Help finding the right struts+springs/coilovers?

[james9120]

I've read the stickied threads about which to buy, and how to choose the right ones but after all that I'm still confused.
First off, most of the things listed either don't exist anymore, or the links don't work. So I tried using google to find most of the parts, but only Ground Control have the proper coilovers for my 89' Accord Hatchback. But they are listed at $339, which is a bit pricey for just the coilovers (but you can adjust the height which is a big plus). But, reading another thread, they are extremely stiff and would require even more expensive struts. So here's what I'm looking to do;

-Drop the ride height to a reasonable level (maybe an inch or 2, what do you recommend?)
-Greatly stiffen and improve handling, because right now the stock suspension is very soft and has a lot of body movement around corners and such.

I am running soft snow tires still :) so I know that's a big problem, but I am looking into just buying a new set of wheels, probably steelies and popping the snow tires on those for the winter. Sounds like a good idea to you?

Also take note that I am 18 years old and just trying to learn :) So any help would be great appreciated!
-Thanks.

EDIT: I found these on eBay, extremely cheap but they seem to do the job. Tell me what you think:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DNA-HONDA-ACCORD-86-93-ADJUSTABLE-1-4-COILOVER-SPRING-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZYearQ3a1989Q7cMakeQ3aHonda Q7cModelQ3aAccordQ7cSubmodelQ3aDXQQhashZitem2a098a fb0dQQitemZ180548729613QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5 fPartsQ5fAccessories

Also found these struts,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKICO-BLUE-HP-STRUTS-SHOCKS-SET-HONDA-ACCORD-86-89-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZYearQ3a1988Q7cModelQ3aAcco rdQ7cMakeQ3aHondaQQhashZitem2c5647db1aQQitemZ19042 6110746QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries
What coilovers would go good with those?

And here's some H&R Sport Springs
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/H-R-SPORT-SPRINGS-1986-1989-Honda-Accord-HR-51873-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem43a5896664QQitemZ29054 0054116QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccesso ries

Good combo here/bad? Opinions please :)

[frantik]

your options are very limited these days when it comes to shocks

only shocks available are tokico blues which are only 10% stiffer than stock. this means you cannot run most of the spings.. some people get away with a 1" to 1.5" drop using those with ok results (depending on how much you tolerate a bouncy ride)

other than that, the only other option are the k2 coilover/shocks which are pretty expensive, but you get full adjustability

[james9120]

your options are very limited these days when it comes to shocks

only shocks available are tokico blues which are only 10% stiffer than stock. this means you cannot run most of the spings.. some people get away with a 1" to 1.5" drop using those with ok results (depending on how much you tolerate a bouncy ride)

other than that, the only other option are the k2 coilover/shocks which are pretty expensive, but you get full adjustability
Thanks,
I'm trying to limit the bouncy ride to the minimum, and k2 as in K2motor.com? If so, they only list CIVIC under the Honda category.

[88lxi-shortram]

I think he meant ksport

[james9120]

I think I'm going to skip the ride height drop, it seems anything more than an inch would be expensive and cause other problems, such as with camber.
So now my main goal would be to stiffen the suspension and improve cornering/handling.

[ShyBoyCA6]

I think I'm going to skip the ride height drop, it seems anything more than an inch would be expensive and cause other problems, such as with camber.
So now my main goal would be to stiffen the suspension and improve cornering/handling.

:rofl:

[88lxi-shortram]

Well stiffer springs helps... Learn about the tophat mod and go from there

[james9120]

:rofl:

I don't get it...
Seriously, if you don't have anything helpful to say, skip this thread.

[james9120]

Well stiffer springs helps... Learn about the tophat mod and go from there

Thanks, I checked it out, and, if I fully understand, the tophat mod would help take stress off the struts when using lowering springs? And also allow them to travel there full distance?

[88lxi-shortram]

Kinda.... Think of it this way: you can buy lowering struts for alot cars but since we can't we basically make it shorter by extending it. Also mushroom toy used ef struts which requires a little custom fitting but as far as I know his setup is legit. Don't cheap out on suspension you get what you pay for. If you can't afford decent stuff hold off and wait til you can because it's better to spend the money once and get something nice than to spend money and then have to spend more compensating for what you wasted. Get what i mean?

[Fedor B.]

it's better to spend the money once and get something nice than to spend money and then have to spend more compensating for what you wasted. Get what i mean?

I agree, saving up for something like this.

http://www.carbodykits.com/85-89-Honda-Accord-CA5-KSport-Kontrol-Pro-Damper-System-CHD240-KP.html

The shipping will already cost me 250,-

[88lxi-shortram]

They are well worth the wait in my books... Just wish I could get some

[james9120]

Ahh alright, I see now. Thanks for the help and support.

[Strugglebucket]

If you don't want to lower it and you just want the car to handle better, get a set of ST sway bars. Or if you're broke, a set from an LX-i will be better than what you have now.

[james9120]

If you don't want to lower it and you just want the car to handle better, get a set of ST sway bars. Or if you're broke, a set from an LX-i will be better than what you have now.
The lowest year I could find was 90 for an Accord, but 89' for a Civic. Same thing or different? I mean the ST sway bars.

[frantik]

they will be different

here's the bars:
http://www.autopartsdealer.com/suspension_techniques_sway_bar_sets-p89085-p.html?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=j2p1&utm_content=rank5

[james9120]

they will be different

here's the bars:
http://www.autopartsdealer.com/suspension_techniques_sway_bar_sets-p89085-p.html?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=j2p1&utm_content=rank5
Ah, thanks a lot for the help.

[88lxi-shortram]

lol i myself have never been able to find those bars but now i found them so i will be getting them :D.... i think ill be running those bars with gabriel struts on a top hat and a 2.5 - 3" drop... probably 2.5 though because i know with 3 ill have alot of other stuff to do along with it

[james9120]

lol i myself have never been able to find those bars but now i found them so i will be getting them :D.... i think ill be running those bars with gabriel struts on a top hat and a 2.5 - 3" drop... probably 2.5 though because i know with 3 ill have alot of other stuff to do along with it

What about springs? Just curious :)

[frantik]

sway bars make a HUGE difference btw.. one of the best investments you can make for your car imo..

[james9120]

sway bars make a HUGE difference btw.. one of the best investments you can make for your car imo..

And I don't think my struts have ever been replaced, that could be a problem too lol.

[MessyHonda]

i have a car for sale that has all this stuff

[A18A]

yep a sway bar helps heaps. vigor ones fit too, made a huge difference to my car

[88lxi-shortram]

What about springs? Just curious :)

Dropzones. But I'm going to do alot more to make sure my struts are ok. I'm going to get mushroomtoy to help me do the tophat and then I'm going to cut a 1/2 inch off of my damper fork so I can get a safe, decent riding, low as. Hell car:)..... But I'm still debating if I want to do it so extreme maybe just 2.5 But after seeing a a guy on here with his coupe sosososo low I want mine like that to

[Nick89GTA]

I just ordered dropzones as well. Worried about my struts, the only ones available are blues? And can someone explain the tophat?