I picked up a set at the beginning of october for STS autocross use just before the SCNAX cup in LA and here's what I thought about them:

First Impressions: welds and construction look clean and burly and still do after 3 months. All the usual attatchment points for brake lines were accounted for. I was a little disappointed that the rears used sleaves but they clipped in to their support ring properly and seem to be holding up fine.

Installation: For the most part very easy. I had some small problems with getting the upper strut bearings off for the front and ended up having to clean and repack them. I really wish that Progress had just added their own upper mounts. The assemblys were about 4lbs lighter per corner than stock shocks with H&R springs. Everything else about the install went smoothly, all the parts were included and fit, overall install time was about 2 hours with 2 people working carefully and also aligning it.

Performance: This was for Autocross and so that's what we used it for! I gave it my best guess on alignment and took it straight to the SCNAX Cup. My team won in convincing fashion (Go team Reckless!). Against the other STS cars i matched up well only falling behind Will Kahlman and his evil Escort GT and Art Rinner's Sentra SER. Not bad for a Civic HX.

On course the car was quite progressive and did what I wanted to. Transitional response was good the first day and became great when I took about .5 a degree of camber out of the front to -1.5 deg for the second day. The revised steering arm mount location also made a big difference in feel and in positice steering response. Overall grip levels were very high on a bald set of Ecsta MX's.

I also use progress swaybars front and rear as well as a progress camber kit. Overall alignment specs are ATM: Fr: -1.5deg camber, +1/16" Toe Rr: -0.5deg camber, 0 Toe. 42PSI Fr, 38-40PSI Rr on 215/40R17 Ecsta MX's.

Negative Points: Very firm street ride although it's quite livable, not bouncy at all. It'll take dips and bumps without botteming although the driver takes some punishment. I did have some trouble with the trunk assembly rattling over rough pavement but it cleared up when I added a rear shock tower brace. (the rear of an EM2 is super flimsy in terms of twisting). I also really wish they'd completed the package with solid or at least stiffer upper mounts for the front.

Overall: They're an excellent product if you plan to race, I've done several track events since and they cope especially well with long fast corners in a very tailhappy setup while maintaining excellent response in slow corners. Buy them if you need them and can get a good deal. This isn't a budget package nor is it a show/street package but it is very fast when properly set up.

 

nice write-up. im currantly trying to decide what to use on the autocross car for next year. the typical koni/gc being one option, but i was thinking about the progress coilovers as well.
-spenc

 

The Progress stuff is actually really good. Doesnt get the hype like the Japanese brands do, but Progress does have a complete line of parts.

Its a popular brand for many of our road race customers. The Spherical Bearing kits have been a great seller too for the serious racers.