hi all,

I've just got hold of an old '92 DA6 teg XSi, and it needs lowering from OEM. Trouble is I'm between jobs right now and need to do it on a budget. I've researched and read that EG and DC2 stuff will slot straight on (with the correct drop forks), but have been told that the rear will sit much lower than the front. I've also heard that the entire rear ITR lower control arms will go on.

I'm gonna try and do this using stuff from breakers and friends' wrecks (there's a good selection of UKDM hondas to choose from - EG9, EK, ITR etc)

What combo of shocks / springs from other Hondas will slot straight on and give me up to around a 2" drop while remaining level all round??

any help greatly appreciated

 

You are right about the DC/EG drop forks, and the possibility of using ITR rear lower control arms. I am running DC/EG forks with the stock DA9 rear LCAs with Koni Sport adjustable coilovers. The rear will probably be a little lower than the front if you used regular coil springs that are not adjustable. I have my fronts at 17 threads from the bottom (1 finger fender gap), and the rears at 43 threads from the bottom (2 finger gap), so you can see there is a difference.

If you want to use springs, you may have to mismatch a little bit - like use ITR springs on the rear (you may have to remove a little bit of rubber material from the inside of the top hat, or use EG/DC tophats as well) and use normal lowering springs on the front (Neuspeed, H&R Sport, Progress, etc). I believe Swedboy2999 on this board is using coilovers in the front (on ITR shocks) and normal ITR springs in the rear with ITR shocks. His car is about as low as mine, based on pictures.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Palmy Blue &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">any integra and civic will work... i dont think the ep3's will work tho. The spring rates are diffrent in each spring but i dont think they are dramatic enough to make it lower in the back than in the front.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This isn't altogether true, although any Civic 88-00 and Integra 90-01 spring is interchangeable, the DA springs are thinner in diameter than the EG/DC ones. Even the top hats are different to compensate for it. You will notice that a DA top hat has more rubber to hold in the smaller spring, while the EG/DC has less, because it is larger in diameter. If you are swapping shocks and springs, it should be planned carefully, although they will all 'fit and bolt up' with the right forks.

 

Some of the civic/crx stuff will fit all right, standar stuff isn't really much good to you though. If you really want to do it on the cheap you could cut a ringout of the stock springs, but don't forget that the spring rate will be the same so it'll bottom out more easily.

I got a set of cheapy coilovers off ebay only worked out at €150 (£100stg). They're not bad, a bit too stiff for very bumpy roads. I left my stock shocks in, although they really should be replaced, got 50mm drop all round, I think it looks fine...

 

da props

 

Almost right, I'm using Progress springs in front with stock ITR struts, for the rear i'm using stock ITR springs, struts, and LCA's. It's a pretty good budget setup. If you are looking to lower your car a lot it might not be the best. I'm doing Koni Yellows with GC's when i feel it's time.

Here are some picts since i could not find that thread for the life of me.













Modified by SwedBoy2999 at 6:47 PM 4/6/2005

 

lookin good

 

thanks for all the input

summary:
At the rear I can use ITR lower ctrl arms, springs & shocks to give me around a 2" drop, and the shorter ITR shocks should maintain a decent ride quality.

so it's the front that's going to be the problem...


I don't want to go down the route of chopping springs.

I've also been warned away from the Ebay coilovers, but you think they're not too bad Irish?
Plus the last time I lowered with springs alone, the shocks lasted about 6 months

Either way I'm going to have to find aftermarket springs for the front at the very least. Is that correct?


Also is the ITR front shock shorter than the DA6 OEM shock? Or will using one with lowering springs be just as likely to blow it in a short time?

thanks

 

oh, and Swedboy2999, is the arch gap even front to rear with your setup - it's hard to tell with the photo being angled?

and can you get just the front springs on their own?

and Irish (different subject), is that the OEM front spoiler? nice

 

I have a set of front Intrax springs you can have, if you pay for shipping. Of course, shipping to the UK might be a little pricey and take awhile. But they are comparable to the Progress springs that Swedboy2999 uses.

If any of your friends has a 89-91 Civic (EF), the shocks will bolt up perfectly to your DA with no modifications, but the shocks are like 2 inches shorter than the DA/DC/EG units, so you might get a decent drop even with stock springs.

You might be able to order just a pair of springs from the distributor. Go to http://www.vogtland.com, and find the info for Leila (turbochic) on this board at vogtland North America. She is always responsive and will let you know whether you can order just a pair of springs. She can have it shipped from Germany since that's where the company is located. They distribute both H&R and Vogtland springs.

