i have a 2005 accord and i am thinking of geting 20" rims with low profile tires for it but i am worried that i am going to feel every bump and pebble on the road so that means that i have to make some changes to the suspension, but the problem is i dont know where to start, i need to know what i need to replace and with what brand and type

 

with the low profiles of a 20 inch tire there is no way your going to make it ride soft and confortable like it was when it was stock.

you can get softer springs to try to absorb more of the vibrations but that will sacrifice your handling and make you prone to bottoming out and will make your cars suspension feel real soft and mushy

 

you can get a set of adjustable shocks so you can set it from soft-stiff. ex. kyb agx, tokico illuminas... i don't think you need to get lowering springs because your car is going to have 20's. you can get coilovers with adjustable dampers if you want to lower it so there's no gap btwn tires and fenders, but gona cost you more.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lxaccord51oxl &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you can get a set of adjustable shocks so you can set it from soft-stiff. ex. kyb agx, tokico illuminas... i don't think you need to get lowering springs because your car is going to have 20's. you can get coilovers with adjustable dampers if you want to lower it so there's no gap btwn tires and fenders, but gona cost you more.</TD></TR></TABLE>

none of that is going to help him attain stock ride quality

airbag might be a good option for you, from what i understand they have a soft plushy ride. i cant really comment on them though since i have no experiance with airbags.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lxaccord51oxl &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you can get a set of adjustable shocks so you can set it from soft-stiff. ex. kyb agx, tokico illuminas... i don't think you need to get lowering springs because your car is going to have 20's. you can get coilovers with adjustable dampers if you want to lower it so there's no gap btwn tires and fenders, but gona cost you more.</TD></TR></TABLE>

you don't change spring rate with coilover, you change the dampering(or rebound)value only.

sorry, there's a reaction for every action

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by pos_cd5 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">with the low profiles of a 20 inch tire there is no way your going to make it ride soft and confortable like it was when it was stock.

you can get softer springs to try to absorb more of the vibrations but that will sacrifice your handling and make you prone to bottoming out and will make your cars suspension feel real soft and mushy</TD></TR></TABLE>


these are all helpfull thanks fellas, i was surfing the net for gear and i came across shock absorbers by the brand of Monroe. and i was checking out there product catalog and i came across the MONROE SENSA-TRAC. one OF there products, anyone know anything about these set of shocks? or name --------www.monroe.com

 

20 inches. damn dont ruin your accord, just my opinion. try some TL/CL Type-S wheels. and a eilbach prokit.

 

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


these are all helpfull thanks fellas, i was surfing the net for gear and i came across shock absorbers by the brand of Monroe. and i was checking out there product catalog and i came across the MONROE SENSA-TRAC. one OF there products, anyone know anything about these set of shocks? or name --------www.monroe.com </TD></TR></TABLE>

monroe is so-so. its not going to help with your ride quality though, their simply isn't enough sidewall on a 20inch wheel to absorb road iregulairties

 

A soft ride? Dont' lower the car, install stiff springs or go too low on rim/tire profile.

If you lower, you will install rims and tires with overall lower profile/ right?

Taller profile tires give a smoother ride, that's why stock rims are smaller and the tires have a higher profile-more profile means more "air-cushion" between you butt and the road. Less "air-cushion" means more chop and vibration-the tradeoff for taller rims and lower profile tires. This is why the old 60's/70's boats (Lincolns/Cads) had very tall tires (up to 75 profile!)

Lowering with springs, with larger rims and lower profile tires makes for better cornering/handling, but the trade off is the loss of a smooth, factory ride. The lower springs also have tighter coils, so they absorb less vibration and shock. For any gain there is some loss somewhere, period.

Really want a smooth comfortable ride? Don't lower the car, stay with stock springs. They will be softer and not corner as well, but will absorb bumps/vibrations with less chop.

Then buy slightly higher profile rims (for looks)- buy a "plus 1 rim" Example- jump 14" to 15", or 15" to 16", etc.. You will then buy a "minus 1" tire to match (have the tire store match the tire/rim) from a stock 70 to 60, or 65 to 55, etc. A good package will net the same overall diameter for the tire/rim assembly as stock.

