My 5th Gen prelude is in dire need of new suspension components. A little insight into the story of my car and driving situation would probably help with the advice anyone could give. So I drive my lude daily right now and most likely will be for probably another year at the most. I plan on making it more of a racing build project once I get another car soon. Eventually I want to build the **** out of this thing. Since the suspension is completely shot right now, ball joints, bushings, shocks and springs, I want to start with replacing all these parts now. I have researched everything and have gained a lot of info but I still dont feel like I have the proper guidance in choosing the products that I want to put into my future race build. Im looking to get the following pieces replaced:

1) both upper and lower control arms, most come with ball joints and bushings. For now just the front of the vehicle.
2) coilovers
3) steering rack and pinion, I dont have power steering.

Im doing everything myself, to save some money and make sure nothing else gets messed up and everything is done properly. The questions that I cant seem to answer even after researching and reading articles and forums and even talking to people are:

1) What manufacturer makes great control arms, the two Ive looked at were WD Express and OES Specialty. I was thinking about ridetech tubular but doesnt seem to be that much more beneficial unless I have air ride.
2) What coilovers? and spring rates? are the best for the money , between $1000 and $1500 or less obviously.
3)What manufacturer steering rack is great? I know I might have to loop the rack since I have manual steering.

Im looking for all the knowledge I can get. I know it may seem like I could find these answers on other topics, which may be semi true for the coilovers, but I have looked a ton. As far as the arms and the rack I have found almost nothing about what products to buy and which to steer clear from. I am not completely in the dark, I just need guidance from people that really know what they are talking about whether from personal experience or professional statistical perspective. Thank you for your time!

 

you can find everything your looking for if you search it on google. its your car, do some research and get what you want, not what some one else says you should buy

 

1) function 7, hardrace, but OEM is best
2) koni/ground control if you want to spend $1000. if not, anything.. they are all the same @ $5-800
3) go to a junk yard, pull an oem rack

 

Honda genuine control arms. They're expensive, but aftermarket bushings are usually garbage. Or if you're looking to spend less, look on rock auto for some quality aftermarket brand. Although...for a race car, it would be beneficial to buy arms with more solid bushings and upper arms with camber adjustment. FWD track cars love neg. camber. FWD drag cars dislike neg. camber. So...idk what you mean by "race project".

Why are you buying coilovers now? You want this to be a street car for a year and then a race project after that? You're gonna have to buy two different setups in a year. You could buy something re-valvable....but that's not cost effective either. AMR or Koni/GC for that price range. For thrle street, you could use something like 450/400 LB springs. For the track....spring selection is tricky and depends on a million things. For drag launches, you want stiff rear springs.

Find a good, used OEM rack.

 

If you read my initial post, I have researched. I have been on almost a dozen different forums, and talked to people in person. Its all a matter of opinion/preference at the end of the day. I am here asking my own questions about my entire suspension for my situation. This way I can make a more educated decision by gathering info from people that have valuable experience. Two intelligent people have replied to my post with great information, almost sharing the same knowledge as I have read elsewhere. Those were the answers I was looking for. The reason why I am here is because I have googled this stuff, and have found garbage responses such as yours that serve no help to answering the persons original questions.

in response to my fellow friends w helpful info.
Im gonna go w the koni yellows and gc. Almost 85% of answers i have read have similar response.
Im going to the junkyard to find a nice oem rack to loop and drop in.
Wheres a good place to find oem arms and ball joints for a good deal?
The reason why I asked about WD express was because the UCA seemed to be 3.5 pounds compared to OEM`s 15 lbs.
Also does Moog make the OEM ball joints for honda?

 

I think there are good deals to be found on amazon for decent quality parts such as MOOG and AC delco for OE replacement parts. I've replaced a lot on my 93 with these parts and they're pretty quality.

You're gonna need a ball joint press to replace your balljoints and whatever you do, take out the entire knuckle to swap out the parts, don't bother trying to get that bitch of a snap ring off from underneath the car.