I've recently been investigating parts compatibility between models, particularly with regard to suspension components as I am doing the undeside of my CRX at the moment, and I have noticed that countless parts are interchangeable between CRX, Civic and Integra models.

The only weird thing I've come across is the length of the LCAs on EK Civics. Why are they so much longer than all the others?

88-91 CRXs, 91-01 Integras and 92-95 Civics all have the same length (shorter) LCAs (although a few exceptions use the box design, the length is the same).

The 96-00 Civics also have shorter compensator arms than the others!

I assume that since the EK Civic is was the newest development in that era of Honda cars then Honda must have decided that a longer LCA and shorter compensator arm offered some kind of improvement...?

What could be the reason for this?

If anyone can offer any technical insight I'd be most interested to listen and discuss

 

I dont have any technical advice but the very first thing that comes to mind by just looking under the back of each chassis is the width of the Subframe in each vehicle. EK Subframe is not as wide(visually, i havent actually measured) than the EG/DC subframes. Therefore EK uses longer LCA's.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 98vsmhatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I dont have any technical advice but the very first thing that comes to mind by just looking under the back of each chassis is the width of the Subframe in each vehicle. EK Subframe is not as wide(visually, i havent actually measured) than the EG/DC subframes. Therefore EK uses longer LCA's.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well that doesn't really say much. If honda wanted to use longer LCAs, of course they would have to narrow the sub-frame. I don't think it works the other way around...

The length of the LCA is all about camber curve. The longer LCA causes the car to gain quite a bit more camber as the suspension compresses. This leads me to believe that Honda wanted to use a softer spring rate while maintaining the performance orientation of the car. A softer rear rate allows slightly more roll requiring slightly more camber for a given. Or perhaps Honda wanted more camber to match the higher curb weight of the new EK civic. This is only speculation of course...

The compensator arm controls toe motion through the stroke and under various lateral loading. Any change to this means a change to dynamic steering of the rear end of the car. A shorter comp-arm will cause more steering input than a longer one. Also, the mounting point on the chassis determines the arc of motion and how the suspension reacts to ride height position.

We would have to ask the engineers exactly "why" they made these changes...

 

good info (back from the dead) does anyone have measurements of EK? my eg/dc's measure 17" - is anyone here running ek LCA's on an eg or dc?

also what models run the same knuckles? are DA the same as EG (non-si)? are EG-SI identical to DC? are EK all the same?