 

wow, i want that right side driver da, so clean so nice

 

DA's are not old -- just a classic .....heeh

 

It's pretty close to even but i think the front is like .25 higher, Now keep in mind that the fender gap is always more on the front as the actual body lines are different from front to back. Does anybody know what i mean?

 

ok i have a question for everybody????????
im saying that the DA is going to be a import enthuisiats classis,who agrrees????but i love that XSI i wish mines looked like that but it will preety soon only thing its not going to be a RHD,but everything else ill do the same

(xsi project in progress)

 

Cheers for the comments!!

The ebay springs are ok, although the adjusters are ceased up - after about 6 or 8 months of driving on pretty rough roads it has to be said. They are quite solid though. The shocks will go if you keep the stock ones in but my shocks might as well not be there anyway they were that bad beforehand. I just lowered on a budget! Althouth the car did pass its test as it is. When I decice I want to spend more on her, I'll go for some decent progressive coilover springs and I'd probably use koni yellows with them. It is best not to cut springs really, and it is very much a budget option.

Yeh as far as I know it is an OEM spoiler, there's an LED third brakelight up there too. (or should I say 5th?!) I've seen a few about with the same one.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by purplegsr (Exospeed) &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have my fronts at 17 threads from the bottom (1 finger fender gap), and the rears at 43 threads from the bottom (2 finger gap), so you can see there is a difference. </TD></TR></TABLE>
do you not worry about handling, or do actually want more weight on the front tires of a FWD vehicle?

 

thank you all - i now know what's needed

Purple GSR - i'm gonna take you up on the offer of them springs!

can you shoot me an email?: dominic.bufton@gmail.com

and we can take it from there - I'll be happy to cover shipping (assumming it's not silly money plus you'll get a beer out of it

the rest of the bits I can source in the UK - i'm a happy man

 

ok so crx struts in back fit good what about front???now if i do that would i have to get crx springs or DA springs

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by purplegsr (Exospeed) &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
If any of your friends has a 89-91 Civic (EF), the shocks will bolt up perfectly to your DA with no modifications, but the shocks are like 2 inches shorter than the DA/DC/EG units, so you might get a decent drop even with stock springs.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

what about the front????and what kind of springs????

 

thanks for all the info again - Purplegsr, the cost of the shipping is looking pricey ($100 - $150 from the main couriers), so i'll give it some time and see what else comes up, thanks anyway

I'm also waiting on a reply from the lady Leila at Vogtland, who I emailed yesterday.

Meantime I've found a set of '91 EF civic springs... you mentioned the shocks are direct fit & 2" shorter - does this mean the springs will be the same?

thanks

 

can anyone else clarify the drop from using a set of EF springs on a DA6?

(believe me, I did try searching but EF is too small a word, and there are a lot of threads with "springs" in... )

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by boma23 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thank you all - i now know what's needed

Purple GSR - i'm gonna take you up on the offer of them springs!

can you shoot me an email?: dominic.bufton@gmail.com

and we can take it from there - I'll be happy to cover shipping (assumming it's not silly money plus you'll get a beer out of it

the rest of the bits I can source in the UK - i'm a happy man </TD></TR></TABLE>

With the current exchange rate youll be fine most likely. My friend in manchester is making a killing off of me buying stuff in dollars and then him selling it on ebay in England.

-Rob

 

I totally missed all of the replies to this thread, sorry about that, it fell off of my watched topics list

Boma23 - the EF springs won't make a huge difference if you are on DA shocks, maybe half an inch or so. The real difference is when you put on EF shocks, because they are physically shorter than the DAs, but bolt up perfectly but make you sit lower. I have seen quite a few people use them over on g2ic.com.

If you can figure out a cheap way to send the front springs (probably only weigh 5-6 lbs) via USPS (www.usps.gov) International from US Zip Code 91204 than I can still send them to you.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95lstegman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
do you not worry about handling, or do actually want more weight on the front tires of a FWD vehicle?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Didn't do it on purpose, it seems to be a byproduct of using DC shocks on a DA. It doesn't hurt handling, but the perches are pretty high. My DA with DC Koni Sport coilovers rides better than my old DC2 with Tein SS when on higher height. The Tein SS gets all jittery if you aren't pretty low. I guess if I wanted to be slammed it would be better from my perspective, because the Koni rears for a DC provide quite a bit more adjustment on the low side, but I don't.

 

I have some Toicko White 5 way Adjustable shocks for sale..email me if you want..they only have 2,500 miles on them..got pics too -Drukus21@hotmail.com