stock shocks + coilover "sleeves"(?)...

[dreemkill]

currently i have stock 15" 2001 civic rims on my car... 185/65R15 tires..i like them, because they fill the wheel well gap perfectly..and the car isnt jacked up too high....i have the opportunity to get a set of stock 14" rims, with 195/60R14 tires on them (new tires) pretty cheap from my friend, since he's getting new wheels..i'd like to get the 14s, because smaller wheels = better responsiveness (meaning, hit the gas, get going..the 15s are kinda "slow" off the line, bigger circumferance..more to get them moving..) and also, the fact that they would make the speedometer a bit more correct...now, if i get them, i want to lower the car a bit, to fill the gap....im thinking i'd just get some coilover (sleeves i guess is what they'd be?) or springs..this would be with stock shocks (for now) what brand should i get, and how much should i be expecting to spend? whats a good place to find some online? i dont mind a bit of a bouncy ride, i really dont like a really stiff ride tho (the kinda where the car goes *CLUNK* when you drive over a little pothole)
any advice is appreciated

[buh_buh]

Well, getting the wheels would be more of a personal preference. Most people would rather move to a bigger wheel, but its up to you. As far as springs/coilovers go, I'd say go with an Eibach Spring, or if you want to go with coilovers, go with either Ground Controls (which I believe would be the best ones you could get), or Skunk2 (I heard they were a little bouncier than GC's, but you said you don't mind bouncy right?). I don't know how long you can ride on stock struts for if you have a lowered suspension, some people say they blow after a couple months, some people have told me they haven't blown after driving on them for 3 years. But if you are in the market for some now or later on, the best would be Koni Yellows or Tokico Illuminas. If you think those are a little too pricey, go with the KYB's. Hope this helps.

[dreemkill]

well yeah, most people do....personally i dont like anything over a 15" really..*maybe* 16"...
if i had some lower profile tires on the 15s, i'd just keep them...when i get new wheels (looking @ a set of rota slips') ill get lower profile tires..might get the 16s..im just trying to keep the diameter as close to stock as possible (for reasons formentioned)

where should i look for some skunk2s, or GCs? any idea what price i'd be looking @? i might be ordering something soon, like maybe this week (ifi get the 14s)

ill definatly be getting new shocks this spring..this spring im gonna hopefully go "all-out" and basically redo the entire suspension, hopefully new engine, and paint job, and interior work... but i'd like to get something for the time being.

if i get those GCs or Skunks, i can use them with the new shocks i'd get right?
i was actually lookin @ some koni yellows in the near future...
Thanks for the reply tho, definatly helpful

[buh_buh]

Originally posted by dreemkill
well yeah, most people do....personally i dont like anything over a 15" really..*maybe* 16"...
if i had some lower profile tires on the 15s, i'd just keep them...when i get new wheels (looking @ a set of rota slips') ill get lower profile tires..might get the 16s..im just trying to keep the diameter as close to stock as possible (for reasons formentioned)

where should i look for some skunk2s, or GCs? any idea what price i'd be looking @? i might be ordering something soon, like maybe this week (ifi get the 14s)

ill definatly be getting new shocks this spring..this spring im gonna hopefully go "all-out" and basically redo the entire suspension, hopefully new engine, and paint job, and interior work... but i'd like to get something for the time being.

if i get those GCs or Skunks, i can use them with the new shocks i'd get right?
i was actually lookin @ some koni yellows in the near future...
Thanks for the reply tho, definatly helpful

The place to find the best prices for GC's or Skunk2's would probably be www.groupbuycenter.com but look around first before buying the first one, there's usually more than one group buy and some are better deals than others. For GC's, I saw them last night actually on group buy center for $309, and I have no clue how much Skunk2's are, my GUESS is around $200-$250? If you get one of these, you can still use your stock shocks until the blow, but make sure you have some $ saved up in case they blow like... next week or something. You never know, cuz if that happens, you will have a harsh harsh ride until you have money for aftermarket shocks. If you use either one of those coilovers, you can use them with new shocks. I have GC's with Koni Yellows right now, but they're not in yet, I'm putting them in next week when the snow goes away, and I'll let you know how they feel.

[dreemkill]

rad, ill look around there..i saw some on ebay and stuff too, but i dunno anymore about buying things on ebay...i hear way too much shit now-a-days (guess that comes with popularity)
how much did the koni yellow's run you? wish my damn paycheck was bigger this week...i gotta see whats up with that..
prolly got shafted on some hours (again...)
anywho, yeah, definatly lemme know how they ride....
if the stock shocks blow on mine, that's just an excuse to get new ones

Originally posted by buh_buh

The place to find the best prices for GC's or Skunk2's would probably be www.groupbuycenter.com but look around first before buying the first one, there's usually more than one group buy and some are better deals than others. For GC's, I saw them last night actually on group buy center for $309, and I have no clue how much Skunk2's are, my GUESS is around $200-$250? If you get one of these, you can still use your stock shocks until the blow, but make sure you have some $ saved up in case they blow like... next week or something. You never know, cuz if that happens, you will have a harsh harsh ride until you have money for aftermarket shocks. If you use either one of those coilovers, you can use them with new shocks. I have GC's with Koni Yellows right now, but they're not in yet, I'm putting them in next week when the snow goes away, and I'll let you know how they feel.

[buh_buh]

I got a SWEET deal on my Koni's.
A friend of mine had them on his car for not even a month, and he's getting rid of them. So we're trading shocks (Koni Yellow for stock) and I'm giving him $550 canadian, which is like... $340USD.

[dreemkill]

awesome....... so what you are saying is, i should expect about a grand for koni yellows and GCs? yikes...a bit (ok, LOT) more than i was expecting!

[tsunamiHB]

yea, and dont forget the possibility of camber kit costs.....

&

installation costs if you dont do it yourself...

[dreemkill]

yeah, i was taking into account a camber kit...installation isnt an issue...friend and friends dad own a honda garage here in town.. (my friend swapped a b18 into his crx by himself) so im confident in him

[buh_buh]

Well you spend a lot, you get a lot right? GC's + Koni Yellows are one of the best combination of strut/coilovers you can go. That's why they're so pricey. Camber kit would depend on how low you go. I heard it affects performance, but you give up tread wear. So I don't know. For installation, I don't think I would pay someone to do something that I could do myself with a little grunt work. So good job. Good luck on installing them yourself.