Looking to lower...

[96CivicEX06]

I'm going for a daily driver setup so I want something that doesn't rattle me to death. What would you experts recommend and at what cost?

[Greenblurr93]

how much do you want to lower it? if .75 - 1.25 inches i would get lowering springs.. (tein, eibach, etc.) should run $300. if you want to lower it more than that i would go with coilovers (omni power, tein, H&R, etc) and a camber kit if youre lowering more than 1.75 inches... should run $650-$1500

[96CivicEX06]

Only enough so that the car looks clean -- when the top of the tire is aligned with the fender. I'd say that'd be 1.25" for the front and approx. 1" for the rear, I'd have to check though. How difficult would you say replacing the springs would be? I'm assuming that you can't really know how much it's going to drop, you just have to estimate from the description of the springs? Also my ride shouldn't suffer too greatly, should it?

[00accord44]

1.25 and 1 should be pretty good for you. The lower you go, the bouncier your ride is gonna be unless you get shorter shocks/struts. Any set you buy should indicate how far the drop will be once they're settled.

Ride quality will obviously be harsher with the drop, but your tire size also factors into that. Once your sidewall gets lower than 45mm bumps become pretty noticeable, but its nothing unbearable. After a while you won't even notice and riding in cars at stock height with thick sidewalls becomes a luxury ride

Are you planning on installing your springs yourself? You'll need a spring compressor... or strong bones

[96CivicEX06]

Well I measured the distance between the top of the tire and the fender and my back is about 1.75" off and the front is like 3" off ... I'm not sure if that's because I have about weight in the back due to my sub box and driver or because my car's gay. I also have 17" rims. I'm thinking about doing it myself, I can get a spring compressor. Then again might have someone else do it, we'll see.

[00accord44]

Hmmm... usually cars are raked forward as opposed to hunched back. Its probably the subs causing the difference, but that still sounds a bit off.

[Greenblurr93]

ya, if your looking to almost tuck...your ride is gunna be stiff no matter what you do... and ya, empty your trunk and measure again

[Moonrocks]

I don't recommend it.
I bought mine lowered, without my knowledge.
I still have squeaking problem from the front suspension.
I have it for almost 4 months now.
I put back original stock springs and shocks, and it still squeaks.
Have to go back tomorrow to take a look at it.

Moonrocks.

[Greenblurr93]

hmm... if he wants to lower it then he should, im sure he knows its gunna be stiff... as for your squeaking... it not the lowering kit... it sounds like the bushings...

[Moonrocks]

Thanks Greenblurr93.

Is this the busing between the tie rod and the knuckle? I'm going to the shop tomorrow and show them that. Did this happen to you before or someone else? Can you explain or show a little more detail? I've been trying to fix this problem for almost 3 months now.

Much appreciated,
Moonrocks

[Greenblurr93]

do you know if the previous owner had replaced the bushings with polyurethane ones? because those have a tendancy to squeak a bit, or are they the factory rubber ones... it could be any of the bushings that attach moving arts of your suspension, i would jack the car up and put a jack stand under the arm to simulate the car being on the ground push the car down to simulate a bump and see if you can determine which bushing is squeaking

[Moonrocks]

Thanks Greenblurr93.

I'm gonna show them the bushing tomorrow and see what they can do for me. The squeaking only happens when I turn my car, not when I run it. It tends to happen when I turn the car in a big radius, like when I'm backing out of a parking lot.

Wish me luck.
Thanks again,
Moonrocks.

[Greenblurr93]

then it may not be in your suspension, it could be in your rack...or axels.

[Moonrocks]

Greenblurr,

I took it to the shop and they refuse to think the bushing was the problem.
Even though it's obvious that the two bushings on each side are different. They will replace the spring and shock assembly again. I'm tired with this problem. Wish I had stayed with a new car. Hopefullly they will buy back this car if they cannot fix it this time.

Thanks for all your help.
Moonrocks.

[Greenblurr93]

yes, you may be able to file under the lemon law... and if you tell them youre going to go that route, they will probably fix the bushing rather than buy back the entire car..