What "good" struts can we get now?

[carotman]

I know that the Billsteins can make good struts if revalved, but they sure are on the expensive side..... are they our only hope?

[Osiris]

Originally posted by carotman
I know that the Billsteins can make good struts if revalved, but they sure are on the expensive side..... are they our only hope?

You beat me to this post carotman. I was going to ask the same thing.

What else is there for us besides the Konis or revalved Billsteins?

:pissed: damn konis.

[stizle]

i'll tell you what after hearing that the Koni's were bein discontinued i went out and got the KYB's. The car stil bounces like a mofo but it help alot also. i wish koni wouldnt of done that.

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Originally posted by carotman
I know that the Billsteins can make good struts if revalved, but they sure are on the expensive side..... are they our only hope?

Unless someone can find out if 88-91 civic sturts can work, yes the revalved Bilsteins are your only hope.

I don't have a front 3g strut anymore and I'm going to sent off the rear bilstien's to DarknessRs(if I can remember to). So I'm not really able to pull a pair of 88-91 civic sturts to check. I did that with 92-95 civic sturts, no dice on those.

[guaynabo89]

Originally posted by Jims 86LXI HB
I did that with 92-95 civic sturts, no dice on those.

Do those years share the same suspension as a 90-93 teg?

That would be a car to look into also.

[Osiris]

I read in another post that the revalved Billsteins are around $600. Is this true.

And how do go about getting them? Do you buy them revalved or have specialty shop revalve them?

[AZmike]

Originally posted by Osiris
I read in another post that the revalved Billsteins are around $600. Is this true.

And how do go about getting them? Do you buy them revalved or have specialty shop revalve them?

http://www.3geez.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18586

[carotman]

Well, I do have a spare 3g strut (1 front) and 2 rear)

I also happen to have a Winter beater, which is a Civic ED (88-91 Sedan)

I wanted to replace the struts on the beater since they were worn out..... I won't touch that before august but it's really something I'll look for...

[bobafett]

i have 3 spare koni fronts (2 are damaged) i can ask around at shops and see if anybody has 88-91 civic struts in stock so i can compare. :)

[carotman]

That would be cool. If there is only a small difference, the strut might fit but lower the car a bit more.. (or a bit less hehe)

[bobafett]

ok i just read in a thread here about the $2003 challenge that the guy used 88-91 crx struts (same as civic i would assume) and they were about 2" taller. coupled with 2" lowering springs it put the car at stock height and was stressing the struts a lot. he said it was ok for track, but wouldnt suggest it as a daily driver strategy. i dont know if this is good news or bad. i assume we could allways get them modified to work better, but then we are talking about $1000 again just for struts, when revlalved bilsteins are MORE than enough for most people

[goldyaccord]

When I get home, I'll go by the junkyard and compare struts IF there are some struts of both.

Josh

[goldyaccord]

http://test.lowmotion.org/viewtopic.php?p=90966#90966

Here's a link to the 86-89 accord struts on a CRX. The front interchange with no problem BUT bad thing is like chris said, crx struts are 2inches taller. BAh. struts Dont interchange for the rears.

I'll try to dig up some info on the 88-91 civics

Edit: UPdated info..

http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=527474

guy in a 90 civic hb using accord struts I THINK. accord struts are 3 inches shorter overall and an inch or so shorter body than crx struts and 88-91 civic strut. the post is sorta confusing but I'll keep lookin :)

[Osiris]

From what i understand, if you buy performance struts from the Civic (for the accord), then that will decrease the ride height automatically by 2 inches. Seeing that the struts are 2 inches lower for the civic. So if you have 1 1/2 inch lower springs then you now have a car 3 1/2 inches lower.

Am i correct?!

[goldyaccord]

NO, I think it's the other way around. the accord struts are shorter... bleh

however... I dont know if these struts would work from a 90-93 tegs

here's the link with a PICTURE!!!!

http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=534816

Do they look alike?

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Originally posted by Osiris
From what i understand, if you buy performance struts from the Civic (for the accord), then that will decrease the ride height automatically by 2 inches. Seeing that the struts are 2 inches lower for the civic. So if you have 1 1/2 inch lower springs then you now have a car 3 1/2 inches lower.

Am i correct?!

No, their's no way it would be lower, that I could deal with, our problem is the other way around. At this point without all the measurement's that I need in place we are 1inch taller and that is likely to show up in the area of not having enough strut down stroke travel, a very very bad thing. But I do not have a set of make or break measurements yet. Once I have them we will see what can be worked out to make them happen. It is my hope that the shorter bodied sport type struts will be able to work. But we aren't at a point where anyone should think about spending a dime on this setup just yet. We have a member that is actively working on this for us right now.

[Osiris]

Ok goldy and Jim, gotta pick your brain a little more :D . So does that mean it will raiser our vehicle 2 inches.

Example... 1 1/2 inch springs + Civic struts = 1/2 higher.

Math... 1.5 lower (negative) + 2 inches higher = .5 inches positive (higher)

[goldyaccord]

Originally posted by Osiris
Ok goldy and Jim, gotta pick your brain a little more :D . So does that mean it will raiser our vehicle 2 inches.

Example... 1 1/2 inch springs + Civic struts = 1/2 higher.

Math... 1.5 lower (negative) + 2 inches higher = .5 inches positive (higher)

If you were to talk about the springs.. yes. but the struts does not have any control in how high or lower the car is sitting. The spring controls that.

If we were to use struts from the crx's we'd have to raise the car 2inchs from stock to keep the stock travel of a crx strut.

I got this crazy Idea now that we could shorten the fork like crazy :D



Jim, What is this *actice member doing?* Is he checking the teg fitments or civic?

