Hey guys I'm looking for some help.

I just got a 90 Civic Wagon for use as my daily driver, and it came with full threaded body first-gen F2 coil-overs already on it. Ride height wise, it's great, but ride quality wise it's stiff on full stiff, and bouncier than I'd like on full soft - there's not much smoothing it out.

I understand that these are more track-oriented coil-overs, and maybe what I'm asking is impossible, but I'm looking to have a smoother ride at the expense of handling. My old DD EF had KYB GR2 shocks with Tein S-Tech lowering springs and that to me is 100% perfect for daily use.

I believe the car currently has 11K front, 6K rear springs, according to the previous owner.

For one I have no clue what that means in terms of lbs. ratings. I'm used to spouting off "425F/550R" rates for my 92 hatch, which is hella stiff. I understand rates in lbs.

Secondly I'd be looking to buy some Eibach ERS coil-over springs to soften the ride, but I've no clue on rates.

If someone could please help me convert the 11K/6K crap to lbs. that'd be a start, and furthermore possibly help steer me in the right direction as to what rates I could run on the softest side with these F2s.

The problem is since it's a wagon is that replacement shocks and lowering springs are much harder to find. Many places say "use EF hatchback parts" but there is a big difference in stock ride height from the wagon to EF hatch/sedan. The suspension geometry is much different. If I could find wagon-specific shocks like KYB GR-2s and Tein S-Techs I'd just go that route and sell these nice F2s to someone looking for stiffness.

Oh and for reference the car weighs roughly 2,500-2,600lbs.

A few pics for fun:





Thanks for any help!!!

BTW if you guys happen to want to see more pics of the wagon I'll be happy to oblige, as many of you know I'm quite the picture *****.

 

I like the sleeper look

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4163175587 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I like the sleeper look</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 4163175587 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I like the sleeper look</TD></TR></TABLE>

what exhaust is that?

 

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

The divisor is 18.1818.

So 10K/8K = 550#/440#.

12K/10K = 660#/550#.</TD></TR></TABLE>

So for 11000/6000 you're running 605lbs front/330lbs rear.

Hope that helps for your first question, btw clean car

 

Very nice, you always seem to come across the good ones Tom and glad it made it to its new home safely.

 

u can throw in some eibach ERS springs. in any rate you want.
or even give f2 a call and order some softer rates.

exhaust is hks custom fit by @ries

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Fobtions &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">u can throw in some eibach ERS springs. in any rate you want.
or even give f2 a call and order some softer rates.

exhaust is hks custom fit by @ries</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah @ries told me not to laugh at his "fabbed in the driveway" exhaust B-pipe, but it looks great - seriously.

It sounds amazing. You an't here it in he car one bit, but standing behind the car and hearing someone rev the engine it sounds so nice. Very deep tone with absolutel zero rasp - I could not ask for a nicer exhaust for this car.

I swear @ries and I shared the same brain when we conceptualized the ideal wagon build, down to the smallest details. Literally the only things i'm chaning are the blue wheels and @ries signature Snap-On shift **** - I've got to do something to try and distinguish this car as my own.

...at least I'm 2150 miles away!!!

 

sorry im not any help, but i just had to say this, youre wagon is cleannn.

 

hey wat kinda wheels r they? i want them

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C5-EH2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The problem is since it's a wagon is that replacement shocks and lowering springs are much harder to find. Many places say "use EF hatchback parts" but there is a big difference in stock ride height from the wagon to EF hatch/sedan. The suspension geometry is much different. If I could find wagon-specific shocks like KYB GR-2s and Tein S-Techs I'd just go that route and sell these nice F2s to someone looking for stiffness.

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

youll be fine with any EF aftermarket shocks and springs. those F2 coilovers are generic EF shocks as well.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=832089

the wagon was designed to hold more rear cargo. thats why the perch is lower and the spring longer. but you probably wont have to worry about that.

 

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

youll be fine with any EF aftermarket shocks and springs. those F2 coilovers are generic EF shocks as well.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=832089

the wagon was designed to hold more rear cargo. thats why the perch is lower and the spring longer. but you probably wont have to worry about that.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm guessing you've not owned a wagovan and tried lowering it, right? I appreciate the advice, but from what I experienced yesterday I'm going to have to disagree with you.

F2 coil-overs are for the EF sedan/hatchback - this is true. The reason they sit level on my wagon is because the shock bodies are adjustable and have a very wide range of height adjustments.

Yesterday I pulled the F2 coil-overs off of my wagon, and I did not adjust the heights at all. I installed them on a friend's EF hatch back, and guess what?

THE HATCH SAT DUMPED IN THE REAR, SKY JACKER STYLE UP FRONT!!!

Remember my wagon sat very level, and if anything, the rear was an inch higher than the front. Those 14'' meshies in the pics up top on my wagon are now on the EF hatchy I installed the F2 coil-overs on. Again look how level my wagon sat. With those exact same height settings the 14'' tires were tucking in the rear of the EF hatch, and the fronts had a good 3'' gap between fender well/arch and the top of the tire.

After about 45 minutes of adjusting we finally got the hatch to sit level by raising the rear up a good 3-4 inches, and lowering the front by 3-4 inches.

For anyone interested I did install some new coil-overs on my wagon yesterday. They are Eibach Pro Street-S, and the rears have progressive springs, while the fronts have a linear spring with a helper spring. I'll be doing a full write-up as soon as I get some good "after" overall ride height shots once the weather improves.

I will say this - the rears are all the way down, and the fronts are closer to full raised just to get the wagon to sit level.

Cliff notes:

Suspensions intended for EF sedan/hatch can and will work on a wagon, but as far as coil-overs go expect the front to be raised nearly all the way up, and the rears dumped as low as they'll go if you want the wagon to sit level.

Regular shock/spring combos will NOT sit level by any stretch of the imagination. I would not buy shock/spring combos for a wagon - if anything make sure you have height adjustable coil over sleeves/springs or full threaded body coil-overs.


Modified by B18C5-EH2 at 9:55 AM 3/5/2008

 

Beautiful wagon...

Thats my old exhaust, originally for a hatch then shortened 7 inches to fit on my crx... I then traded it for a crx greddy sp from @ries that I lengthened to fit on my current EF Hatch.

 

Just in case anyone cares a quick pic with the correct wheels.

On Spoon SW388s:



On it's current wheels - Black Racing BR-R 3 piece wheels:





I'll post new pics at it's new, slightly lower ride height with the new footwork.

 

Wagon looks great man. I've been through a few suspension set ups on my previous Wagons. Most recent was a Koni/GC set up with 500F/400R rates and the GC tophats. With the front adjusted as high as it would go, the car was still pretty low. It was nice set up, but a little stiff. 400F/350R would have been about right I think. Before that I had KYB GR-2 with H&R Sports for a CRX Si. This set up was very low, tires tucking, and far too soft. You could really feel the extra weight of the wagon. I don't have any pics of the H&R set up, but the mud flaps scraped around most moderate speed turns. I also has a KYB GR-2 and no name coil overs with 6k front and rear rate set up on an older wagon. This was actually the best compromise between performance and ride quality. Hope this helps a bit, I always regret selling my Wagons.

Here's the Wagon with the Koni/GC set up, max height n the front, mid way in the back. It the only pic of above set ups I have.

 

Man, those Black Racing BR-R 3 wheels look sweet!

JG

 

maybe DA suspensions in order for our ef wagons?