I'm new into this whole suspension thing and I just bought a 93' Prelude with lowering springs already put in. I don't neccissarily need them but it is what it is. So I had to change out the front struts today. Worked out great, didn't need the spring compression tool- that was cool. However, I don't quite understand how to adjust. I've gathered from here so far that the set up I have does not have a seperate ride height adjustment. It just has the two collars used to (adjust) compress the springs. The problem is- the "ride quality" sucks. All the bumps in the road hit pretty hard. So if I adjust to compress the spring more, will this in effect increase the shock compression stroke and give a less "bumpy" ride? It appears that the ride height increases as well... Or will it do the exact opposite because the spring is compressed thus giving less travel?? Do I just need to find a set of stock springs..? I dunno- I'm lost. Any help would be appreciated.


-Hope — it is the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength and your greatest weakness.

 

Post moved to a new thread.

Welcome to Honda-Tech. In the future, please do some searching, then create a thread if you have a question, unless it specifically relates to an existing thread. In that case, post in that existing thread.

You mentioned the car came with lowering springs. That is different from adjustable-height coilovers. So which type of suspension does your car have?

 

ok, sorry bout that. Looked like y'all were talking about what I was looking for.
I'm not sure what suspension I have, I will have to take a picture and post it today sometime. I'm not sure it they are "lowering" springs per se. I do note that they have some sort of adjustability with the aluminum threaded sleeve that fits over the strut and the collars that ride on the threads to compress or release the springs. So what exactly constitutes a "coil-over"?

 

okay so you have an adjustable-height coilover. If it's just a sleeve that you slip over shocks, though, then you do not have separate ride height and preload adjustments. Preload really doesn't matter anyway in most cases, so don't worry about it.

Moving the spring perches up or down changes ride height, but also changes the amount of available shock compression travel. If you move the perches up, you will have more available travel for the shock to compress before bottoming out, but the car will also ride higher. It's a compromise, really, and the lower the car sits, the stiffer the springs have to be to keep the shocks from bottoming out.

Also remember that ANY time the ride height is adjusted, the tire's toe angles are thrown off, and thus a 4-wheel alignment will be required. Otherwise the tires will wear down to shreds in probably just a few thousand miles.

 

PERFECT! thanks, friend. I did just as you said and the car is sitting taller, BUT it rides MUCH MUCH better now.