I am currently running H&R Sport springs with Tokico Blues, with no strut bars, tie bars or sway bars. The handling is garbage.

I am going to be purchasing Skunk2 front and rear upper strut bars soon, and I'm wondering which route to go as far as major suspension mods for this summer. Either:

1.) 99-00 Si swaybar, Omni LCA's, Skunk2 rear lower tie bar and upgrade my shocks to KYB AGX's,

OR

2.) ASR kit with 22mm USDM ITR rear sway bar setup, and leave my Tokico Blues in there for the summer.

Which mod is more important on cars with basic suspension setups like mine? A big swaybar, or some better shocks with a smaller swaybar and a tie bar?

 

The tower bars, tie bars, and LCA's (unless your stock arms do not have mounting holes for the swaybar) are not necessary, save that money. Search, and then ask why if you have to.
Be careful of running a semi-aggresive bar like 22mm without sufficiently stiff springs, or subframe reinforcement.
IMO a well-matched set of shocks and springs are more important, with the swaybar being a very nice addition that will noticeably improve handling. However start with the basics, which are the shocks and springs. I ran my stock suspension on my GSR for over 2 years and when I decided that I wanted to improve the handling, the first step was a rear swaybar. It helped, but not as much as swapping out the stock shocks and springs for coilovers. At which point I ran without a swaybar for a long time with no ill-effect; adding the swaybar later was just icing on the cake.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PIC Performance &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The tower bars, tie bars, and LCA's (unless your stock arms do not have mounting holes for the swaybar) are not necessary, save that money. Search, and then ask why if you have to.
Be careful of running a semi-aggresive bar like 22mm without sufficiently stiff springs, or subframe reinforcement.
IMO a well-matched set of shocks and springs are more important, with the swaybar being a very nice addition that will noticeably improve handling. However start with the basics, which are the shocks and springs. I ran my stock suspension on my GSR for over 2 years and when I decided that I wanted to improve the handling, the first step was a rear swaybar. It helped, but not as much as swapping out the stock shocks and springs for coilovers. At which point I ran without a swaybar for a long time with no ill-effect; adding the swaybar later was just icing on the cake.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have H&R Sport springs and Tokico Blues. I hope that the ITR sway bar will be okay with the relatively soft H&R's...

I'm still debating between a 99-00 Si swaybar setup for cheap, or the full-out ASR kit with a 22mm ITR bar.

 

Nevermind Omni LCA and that stuff. 22mm rear sway bar with the ASR kit, but also go after a front sway bar if your car dosen't have one, otherwise it will be tail happy with no front and a large rear.

Then work on the shocks provided your shocks are ok for now.

 

Here is my budget setup. h&r sport, integra shocks, and rear sway bar. no front bar on a 1992 4-door civic. For about $250 my beateR handles very well. I kinda like no front sway bar. Maybe I am crazy?

 

bump!

 

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

all that extra stuff like LCA's and STB's are a waste of money compared to good shocks and a good swaybar. those two items are arguably the biggest improvements to crappy handling.

ASR subframe + 22mm bar, koni yellows, a healthy amount of negative camber in front and good tires would be what i would put together in your case.

 

What tires are you running?? this will make the biggest difference if you plan on doing any competing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PINEAPPLE &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What tires are you running?? this will make the biggest difference if you plan on doing any competing.</TD></TR></TABLE>

205/45/16 Hankook RS2-Z212 tires.

 

For a street driven car on those H&R's, I don't see the need to shell out extra for the ASR brace just so you can run a 22mm bar which you would never really need, or running a 22mm bar w/out the ASR brace and risk tearing the subframe.
btw I think the 99-00 Si rear swaybar is 13mm and the GSR is 14mm, anyone know for sure?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by PIC Performance &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">For a street driven car on those H&R's, I don't see the need to shell out extra for the ASR brace just so you can run a 22mm bar which you would never really need, or running a 22mm bar w/out the ASR brace and risk tearing the subframe.
btw I think the 99-00 Si rear swaybar is 13mm and the GSR is 14mm, anyone know for sure?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was leaning towards just running a 99-00 Si swaybar (it's 13mm) and upgrading my shocks to KYB AGX's.

But for sure, the ASR brace and 22mm bar aren't effective because of the springs I'm running? The spring rates too soft or something?

I'm still a suspension n00b.

 

I think I might dissagree. I have had cars with h&r sport, comptech rear sway, and koni's. Car was perfect on the street. I thought the softer springs were perfect. The sway bar and the koni's made up for it.

 

I think I might dissagree. I have had cars with h&r sport, comptech rear sway, and koni's. Car was perfect on the street. I thought the softer springs were perfect. The sway bar and the koni's made up for it. You talk about the srings being to soft... I woukld think this is untrue because I would bet money that h&r springs are still softer than the springs that came on an ITR that had a factory 22mm sway bar?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4potnick &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think I might dissagree. I have had cars with h&r sport, comptech rear sway, and koni's. Car was perfect on the street. I thought the softer springs were perfect. The sway bar and the koni's made up for it. You talk about the srings being to soft... I woukld think this is untrue because I would bet money that h&r springs are still softer than the springs that came on an ITR that had a factory 22mm sway bar?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Good point.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4potnick &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I woukld think this is untrue because I would bet money that h&r springs are still softer than the springs that came on an ITR that had a factory 22mm sway bar?</TD></TR></TABLE>

from all accounts ive seen, 97, 00-01 ITR - 250F/250R (L/P) and H&R Sports for an EK - 330F/280R (P/P)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Voyage34 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

from all accounts ive seen, 97, 00-01 ITR - 250F/250R (L/P) and H&R Sports for an EK - 330F/280R (P/P)
</TD></TR></TABLE>

correct, ITR is softer then H&R sports from a spring perspective. Besides, you can use and benefit from a large rear sway bar with stock. I have a stock 1.6EL which is 165/80 rates, and with a 22mm rear sway bar (with subframe reinforcement of course) it made the car much more enjoyable and such a better handling car.

 

bump