I know you can roll with most anything, but to optimize suspension in a hybrid is a topic not talked about too much.

If you have a light car with a stock D series motor and then throw in an LS/VTEC or CRVTEC motor, I would imagine the weight distrubution and transfer properties would change quite a bit which would affect things like amount of toe-in, camber,etc. not to mention axle changes...

Anybody around here know anything or do work with these combos??

 

Who is "Jake About Installing Suspension On Hybrids in DC Area"?

 

"jake" as in knowing anything...i can put all the basics in myself but was looking to a bit of tuning on the suspension in a couple of weeks

 

You mean "jack" ?

 

yea

 

i kno jack he does good suspension work

 

i would say that if you raise the spring rate on the front springs slightly from a stock engine car it should handle good, on mine i am using the spring rates from an integra figuring that after i swap all parts from the teg the hatch is going to probally weight closer to a teg then a hatch, also using adjustible shocks you can make the rear end of the car handle how ever you want even if the spring rates are a little much for the rear FYI: i am running 350lbs springs in the front and 300lbs springs in the rear

 

the combo i have now works pretty good with stock engine so will change with crvtec i imagine..

got GC's in back with 450* springs, tokico ils all around, suspension techniques sway bar in rear (prob going to do front also) and lowered on torsion bars ~1.2

 

I predict that if you leave the torsion bars at that height and toss in the heavier engine, you will bottom out. I also read somewhere about having a certain bias ratio between the front and rear in terms of spring rates to keep a good handling car for your purpose. By the way, what are you building up this car for? Trying to make it a cone killer? or drag racer? or just trying to flip it off exit ramps? Haha.

I would like to get the 25mm OPM bars for my Civic someday, but I hear that OPM is currently out of stock of all t-bars. Mine currently bottom out sometimes on big highway bumps...but still is too soft for my tastes. This is at stock height, new KYB GR2s and 32 lb wheel/tire combo, building for a street car with occasional autocross duty (Miata is still the racecar).

Why don't you come with me the next time I take the Civic to the autocross? You can ride along or better yet, do some fun runs for yourself.

P.S.
I plan on doing all the suspension work myself. Got the Hyperflex bushing kit on order, new rear KYBs ready for install...then eventually t-bars. Changing the front swaybar seems to be the biggest challenge because you'd have to drop the subframe.



[Modified by squeaky, 9:01 AM 8/19/2002]