Ok so I am looking into a few things here and have a couple of questions.

First off, I completely understand that Accords are heavier so therefore Civic coilovers would not work due to the lowered spring rates and softer shock valving. That is not what I am wondering. What I am wondering if the coilover itself would bolt up to the Accord directly. Does it have the same mounting points and geometry as the Civic does or is it a different suspension lay out?

I am thinking about piecing a custom coilover kit together and only need to know about mounting...

 

You need to be much much more descriptive if you want to get 'technical'

A 2008 Civic is closer in weight but has a completely different suspension type and will just not bolt on. Coilovers are also different than the popular 'sleeve' overs like Ground-Controls and Skunk2's etc, which also would be different due to the shock sizing. What you need to ask is:

Will a 1993 Honda Civic full coilover fit an 1996 Accord?

Now if you are 'piecing a custom coilover kit together' why you wouldn't bother just starting with Accord products I do not know. You have to buy new stuff regardless why try to ghetto-rig stuff for a different platform?

If I had to guess, because the Civic is a smaller platform, even if the suspension could fit, the body parts do not line up the same. So where the top-hats mount may not be at the same angle they are on the Civics especially in the rear.

 

just like muffinman said, be more descripted

i know that anything <2006 (unknown about the Si's or a newer year than I stated) civics have a 2 bolt front top hat while the accords use a 3 bolt...the bottom part where the front shock body mounts to the fork is most likley a smaller diameter..the rears for both the accord and the civic both use a 2 bolt top hat but look to be different sizes apart bolt to bolt

but yes...do jimmy rig stuff...do it right...get the right suspention for your car

 

I apologize for not being technical enough.

I am asking if the strut from a Civic will bolt on to the Accord wheel hub with all its attachments to the strut (endlinks, brake lines, etc). Will it all line up if I used Accord top hats? I do not need to know if it will be comfortable driving down the road but if it will literally bolt up. Are the shock's pistons the same size and length? Do the lower bolts and spacing the same? I don't care about later model Accords/Civics at this time but just the 1990-2002 Civic/Accord. I am not interested in the 'sleeve' type information but an actual full coilover system.

I'm not 'jimmy-rigging' or doing anything ghetto. I am asking from a designing standpoint.

 

Sounds like you're trying to cheap out on it by buying used and more abundant Civic parts, which would be by my definition, ghetto-rigging.

At a minimum the shocks are going to be smaller in diameter so the lower control arm forks are not going to fit properly. In addition to that, unless I'm mistaken the 01-02 Civic switched to the Macpherson strut system, so those are immediately thrown out. Then you have the 98-02 Accord which is also different and has a V6 available which also changes things. So let's for simplicity sake, because I don't think you've done your research, go with a 90-97 Accord (similar suspension throughout) with a 4 cyl. Compare that to the 90-95 Civic or a 96-00 Civic 4 cyl. No suspension components between the two are immediately shared based on Honda part number, so you cannot assume they will work. While the overall suspension design is similar, as noted by the other user, the top hats are different (though you can switch those out) but the shock bodies are probably smaller and therefore would not fit as snug in lower control arms.

I again ask, why do you want to use Civic parts in your Accord? Just honestly answer and don't beat around the bush. If you want a better alternative, the 93-96 Prelude is a better partner to the Accord than the Civic is due to its weight and size.

Honda doesn't use the same part numbers for any of them, and Ground-Control uses different part numbers as well. I'm going to wager your whole shock body is going to be a smaller diameter than the Accord counterpart. Now as to if someone was bored enough to actually measure that or not I can't say.

 

Again, I am NOT looking to put Civic coilovers on my Accord. I don't own an Accord and in fact, I've never owned a Honda. Like I said above I am doing this from a design standpoint. I'm DESIGNING an Accord coilover. I have access to a Civic coilover kit for reference but NOT an Accord kit to reference. That is why I am asking if they are the same since manufacturers sometimes use the same pieces for various models.

Sheesh.

 

If you are seriously designing an Accord coil over kit. I would suggest that you get your hands on an Accord and take some real world measurements. Dimensions can change from generation to generation and chassis to chassis (I4 vs V6). You will need to pick a generation of Accord before you start. Like Muffinman already alluded too.

