OK so i am in the market for new suspension. I drive a 1998 Honda civic Lx (sedan) This car will be used only as my DD, no autox or drag. I am mainly looking for a full body coilover or the Koni/GC combo. but will consider lowering springs.

My question is does anyone have suggestions on the most comfortable coilover system that will also last me... I dont drive this car hard. i want to lower it so it is about flush to tire (stock ratio). Must be Girlfriend "approved" if you get what i am saying lol. Not too bouncy or harsh.... of course i know comfort will be sacrificed for looks.

my budget is between $0-$850

SO if anyone thinks they have ridden in or have a car with what i am looking for please let me know. [PLEASE INCLUDE BRAND, MODEL, AND SPRING RATES, AND POSSIBLY WHEEL/TIRE SIZE]

Thanks

 

Moved to the suspension forum for better responses.

 

My DA is sittin pretty low and it rides like its factory, very smooth and not bouncy at all. I drive it everyday, to and from work, its my daily.

Front:
Skunk2 coil-overs for the rear, (6kg spring rate)

Rear:
EG struts with skunk2 lowering springs

 

I ran H&R Sport springs with KYB AGX struts for a few years on my daily and it was very comfy and manageable in a dd situation. Now I just picked up a set of Koni/GC since the car has been a summer only vehicle for the past couple years. Havent tried them out yet but I have heard great things about them

 

Whether you can get a comfy ride with flush tires is a matter of opinion. I like my Progress 350/250 but it's the upper end of what I would want for a daily, and they won't handle a 0" gap. OFC the roads here are godawful.

 

dont.. just dont.

 

Koni/gc.


leave skunk2 suspension alone.

 

Spring rate will determine what is comfortable coupled with how low you are going among other things. And since since comfort is subjective, this question cannot really be answered. Someone can say 350/250 and say it is not very comfortable, but tolerable, while someone else may think those rates are fine or maybe even too soft. But at a certain height there are spring rates that you have to have. So if you want it lowered that much maybe 350/250 is what you have to have but the ride may be fine for you but too harsh for the girlfriend. If that is the case install them and tell the girlfriend to take the bus.

Full bodies coilovers don't automatically guarantee superior product or performance. Get that **** out of your head right now.

Read the sticky at the top of the forum.

 

I have had ebay coilovers, and i was able to tolerate those until it blew my shocks, also she was fine with this ride. I am hoping that my main problem was that if i hit dips i would get thrown out of seat. does gc/koni do this as well?

grumblemarc i dont know if you are referring to me and my thread or to others, but i never said i was looking for performance of any type, i want a low comfortable ride. i know we all have different opinions however i want opinions from people who daily drive their car on springs/ coilovers . i want these opinions for more research on my part.. Thanks everyone else for opinion and replys. Please more thoughts on gc/koni or full body coilovers would be helpful.

 

You have to at least know what spring rates you'll be comfortable with. So like I said one set of rates might be too soft for one person, just right for anotehr and too harsh for yet another. Asking for opinions really isn't a way to find out what is comfortable and if you don't know what the Ebay spring rates were you don't know what the number is that you need to compare rated to.

