Hello,

any suspension experts in here that can give me some advice on my setup?

I have a 1999 civic lx sedan with the following suspension mods. I was wondering if installing the CTR front control arm and upgrade to a 26mm front swaybar would make a difference or not. This is my daily driver and will be using it to autocross this spring/summer. This setup is strictly for handling not looks. I don't care about being low.

1999 Civic Lx sedan
CTR springs/shocks with ctr tophats and bushing
ASR 24mm rear swaybar kit
civic si wheels with yokohama s drive tires.

thanks,

 

You car already has the CTR suspension and ASR rear setup? How does it rotate now? I would not upgrade to the 26MM front. Rather spend your money on better springs/struts. I think CTR spring rates are 240F/240R, you have a sedan so theres more behind you to bring around. Get better struts and much higher spring rates if you want to AutoX. I'm not sure what front swaybar the LX has stock but if its a 22MM then leave it alone.

 

I think stock is 22mm. The car rotates really well. I'm content with the CTR shocks and springs. I like this setup more than the Konis/GC. It definately feels more neutral. Thanks for the advice.

 

Do you want more understeer?

I personaly love how my car feels with the 26mm front sway bar.

 

Changing out to the 26mm will for sure make a difference in the way that the car handles. But it might not be what you want/need.
If you stiffen up the front more you will notice a little more understeer than your current setup and therefore it probably wont rotate as easy as it does now.

Have you considered upgrading your bushings? switching over to a harder rubber will help the car respond better as a whole.

 

I already have the CTR bushing installed. Are you talking about stiffer bushing than the CTR? I don't want the car to ride like a rock.

thanks for the advice.

 

I didn't know ctr's had stiffer bushings?

I think what he meant was a hardrace, PIC hardrubber bushings. There also is Poly but they don't last that long.

 

yes, I believe the CTR bushing are a lot stiffer than stock.

Do you have the civic si front lower control arm/swaybar?

 

Hmm, Ill have to look into that, as I am needing new bushings.

Yes, i have the Si front sway bar with control arms.

 

I am kind of confuse, do you have the sway bar installed or not...my personal experience with big front sway bar and no sway rear sway bar is that if your on the highway with average speed (not excessive speeding, for all you speed demons out there lol) its a bit scary with all that understeering. So please do keep that in mind, I've was alway told with Autox, people usually unhook their front sway bar. They want the *** happy effect so the car can turn easier.

 

only thing i would change would be the shocks. to something like koni, agx, illuminas. something adjustable.


edit: oh, and have fun trying to keep up with the is200, civic si, sentra se-r, and what ever car i decide to drive. another advice, get another set of rims and buy some specific autocross tires. 615k's, star spec's, r1r, or re11. you will regret it if you don't. trust me.