lowering

looking to lower my 03 EX and was looking at some Eibach springs to do the job. just three questions: is eibach any good, from any experience; and, are new shocks required for lowering? I am also getting some 17 inch rims, will these fit without rubbing or other problems after an inch of lowering?

Eibach is a good choice. AS for the rims, I highly recommed that you consider a smaller size, I have 17's on my Civic with H&R sport (1.75 drop in the front, 1.5 rear) and it is a rough ride. You dont need shocks right away, but it is the best thing to do. Your stockers will eventually blow out. larger wheels slow your car down and wont actually increase its handling, because of their weight. an ideal setup( one i wish i had) would be something like 15" lightweight wheels such as Spoon, Mugen, SSR, GramLights, and a good performance tire. along with around 1.5" drop, sway bars, strut bars, and some good shocks such as KYB AGX (which i have and like) or Koni Yellow (better)

*yes a 1" drop would be a good, safe amount

looking to lower my 03 EX and was looking at some Eibach springs to do the job. just three questions: is eibach any good, from any experience; and, are new shocks required for lowering? I am also getting some 17 inch rims, will these fit without rubbing or other problems after an inch of lowering?

Coupe or Sedan?

sedan

Eibach makes a Sedan kit. I'd advise using there product over say Teins if you had a coupe. So yes the products is good and made especially for your car.

H&R springs are my first choice on all the cars I've lowered and yes you should upgrade the struts. Stock struts can not control lowering springs correctly therefore your ride or handling wont be what it should. To answer your first question Eibach is good but H&R is better(and cheaper). I agree with alpha 17's are too big for a civic. There is something called a tire a car needs not a rubber band. Look through the SUSPENSION FORUM this topic of lowering and wheels has been covered in length MANY times.

wait, the struts, or shocks, or both?

all 4. what he's trying to say is you need both shocks and springs for a proper lowering job, because the stock shocks are too soft for a lowered ride. sport are firmer and designed for less travel. Heres what I did: buy the springs, then put them in. then a few weeks later i got the shocks and put them in. If you have at least 700 or so you should be able to get both at once. but if you dont have the money, just get the springs, then get the shocks ASAP.

Installation is pretty easy. do it yourself and save a hundred or more.

wait, the struts, or shocks, or both?

The 01+ civic have a new type of suspension (I think is McPherson or something like that) where the strut and shocks are an assembly.

I drive a 01 civic coupe LX and lowered with H&R sport (about a year); never upgrade the shocks and never have any problem with them. I know is better upgrade the shocks but don't have the money.

If your car is a street vehicle I recommend the "H&R sport" (black) beacause this springs are designed for street. Its lowering range (1.75 front, 1.5 rear) give your vehicle the lowered "style" you want and a better handling performance for street.

Other suspensions with more lowering range will lower the vehicle too much for the street and daily driving, and maybe you will have problem hittong the vehicle with anything on the street.

If you aren't looking for some street racing is better 15 inch wheel (16 inch if you want to upgrade the brakes with big brake rotors). But if not, I the 17" is ok, but you will need to install a camber kit and a proper aligment to avoid the wear of the tire.

The 01+ civic have a new type of suspension (I think is McPherson or something like that) where the strut and shocks are an assembly.

Mcpherson struts are just another type of strut assy. Honda's have been using conventional struts since the late 70's. Struts are a type of shock.