I've spent hours trying to get the suspension tweaked on a 99 honda civic DX/HB, using Tokico Performance Coilover Springs w/ Tokico Adjustable Illumina Struts.. The tires are 17's American Racing on Kumho 205/40/17's.

Basicly, after the install, I'm of course having a camber-alighment issue and uneven tire wear problems. But I'm also having a problem getting all 4 fenders to get a even gap.. If I set a fixed point at how high I need to raise-lower the car, I in turn lower one end, way to far, about 1/2" - 1"!!!. I figure raise that end and try again, however it simply moves cross from side to side making the fenders rub off my brand new tires I also noticed, that after I let off the ebrake, the whole car will shift. Any guru's got the time for a newbie?

 

well first off,
any time you jack up the car,
and jack it back down, to check your actual ride height at rest, you need to release all the breaks. especially the parking break, the break almost always holds it up a bit.

Also remember a few things about height.
each corner has different weight sitting on it,
so setting the coilovers to the exact same height on each corner, will not yeild an even drop.

also! a height change at the spring/shock, will will give around a %130 change at the wheel.
so if you drop it .5" at your coilovers, the wheel well gap should end up dropping around like .75"

all guestimates, of course, it varys from car to car.

also on 17's.. your going to have to either,
not drop it too far, or get a camber kit and roll your fenders.

oh and dont forget to get an alignment once you have it set how you want

 

I have all but one tire just where I want it. I've got it set for about 24 1/4" +- 1/4th's on the "OK" sides ground to the fender(thats just about enough to slip in my fingers between the tire and fender). But the one side is under 24 and rubs the fender under turning(can't even fit a finger).

Go figure right? But by turning that coilover up about 1/4th" on the coilover, results in a different tire going down 1/2" or so. It's like playing teeter-toter with my car, but the wedge is offset to one side.

So I have both front tires and one rear tire set, yay! Plus, it will only get worse once I get the alighment etc.

-- maybe one day I'll be able to drive my civic the way it should be driven

 

lemme guess,
the side that sits lower is the front passenger side?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">lemme guess,
the side that sits lower is the front passenger side?</TD></TR></TABLE>

no

Right now it's the drivers side rear that is problem. Dunno, I'm going to jack the thing up and try another 1/2in or so on the coil. If the other sides stay put, I'll be setup so I can atlest fine tune it to exactly where i'd like it.

The overall ride is not too bad(disregarding the fender scrapes), but def. needs a alighment and more valve in the front.

 

driver side is usually sit lower b/c of the weight of the driver.

 

bah! ok my guess didnt work out, haha.

now you say you want more valving in the front?

 

haha.. Nah, I never even got around to it. Had to work on a chitty(chevy) all night long beacuse of a wire short on the ABS Control Mod and a $1 nut on the brake bleeder valve.