Bec Tech or Tokica?

[dominate9]

I have a 97 Honda Accord EX on 225/40/18. I want to lower my car some and still have the stock/factory smooth ride. I've been hearing good reports about combining ground control coilovers with Tokica "Blue" or Illuminas. Then I read something about Bec Tech Suspension. Are Bec Tech Struts better than Tokica "Blues" or Illuminas"Blues". What would be my best bet for lower my car?

[texan]

What are you looking for besides a lower ride height and a smooth ride?

[dominate9]

Originally posted by texan
What are you looking for besides a lower ride height and a smooth ride?

That is all I am looking for: lower height, smooth ride, little to no bouncing (preferrably NONE). I just want to be able to drop a couple of inches so my ride looks nice and then be able to raise it back up whenever I need to. Where I live has a lot of hills and high raises, so I'll be varying my height very once in a while. When I go back home, it'll be dropped as far as possible.

[CivicSiRacer]

I would recommend Koni Yellows or Tokico Illuminas - you can smooth out your ride to your liking with the adjustments on the top of the shocks.

[dominate9]

Originally posted by CivicSiRacer
I would recommend Koni Yellows or Tokico Illuminas - you can smooth out your ride to your liking with the adjustments on the top of the shocks.

Will I be able to reach stock height again? Will I need to have specific coilovers to work with the struts or will just any coilover do?

[Kohhal]

Well I had the Bec-Techs on my Civic with Eibach Pro-kit springs. They were comfortable cruising and lowered about 2" but they bounced on dips which got a bit dangerous on the back roads here. It was cos it was lower than what the springs should have been I think(1.3"). HTH

[1993HondaCivic]

Originally posted by CivicSiRacer
I would recommend Koni Yellows or Tokico Illuminas - you can smooth out your ride to your liking with the adjustments on the top of the shocks.

hey civsiracer, what kind of shocks do YOU have?

[Jims 86LXI HB]

Well I had the Bec-Techs on my Civic with Eibach Pro-kit springs. They were comfortable cruising and lowered about 2" but they bounced on dips which got a bit dangerous on the back roads here. It was cos it was lower than what the springs should have been I think(1.3"). HTH

Well that all but confirm's what I heard about the Bec-Tech's. I heard that all he does is shorten the strut casing and the piston rod and NO
RE-VALVING. You'd think if he's got the talent to whip them up in his garage that he'd have the brains to know if you increase the spring rates you need to increase the compression and rebound rates. Or you get to experience what is quoted above. Sadly some people have that going on and don't realize it, they just think the car rides so nice and comfortable, gawd WAKE UP!!!

[CivicSiRacer]

Originally posted by dominate9


Will I be able to reach stock height again? Will I need to have specific coilovers to work with the struts or will just any coilover do?

With coilovers yes you should be able to go up or down depending on your liking. The only problem with coilovers is that when you redadjust them you should get an alignment.

[CivicSiRacer]

Originally posted by 1993HondaCivic


hey civsiracer, what kind of shocks do YOU have?

On my 1993 Civic I had Tokicos and Skunk2 coilovers. Little bouncy (prolly blew my shocks) but handled nice.

Most of the autocrossers I know use Koni Yellows or MOTec shocks. MOTec is a bit out of my league as they are $1200-2000 PER SHOCK!!!

On my Civic Si I have now I'm going to get Koni Yellows and custom rate ground control coilovers.

[HONDA_99]

koni yellows are hieght adjustable also (1"-1.5", depends on car), but koni recommends to use lower perches only with OEM springs.

[dominate9]

Originally posted by CivicSiRacer


With coilovers yes you should be able to go up or down depending on your liking. The only problem with coilovers is that when you redadjust them you should get an alignment.

Does it really throw the alignment off that bad? Why is that? Gettting it aligned could be a bit of a hassle. I'll be high the majority of the time. I'll only have it really low for a couple of days out of each month and during the big holiday breaks.

[petzride]

Originally posted by dominate9


I'll be high the majority of the time. I'll only have it really low for a couple of days out of each month and during the big holiday breaks.

I hope u don't think raise or lower the car is a easy thing. From my experience on skunk2, it takes time and makes me headache. It is really not something u want to do daily or even once a month. U'll also have to worry about the camer too....

oh..and I see u have 18'' wheels.......
wow...u'll need a set of expensive shocks to get smooth ride.....
believe me~~

[dominate9]

Originally posted by petzride


I hope u don't think raise or lower the car is a easy thing. From my experience on skunk2, it takes time and makes me headache. It is really not something u want to do daily or even once a month. U'll also have to worry about the camer too....

oh..and I see u have 18'' wheels.......
wow...u'll need a set of expensive shocks to get smooth ride.....
believe me~~

The ride is a little rough right now but not too bad. I am planning on getting ground control coilovers and Tokica Illuminas. Previous posts told me that gives a smooth ride. I was told that is isn't too hard changes heights on ground control. Since I have got the 18's", the camber has become an issue for me now. Someone told me that I might ned a camber kit if I am going to lower the fender to the wheel (to cover up the gap). I didn't think the 18's would give lowering problems. Any recommendations on my setup?

[Oinac]

If you're getting coilovers I suggest getting Koni, NOT Tokico (Blues or Illuminas)... the reason being Tokico doesn't recommend you lowering your car more than 1.5" from original stock height (well for my application and it VOIDs warranty)... this being said Tokicos want to limit how much you lower, while on the other hand Koni will handle drops more than 1.5"... I have Tokico Illuminas right now...