So, I need new shocks for my Accord fairly soon. Being a cheap ***, my inital search directed me towards Koni STR.T's. After reading up on them, I don't think it's the best choice; I'm not going into details, but I don't feel they're worthy of the 'Koni' name. I'm going to be pairing them with stock springs. The only shocks I'll consider are Bilstein HD's or Koni Yellow's. I don't really need a **** for my DD, plus, I think I'll be over-damping the car on Yellow's. What's this boil down to? Bilstein HD's. They're expensive, but I know they're pretty much a race shock in street clothing, and can be revalved to whatever spec I want. This is the easy way out, and will more than likely the path I'll take if what I'm theorizing goes kaput/doesn't pan out.

Here's a link to an install.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-accord-1990-2002-2/5th-gen-accord-bilstein-shock-install-how-lots-pics-2188254/


Now, I've been hearing LOTS of good things in the autocross circles about the Koni FSD's on stock/street class cars. Unfortunately, Koni doesn't make an application for my '97 Accord. So what do I do? Look to see what applications they have for Honda's/Acura's, and come up with one: the 09-12 TSX. They're expensive and must be used with stock springs(as advised by Koni).

Here's a link to an install of the Koni yellows.
http://www.tsxclub.com/forums/2nd-ge...d-gen-tsx.html


Now cross referencing part numbers at Majestic Honda(god I love that), reveals they only share one part: the nylon lock nut at the top of the shock. Is this good news? You betcha! That means they both share the same threading at the top, and more than likely share the same shaft diameter. Looking at the install pictures, it seems that they could very likely fit. I'm sure the spring perches are different, not to mention lengths, etc. That's where this thread comes into play:
http://forums.acuralegend.org/7th-ge...s-t25310.html?

Honda springs are all VERY similar in design. I'm almost thinking that the FSD's may fit with a little parts swapping and getting creative using different springs from other Honda's to get the rate/length needed. Just need to get some measurements. This is by no means fact or anything, but just me getting this down somewhere where I won't forget about it.

Here's a link to a TSX suspension walk around by Edmunds:
http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/t...alkaround.html

In terms of the total length/height of the shock, they could be vastly different. They could be VERY close. I'm sure valving is different as they weight difference is pretty substantial, and I'm guessing the spring rates are much higher for the TSX. Some googling is in order to find those rates and compare them to the Accord rates(Which I believe are 250F/120R factory).

The front's look VERY similar. The rears look quite similar as well, with the bottom shock mounts looking quite wider than the Accord's, and possibly deeper. Since we already know they share the top nylon nut, there's a fairly good chance the upper shock tophat has the same bore/diameter of the sleeve within it. If the 2nd gen TSX rear lower shock mounts are indeed wider, but otherwise may work(if depth is deeper than accord's) than it may just be a case of getting a wider bushing to fill in the gap. Who knows? Might as well brainstorm and theorize it. The designs are pretty similar.

Measurements needed for both applications:
Overall length of front and rear shocks
Shock shaft diameter front and rear
Shock shaft length front and rear
Shock body diameter front and rear
Shock body length front and rear
Rear lower shock measurements:
-depth from centerline of bolt hole to shock body/mount
-width of shock mount
Front lower shock measurements:
-from bottom of shock to the brake line bracket


If ANYONE can/is willing to give me a hand by taking some measurements, it'd be hugely appreciated. I'd even be willing to go pick up a used set of each from wherever for further development. Since I'm going junkyard diving this weekend, I'll probably snag some 90-97 Accord shocks for the measurements.

Fun fact about junkyard diving: TONS of trucks use Bilstein shocks from the factory. My P-N-P junkyard sells shocks for about $10 a piece. Any shock. Rears of trucks are usually solid axle, and have a similar design to that of used in the back of CB/CD Accords. More experimenting? Sure, at $10 a Bilstein, what's there to lose?

 

Let me save you the time.

You call yourself a cheap *** but are attempting to over-complicate replacement shocks for a ~16+ year old car and plan on using stock springs.

Buy the f'n Koni Yellows designed for your car or buy the STR.T's (Reds). Let's say for ***** and giggles a car designed 12 years later used similar shocks/springs. You're comparing a vehicle that weighs 3470lbs to one that weighs 2900lbs.

