Alright so I am having a dilemma. I have an 88 ef hatch. I swapped out my rear suspension and breaks to a 91 da system (LCAs, sway bar, and trailing arm). I had to use rear integra struts because they have the fork end unlike the ef that has the solid end. I have been doing research and it appears that the 89-91 ef had the fork end rear strut. I want to buy skunk2 LCA's and i see that my solid end struts will not work so then do I have to buy the 89-91 rear struts? are the fron the same? thanks

 

DA suspension is the same as 89-91 EF suspension except the shocks are longer, so yes, you need 89-91 Civic suspension for your car.

 

Yep fronts are the same between 88-91 but the rear 88 is different from 89-91. Help?

 

Well not exactly the same; quality products that aren't geared for "Our XXX shock or YYY spring fit every make and model!" compensate for the added weight of the DA chassis. So using DA specific components in some cases will raise your chassis a bit in comparison with the standard EF specific components.

Summation: Purchase 89-91 Specific for the rear.

 

dont use DA control arms or shocks.

you can interchange between EF 88 and 89-91 LCA and shocks, no difference.

 

Well...like I said, DA shocks will be longer. But by "compensate for added weight" you mean stiffer springs and shocks...and in most cases, those rates are made to order, so you can put those stiffer rates on anything.

Also, if you get a decent setup, most likely the damper stiffness and height will be adjustable. EF shocks are shorter, so they are more practical if you're going to be lowered. They work nicely on DA's

 

i have a 88 wagon and change my rears into DA lca and used a DC struts coz theyre shorter compare to DA. i added a 22mm newspeed swaybar as well. just my two cents.

 

Ok thanks for help. I am just going to use skunk2 LCAs and 89-91 ef struts.