I have stock ITR springs but someone locally is selling some Eibach Prokit springs dirt cheap and was wondering which is a better spring? I'm looking for something a little stiffer as I use the car for auto x and some HPDE's.

 

I can speak from experience here. That was the first set of springs I tried on my R. Same ride height and I liked the the way they felt. Not some huge night and day difference in the two but I liked the Eibachs better. I don't think you would be dissappointed by them.

 

I'd hold off and get something a little better, Koni with some springs are what most people start with for HPDE. But if you are doing AXs watch out, It might bump you into a higher class.

 

from experience eibachs wont let you down

 

Eibach will lower the car and make it better for auto xing. The TYPE-R handles well from the factory. A lowered R looks cleaner.

 

I've had both as well. Right now I have stock Type R springs with Koni Yellows and it's a great setup. I used to have the Eibach Pro-Kit with Tokico Blues and it was definitely a bit lower and little bit stiffer. For me the R is low enough and handles well enough from the factory so I'm all stock now but for auto x-ing the Pro Kit would be better.

 

Not to jack the thread from the OP's question but I do have this question for you guys.
I have Skunk2, two inch lowering springs on my R with the stock shocks. I'm debating on getting some adjustable shocks for the Skunks or going with a full damper set like Omni's. I don't autoXX my car and only go to the local 1320. What should I get? Opinions?

 

two inches lower on stock shocks, don't expect them to last very long. They were not designed for that.

Get yourself something like Koni & springs or PIC . Omni had a problem a while back with their quality. Not sure if it's been resolved.
Many people that are no longer on this board have/had PIC and their reviews were top rated.

 

I know the stockers normaly don't last long under these lowering conditions but the car has been down for a while and I was wanting some feedback before I spend $$ on something I would regret later. Thanks for the 411.

 

in terms of what u consider better, the eibach pro kit will definately be more suitable for track use, giving you a much stiffer spring rate over the ITRs

 

But the shocks were not designed for the spring rate of the Eibachs, so you will not have the best balance of shock to spring. Under dampening... resulting in a slightly bouncier feel.
In other words stock ITR setup will get a get an experienced driver around the track faster.

 

Maybe one day I'll autoXX my car just to say I did it once.

 

Here are the Eibach springrates for anyone curious.

Front spring rate is 331 lbs/in (linear)
Rear spring rate is 126-194 lbs/in (progressive)

 

The stock ITR springs are a far better track and autocross setup than the pro kit is.. unless you like higher rate front springs and lower rate rear springs (compared to stock springs). The stock springs will be a MUCH more neutral handling setup.

Lowering springs do not mean better handling 100% of the time.

 

Do you have any back to back comparisons you'd like to share with us?

 

Jackson, we both know (I'm assuming) that both of us drive on track a lot. I'd rather have a 246/246 setup anyday of the week than a 331/194 setup. Hell, I'd rather have a 600f/1000r or so setup, depending on the track, but that's not really the point here. Do you really want to argue that a front bias setup will handle better on a stock ITR than the stock springs, no alignment, tire size changes, etc?

I've driven ITRs with stock and nonstock setups, and most lowering springs result in a slower time for autocrossing, however no none were back to back. (that is experience, but I only drove those cars when mine wasn't ready, or out of tire, etc so could only compare against the normal competition)

Now if you want to remove the front sway bar, or throw on a 26mm rear bar, or run 225f/195r tires, then the front bias will balance it out but the OP never mentioned any other setup changes.

If you want to send me a set I'll do a back to back comparison for you, either on the track with a laptimer averaged over 10 laps or on autocross runs... although the autocross runs are a little harder to deal with due to the format.

I'll give you that driver preference plays a roll here, since some driving styles will benefit from a front bias.

Eibach makes great springs, especially ERS, but these are street springs and are less ideal than the stock ones IMO for the OPs intended usage (autocross and hpde).

 

Dave,

I was really just curious if you had anything to show. Lap times, rate comparisons, anything to back up what you said. I couldn't find the stock ITR rates on a quick search when I made my post. All the sites I found listed percentages over GSR.

I think the driver preference and set up plays a huge roll here as well. Stiffer isn't always better and front bias or rear bias is really driver preference. But we'd be beating a dead horse to keep going on this.

To the OP, to each his own.

 

If the choices were the Pro Kit or GSR springs, Pro Kit for sure Those springs were really designed as a replacement for non-ITR Integras I'd guess. I can't recall 100% but I don't think they've changed since their introduction which IIRC was before 97? Not 100% sure though on that, I'm sure you could find that out.

