I Just Lowered The Civic

[imported_SkorchedZero]

The Civic is finally lowered about 1.5" all around. You can't really see much camber angle on the wheels, it doesn't pull to any side, the front end shakes a little (wheel balance must be off) and I'm not running a camber kit. Anyway, they guy that did it said I dont need an alignment. He then said that Civic's cant be aligned much at all if any (I guess I need the toe fixed, correct?). I'm pretty much waving the flag on that, since I always hear you need an alignment after lowering. Am I right?

[Calesta]

No, there's not much that you can adjust on a Civic- just toe. Lowering your car still alters your suspension geometry, which changes your toe. Bad toe exaggerates camber wear, so you should still get an alignment done.

I would install a camber kit no matter what, even with "only" a 1.5 inch drop.

[Smooth_Imports]

get an alignment. I havn't gotten one yet sence i lowered my car but i have mayor TQ steer when i take hard corners.

[imported_myculito]

Based on what i've found dealing with my suspension, you should definitely get the camber kit all the way around. After you've done this, get the alignment and balancing done. It'll get rid of any major shake at speeds above 60, which on my car was pretty damn violent when traveling on highway.

If you have an Olson Tire (Tires plus) shop near you, most of them offer a package for $99 that gives you unlimited alignments for 3 years, lifetime rotation, lifetime balance, and 3 oil changes.

You really can't go wrong on this deal.

Originally posted by Calesta@Jul 23 2003, 04:31 AM
No, there's not much that you can adjust on a Civic- just toe. Lowering your car still alters your suspension geometry, which changes your toe. Bad toe exaggerates camber wear, so you should still get an alignment done.

I would install a camber kit no matter what, even with "only" a 1.5 inch drop.

The old wise one is right. Any time you mess with your suspension you should go to the alignment shop. Unless you feel like dishing out some money for tires 3 times a year. Shoot, you need to get an alignment when you just put new bigger wheels on your car...that can change toe/camber as well

[imported_team_adrenaline]

I currently do alignments for a living at NTB, and I will tell you that all you can adjust from the factory on any gen civ is the front toe. Toe is the most important to keep in specs because it wears tires the fastest.
Just because you lowered your car in the last couple of days doesnt mean that you need to adjust camber right now. As the springs get broken in they will settle considerably and then you will see a visual change in the camber of the front and rear wheel. Just so you know, in case you dont, camber is the inward or outward tilt of the wheel compared to the steering axis. If you lowered your civ the camber will be negative, top of the tire is leaning in toward the motor, raising it will be positive, out to the fender trim.

I personally waited about 3 months until I saw avisual change in the camber before I installed the camber kit and aligned my car. Basically because I didnt want to have to do it twice, even though I can do my own for free. You can do it either way, or if they gave you a printout of the final measurements, either copy them over exactly the way they are on the prinout or scan it in and post it. I'll tell you honestly if you need it or not right now.
Also as a general rule with civs for every inch you lower it you get 1 degree of negative camber so in your case you probably got somewhere in the are of 1.5 deg. added to what it was before.

PM me or e-mail me if you have any more questions.

[High_Rolling_Civic]

You should always get a camber kit. You'll hate yourself if you dont because of all the tire wear that will result!

[CeeReX]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(High_Rolling_Civic @ Jul 14 2006, 04:59 PM) [snapback]102691[/snapback]</div>

You should always get a camber kit. You'll hate yourself if you dont because of all the tire wear that will result!
[/b]

Good reply, but too little waaaaayyy late.

Thread is almost 3 yrs old!!

[High_Rolling_Civic]

snap...

i dont know wtf was going on when i answered this.

[shopresponse]

It happens. No big deal.