Coilover, Strut & Spring Question

[ELM'sLX+CHL'sDX]

Hi Guys:

After some 300K miles, I'm thinking about changing the suspension on my 89 Accord DX sedan. I've been looking at just putting some struts and springs but it's going to be costly at around $400 for springs and struts.

I've seen some pretty cheap coilovers and struts on Ebay and on several aftermarket retailer's websites. My main objective is to get a better a slightly better handling while keeping a smooth ride. I don't want anything that would cause excessive harshness.

Could you guys give me some ideas on what to purchase. Also can someone tell me the difference between springs/struts and coilovers? It would be great if someone had a diagram depicting the differences between the two designs.

Many thanks,
Claude

[88LXi68]

If you are looking to get keep a rather smooth ride I would NOT recommend coilovers. Coilovers have small springs and are usually Linear. Regular springs are usually progressive offering a smoother ride. I am sorry to say this buy in suspension you get what you pay for. Meaning you buy cheap you get cheap stuff. You might want to look at the popular H&R or NEuspeed set up with Konis on all four or just Koni for the front and tokico in the rear. Im sure Jim will give you more detail.

[Mike's89AccordLX]

Is there like a package deal where you can get coilovers and springs? Or where do you get Konis?

[inflikti0n]

if you get new springs would you HAVE to get new struts???
or is there something you can do to the old ones to make them better or anything??..lookin at springs for xmas
*edit*
are arospeed or dropzone any good? those are the only ones i see on ebay..the only ones i can afford

[markmdz89hatch]

Originally posted by Mike's89AccordLX
Is there like a package deal where you can get coilovers and springs? Or where do you get Konis?

a pretty cheap route would be lowboyz full-bodied c/o's. you can get them for 370 total.

http://www.truckn-store.com/product....t.asp&ID=18380

[dXsquared]

OH FUCK! i just bought some of those at 279 a pair! Im callin to bitch them out!

Travis

PS YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW PISSED I AM RIGHT NOW

[dXsquared]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! I AM SOOOO PISSED... I EMAILED THEM AND ASKED FOR THE 190 DOLLAR BALANCE! I EVEN HAD TO SEND THEM BACK AND PAY FOR IT WHEN THEY DIDNT SEND THE RIGHT SIZED BODIES!
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!

Travis

:flipa: AIM Industries!!!

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Originally posted by ELM'sLX+CHL'sDX
Hi Guys:

After some 300K miles, I'm thinking about changing the suspension on my 89 Accord DX sedan. I've been looking at just putting some struts and springs but it's going to be costly at around $400 for springs and struts.

I've seen some pretty cheap coilovers and struts on Ebay and on several aftermarket retailer's websites. My main objective is to get a better a slightly better handling while keeping a smooth ride. I don't want anything that would cause excessive harshness.

Many thanks,
Claude

All lowering springs are stiffer. Some more than other's. Even the softest lowering springs you can get will give a noticeably(ms) firmer ride than stock (neuspeed/H&R 1.5") BUT,......they are not stiff or harsh, only firm. A excellent setup would be Neuspeed's from www.nopionline.com for $130. Front Koni struts (Do not use anything else in the front) from www.shox.com for $212 and rear tokico struts also from shox for $119 Total $461 (If you want you can use Koni's all the way around, but you can save a few dollar's by using the tokico's in the rear, DO NOT try to use the tokico's in the front, they do not have enough firmness for even the softest lowering springs made for our cars for duty in the front).

Coilover's are springs that have a threaded sleave that hug's the strut body and will allow you to adjust the ride height of the car at each wheel. So you dial in what ride height look's good to you. However coilover's rarely use progressive springs, they almost alway's use linear springs. Progressive= a spring design that when first compressed has a softer rate that goes firmer as it's compressed. Linear= no soft initial rate full firmness from the start. And some coilover's, almost alway's the cheap one's have really stiff springs, so stiff that they will require revalving of the struts to ride right. In other word's the even the Koni's won't have the power to control them.

Based on what you want the neuspeed/koni/tokico combo will give you the best lowered ride possible.

If you have to have coilovers I would get the drop zone's for $100, sell the springs they come with. Buy new springs for them from ground-control, they sell springs for coilovers seperately. This way you can pick spirngs that are much softer, yet still proper for a lowered vehicle. I'd go with 280lbs front and 180lbs rear, cost would be $200 for the springs. Keep in mind they they would still be linear, not pregressive. Use the Koni's struts in the front and Tokico struts in the rear.

[ELM'sLX+CHL'sDX]

Hi Jim:

What if lowering is not a factor. I'm currently running on original equipment at stock height. Heck, I still have the 185-70-13 tires that normally come with our Hondas.

Would the Dropzone coilovers set at standard height without lowering induce a harsh ride? Also, if I don't lower the car, would KYB GR-2 struts do the job or automatically do coilovers or stiffer springs require high end struts such as the Konis?

Thanks,
Claude

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Originally posted by ELM'sLX+CHL'sDX
Hi Jim:

Would the Dropzone coilovers set at standard height without lowering induce a harsh ride? Also, if I don't lower the car, would KYB GR-2 struts do the job or automatically do coilovers or stiffer springs require high end struts such as the Konis?

Thanks,
Claude

The height you set them at won't make a differance until you go below 2.25" drop. If you've installed a stiffer spring, lowered or not Kyb GR-2's are only oem valved replacement's they should never be used with a car that has springs stiffer than stock. You will have bounce, control issue's, excess brake dive during braking and everytime you step on the gas the back end will dip, all sighn's that your struts can't control the stiffer springs properly. Keep in mind that makes a differance with ride quality to, the ride is truely smoother when the springs are properly controled. Not even Tokico H.P.'s or Bilstein H.D.'s for that matter have the what it takes for duty with stiffer lowering springs. They are Hi Performance or Heavy Duty for a stock accord. Both manufactures make product's approiate for lowered car's, unfortunately they choose NOT TO OFFER THEM for our car's, which sucks.

Even the softest lowering spring you can get for your accord is to powerfull for use with ordinary struts. I tried Bilstein H.D.s, didn't work til I had the revalved, the Koni's I ran were perfect. Carotman has the tokico's with his neuspeed springs and he says the same thing,...to soft in the front. Kyb GR-2's aren't going to be any different.

Here's what I mean about dropzone coilovers stiffness. Take a look at how much stiffer than stock they are compaired to how some other setups are.

Neuspeed&
H&R 1.5" front 26% rear 41% (softest lowering spring ava.)

Ground-Control front 61% rear 214%

Dropzone coilovers front 213% rear 300% (Skunk2's likely stiffer.)

See what I mean, dropzone's are to stiff, even for the Koni's.
Like I said they should only be run with revalved Koni's or revalved bilstein's.