Hey guys, I'm pretty new. Actually 100% new I just bought myself a 99 civic ex with a 5 speed I've been doing some looking and I've found that the place I should start would be the suspension. my problem is I don't know any brands yet or a lot of the tech terms and such. so reading reviews and specs doesn't help me much. I'm from northern MN so I need to be able to clear the terrible potholes. Every set of shocks I see says they lower the car atleast 2 inches which will ensure I rip my exhaust off. Does anyone have any brand/ model recommendations for shocks that keep height or are atleast adjustable so I can add the height in the winter as needed?
Thanks guys

 

You're looking for a coilovers. i would go to the sponsored market place here on the forum and look into progress cs2 coilovers.

 

Shocks don't lower your car buddy

 

So new shocks won't lower the car at all? it's the coil over that,would lower it?
I was originally looking at coverovers but every place I found asked for the brand of shocks and mine are just stock so I figured I'd switch them out too.

 

You need to head to the suspension sub forum and start reading.

 

Moved.

 

"coilovers" are available:
-As a conversion - just the springs with adjustable sleeves. You'd buy shocks seperate.
an example of this would be Koni yellows with ground control springs.

-As a complete system. Adjustable height springs with MATCHED shocks.
an example of this is Tein Street Advance, AMR, Buddy Club N+, etc etc etc etc etc.

The common recommendation is Koni yellow shocks and ground control coilover conversion springs that are made to mount to koni yellows specifically . Do not plan on lowering the car more than about 1.38". I would strongly recommend using OFF THE SHELF spring rates for your car.

Another recommendation I can give is the Tein Street Advance that I recommended earlier. The corrosion coating is much better on these than Konis. So maybe they'll do better for you in MN.

I have bought either from THMotorsports.com. They can help you through the process, and they're a honda tech sponsor.

 

if you want to stay at the same height and just replace the shocks, buy OEM shocks. Koni FSD would also be an OK choice too.

 

Koni FSD is a lot better than stock. Are you thinking Koni Orange?

 

Maybe, I was looking for the Reds, but I guess those are Orange now? I was also under the impression that FSD's aren't good for lowering, they're more of an OEM replacement shock?

 

They're all stock length. So...dimensionally, none of them are any better for lowered cars than the other.

Yellows have the most available...and adjustable rebound damping. So they work well with stiffer springs. So they work well for lowering because of the additional damping. Not because of body lengths...and with the spring rates they are designed for, you need to keep it reasonable. On a 3rd to 6th gen civic/ 1st to 3rd gen integra, 1.38 is as low as you really want to go. On a S2000, probably a half inch. On a RSX, probably close to nothing. etc.

Oranges are a "sport" shock. There's some additional or adjusted (fixed/non externally adjustable) damping as compared to stock. They're supposed to be a stock replacement OR for mildly higher rates that some off the shelf springs have.

FSD's are the "high end" line of street shocks. They're supposed to automatically adjust (mechanically) to provide a blend of ultra smooth ride and body control. I don't know how they work with non-factory springs. Koni advertises them to be an upgrade from stock...but doesn't specify if they work with aftermarket springs.

 

All stock length, but the Yellows have the adjustable spring perches / circlips so there's a little bit of height adjustability in there. Anyway thanks for clearing that up, it's been a while since I've thought about the koni lineup outside of 3011's and 2812's.

 

No problem!

A bit of an edit on my part. The yellows are also"sport" shocks. But their damping adjustment and built in height adjustment set them apart from oranges.

But...again...since the LENGTH of the shock doesn't change (lower perch height doesn't shorten the shock body), dimensionally, all of them lend the same way to lowering.

They are all twin tube. So...you're not squeezing an air chamber as you go lower either.