I got a set of ebay coilovers here and the fronts went on fine, but there's a problem with the rears. The rear coilover threaded cylinders are less than half as tall as the ones on the front. If I install them, the rear end will be sitting on the tires.

The car currently has "coilovers" back there...full length threaded tubes, springs a little taller than my new ones, but no adjustable spring perches. I was going to put my springs and adjustable perches on those threaded cylinders which would have worked fine, but the perches won't thread on to them for some reason, even though the threads look fine.

My question is...wtf should I do? I don't want to have to buy a whole new set of coilovers off ebay, dis-assemble the front, and possibly get boned again with the wrong crap, but at the same time I don't exactly want to throw several hundred+ down on some name brand coilovers just to have some for the rear. Any of you guys running ebay coilovers on the rear? If so, got pics?

 

sounds like you have the rear sleeves on the front

 

I installed them going by the labels the seller put on them. Short sleeves on front, long sleeves on rear? If I remember correctly...the perches on the front are near the top of the long sleeves, if I put the small ones on front the front end would be sitting on the tires.

 

Did you actually install them or are you just guessing? If you actually installed them and you couldn't adjust to a decent ride height, then the free length of the springs they sent you is too short. How long are the springs? Give me exact measurements. The front springs should be at least 7" long and the rear springs should be at least 6" long.

Lesson to learn here: Buy quality name brand products with real support instead of buying cheap **** from eBay.

 

My new short sleeves with new perches all the way up with new springs on...were shorter than the used long sleeves with no perches and the used taller springs. I need the long sleeves for this to work, but the used long sleeves won't accept my new perches.

I don't know the size of the front springs compared to the rear springs, didn't check them but can go out there and measure everything in a few hours. The obvious difference is the new front sleeves are long, and the new rear sleeves are short...and they were labeled front/rear. I can't see the short sleeves working on the front or the rear, without allowing the car to sit in the tires due to being so low.

 

The longer sleeves go in the rear with the shorter springs. The shorter sleeves go up front with the longer springs.

See photo for reference:



Your parts were labeled incorrectly, and may not even be the correct parts for your vehicle.

Did you take a picture of them before installing? I'm curious to see these things.

 

Didn't get a photo, but I could remove the fronts and take pics/measurements in the morning, wouldn't be too hard. And you're probably right, they may not be right for this vehicle. The guy I got the car from bought them from ebay and included them with the car for me to install, since he put cut springs and blown struts on at some point and caused the fenders to dig in to the tires...

Edit: My front sleeves are about as long as the rears in your pic, and my rear sleeves are about half as long as the fronts in your pic. I'm guessing this set wasn't even meant for a civic...damn.

 

Going by eye, the threaded sleeves on the front are a little over twice as long as the ones I tried to put on the rear. Also going by eye, the springs for front and rear look to be the same size.

The front coilover adjustable perches are threaded all the way up, and there's only an inch or so gap between fender and tire. If I were to put those really short sleeves on the front, I don't think I'll be able to adjust them high enough to get the fenders off of the tires.

Took some pics. Here's what's not installed yet, springs + short sleeves, sitting next to rear strut for size comparison...


Here's a photo of the front passenger coilover setup, as you can see the perches are adjusted all the way up...


Here's a photo of the front passenger fender/tire gap...


So does it look like I received a bunk set of coilovers? I'm wondering if I should even bother trying to get another set from eBay, or if I should just try to find a reasonably priced set of name-brand lowering springs. The problem I'm facing is, I had a budget in mind when I bought this car and I'm getting very close to that limit. I've already got $700 dumped in to it and still can't drive it.

Edit: Whether they're on wrong, or they're the wrong coilovers, I have to take those fronts off so I'll do that right now and get more pics.

 

Those coils are garbage, don't use them. Had them on my ef and took them off right away (the fronts anyway) cause they bounced like hell. I left them in the rear and were a horrible ride. With adjustable kyb agx shocks. The rears maxed up sat an inch above tire. But rode great on my friends slammed ek sedan (must be the weight diff). Your better off finding some drop zone coils (usually 7-8 inch springs tho), or used ground controls.

 

Took off the front driver coilover so I could set it next to the rear for comparison. All four springs are the same exact height...


What are some reasonably priced coilovers or lowering springs I could get, that would work with OEM replacement struts from AZ? Like I said before, I had a budget for this car and I'm getting really close to hitting that limit so I don't want to spend a fortune. This car won't ever see track, or much spirited driving, it's just going to be a daily to get me to work and back.

 

Save your money and don't buy ching chong! Now you have to half Azzzz the set up or spend more money. I don't get it folks... if you buy $24 coilovers on ebay... what do you think you are going to get? my 2 cents..... Good luck

 

I didn't buy these coilovers, the guy I got the car from bought them. There's no way I can make these work, whichever end I put the short sleeves on will end up sitting on the tires because all the springs are short. Trying to figure out what I should buy, I just don't want to spend a fortune and blow up my budget for this car.

Edit: The rear springs on the car are blue like my new ones, and are an inch or two longer than the new springs. I *might* be able to pair those with my short sleeves for the front, then use my short springs and long sleeves in the rear...and have it work out. Like what was mentioned earlier, the ride may be a little bouncy on these ebay springs, but at least I'll be done in that area and can finally move to the engine bay and then the interior. Can always score some real coilovers or springs later on down the road.

 

Buy some new drop springs. I have had just about every brand of spring... some on stock shocks and some on aftermarket. When I had my EF hatch, I set of Tein's.. greens on stocky shocks. It rode good all things considering and they were pretty cheap. Also owned TenzoR's, dropzone, H&R, skunks, ksports... Really any name brand spring is not too badly priced... so pick your height and have at it. I'm glad you did not buy those coilovers... I bought a set way back in 02 for an Accord... rode on them for a couple weeks and ditched them. Buy springs until you have money to buy true coilovers... and don't buy Godspeeds!

 

I was able to mix n match all the coilover stuff to make one good set, got it installed and the car is now sitting on my konigs. Need to make some minor height adjustments, and install the rear camber kit / front adjustable UCAs...but for the most part, that area of the car is done.

Those springs are a bit bouncier than I like, but they'll be ok for daily driving until I can score some better coilovers or lowering springs.