How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
The purpose of this write up is a guide on how to install the CheddasAuto Top hats. Ive done my suspension couple of times but this was a first for me and for many members. The reason why top hats work is to extend the suspension travel with out bottoming out the shock. works good on lowered cars. I went when a Koni yellow shock from the 1988-1991 Honda Civic. For coil over’s I went with Ground Control because they make a kit that fits the koni Yellows. For the front springs I got a 7inch spring with a 440 LB spring rate. I also picked up Prothane urethane bushings for the top hats.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...nip2mq-1-1.jpgTools needed:
Jack, jackstands, socket wrench with extensions. Vice grip. Drill and a 2 1/8 hole saw.
First: loosen up the lug nuts then jack up the car. Take off the tire and take off the lower bolt I believe it’s a 17. You might need some PB blaster because some of these bolts can rust and it can be hard to take off. A few years back I bought brand new screws and bolts when I redid my front end. Take off the brake lines bolted to the shock. Take off the 14 from the bottom of the shock and take out the pitch fork. Then loosen up the top 3 bolts that hold the shock to the shock tower. Lower the shock with spring.
On top you will have to bend in the 3 tabs with a vice grip.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...5f4b87-1-1.jpg
Top hat install tab removal - YouTube
This is where you will need a drill with a 2 1/8th inch hole saw. You will need to drill the hole bigger because the Chedda top hats will not clear the stock hole size.
Cutting bigger holes for top hat install - YouTube
Im testing the fit and making sure the top hat fits.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...arztxjis-1.jpg
Had to drill out the holes on my dc strut bar because the holes are a bit small and would not fit on right.
Had the konis set up on the lowest firmness and now that I took it out for a sprinted drive I had to adjust them to 75% firm.
Car on the lowest setting. Took it out for a drive and it was way too low. My downpipe was not made for car this low.
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
hell yea man! great write up. I think ill get around to doing this soon!
also what exactly is the tophat bushing called? Everything is shock mount this, upper shock bushing that. it makes me mad not being able to just find it, even on rock auto.
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Well put. It's was fun working on it. Now it's time for the rear!!!!!
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
the part number for the top hat bushings are 8901 for the front and 8902 for the rear. I got them from Prothane suspension parts.
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
i am just seeing these for the first time today. i think i need the front and rear.
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
What rear Koni shocks do you have? Like what car are those for?
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Also for 89-91 Civic? Wish I would have known I could use this suspension setup earlier.
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Correct. You'll have to use spacers (washers) and longer bolts from the ef to make them work
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Longer bolts for the tophats?
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
and would that be 89-91 GC Sleeves as well or will any year work?
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
The longer bolts are to the shocks because there further apart the the stock 3geez. We didn't try other year's sleeves as these were made with special spring rate for the 3geez.
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Oh ok thank you
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Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
The rear top hat suspension didn't work for me the circumference of the bushing didn't match the top hat #8902
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
You need the 97 lude bushings for that stock top hat's they will fit
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Okay so I'm trying to confirm a parts list, and have a question about that last issue, the '97 Prelude bushings for the stock(?) top hat. Do you have a part number?
So far I have this;
These springs, with the Koni Sport (+$40) option
Ground Control - Coilover Conversion kit, 86-89 Honda Accord
The Koni Sport (Yellow, first option) Shocks for 88 Civic (Front and rear)
Koni North America - ITT
These Bushing kits
Cart - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing
And of course the Cheddas top hats (as well as the upper control arms)
Web Store
What else do I need? What are the '97 Prelude top hat bushings you mentioned? Thanks
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fixedit
I used 88 civic ground controls to match the shocks. for the rear busshings i used 5th gen prelude stock replacement rear top hat busshing and it worked just fine. I did order shorter springs in the front 7 inch but you can get away with 8 or 9 inch spring if you want to preload your front spring. for the rear i used a 9 inch spring because the shock of the civic is way shorter than the stock accord one. Im lowered about 2.5-3 inch in the front and 2in in the rear.
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Alright, so revised list then
These springs, 7" 440lb front and 9" rear
Ground Control - Coilover Conversion kit, 88-91 Honda Civic/CRX(CUSTOM RATES)
The Koni Yellows
Koni North America - ITT
These two bushing kits
Prothane Motion Control 8-901 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing
Prothane Motion Control 8-902 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing
The '97 (5th gen Prelude) rear upper shock bushings
MOOG MOOG-K9498 - Upper Rear Shock Mount Bushings made by MOOG
Top hats, UCA's, and LCA's (cheddas webstore link not working, don't know the LCA cost)
http://www.cheddasauto.com/apps/webs...s/show/5170303
http://www.cheddasauto.com/apps/webs...s/show/4369657
Price;
$349.00 Springs
$528.96 Shocks
$48.84 Poly bushings
$46.50 Rear upper shock bushings
$250.00 Top hat kit
$230.00 UCA's
$200-300 LCA's
Looking at the $1,500 to $2,000 range, to properly lower your 3g. Dayum chigga
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fixedit
That's why I'm going with KSports, as soon as I get the $845 https://www.3geez.com/forum/how/7188-...ain-relay.html
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Hahaha man, always you and links haha.
And oh wow, is that everything you need right there? Also I'd still want to use the top hats and UCA/LCA's, to prevent bottoming out shocks and to correct camber and what not. So still expensive but not as bad
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
Everything I've read about them suggests that they are a all in one kit, with chamber adjustments built into the top of the shock. Next year (March or April) when I get my 15 year bonus from work I'll be able to tell you how they work.
Re: How To: Cheddasauto Front Top Hat Installation Guide
