[samuraiz]

My crx isn't moving at all now, but since iv'e got the tranny out and the whole front end apart, it seems like a good time to throw some cash at a new suspension setup. 160k in 19 years leaves my CRX a little sloppy. Car is a DD, never been to the track though I some day hope to. I don't have a specific amount I want to spend, just enough that I won't find myself wishing i'd spent more 2 weeks from now.

Springs i'm considering:

Megan 280F & 230R 125$ shipped
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...RK:MEWA:IT&viewitem=&item=180077878322&rd=1,1

Tein 269/123 (123 why so low?) 1.5/1.4 140$ shipped
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TEIN...tegoryZ33582QQihZ016QQitemZ260086198830QQrdZ1

Struts of interest:
4 KYB GR-2 165$ shipped
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-...003QQitemZ130076387620QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

2 Front KYB AGX w/ 2 Rear GR-2 approx 275$ shipped
Is this worth it? or just crazy?

4 Tokico Illuminas 370$ shipped
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKI...006QQitemZ160082937033QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

4 Tokico HP 350$ shipped
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOKI...010QQitemZ200076696272QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW


I'm also planning on getting a bushing kit (worth it?) so that adds like 100$ to my total cost as well. Which setup/combination would you reccomend?

 

[samuraiz]

KYB AGX's are real popular with a Tein Spring...it the setup i want

Can't find agx rears for the 88 CRX, think it'd be worth it to only put them up front?

 

[samuraiz]

im surprised the illuminas and hps are only 25 difference. Hps are usally about 100 cheaper, go with illuminas, im gettin them in the next month.

Yeah, HPs are basically out of the question.

I also can't find the Tokico spring and strut kit for the 88, it'd be a sweet deal otherwise.

Any comments/condemnations on the hybrid setup I discussed?

 

[samuraiz]

Anyone know why the Teins seem to have such a soft rear spring weight? Is it because EFs are so front heavy? In that case, why don't the megans?

 

[samuraiz]

Just switch to the 89-91 lca's and buy an 89-91 suspension setup.

Are they somehow better? I have plenty of options with the 88 setup, if someone makes me believe I really want adjustables then I'll just go with the Tokicos, since people seem to think very highly of them. Add in either of the above mentioned springs and it's a done deal (but which should it be?)

As for coilovers, if this is merely a DD with dreams of something greater, are they really necessary? My understanding is that they are expensive and are useful for changing the height of your car for track days. You can get a pretty good idea of my budget from the items I'm considering.

Also, simpler question, which set of springs would you go with from the above mentioned?

 

[samuraiz]

The softer rear spring rate is for safety, to help induce understeer. A stiff rear will give more oversteer.

Don't you have an abundance of oversteer in a FWD car? Should I avoid these springs then?

EDIT: What I meant is -

Don't you have an abundance of understeer in a FWD car? Should I avoid these springs then?

 

[samuraiz]

Oversteer? FWD's always come from the factory setup for understeer... Have you tried getting the tail to come around?

Sorry, I had it backwards, I don't know why I said that, I edited my above post (though I left my foolish mistake in there)

 

[samuraiz]

I'm starting to feel that since it's really just a DD, I should drop it 1.5" on the Megan springs and call it a day. Yea? Nay?

 

[samuraiz]

if you save up another 90 bucks ... you can get koni's for 460 shipped on H-T

90$ more than the most expensive struts I was considering? It's kinda ironic that you posted that right after I began to reconsider the GR-2s. Is that with springs? cuz if it's not then it's WAY out of my price range. What the hell, can I get a link?

 

[samuraiz]

if it were me, i would save up and buy coilovers (good ones) the first time. ive been through alot suspension set-ups, ive finally setteled with the Apex'i world sport coilovers. soft enough for daily driving; yet stiff enough for anything i can throw at it. i pick mine up cheap and have been loving them since. TEIN makes the EDFC which is great for DD, if it fits your budget look into it.

EDFC is pretty nifty but it costs about as much as I want to spend on an entire spring and strut setup. You can get a pretty good idea of my budget from the items I listed above.

 

[samuraiz]

<<<=====(( Giving Rep for those who comment on the springs and struts I mentioned in my first post, or any similar setups in a similar price range.

I recommend the Tokico Illumina spring and strut kit! Love them for DD and autox.

Do you know the spring rate for those springs? Kit costs quite a bit, I'd like to couple the struts with the springs I listed if they are comparable.

I once found a link to stock spring rates but I can't seem to find anything similar now. I've never been in a car with someone who knew their own spring rates so I'm trying to get a practical idea of what the numbers mean.

 

[samuraiz]

I have the tein springs on a ek hatch and love the ride very smooth but i also look at how i drive i dont go crazy with my car doing auto x i just take it up to a windie road by my house and have some fun. I dont have the green ones i have the gold one's htec or stec not sure I know there 1.5 in the front and 1.8 in the rear drop.

What's the difference between the gold ones and the green ones? Do you know the spring rates? You have an EG hatch? cuz I the EF springs I was looking at have less of a drop in the rear. Is that a normal difference between the models?

 

[samuraiz]

probably not..you may not want to mix and match a setup..I'd find something uniform then

I know it sounds like a bad idea, but has anyone been crazy enough to try it? Obviously the adjustables up front could be set to match the fixed in the rear, but when the front was stiffened do you think it would still be improved handling or just a ton of understeer?

 

[samuraiz]

buy the koni's and put the spring perch on the lowest groove. Use the stock springs and the car will be lowered ~1". Wait another year and buy some stiffer lowering springs if that is what you want. You'll really kick yourself if you buy the kyb's and then ride in a car with the Koni's. The Koni's just ride/handle SO much better.

Koni struts on stock springs? Interesting! I'd like to hear from someone with that setup. Surely it can't beat AGXs with Tein lowering springs (approx the same price) Which (color?) Konis are we talking about here?

 

[samuraiz]

Mine are like 375 for the front and 250 for the rear, if i remember right.

Your right there are no kits for an 88, but honestly I think they are Eibach progressive springs.

Konis are great as mentioned before, if you can afford them I would honestly consider them. Otherwise find a spring/strut kit, or a coilover setup, and compare them with building them seperate. Either way you should be fine.

How does that stiffness feel?

Has anyone else heard of using Koni's with stock springs? Does it sound crazy to anyone one else? I like the idea, it just seems like I won't get full use out of the Koni's. Is there even a point to using Koni's if you're only going to put them on stock springs?

 

[samuraiz]

Koni yellows. And if you are looking for performance, Koni yellows with stock springs will outperform KYB's with any other spring.

What are your goals? Do you just want to lower your car, or do you want it to handle as good as you can afford? If you just want to lower your car, it doesn't matter what you get. If you want it to handle as good as it can without spending $$texas, buy the Koni's. Even if you just buy the Koni's and run another year on stock springs, you'll be better off.

I want the car to handle better AND ride smoother than stock (if possible). Are the Koni's the answer to that? What do you mean when you say "put the spring perch on the lowest groove"? Ii've never heard of someone lowering on stock springs without cutting them.

 

[samuraiz]

I want the car to handle better AND ride smoother than stock (if possible). Are the Koni's the answer to that? What do you mean when you say "put the spring perch on the lowest groove"? Ii've never heard of someone lowering on stock springs without cutting them.

What about the Koni Reds? Worth it? Would they be better for a budget DD car?

 

[samuraiz]

the koni's have different "perches" - the spot where the spring rests on the shock... you can move it higher/lower... a step or two. so the koni's allow for adjustable height - sorta.

I think I'm sold on the Koni's where's this thread where I can get them for 460$ shipped?