My EJ1 really needs struts/springs. It actually leans to one side its so bad. I figure if Im gonna go to all the trouble to replace this stuff I might as well upgrade. Id really like to keep it simple and go with a full coilover but its my daily so I dont want to spend a whole bunch of money on it. Im sure I can put together a good aftermarket strut/spring combo for a good price but if I can get a good coilover for a little bit more thats what I like to do. So my question is, obviously: What are my options as far as inexpensive but decent coilovers?

 

Budget? Why does it need to be a "full coilover"?

It's pretty apparent you didn't search at all.

 

Agreed.

Full coilovers are completely unnecessary for nearly all road, mass-production cars. If you plan on taking your car to the track more than the street, then open that conversation.

While coilovers have become more road-friendly, a good set of shocks and springs will accomplish more than you can imagine. Couple a good set of sway bars, and that's it.

If you must have coils go with KW, imho. Excellent quality, stainless steel sleeves. ST suspensions offers nearly the same product, only using galvanized steel sleeves (if you live where it snows, get the KW).

However, be prepared to shell out 1000-1200 for the ST coils. 1500+ for the Variant 2 KW suspension.

Recommendations; Tokico illumina shocks, springs & sway bars. All should cost just under $1K, and you'll likely achieve what you want handling-wise.

just my 2 cents.

 

I plan on doing eBay coilovers with some Koni yellow struts on my civic.

 

Really? What spring rates you get on those?

Progress CSIIs and their swaybar kit. Should put you under a grand easy.

 

As far as I'm aware, Only Ground Control and Koni themselves make coil-over sleeves that are safe for use on Koni shocks. This is because Koni's have adjustable spring perches. You cannot use sleeves meant for OEM shocks.

 

Actually, he probably could. If he gets a set that comes with those ridiculously thick O-rings. But that's not guaranteed.

 

I saw it on a wrecked car at Take A Part. It has some BRAND new Koni's on it and I was just sort of assuming they were ebay coiliver sleeves.

 

Do what you like. I wouldn't trust any no name part bought off of Ebay to function as a component of my suspension with the exception a set of extended top hats.

 

The problem is the lower cup is not meant to hold the sleeve & o-ring. That combo can force the cir-cilp out of it's groove and then your going to hit the ground.

If the sleeves don't look like this, don't get em (get the shocks though). The sleeve must completely capture the cir-clip on the shock body (I stripped and polished my yellow Konis):







Here is a picture of the cir-clip in it's machined groove that needs to be fully captured:

 

You're right. I forgot about the design of the Koni shock.

 

I've got some Yonaka's on my EF and they still ride stiff even after 8 months of hard beating. They're decent for the $$(about $600 shipped). Good for a DD.

 

cheap yet good for daily coilovers are Function and forms type 1 they ride good for dailys and unless track'd wise then get some stiffer type 2 with custom spring rates. and type 1 usally range from 300 400 used and brand new for 500-550

 

Function and Form-hardly what I would call a good coilover. Popular with the no-to-low budget crowd? Maybe. Cheap all the way around? Definitely. Would I ever recommend them? No way in Hades.

 

The funny part is they are all the rage over on Acurazine because HeelToe gets them a special deal with a special label (HTspec or something like that). Junk.

 

I guess that would make them prefect for people following trends instead of fixing up their cars for themselves. Peer pressure is a bitch aint it?

 

im thinking some skunk2 sleeves and some koni shocks would be the best bet. the sleeves are adjustable from .5" to like 3" or something like that. and the sleeves are 300 and shoves are 300 give or take

 

Skunk2. As bad as Function and Form. Their marketing department are geniuses. If you're going with Konis just get the Ground Control sleeves. What are shoves? 300 what?

 

I'll say this one ore time, in all caps because I AM yelling. ONLY GROUND CONTROL AND KONI MAKE SLEEVES THAT WILL WORK ON KONI SHOCKS. :D

If you want Koni shocks, these are your only options.

 

Idk if this will be much help but I came across coilovers called dropzone coilovers they were adjustable and were like $110 I guess you can Google it

 

They're junk.

 

Super Junk

 

They STILL ride good after 8 WHOLE months?!! That's an eternity! 8 months wow!

Sorry about my sarcasm.

Koni/GCs is the easy choice. ~$800 and a lifetime guarantee. Plus they have ACTUAL ride quality....err...as long as you don't ricer slam the car.

 

If your on a budget do whatever you want.Ive had like 7 cars with ebay coil overs that rode completely fine.a little bouncy but not outrageous, and if you throw some extended top hats on you will not blow struts and you will ride comfortable.

 

Ebay coilovers? What spring rate can you get on those? What R&D has gone into them? Where were they manufactured? YOu ride those on stock shocks? Or is it that you can get a set for $35? Can you say cheap car owner?
And which is it? Completely fine or a little bouncy? Just because you can tolerate a bouncing car doesn't mean the next man will/can.