What do you think you're gaining by going through all this trouble? You could have already had some Yellows or Reds shipped and on their way. This is just a dumb idea - you gain literally nothing. This isn't a Acura Legend/NSX brake upgrade or even an H22 swap. This is your 16 year old car needing OEM replacement shocks.

 

It was more or less a brain dump. I'll probably end up going the Bilstein route.

What is there to gain from this? The Koni FSD's are pretty sweet shocks. Seems to be a pretty hot setup in the stock/street classes while maintaining a LOT of DD'ability. Would the valving be off? Probably, but that's where the other springs come into play. Find the right spring, and it *could* all just bolt on. The fronts look like they're 100% bolt in with the right spring. The rears look to be pretty close. They're a pretty high tech shock capable of self adjustment, and getting great reviews. Through searching, the spring rates of the TSX are actually fairly close to that of the CB/CD Accords. If the possibility of using stock springs with these works, it'd be a benefit for stock/street class autocrossers where springs aren't allowed to be swapped out. What's wrong with a little originality and making stuff work? Don't get so offended by out of the box thinking, it's not like I slayed your personal unicorn.

On STR.T's:
STR.T's aren't reds, either. They're not made in Holland like the other Koni's(they're made in Argentina), and their life is not as well served as the other Koni's/lower quality. If reds were available, that'd be pretty ideal; set them and drive.

 

Also, sure, the Yellows are probably the better overall way to go in terms of outright performance, but not everyone's willing to play with *****, revalving, etc to get the car to where it might perform better. If you can get 90% of the benefit of the Yellow's, self adjusting shocks, no ***** to play with, and only a little higher initial cost... what's not to gain?

At least I'm not trying to harp the benefits of some cheap *** coilovers with whoknowswhat valving and construction.

 

Didn't realize that - Koni Oranges apparently.

I could've sworn they used to have the Reds available and from Googling they still show up -

http://www.mosaicmotorsports.com/kon...t-p-76650.html

http://www.tunersdepot.com/Suspensio...IR--20986.html

http://www.tunersdepot.com/Suspensio...IR--20987.html

Regarding the Yellows needing adjusting, you do it once and you're done.

 

I had them on a Miata before, they were actually quite good- I really liked them. I drove around with them 1/4 turn from full stiff, always. I hated the way they felt on full soft with the springs on it(Koni kit, matched spring to shock). Adjusting them once and forgetting about it... therein lies the problem. What's the point of an adjustable shock if you're not going to adjust it to suit the current conditions? Might as well go with the reds, and they're not any less expensive than the yellows, or Bilstein's(Tirerack's pricing have them listed for lower than the reds listed price on those sites). At least the Bil's can be revalved just about anywhere, by anyone, for nickles, in minutes, and are arguably a superior design/construction. That's a big PITA, though. Seeing how to access the rear upper shock mounts on these cars is a big enough of a pain, anyway.

If I can get ahold of a stock 09+ TSX front and rear shock/spring combo for some measurements, I'll keep going with research.

 

Looks like I'm buying Bilstein's.

After looking at shock specifications on Monroe's online catalog(lists lots of dimensions), it doesn't look like it will work. Seems the 08+ Accords(09+ TSX's can use 08+ Accord coilovers) have MUCH shorter shocks, 3" or so in the front, 8" or more in the rear. Looking at the mounting point for the rear shocks on the TSX's shows it to be at the top of the knuckle/hub while the CD/CB Accords are much lower, at the bottom of the hub. I don't think there's a safe way to mount the TSX shock farther up, or somehow space the shock tophat lower down to make up for the distance. Since the front's are actually pretty close, they may still bolt on if the lower shock fork is longer on the CD/CB than the 09+ TSX, or if there's a longer shock fork that can be substituted from a different chassis.

Kinda crazy how long the shocks/springs are on the rear of CB/CD's. Still planning on raiding the junkyard this weekend for some parts and probably will snag a couple Bilstein's to play with rebuilding/revalving; re-checked the price sheet of the P-N-P last night, $5.50 a piece for ANY shock! Sweeeeet.