont think I will upgrade the calipers, this is after all just a hobby car. Thanks for the advice, sounds like stiffer springs and better shocks will be the way I go. I read some reviews of the ES bushings, quite a few people say that they aren't so good....any xp with these??? Are there some out there that are better? I would rather get an opinion from someone who knows about this stuff than go out and spend $150 and just have to replace the bushings all over again.

Also can anyone point me to a "springs and dampner for dummies" section here I have searched hoping to find one so I can decide what the specs should be for springs for my car, but no luck. Thnx


Modified by KeyserSoze at 8:14 PM 6/29/2005

 

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


I'm gonna get a set of brembo drilled rotors for the front and a set of good brake pads. Do you think I should get drilled and slotted or just drilled?[/i]</TD></TR></TABLE>

How about Niether, as they will not increase you stopping distance. A new set of non=drilled rotors and some good pads are a great inexpensice upgrade.

 

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

How about Niether, as they will not increase you stopping distance. A new set of non=drilled rotors and some good pads are a great inexpensice upgrade.</TD></TR></TABLE>

WOW, really?? I mean I dont have a problem spendin $100 bucks or so for some brembo rotors, but if I dont have to then that's just more $$ for springs/shocks. Thnx.

BTW: I assume u meant DECREASE stopping distance right?

I was checking out the h&r website and found their race and sport springs, which would I be better off with?? I will call them in the morning and ask about the spring rates, but it seems as though the race springs might drop my car to much for street driving. Anyone have xp with how low these springs will make my car, I know it says that these will drop it 2.5" in the front and 2.25" in the back. To low??

Wow, okay I did some more research and came up with these options.......
KYB GR-2/H&R springs - $375
KYB AGX/H&R springs - $500
KYB GR-2/GC - $500
KYB AGX/GC - $630
Koni/GC - $780

I know that the koni/gc combo is the most desirable, but if limited to budget would any of these (for the price) be good choices as well as compatable with each other??? Also any suggestions on spring rates?? The car will be street driven/occasional track. Traction from a dig is my primary concern with cornering also important, but not extremely critical (would be nice to have though).

This is all going on a 95 civic coupe with 205/50/15 BFG traction t/a kd's

Thanks for any input.


Modified by KeyserSoze at 5:48 AM 6/30/2005

 

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

WOW, really?? I mean I dont have a problem spendin $100 bucks or so for some brembo rotors, but if I dont have to then that's just more $$ for springs/shocks. Thnx.

BTW: I assume u meant DECREASE stopping distance right? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Correct.. I mean Decrease... Drilling was done for in the 50 and 60's for race pads that out gassed when they got hot, modern pads only do this once, when you are doing break in on them. Now it is just for looks. Slotting can help some as it will keep the pad cleaner and help it not glaze as easily, however with the correct pad and well maintained braking system glazing should not be an issue. Most people who say that they had an improvement in braking with slotted/drilled rotors, forget that they just replaced old worn out rotors pads and fluid with all new stuff, weather it was drilled slotted, or blank of course it will stop better than their old a busted stuff.

For your suspension another option you could take is get koni shocks with the H $ R springs you listed then moved to ground control later.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Solracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Correct.. I mean Decrease... Drilling was done for in the 50 and 60's for race pads that out gassed when they got hot, modern pads only do this once, when you are doing break in on them. Now it is just for looks.

For your suspension another option you could take is get koni shocks with the H $ R springs you listed then moved to ground control later.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good to know. I am not really the show type, rather have a car that looks ok and hauls *** than a fast and furious wannabe car that traps 16's.

As for koni/h&r combo.........if I go that route though I might as well spend the extra $130 to get the koni/gc combo. I think I will just go with a new bushing set, motor mount inserts, some fresh rotors and good pads. I will save up for the koni/gc, good things come to those who wait right?? Just two more things and I will get out of your hair.