 

Well there you go, makes a bit more sense I suppose. You have to understand based on your first post and the vast majority of other users' posts they want to use a Civic lowering spring (or coilover) on an Accord rather than buy the correct product.

The overall design of the systems are the same, the front shocks for a 90-97 Accord fit into the fork that then is bolted to the lower control arm. The top goes through the wishbone and bolts to inside the engine bay. Those forks do not share same part numbers on Honda Automotive Part's diagrams so I will assume then they are different parts and are not cross-compatible with each other. That being said, I would imagine the shock body itself is thicker than the Civic's.

You could test that theory by going to a junkyard and just buying a used stock front shock and measure the base and length of it.

Same holds true for the rear, the shock itself is bolted to the LCA where the base of the shock forms a fork and then a bolt is slipped through it and into the arm. The top is the same basic design as well. None of these parts however share the same Honda part number so measurements are going to be off.

If you have an aftermarket Civic shock all you need is a junkyard Accord shock to get your exact sizing details and model from it. As you already noted however valving, etc are going to be different between the two. You are probably better off sharing parts between the 92-95 Prelude and the 90-97 Accord than the Civic.

 

Thanks for the help guys. This is still in the very early stage where I'm just trying to get ideas of what I'm going to be looking at. Obviously, the goal is to get an Accord to take measurements and the like but I'm trying to learn what i can before that step. Thanks again.

 

You're going to make universal coil-overs that fit both cars and didn't even take spring rates into account..? yikes..

You could have easily gone to the junk yard and looked at the suspensions of both cars instead of making a fail thread.

 

no dude they are HELLA different

civic might have macpherson struts up front, if not overall is smaller
and almost all use a wonky trailing arm and radius rod type rear suspension with short struts


the accord front has an upper wishbone, a hefty steel i-beam LCA with a rod on it that runs up to the front of the car
the strut itself-the whole thing goes through the top wishbone and has a big *** fork to go around the halfshafts and bolts onto the LCA


the accord rear suspension has a truly massive rear subframe and has 5 individual rods that go to the knuckle (i think it has rear steering)
the strut on the rear bolts onto the knuckle with a pivot, the top of the unit is on the back dash, the lower tube part is really long and the whole strut is like 3feet long!





**** if the coils are the same diameter, but probably shorter, you could use civic sleeve-overs

yeah its a shorter spring but its still stiffer than oem accord and on a sleeve

 

The op is looking for the dimensions of the Accord shock and spring setup.

The wishbone part that you speak of is called the shock absorber fork. It is not actually part of the shock. The shock is slid into the fork and tightened. The 92-95 Civics have the same style setup in the front.

As for the 5 rods in the rear I have no idea what you are talking about. The rear shock on my Accord (5th gen Ex) bolts directly to the back of the knuckle. The Civic is the same setup. It is the dimensions that may be different if anything. That is what the op is looking for.

 

6th gen!
one of those hefty rods is my rear sway bar, yeah it helps A LOT!
the shock is on the backside of the knuckle

 

I can make this simple and I will test my theory this weekend when I actually try this setup.....

I just bought a 92 CB7 Accord sedan....kept the KSport coilover setup from my 95 GSR. Called KSport and the ONLY parts I would have to change are the top hats. ( $80 each!!! ) Struts, Springs ( to include spring rates ) are ALL THE SAME. Check link below for details on specs. Now I know I said GSR but the KSport kit was originally bought for an EF, using the EF forks I was able to to use on the GSR with no problems.

My plan for this weekend is to see if I can use the CB7's OEM top hats with the Ksports. I believe all Ill have to do is make the strut shaft hole a hair bigger as the KSport strut is thicker. Im not going to jimmy rig anything, it will either work or not work and I have a backup OEM suspension to test on.

Ill also note that the EF fork is about 1-2mm narrower at the fork end than the CB fork. If Im LUCKY the CB fork strut shaft will fit the Ksports but this I wont know till I get home tonight and compare the EF and CB forks.

All this said......your design from Civic to Accord very well could work but Im not factoring in possible height differences in OEM struts. Since the KSports are fully adjustable this is a non-factor for my application. Hope this helps in some way.

