Here's the situation. I have a 98 integra gsr. I am currently sitting on tokico illuminas with tokico lowering springs. It rides amazing, problem is, I wanna go lower. I was leaning towards getting the function & form type 1 coilovers. However, with a little research I saw that koni/GC was just as good. My main question is: can I keep my tokico illuminas with GC Coilover sleeves? I'm guess my ride quality wouldn't change much because the illuminas are 5-way adjustable.
So, what would be the best (and cheapest option) for me? I forgot to mention I'm not building a race car. I have a track car already. I might take my integra to the track once in a blue moon. I just want to have a good ride quality and not short my car on quality.
Function and form type 1 or tokico illuminas/gc?
Please leave educated responses. I don't wanna hear about your homeboys 93 hatch on stock struts and ebay springs.

Thanks

 

I just saw that I can use GC with my illuminas. So that question is answered. lol

 

You can, and they are a great shock to use with GC's.

But, with GC's your stuck with that type, you would not be able to switch to koni sports down the road.

My reccomendation is Koni/GC, however it's your call if you just want to buy the coilovers.

 

If you don't buy Koni/ground control just stick it out with the tokico shocks and a good coil sleeve of your choice.

I would personally buy koni/GC and sell what you've got for ~$400-500

 

Why should I not run GC with my tokicos?

 

You have shocks that adjust both bump and rebound together. Koni Sport shocks only adjust rebound.

Depending on your needs and goals, either could be better.

I believe, but can't confirm, that the Koni shocks will tolerate a higher spring rate, leaving more room for experimentation with rates if desired.

Your ride quality will be much more determined by the spring rates you decide to use than the shock, as long as you use a shock that is capable of handling the chosen spring rate.

And please don't call the Illuminas "5 way adjustable". They only have 1 adjuster, they're 1 way adjustable that can only be set to 1 of 5 settings.

Tell us exactly how low you want the car, and we can make some progress on trying to figure out what would be best for your needs. You can always change your mind and decide to run at a higher height later with the same equipment, but you need to pick spring rates based on the lowest you intend to use it.

 

Heres how my car sits now. I wanna go maybe an inch lower. (sorry for shitty pics, i just went outside and took them with my phone. lol)

 

An inch lower is slammed. You're going to need rather stiff springs.

I'd consider keeping the Illuminas and putting GC sleeves on them, for a street car, assuming that they can handle a 500 lbs/in spring rate up front. This is from someone who has only ever put Konis on various cars...

Find out what the maximum spring rate those shocks can adequately damp. If it isn't at least 400 lbs/in, you'll need better shocks to handle the springs needed to go that low.

 

dang my car is lower than that on Koni shocks w/ the perches on the lowest setting, and OEM GS-R front springs and OEM ITR rear springs.

 

Your tires are flush with the fenders?

Since, with a 100% stock Integra, the bumpstops are an integral part of the suspension's normal travel (seriously, you'll put the shock into the bumpstop with just nose dive from hard braking), you must really be making use of your bumpstops...

 

OEM front springs, Koni shocks on lower perch setting. Not sure what's happening with the bumpstops as they're covered by the OEM metal dust covers, but they were installed brand new OEM from Honda about 5 years ago, and trimmed in half (back when I had GC's).