The rear shocks in my 90 integra autocrosser/daily driver are very much dead, and the fronts aren't far behind. The problem is coming up with $$ for new ones will take a little bit of saving.

Since both money and time are both in short supply I'm thinking of just buying two to start, installing those and buying the next two and couple months later. This would allow me to split the spending in two chunks and to spread the labor over a longer timeline.

I know some people run different dampers front and rear, mostly due to lack of availability. I guess what I want to know is which end will benefit more from good damping in a stock suspension during the 2-3 months before the 2nd pair goes in.

Which of these options would be best...

 

i tried to vote for "quit being a pansy" 4 times but it wouldn't let me.

if you do one end and not the other you are only asking for trouble.

nate

 

What Nate said...just wait a bit and get all 4.

 

Wow, according to recent polls, 11 H-T'ers think I'm a pansy. I guess I should have reworded that one.

Oh well, my bruised ego thanks you for your input.

 

It happens in life sometimes when it takes more nickels to do a whole project than you can rub together at once. If you must do only one end, do the fronts first then realize that the balance will not be really right until the package is complete.

Since we are expecting that your new shocks will be stiffer or more attentive than the old ones, better to have them in front and if anything adding a little understeer if the situation gets edgy than to put them on the rear and risk surprise oversteer.

Obviously four will give you balance in the car and the shock designer's package but going with the front first for a few weeks and realizing that this is just an interim situation until you can complete the set is at least partial headway. Also generally on a street car with stock springs, the fronts are a bit higher rate than the rears and you will also gain a bit of anti-roll improvement if the bars are stock as well.

I voted the "pansy, get 4" but two fronts will do if iy must be done in steps.

 

Thanks Lee, if I can I'll do all 4, but if that doesn't work out I'll keep what you said in mind. In the meantime, I'll have to start thinking of new excuse since the "blown shocks" one will have to be shelved.

 

If you are interested in a used (read raced) set of Tokico Illumina's for a second gen Integra, I have four that I received from Greg (bulldog_RS20). They came with the ground control coilover set I bought from him. Let me know if you would be interested.