Lowering On A High School Budget?

[imported_95civicracer69]

I have a 1992 LX which is 4-door and i am in severe need of a lowered suspension. My car has bad body roll and the ride is not sporty enough for me.
Does anyone know of a good setup with lowering springs and some good shocks or struts? I don't really have a lot of money to spend for coilovers. But i want a sporty ride and a decrease in wheel gap. I want it to last a while also.

Thanx for all help in advance.

[imported_SkorchedZero]

On my previous high school budget, I lowered my 96 lx sedan on ground-control coilover sleeves and KYB GR-2 struts, which is nice for me. The car is dropped around 1.5" and currently there is no tire wear issues.

If you wanna go cheaper, I suggest the Eibach Pro-Kit or Eibach Sportline series. I have heard nothing but good things for the Pro-Kit, but it only lowers your car about 1.3". The KYB GR-2 struts should work well with these (did I mention those struts are cheap as hell?)

I heard the ride can be bumpy at times with the Sportlines, but it lowers around 1.8". With the Sportlines, you will probably need a camber kit, but those are cheap for 5th gen. Civics. You would have to buy better struts than the GR-2's for these, since the Gr-2's are said to only handle as much as a 1.5" drop. KYB AGX are said to be excellent. Tokico and Koni are other good name brands so I hear.

I would also buy a good manual for your car and install everything yourself. It would save a lot of money there.

[Calesta]

Run Pro-Kits plus KYB GR-2s... you'll look like this:

<img src=http://www.hondaswap.com/gallery/images/s3f26f9d385ff0.jpg>

That was my setup with KYB AGXs and Eibach Pro-Kit springs on 15 inch GSR wheels. I kept the shocks set to 2/4 on stiffness, so the GR-2s ought to suit you quite well without needing to be adjustable. You don't really need a camber kit if you keep your alignment (toe) in check- I didn't have any camber wear problems until I stepped into a more powerful engine 35k miles later, and that was running on some pretty soft tires too.

If you find a used set of Pro-Kits online somewhere (or just cheap), and a new set of GR-2s, you could done for under $400 if you install it all yourself.

[Bryan_M]

definitely install it yourself. it's really not hard, it just takes some time. install your springs and struts at the same time though. otherwise it's more than twice as hard b/c you have to take the stock springs off the struts, etc.

[imported_95civicracer69]

Thanks guys I am lookin for an Eibach pro-kit and some of those KYB struts. This has been very helpful.


Peace!

[imported_96hatchback]

Just put a few cinderblocks in the trunk and a couple in the front seat, if you are on a tight budget!

[imported_camelian]

If you're really short on money and just want it lowered, you could just do springs. That's what I did. It's not too bad, just a little bouncy over bumps. It'll be easier to change when you get around to struts because the spring is shorter than the stock ones. Took about 5 hours for me and my bro to put all 4 springs on. I got used neuspeed sport for $99 shipped.

[imported_SkorchedZero]

Eventually his stock struts will wear out though, so I guess it depends on how many miles are left on them. I believe Calesta told me once his stockers failed on him after a few weeks on lowering springs (Pro-Kit).

[Calesta]

Yeah, it didn't take too long... but I really beat on my car back then in the twisties, and the shocks already had 50k miles on them. You take a chance when you lower on your stock shocks, but if they're still good you'll be ok for a while. Aftermarket springs with higher spring rates will always wear out your stock shocks faster than the stock springs, so it's really up to you when you want to replace the shocks. Doing both springs/shocks at the same time is the best way to go.

KYB GR-2, $261.92/set shipped
http://www.coximport.com/store/341138 $65.48
http://www.coximport.com/store/341139 $65.48
http://www.coximport.com/store/341094 $65.48 x2

KYB AGX, $380/set shipped
http://www.coximport.com/store/164025

Eibach Pro-Kit, $222 shipped
http://www.coximport.com/store/4017.140

Eibach Sportline, $207 shipped
http://www.coximport.com/store/4.1740

Tein S-Tech, $137
http://www.groupbuycenter.com/buy.aspx?id=12038


Go take your pick- you can be done for under $400 if you buy the Tein S-Tech springs and KYB GR-2s, or go scrounge around some more and possibly pick up some used parts for less.

[imported_AznMenace]

I dont know about the struts wearing out real fast. I mean there will wear out prematurely but I drove on mine dropped to hell and back for about 6 months and nothing was wrong except it being bumpy. Only after taking a job as a delivery driver did one and only one to blow. I got some agx's and so far i think that is one of my best investments. =]