I agree that stiffer isn't always better, especially on rough tracks and that the bias is driver preference

OP: I should have put "IMO" in my first reply since I was stating an opinion based on my experience (which granted isn't scientific back to back testing). Let us know what decision you make.

 

here ya go... Front - 4.4 kg/mm , Rear - 2.5~4.4 kg/mm

 

Here's some info that should be helpful to you. A list of multiple spring rates.

For 96-00 Civics (EJ6-8 and EM1 chassis codes)
96-00 EX - 165F/80R (P/P)
99-00 Si (EM1) - 201F/99.8R (P/P)
97, 00-01 ITR - 250F/250R (L/P)
GS-R - 200F/95R (P/P)
CTR - 240/240 (L/P)

H&R OE - 280F/190R (P/P)
Eibach ProKit - 290F/190R (P/P
H&R Sport - 330F/280R (P/P)
Eibach Sportline - 310F/275R (P/P)
Gold-line GL 2.5" drop - 320/190 (P/P)
Gold-line GPS 1.25" drop - 275/160 (P/P)
Koni RSK Suspension kit - 154-205/270 (P/L)
Neuspeed SofSports - 260F/150R (P/P)
Neuspeed Sport - 280F/180R (P/P)
Neuspeed Race - 485F/395R
Skunk Coilovers -old - 400F/300R (L/L) for civic, 500F/400R for integra
Skunk2 Coilovers - new - 500F/400r (L/L)
Spoon Full Coilovers - 300/240
Progress Coilovers - 350F/250R (P/P)
Progress Lowering Springs - 320F/200R (P/P)
Ground Control Coilover - 380F/280R (P/P) (this is the standard kit and the springs are mildly progressive).
Tein RA/RE/RS - 783F/559R (L/L)
Tein HT - 1119F/448R (L/L)
Tein HG - 365F/129-196R (L/P)
Tein SS - 448F/224R
Tein Flex - 504F/280R
Tein S. Tech - 235F/140R
Tokico Illumina Kit - 250/123 (P/P)
APEX'i WS - 447f/178r
Suspension Techniques - needed
SSR Cup - 392/280
SSR S1 - 448/448
JIC FLT-A2s - USDM - 504F/336R (L/L)
Sparco - needed

For 02+ Civic Si (EP3): ~ Very special thanks to Mike (EXavier) for these!!!
Progress - 280F/500R
Eibach Pro-Kit- 15-20% stiffer then stock
Eibach Sportlines - 20-25% stiffer then stock
Sprint - 20-25% more then stock
H&R Sport - 25-30% more then stock
Tein SS - 336F/448R
Tein Flex - 448F/559R
Tein S. Tech - 157F/291R

P = Progressive
L = Linear

 

Wow thats a pretty extensive write up of rates. Should sticky that.

 

if you want better handling but don't want it too low, stick with your OEM ITR springs and go with a set of Koni Sport shocks with the springs down to the lowest perch.

 

Thank you so much for posting this!!
I have been going nuts trying to decide what suspension to get. Although I no longer have an ITR, I want some of her characteristics in my dd civic.

The H&R Sport 330F/280R is ITR specific, but is the H&R OE 280F/190R spring the race or sport spring? I cannot decide whether I want the civic/integ H&R race or ITR H&R sport in conjunction with Tokico Illumina adj's.

 

x2

those rates on the pro kit will do nothing but increase understeer. my favorite lowering springs for the teg are from tein and they are very close to the factory rate. the h techs i'm now rolling are basically 300f and 250r. as posted above the sportline kit has much better rates than the pro kit

as for the HR question. the OE springs ride higher than both the race and sport.

you can also see what complete garbage the tokico kits are. that light rear spring really slows down corner transitions

 

If you can find ITR springs for cheap, use them

I had H&R sports before, and while mine wasn't common, the rear sat so much higher than the front that it looked retarded. My set was a quality control problem though.


H&R's had (maybe still have, no idea I never look at springs anymore) 3 levels, OE Sport, Sport and Race. OE Sport = softest, then Sport, then Race. Same story for ride height, OE Sport is highest, Race is lowest and Sport is somewhere in the middle.

I'd spend the extra money and go ground control if it's an option for you. You'll get great ERS springs that way, and will be able to adjust the ride height to your personal preference... and get whatever springrates you want for a slight charge if you want a non-standard setup.