Oh and for all you who will ask.. WHY am I doing this?? Because im married with three kids, supporting a minitrucking habit and Im BROKE! LOL The KSports wont sell used for even enough to get a lower end setup like the Function Form Type 1s. The Ksports have 32 way adjustable valving and the struts cost $125 each shipped when and if I need new ones. ( 2 are new now ) In addition I can use springs from other setups ( like Ground Control ) or KSport when and if I decide to up the spring rates....which I will probably do here in the future.

http://ksportusa.com/asp/coilovers_d...roduct_id=cd01

 

I think he is looking at 4th and 5th gen....which on a general rule, 90-95 Civic, Integra and Accord are almost identical. Top hats on Accord are diff, struts may or may be shorter\taller but you can probably toss Accord top hats on Civic struts and bolt right up. Like I said, GENERAL rule, Accord would go through 97, Civic could go back to 88.... etc...

 

so pretty much full coilovers are almost all the same..

i remember i tried putting omnipower full coilovers from my 96 civic sedan onto my cb.. and what i noticed that was pretty much different was the length of the bottom mount thing.. and also maybe the rates and tophat

but ive been want to see about this too actually.. did u get the ksports on your cb7?

 

The install was pretty easy, I had to modify the EF forks just a bit to get them to fit the CB LCA. I also had to use the OEM top hats. Problem I ran into was that the CB has a much longer strut spring assembly....so between the shorter Civic coilover\strut setup and the additional loss of travel ( 2" perhaps ) having to use the OEM top hats....it was way too low. And that was just the FRONT! lol. I took the rear Ksport and stood it next to the strut I pulled off the rear of the CB and realized it was even shorter and would be probably impossible to attempt. And yes, both front and back KSports were adjusted to where I only had maybe 1" of strut threaded into the bottom mounts....anything less I feel would border on unsafe. I rode on the fronts installed for about a week....by then my already used tires were shredding steel belts and i was forced to back everything out until I had a decent setup for the CB.

 

fasho man.. i mean i was trying the same

except the coilovers i was using were omnipowers i dont know which car they were made for exactly but they came on my bros EK sedan when he bought it.. but after he crashed the civic i took the suspension and i honestly thing it would have worked if:

i used the accord tophats from my old tein full coilovers instead of oem top hats making it shorter

and also i think the bottom mount thing that has thread and bolts to the LCA, i think i would of just had to get something longer (more threads) and then i would have been able to rock the omnipowers lol

honestly i didnt try the fronts on cuz i knew to do the rear first because of all the shock travel us accords have in the rear.. and if i bolted the omnis to my rearLCA without putting the wheel on first there would have been no way to put my wheel on thats how low it was.. IN THE AIR TOO

 

Using the Tien top hats they very well would probably work. You would never get stock ride height out of them but then thats the LAST thing we want out of coilovers anyway! lol

 

What?

I suggest you do more research.

The Function and Forms are a dual tube setup as opposed to the monotube ksports.


Secondly it is a retarded idea to put civic coilovers on an Accord. Ever hear about the concept of valving and spring rates?


Just save your pesos and do it right the first time.

 

So what you're saying is that KSport lied or you didn't contact anyone but a sales person asking about everything being the same - I did check and the spring RATES are the same (for a CB, not a CD) but their dimensions could have been different. And that the shocks were completely different based on your observations.

I don't want to say people 'told you so' but well, people told you so.

What did we learn? Buy Accord suspension for your Accord, like every other user in this thread posted.

I do applaud you however for going against the grain and trying something different.

 

And thats all i was doing, trying something that cost me nothing but some time. The fronts installed did not ride bad at all considering how low they were, with a flat top hat, i am pretty sure the fronts would have been fine....the rears may or may not have worked out....not sure if the 2" in height lost using the OEM top hats would be enough to compensate for the difference in the strut setup height. All in all, the front stayed on for a week and then I went to a Cusco setup that I am now running. Will be selling it though as it doesnt go low at all....love the ride but its adjust-ability is quite puzzling in that fully dropped its not much lower then stock ride height :\

 

It was a simple test that cost me nothing but some time....the test all but FAILED but it was a learning experience none the less.

 

In reality it was a waste of time. Simple common sense should have dictated your actions. However, live and learn....

 

I dont believe that anything one learns something from is a waste of time. Now had a spend days working on it....yeah maybe so but a couple hours of playing with struts in a shaded comfortable garage....im not complaining