I am thinking of putting my new stiffer springs in the Civic tonight before heading off to DC on Friday, but how IMPERATIVE is it that I redo the alignment?

In other words, my good friend "jasyatz" says, "round bolt, round hole", but I feel differently... Assuming the swaybars and CA's stay attached, he's right, but would the numbers move that much?

I can't believe I asked this, but I'm getting pressed for time here due to house stuff (which is occupying my garage) and uncooperative weather coupled with end-of-the-year responsibilities with school.

Anthony "Mario" Crea

 

Well, the stiffer springs in theory will not compress as much, raising your static ride height by a fraction and changing your toe, camber, etc. But, that fraction will be just that, a fraction.....

I would think things would stay close enough that it wouldn't be that big of a deal. That is the theory I use when making spring changes at the track, anyway.

 

OK, I understand that the numbers have to be different somehow because of the disruption to everything, but hopefully you're correct in saying fractional, as the new springs are only 50# stiffer than the old ones...

Anthony "Mario" Crea

 

I wouldnt worry about it... swap away!

 

Go to it man, 50# is not gonna make a big difference.

I mean, you would be looking at like a thousanth's difference, or something in that neighborhood. If you can feel that, you should have a crew doing your work for you.

 

Thanks everybody! (Done like Dr. Nick from "The Simpsons")

 

as long as your static ride height remains unchanged you're alignment won't change. now, making sure your static ride height stays the same will be easy up to about +/- .25", which at that point, adding you're body weight or changing the fuel level is altering the car more then the change in alignement. you're car isn't very low either, meaning you are in the shallow toe and camber curve areas. for example, lowering my car from 5.25" ride height to 5" ride height made virtually no change in the alignement. going from 5" to 4", my camber went up 1.3 degrees and the toe went out by 1/4" total up front.

cliff notes: no problem at all. i assume you went with 450's front?

nate