This is for a 96-00 civic hatch, I plan on doing the suspension in 2 stages to spread out the cost:

Stage 1
-Skunk2 sport shocks
-Skunk2 lowering springs
-1 in. Extended top hats all around
-Skunk2 front and rear camber kits

Stage 2
-CTR 26mm front sway bar
-ASR sub frame brace and 24mm sway bar
-Benen Front lower Brace
-Password JDM 3 point front upper strut bar
-Password JDM rear upper strut bar
-Skunk2 Rear LCA

So here's some concerns I have:

Skunk2 shock and spring combo, looking to improve the handling while retaing near factory ride quality, I don't want to lower it a lot but 1.5-1.75 give me the look i want with out giving me **** ground clearance.

With the skunk2 sport shocks being "designed" for lowered vehicles are the extended top hats necessary/beneficial? And, what is a good amount to extend them if there is a reason to, 1 in. was basically what I see most people extending them to

I think the sway bars should be balanced relatively well front to rear but I'm not sure if the spring rates will be high enough to handle these large sway bars


Suggestions, experience, and comments appreciated

 

If you only want to be lowered about 1.75 in. I suggest another setup. Skunk2 sport shocks are already shorter than stock and the skunk2 springs lower it 2.5in. You can be expected to be close to a 3in drop with that set-up. I dont think larger top hats are necessary unless you want to be lowered anymore than that.

 

Skunk2 shocks by themselves will lower the car? The spring perch is not in the stock position?

Anyway I would skip the camber kit. It's not really needed and is really more trouble than it's worth for a street car.

 

Yes they are shorted shocks.

 

Shortened body, but the spring perch is in the same place. Therefore they will not alter ride height whatsoever by themselves. Bump travel would be increased, though, and droop travel reduced. This would make extended top hats completely unnecessary unless you were trying to get the car damn near on the floor.

 

Okay, so what is the benefit of doing it that way? Does it make it stiffer so you can run higher spring rates? I always wanted to see a shock dyno of these...

 

"Benefit" is exactly as explained, more bump travel. Penalty is reduced droop travel.

 

skunk2 lowering springs are said to lower 1.5-1.75 in. on average so im not sure how you got 2.5 in. drop

 

http://www.skunk2.com/mm5/merchant.m...de=519-05-1550

First thing stated 2.50"-2.25" and since my friend has them on a 97 coupe right now I can tell from experience.

 

hmm maybe i'll go with tein s tech springs, this is on tein s tech springs and is about how much i want it lowered http://memimage.cardomain.com/member...12_44_full.jpg

 

have not heard very good things about Tein springs

 

I know first hand the skunk2 spring/shock combo works very well, it might be a bit stiff for you. My car was lower with eibach sportlines on koni yellows that the skunk2 set up my friend has on his hatch. The only real issue he has is the front mugen replica lip rubs in some areas but that lip hangs really low.

Extended top hats would be impossible to get on those shortened shocks, we had a hell of a time getting the skunk2 lowered springs on with the stock top hats.

The sways bars mostly change the stiffness in the corners, straightline rides the same unless you hit giant potholes. The springs will be fine with those bars, but remember that will give you more oversteer even though you are getting a bigger front bar.

 

what about tokico illiuminas with h&r sports springs? need for extended top hats?

 

Great struts but people will say the springs are too soft. There would be no need for top hats with that set-up.

 

well if its stiffer than stock thats good because i want a decent ride quality

 

The h&r sports are decently stiff and not to low, I would say perfect height for a daily. I would do extended top hats since most shocks don't last long lowered more than 1.5"

 

Fixed it for you. Most of that other stuff would be a waste of $$.

 

That pic you linked to is the exact stance I want to setup my car with. New to this whole mod thing, keep this thread updated with what you do. I'll be following it.

thanks