1) I dont know how to determine a good spring rate. From what I have read I assume that it should be somewhere in the vacinity of 400f/450r or 400f/400r, but I am not sure. Can anyone suggest a spring rate for my app?? As I am quite dumb at this stuff.

2) If I do go with the h&r springs for now is 2.5" drop in front and 2.25" back to low for street driving?? I'll post some pics of my car so you guys can see how low it is presently as soon as I can figure out how to attach the damn image files (im easily confused).

BTW Thanks for all the help, I appreciate it.

 

Bump cause I need some good info......

Wow, I've been reading a lot of good reports on the l-con traction bar, would I be better suited to get that first or get a shock/spring combo???

 

Helloooooooooo, help a nub out huh??

 

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

I'm gonna get a set of brembo drilled rotors for the front and a set of good brake pads. Do you think I should get drilled and slotted or just drilled? Lots of people say that drilled and slotted really wear out pads quick. Do you think drilled will stop well enough? Also, I dont think I will upgrade the calipers, this is after all just a hobby car. Thanks for the advice, sounds like stiffer springs and better shocks will be the way I go. I read some reviews of the ES bushings, quite a few people say that they aren't so good....any xp with these??? Are there some out there that are better? I would rather get an opinion from someone who knows about this stuff than go out and spend $150 and just have to replace the bushings all over again.

Also can anyone point me to a "springs and dampner for dummies" section here I have searched hoping to find one so I can decide what the specs should be for springs for my car, but no luck. Thnx


Modified by KeyserSoze at 8:14 PM 6/29/2005</TD></TR></TABLE>

as far as bushings go, just use new OEM replacement bushings. polyeurethane bushings are a total PITA.

suspension wise, new shocks/stiff springs are your friends. what you will be doing with this car is the most important question to answer before you pick a suspension setup.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KeyserSoze &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Also any suggestions on spring rates?? The car will be street driven/occasional track. Traction from a dig is my primary concern with cornering also important, but not extremely critical (would be nice to have though).

This is all going on a 95 civic coupe with 205/50/15 BFG traction t/a kd's
</TD></TR></TABLE>



If it were you would u go with l-con bar first or shocks and springs/coilovers (with what rates) first?

PS - ur quote is funny ****, my bro's chief in the navy always told him that.

Also, if aftermarket bushings are an issue due to the pain of pressing them into the components, then it shouldnt be an issue for me as I work at a power plant and we have both an arbor and hydro press.


Modified by KeyserSoze at 3:08 PM 7/5/2005

 

It sounds like you are interested in straight-line acceleration more than turning performance. Koni/GC is a combo that people recommend for road race, not drag race. You might look to other more drag oriented forums than this one for suspension advice that is more appropriate for your needs.

If you are a noobie then the best advice I can give you is to save your money and get into the racing scene that interests you. Fellow enthusiasts will be there to give advice, show you their setups, tell you what works and does not. Moving slowly can save a lot of wasted money and it sounds like you do not have unlimited funds.

regards,
alan

 

Yes, I am more concerned with traction from the dig, but having some better cornering for my car wouldn't hurt either. I think that a lot of people suggested the gc/koni combo because it is adjustable to just about anything that one could need. Due to the adjustable dampers and the option to swap out to different spring rates on the gc's. Someone suggested Omni-power drag coilovers. So, maybe I will get a set of those. My main curiosities were whether to get a traction bar or shock/coilover(or spring) combo first. And what spring rates I should run for my app. It seems that these questions would be answered by someone with a bit of suspension knowledge (unlike me, as I'm very new at this stuff). If it is really just to hard to say, then I may just have to find some other sites, get some books or ask some shock/coilover manufacturers. Just thought it would b an easy response by someone here. Thanks for the advice.

 

Shocks and springs first. Traction bar later

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IntegraTypeRice &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Shocks and springs first. Traction bar later</TD></TR></TABLE>

Cool thanks for the straight foward suggestion.

Now to do a little R&D and figure out if I'm goin with knoi/gc or omni drag coilovers. Thanks to all for the help.