I'll start off by apologizing for creating what is probably the 100s daily driver suspension thread.

I finally replaced my old DD (an '88 Integra) with a 1998 Integra 2DR LS. The car came slammed on skunk2 springs with factory shocks which I need to get rid of...it looks retarded, bottoms out, and rubs at full lock. I drive this Integra about 45 miles a day and am looking for something that only drops the car ~0.75" to ~1.25", handles slightly better than stock, and is almost as comfortable as stock. I already have a weekend/fun/track car (STi) that rides like **** and don't want two uncomfortable cars.

I have been doing a lot of research on this forum over the last couple weeks and came up with the options below. Can you guys please give me your input?

1) Tein H-Techs with Koni STR.Ts

I'm leaning toward this option but am worried about Teins. Everything they make for Subarus is overpriced "ricer" crap. I'm also worried the almost 1" rake, this might look odd? Is there another way to lower the rear a little if it ends up looking weird?

2) Tein H-Techs with STR.Ts in the front and Sports in the rear.

This way I could use the adjustable perch on the Koni sports to correct the rake issue.

3) Eibach Pros with STR.Ts

I have read mixed reviews about the Eibachs. Some say they are great, some say they don't have enough spring rate and bottom out. I'm also worried that the front would look higher than the rear.

4) H&Rs with STR.Ts

5) Swift Springs with STR.Ts

I haven't really read much about these...I know they make good stuff on other platforms. From looking at pictures, they look like they are linear which I don't want. Anyone know if these are linear or progressive and what the rates are?


Sorry for the long winded post and thanks for the help!

 

I have Eibach Pro-Kit springs for my DA and I like them, the car is level and handles much better than with OEM springs. As far as bottoming out its not a problem unless if I drive threw an intersection 50+mph. Which sounds like an issue but the roads are so deformed in SC because of the heat and trucks. They haven't repaved the roads in about 15-20 years so far around here...

 

Do you know what the spring rates on the Eibach Pro springs are?

 

It's a closely guarded secret by Za Germans. I would suggest emailing them but they dont usually respond back with an answer to a question like that.

 

Several google searches reported the following for the gen3:

-eibach pro-kit 457F/171-257R (progressive, just a longer spring then the sportline)
-eibach sportline 457F/171-257R (progressive)

Not 100% sure whether this is accurate..but it did pop up in search a buncha' times, at the very worst a bump for confirmation???

 

Does anyone have experience with the Swift springs?

 

I don't have any experience with Swift and Honda directly...but they're HUGE in the Subaru community when it comes to suspension. I used to have them on my 06 Wagon and they were excellent.

You can never go wrong w/ H. Techs and Honda Lou...most people who have them vouch. Personally I like the pro kit, but thats what I've purchased for my car so I'm bias.

GL, let us know which route you end up taking!!!

 

i have an o1 gsr and am in the same boat im thinking about the Eibach Pros they are priced good and i have them in my itr with a .50 drop and ride just a little better then oem imo.. still not sure becuase i want a 2'' drop :/

 

Eiback Sportline Springs give you a 2 inch drop.

 

So a little update. My buddy w/ a 91 civic hatch had to change his rear suspension out for autox classing. He will sell me rear ITR LCAs and ITR Koni Sports for real cheap, the sports only have 6-8k miles on them.

What do you guys think about running the Koni sports in the rear on full soft and running the STR.Ts in front? What exactly is the difference between the normal LCAs and the ITR, I assume the geometry is better for a lowered car?

 

The only difference between the normal LS/GSR LCA and ITR LCA is the way the hole for the strut mount is designed on the ITR. It also has different holes to mount the 22/23mm ITR swaybar. Some people believe that the ITR LCA's are stronger? I'm not 100% sure about this though.

Correct me if I'm wrong HT'ers but I believe you'll need to ditch your LS swaybar if you take the ITR setup as the stock LS sway won't mount???

 

why not go with koni yellow/gc coils with extended top hats? or at least some full coilovers like f&f type 1s or progress?

 

Because the car is my DD and I don't really plan on autocrossing, tracking, or anything like that. I also don't want to have to mess around with adjusting, cleaning, rebuilding them.

Can anyone confirm that the ITR LCAs will not work with the non-ITR sway bar?

So far I'm still leaning towards the Tein H-Techs....the Eibachs are starting to sound more appealing though.

 

I put s techs on my eg with some factory style new struts that came with the car(lotek). It rides pretty smooth imo, although a lil bit lower than I'd have it sitting if I had coilovers. Koni makes a good product and you should be fine with str's in front and yellows in the rear if it's a good deal. Really any spring you listed shouldn't be bad the h tech is even softer than my s techs I believe.

 

as noted before the only difference is that the type r lcs's use a different shock mount but you got the shocks. They will fit right on your car.

 

eibach pro system. comes with their pro dampers and the pro kit for cheaper than you can get the springs and str.t's. might as well be the same shocks though. good kit for a good price.

 

I haven't read much about the pro kit. Plus I really like the fact that Konis are tried/proven and have a life time warrantee.

1.5lowmatic, are you running the pro kit on an integra?

 

Ive got the damn kit sitting in my living room for like a month now...Installing next weekend. (95 DB7)

https://honda-tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes-54/initial-impressions-thoughts-eibach-pro-kit-spring-strut-civic-integra-2901047/

Love myself some prokit springs on European cars but I've never used the prokit springs and struts in combination on the teggy. In a perfect world i want to believe the perch is set so there is a level drop but i can't confirm that quite yet. Stick w/your gut Lou. Id gladly drive any of those setups you have listed above as it appears we are soul searching for the same concept in suspension.

 

the pro kit is a stock spring cut more or less, imo too soft, the sportline is more firm but also quite low

the tein h tech is an itr spring with about 15% more rate, very very ideal DD spring for the 94-01 integra ONLY, the h tech sucks on some models and is great on others. it's great on the 94+ teg and a perfect match with str.t shocks

if you use the itr rear sway bar you'll have a balanced but comfy feeling car

 

So I think I'm going to go with the H-techs, Koni STR.Ts in front, and the used Koni Streets/ITA LCAs I'm buying from a friend in the rear. I'll just run the rear Koni Streets on full soft.

 

you're off about something. the koni street aka str.t is not adjustable, only the sports are and the sports aren't that great of a value used because you get no warranty. if you do buy them used price accordingly.

if everything checks you probably will be happiest with the str.t's in front and the rear sports adjusted somewhere around half. you're almost always better off with more rebound in the back

 

Errr, I meant to say Koni Sports for the rear, not Streets. I'm also starting to get worried about the H-Techs lowering the car too much so am starting to consider the H&R sports more. I don't want to have to worry about the car bottoming out and also want to be able to drive in light snow.