Quick question? My son & I just picked up a Civic DX 1996 with a 97 Integra swap. Started the build this past weekend putting Koni/Ground Control on the car and quickly noticed the front sway bar missing. I am now wondering after looking at some photos on here that the entire front brace may have been removed and not reinstalled. The guy we bought from says he didn't remove it. . .can someone shoot me a photo of theirs so I can compare front suspension configuration.

Thanks!

Jim

P.S. Koni/GC install went great and my son will be posting a build thread shortly with lots of pictures. Setting the car up to autocross in the spring. . .

 

 

Btw not all civic came with a sway bar, and if the engine is bolted in there using a rear mount it has a subframe

 

Might be a good time to get a service manual and become more familiar with the cars under parts. There are many online to download. just google honda service manual and choose one for your model years.
My first thought was no subframe? OMG... its not possible to even have an engine in it.

Like what was mentioned above not all civic models came with sways.
If he is just learning you might want to leave them out of the equation right now and just get him some seat time.
Not all the go fast parts or suspension parts make the car go faster or handle better.

 

Yep not all civics come with them, I remember one time vehicle inspectors tried to fail me because I was missing front and back swaybar on a civic that didnt even come with them.

 

a civic dx won't have any sway bars from the factory.

 

Thanks folks huge help! Gonna download the service manual today. Been meaning to do that anyhow, but I knew you guys would know what was up. The car is a DX so it all makes since.

Next question:

How do I get the right stock setup to put a bar on the front? I know some of the top civic autocross guys don't even use a bar up front, but I think we want to start with one first and see how the car does.

 

Id leave it off, why? Eventually if he sticks with it you want one off because you'll want the car to rotate more in the turns.
If he learns to drive the car without it he is ahead of the power curve.
Yes it will be more difficult to drive at first but with seat time the car be easier to manage when he knows how the car will react.
On the other hand the front sways (stock) are cheap so you can try both ways.

 

Koni/GC front strut assembly is a good start. EX or SI front lower LCAs will allow you to run a front sway bar, and rear Integra trailing arm assemblies will give you a disc brake swap and mounting points for a rear sway bar. Dual benefits there - rear sway bar, and the ability to upgrade your brakes in the future.

 

A DIY I made
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/diy-budget-swaybar-install-96-00-civic-2822590/

96-00 ex or LX 4 door lcas is what I used

 

Excellent Job there.. takes all the doubt out of the beginers minds.
FYI for those attempting this.. have a breaker bar half inch or bigger!

 

You guys rock! HondaPartsHero the DIY is ideal and shows how to make it happen. dirty19 gonna talk over the pros/cons with my Dad the race suspension guru and decide whether to go ahead, but I think with a $50 investment it would be worth having the option to mount a front sway bar even if we went with an aftermarket adjustable and new end links. You are right all the fast autocross guys are leaving them off in favor of making the car rotate better and I love a loose car not one that pushes. . .thanks again!!