Hi Folks,

I have a '95 Civic EX coupe as my daily driver. Suspension is mostly stock except for rear LCAs and 13mm rear sway bar from a ~95 Integra LS. This setup served me quite well for many years, but not so much for the last few months. The car bounces and jostles from side to side, and exhibits much more body lean in corners. I'm quite certain all 4 dampers need to be replaced, and probably springs are fatigued at this point (I overloaded the car many times in college).

I saw Libertariat's post here: https://honda-tech.com/forums/suspension-brakes-54/click-here-all-you-curious-about-suspension-setups-their-costs-reliability-2967499/ but I think I'd like something even less aggressive than the budget options he describes. Ideally, I'd like to end up with little or no drop from stock (my garage has a steep drop-off angle, the car almost scrapes as it is). So I'd like spring rates similar to or maybe up to 50% stiffer than stock. I don't need external adjustment on the dampers, as I don't race, just want dampers matched to the softer spring rates.

I could do the Koni/GC setup with soft Eibach springs, but I'm wondering if there's a cheaper way to achieve this. The <$600 setup uses Tein S.Tech springs that are in the ballpark for spring rate, but will drop the car ~1.5" which is too much. I could put them on an adjustable perch, but then I'm back up at the Koni/GC price.

What would you guys recommend? Any ideas would be much appreicated.
Cheers!

 

You could use Koni shocks with ITR springs.

 

hmm, do you have a lead on ITR springs? I can't seem to find anything right now using Google.
I'm thinking I could get by with either H&R OE Sports or Neuspeed SofSports, as the advertised drop is 3/4" and the spring rates are only ~50% stiffer than stock. Does anyone have an opinion about inexpensive shocks to match? I'm looking at KYB GR-2, I could also do Koni STR.T if necessary. Obviously I would prefer the cheaper GR-2s but only if they would have appropriate valving for the somewhat stiffer than stock spring rates.

 

The GR-2 and Koni STR.T are pretty much OE replacements, they wont be any stiffer than stock, I had H&R sports with OE struts and it was pretty much stock ride but handled better in the corners

 

Good to know. If not GR-2s or STR.Ts, what would you recommend for H&R OE or SofSports?

 

Progess is gonna run you about the same price for what you're trying to do.

 

Have you looked at Progress?

350/250 would be a nice upgrade, but still maintain good ride quality.

 

He said he really wasn't looking to lower much. When Progress is near stock height they have almost 0 droop travel. Progress works best in the 1.5"-2" drop range.

 

according to progress 2" is pushing them. they work pretty well at 1". I have only ran the first gen rebuildable progress and at 1" or close to stock they rode extremely well due to the progressive rate springs, I'm sure the valving had something to do with it as well.