I am getting to where I like a smoother ride (I was young once), so I did this:

Car- 1994 Accord Stock- 185/70/14 radials/ 14" rims.
Installed- Stock height HR springs/ Tokiko HP shocks
Bridgestone 960 "Pole" 205/60/15 (a good tire/ -1" height)
Centerline 15" forged rims (a high quality rim/ + 1" height).

Now, before the ricers go nuts on me, I wanted the car to handle better, still have a smooth freeway ride, and not spend a fortune. I will not be cornering at 120MPH or racing circle-track anytime soon.

The car handles A+++ on the streets/freeways, and I only spent around $250 for the springs, $500 for the rims and $500 for the tires, and the tires and rims are very high quality stuff. By the way-way too many kids spend a fortune on rims and then mount crappy tires to save money. Buying "cheap" tires to buy expensive rims is sad. (Typical of mag rim/tire "packages" to save money overall)

These Bridgestone poles are an awesome tire. (Ask any tire/suspension shop about what I have discussed here-they will agree 100%.

Just some thoughts. Most ricers would not think the tire/rim package "cool" enough, but I like the retro 70's look of the rims, and I have never done what "everyone else thinks is cool"- I do what I want, and never go nuts spending on it. DO what YOU want, and ask the rest to kiss your ***! ( A great way to live-it relieves a lot of pressure in life!!)

I get tired of mags selling youngsters $3000 tire/rim packages they can't really afford and $3000 suspensions only really needed for racetrack use. Trust me- "Cool" tires and rims really won't get you laid!

Build the car for comfort if that's what you want. And if you do want to race, by all means, lower the car. But think three times before spending $4000-$6000 for springs/struts/rims/tires because you need all that performance for the street- you don't, it's mostly "gloss" to impress other people.

There are "penalties" for anything you change on the car from stock. Lower with tighter coils and lower profile tires/rims (past a certain point), and you will get a car that handles/corners better, but the trade off will be a stiffer, harsher ride.

I went off here, but I have been working on my cars for 30+ years, and I have never seen a time when youngsters were being so ripped off, to the price of thousands of dollars, to build a car they saw in a mag. The truth they don't tell you youngsters is many of those cars have well over $30,000 invested! Decide what YOU like, and what you can afford, and do that. Don't try to "buy a dream"- you can't afford the whole thing!

Also budget for the entire car-if you blow the whole wad on an old Honda that is getting old and cranky, you will have spent all your dough to improve the looks of a car that will still run old and cranky, and may not even outlive the tires.

By the way- when I live in SoCal, I was constantly approached by ricers driving very tuned cars about my car. Most were impressed with the overall look- one stated "It looked retro, and very cool. Off the mainstream, but balanced." His car probably had around at least $20,000 invested, mine about $1800 (for exterior looks). Do what you like-others will either like it, or not. But what does it really matter what they think? Wrenchy

 

Worlds cheapest smooth ride, just a simple bumper sticker, NO FAT CHICKS.

Fully adjustable coil overs, this will give you every kind of ride based on what you are doing this week or this weekend. Although this will also require frequent adjustments so hope you have a friend with a lift or you will be doing some serious jacking, have you looked into those scissor jacks with the DC motor attatched, just be safe with them.

Air bags seem to be more useful but I think you would need more input on them. Everone (younger crowd) in my area all use adjustable coil overs, you can get them used online. The actual length of the strut can be adjustable as well as the spring rate and you can change springs also. If you go this route then get some with camber adjustments also, when ever you adjust ride hight you also are changing camber.

Do you want to roll your fenders or just push back the inner lip to not cut your new tires.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Duane_in_Japan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Worlds cheapest smooth ride, just a simple bumper sticker, NO FAT CHICKS.

Fully adjustable coil overs, this will give you every kind of ride based on what you are doing this week or this weekend. Although this will also require frequent adjustments so hope you have a friend with a lift or you will be doing some serious jacking, have you looked into those scissor jacks with the DC motor attatched, just be safe with them.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

though coilovers are very versatile, i believe the OP is looking for STOCK ride quality and i cant think of any coilover that can give you that, since all the coilovers i have seen is very performance oriented, with stiffer springs and shocks. even on the highest ride height and sofest setting i doubt it will be as smooth as stock.