This chart has been posted elsewhere but this should give you an idea.
96-00 EX factory 165F/80R (P/P)
99-00 Si (EM1) factory 201F/99.8R (P/P)
CTR factory 240/240 (L/P)
APEX'i WS 447F/178R
Eibach ProKit 290F/190R (P/P)
Eibach Sportline 310F/275R (P/P)
Gold-line GL 2.5" drop 320/190 (P/P)
Gold-line GPS 1.25" drop 275/160 (P/P)
Ground Control Coilover 380F/280R (P/P)*
H&R OE 280F/190R (P/P)
H&R Sport 330F/280R (P/P)
JIC FLT-A2s (USDM) 504F/336R (L/L)
Koni RSK Suspension kit 154-205/270 (P/L)
Neuspeed SofSports 260F/150R (P/P)
Neuspeed Sport 280F/180R (P/P)
Neuspeed Race 485F/395R
Omni-Power Adjustable Sleeve Coilover 448F/336R (L/L)*
Omni-Power Street Coilovers 448F/336R (L/L)*
Omni-Power Sport Coilovers 539F/448R (L/L)*
Omni-Power Drag Coilover 810F/810R (L/L)*
Omni-Power 6-Way Damping Coilovers 539/448/336 (L)*
Progress Coilovers 350F/250R (P/P)
Progress Lowering Springs 320F/200R (P/P)
SkunkWerks Coilovers (old) 400F/300R (L/L)
Skunk2 Coilovers (new) 500F/400r (L/L)
Sparco needed
Spoon Full Coilovers 300/240
SSR Cup 392/280
SSR S1 448/448
Suspension Techniques 10-15% more then stock (P/P)
Tanabe DF-210 10-15% more then stock
Tanabe NF-210 5-10% more then stock
Tein HT 1119F/448R (L/L)
Tein HG 365F/129-196R (L/P)
Tein SS 448F/224R
Tein Flex 504F/280R
Tein RA/RE/RS 783F/559R (L/L)
Tein S. Tech 235F/140R
Tokico Illumina Kit 250/123 (P/P)

 

my main problem with that set up was the getting thrown out of my seat. because of the difference in height from tophat to top of strut.i really just wanna know if the koni/gc or if any of the full body coilovers do this. i have never ridden on full body or gc/koni. so if someone has input on this issue please let me know. and ride quality is not all due to spring rate from what i hear, i heard the strut assembly has a large role in comfort due to damper adjustments.

 

The shocks do play a huge roll in the ride quality. But, stiff springs will ruin the ride quality just as quick.


Stop this full coilover crap. Can a car slammed on "full coilovers" casue you're *** to come out of the seat? Hell yes they can.

 

so what do you suggest?

 

BTW i don't want slammed

 

Don't be offended by this, but, how bitchy is your GF?

My EX absoluetly hated my car, and complained none stop. The new girl, not a peep, she doesn't care.


Koni/gc fits your budget, and will save some money for an alignment, or some beer.
The only other thing is now, spring rates.

 

Middle of the road seems to be somewhere in the vicinity of 350f/250r. I think this rate is okay if just a little too soft for the rear. When I install the rear sway bar that should remedy the understeer. Handling, what I called performance, is pretty tight but I prefer a nuetral feel. I am running Progress CS2.

 

lol to tell you the truth she wouldnt bitch if i rode on no springs, i just looking out for her. and would u say the progrees cs2 or koni and gc would be better for me . id like to save money cuz like i said only for daily. i like the koni and gc because of the warranty. what about progress cs2? how are they

 

They keep selling out. If that tells you anything. They are good for daily driving and if not slamming the car. Handling is still where it needs to be but you will be able to feel teh road more than you would stock.

 

where can i look into purchasing a set? i am not in a hurry so i dont mind a back ordered set. and how much do they run for? also i hear they dont come with top hats can u use stock? just a little more of your time and i think i will be set. btw thanks for all info.

 

Check the Marketplace or Progress' website.

 

ok will do and one more question , do you have to pick spring rates or are they like one size fits all

 

If money is no object then I recommend Koni/GC, because you have more operational range in the height adjustability and more choice of spring rates.

Progress is a great setup for sporty driving but it's not a good choice if you want to go very low. It's really best in a very narrow ride height range (about 1-1.5" lower than stock). Koni/GC gives more adjustability, more spring rate choices and a larger "sweet spot."

For spring rates both companies have "off the shelf rates"

380/250 for GC
350/250 for Progress

With Progress you can also choose 350/350 or 350/500 (or probably 500/350). But with Koni you get springs in 20-50 lb intervals. So you could go 380/320 or 380/300 e.g.

I would probably choose 350/300 if I lived in a perfect world.

 

Be careful going to low of spring in the front, he does want to close the wheel gap, 350lb could be too soft in front.

 

im in the same boat as hawk im looking into progress just cause i never hear anything bad about them but i want to go just a little lower than they recommend. personally ride quality doesnt matter to much to me just gonna a cruise car with friends was thinking about kyb adjustable's and some megan racing sleeves friend has that setup and its pretty good little to no bounce and stiff.

 

Progress are not what you want for big drops.