Josh

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Originally posted by Osiris
Ok goldy and Jim, gotta pick your brain a little more :D . So does that mean it will raiser our vehicle 2 inches.

Example... 1 1/2 inch springs + Civic struts = 1/2 higher.

Math... 1.5 lower (negative) + 2 inches higher = .5 inches positive (higher)

The problem is in tallness of the strut rod shaft itself. If it's taller the sooner you'll bottom out the suspension inside the strut itself. That tall shaft won't let the suspension travel where it normally would. Bad, very bad. lowering would only worsen the problem. It's not a problem caused or solved with what springs you use, unless you install tall one's and make a really high riding 3g.

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Josh, civic fitment's. Over the counter parts. But not the shorter bodied AGX strut I don't think. That's the one I want to have a look at. But a standard civic strut is a good starting point.

[carotman]

I think that the 92-95 Civic struts are shorter

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Originally posted by carotman
I think that the 92-95 Civic struts are shorter

Nope, those are the one's I pulled out of the junk yard and took home and compaired next to the 3g struts. They are taller. Somewhere I still have all the demensional info.

[PhydeauX]

I would assume with the popularity of lowering those civics someone would be selling a short stroke strut. Also have you looked into gutting the shocks and sticking some inserts in?

andy

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Originally posted by PhydeauX
I would assume with the popularity of lowering those civics someone would be selling a short stroke strut. Also have you looked into gutting the shocks and sticking some inserts in?

andy

The factory sturts aren't designed to let inserts be a viable option. I've seen some application guides that claim you might have to cut open the new struts to make them fit, but that's not the case for any strut made for the 3g. Beside's I've never seen or heard of Illumina, Koni or Bilstein sport or AGX inserts.

Sport struts for the 92-95 civic that I know of are Koni sports, Bilstein sports and the KYB AGX strut. Since the KYB's are the least expensive (at around $86 each) and are good to about 400lbs spring rates, that's the one I'd like get ahold of to measure. Right now we are trying to pin down the stock dementions to see if the shorter bodies can make it happen, fingers crossed.

[Justin86]

Mine are crossed too.

[BITESIZE]

I like my tokico struts/shocks, but i'm only lowered 1.5- 2 inches, just thought i'd share. They should still be available.

[Osiris]

BITESIZE: Is that where your car is currently sitting at right now, 1.75 inches lower? If so, first your car looks great, and second how do you like the ride compared to any "lower" cars you may have ridden in.

Jims 86LXI HB: Is the Eibach/Tokico setup a recommended setup seeing there is no alternative?

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Originally posted by BITESIZE
I like my tokico struts/shocks, but i'm only lowered 1.5- 2 inches, just thought i'd share. They should still be available.


All lowering springs are stiffer, no matter the drop. Tokico H.P.s are only 10% stiffer at best. Yet carrotman tells us below (with his springs that are the softest lowering springs you can get at 26% stiffer than stock) that the tokico's stink. Eibach sportlines are 62%stiffer than stock. Going stiffer on weak struts isn't a good thing and what your experciencing now seams great, you'll be stunned how much night and day better struts that can control stiffer springs right, will make you car ride and drive. We all know it's a awesome car, but it deserves better than weak struts. So I'm not really understanding the logic or recommending something that is so universally known to be inferior. I don't doubt your feelings, but I'm worried you've gotten used to things that you shouldn't tollerate, things that would never pass on a new car.



Originally posted by carotman
I have tokico in the front,,, they actually are the same as the koni......NOT They SUCK, they're pure crap on a lowered car. they would be ok on stock springs but that's all....

Do not get Tokicos in the front...



Originally posted by 88LXi68
I had tokicos with Ground Controls and it was the WORST! I upgraded to front Konis like 2 months later. The ride became MUCH MORE CONTROLLED and SAFER. The rear tokicos held up ok, but now I have upgraded to rear konis. Although, I havent driven the car yet :(


Originally posted by Chrome_thangs
I know from expierence!!! I tied to go the cheap route and i seriously regreted it the ride was bouncy to the point your scared to drive very fast unless it was in a straight line. Took the Tokicos off and put Koni reds on and it's beautiful:D Save the money and do it right the first time!!

[BITESIZE]

My ride feels as good as stock......just remember tokicos are only made for about 1 to 2 inch drops. I recommend the tokicos, i Paid $60 a piece locally for the tokicos and $200 locally for the sporline springs. I'm currently running 17 inch ADR rims with 215 /45 Federal Tires. The bigger tires help out with potholes here in idaho.

All of my friends say my car rides the best out of any lowered car they've ridden in, and they all have brand new Civics.

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Originally posted by BITESIZE
My ride feels as good as stock......just remember tokicos are only made for about 1 to 2 inch drops. I recommend the tokicos, i Paid $60 a piece locally for the tokicos and $200 locally for the sporline springs. I'm currently running 17 inch ADR rims with 215 /45 Federal Tires. The bigger tires help out with potholes here in idaho.

All of my friends say my car rides the best out of any lowered car they've ridden in, and they all have brand new Civics.

Actually your getting the "just like stock" sensation cause the tokico's are letting the springs do things their not supposed to do. It's a lack of control issue. Your overlooking things that would not make it past a factory suspension engineer, things that person would not except and send the car back for more R&D work. Know it's one thing if you don't know any better, it's another if you don't care and you've learned to settle. Problem is we shouldn't do that, the 3g is better than than that and deserves more. And Tokico themselves to no recommend the H.P. strut for use with lowering springs. Their techs no that the H.P. is not valved for that, they'll tell you to use thier Illumina strut, that is a strut ment for lowering spring not the H.P. Sadly of course we can't use the Illumina struts.