Coilovers -- advice needed

[acunat]

First off, I'm a teen. Low income.

I have a 98 Civic EX


Anyway, I want to lower my car and at the same time, get a stiffer ride. Less body roll etc. A friend told me to get coilovers. I've looked into them and I don't want to spend 1k on springs for a car I'm never going to hit a 90 degree turn at 80mph with. I've read a ton of posts in this forum and they all say not to get the cheap sleeve ones, to get the $1k full spring set ones. Well I don't want to spend 1000.

I was planning on getting the weapon-r pro circuit coilovers for $199. Right around 200 is the most I want to spend. I read some reviews on weapon r's and they said they were bouncy as hell. It seems that all sleeved coilovers are bouncy as hell. What is this bounce? like I go over a bump and hit my head on the roof like im on a school bus bounce?

Bottom line: I don't mind that the ride is stiff. I don't want bus-bounce. I want to keep it at $200 and I want to lower the car. Are coilovers the choice for me? If so, which ones?

[Ace$nyper]

I'm never going to hit a 90 degree turn at 80mph

your not? Well i spend 280 on skunk2s not bad ride at all Ground control is pretty much same i'd sugest saving up for them I also have heard bad things about weapon Rs. Also for 200 you get get good springs if you don't need the adjustments.

[CivicLeader]

Originally posted by acunat
First off, I'm a teen. Low income.

I have a 98 Civic EX


Anyway, I want to lower my car and at the same time, get a stiffer ride. Less body roll etc. A friend told me to get coilovers. I've looked into them and I don't want to spend 1k on springs for a car I'm never going to hit a 90 degree turn at 80mph with. I've read a ton of posts in this forum and they all say not to get the cheap sleeve ones, to get the $1k full spring set ones. Well I don't want to spend 1000.

I was planning on getting the weapon-r pro circuit coilovers for $199. Right around 200 is the most I want to spend. I read some reviews on weapon r's and they said they were bouncy as hell. It seems that all sleeved coilovers are bouncy as hell. What is this bounce? like I go over a bump and hit my head on the roof like im on a school bus bounce?

Bottom line: I don't mind that the ride is stiff. I don't want bus-bounce. I want to keep it at $200 and I want to lower the car. Are coilovers the choice for me? If so, which ones?

What's up acunat ....

I can't give you any advice on coil overs based on experience because I'm in the market to move into coil overs myself. Currently I have Tokico Shocks with Neuspeed sport spring...

From what I've been told so far...you don't really want to skimp out on the quality when it comes to coilovers...I mean think about it...this is the thing that is going to keep your car off of the road when you go over bumps on the highway/street/what ever...

I say be patient and save up some more cash...keep doing the research as will I and once I get some solid advice...I'll pass it on here on AF so we all can benefit...

Just remeber...you get what you pay for and nothing is free/cheap!

[SilverY2KCivic]

I'll break it down like this having true full coilovers on my car. Even at a wallet wrenching $850. I feel that was probably the BEST mod I have laid $$$ down on. I'm a teen too, well ok I'm 23, but I got myself a 2nd job just the make the extra cash I needed to be able to buy the stuff I wanted for my car.

When it comes to suspension, weather you'r gonna take turns at 80mph or not, you don't want to skimp out on it. $200 is WAY not enough to budget on it. That's not even enough to budget on GOOD quality springs, or sleeves for that matter. What kind of shocks are you planning to use with the Weapon R's? If you plan on your stock ones, plan on saving up for new ones REAL soon because I'll guarantee you they will blow out on you by this time next year. You'll need to budget at least $400 for shocks alone, and another $200 - $300 for springs or sleeves. That's why I got my Tein suspension I have right now. When it came down to all costs considered, it seemed logical to just save an extra $100 or $200 and do it the RIGHT way all in one shot. Also think of it this way, for an optimal ride quality, the valving of the shocks used should match the rates of the springs used. When you get one of the MANY $1k coilover systems out there, everything is perfectly matched to work together flawlessly. When you get springs and shocks seperate, even if you get Koni Yellows, the set-up still isn't matched to itself so the ride quality won't be as good as it could be. My Teins I have (as is the case with most other similar coilover systems) the ride quality is about as close to stock as you can get with being lowered. I can make them feel hard as a rock, or as plush as stock.

Now I know I'm preaching to you about something you aren't even considering, but I was in your same shoes on this issue a year and a half ago, and I'm glad I got what I got. If I had to do it all over again, I'm not one of the ones screaming to myself that I wasted my money on a crap setup, instead I'd get the same thing again I have right now. If you hear that the Weapon's are bouncy and that's not what you are looking for, then don't get them. I know friends that have gotten back problems because the cheap springs/sleeves they got were too bouncy for them. As for what to expect when people say too bouncy. As you cruise down a street that's not perfectly even, you WILL bounce around in your seat a bit, and possibly bump your head on the ceiling if you are kinda tall. Not fun, and it looks ghetto as heck.

[BullShifter]

Do it right or dont do it at all
Don't forget about a camber kit with any type of adjustable coilover

www.tirerack.com 98 Civic Ex suspension

H&R's cup kit is nice for springs/shocks

You will need a good set of tires & atleast a larger rear sway bar to get the most out of your investment. upper strut bars should come last if you have a small budget, their biggest improvement is looks

[acunat]

Alright, I seriously do not and will not have $1000 to spend on this single mod. I'd really like to lower it while at the same time making the ride stiffer.

Can I just get lowering springs? I wasn't really planning on changing the coilovers up and down anyway. Will the lowering springs make it all bouncy just like the coilovers (or less than/more than)? And what about stiffness and if they're an alternative to getting coilovers, what kind/brand is reccomended? Keep in mind, I want the ride to be tighter, but I don't want to drive a bus. Can I do that with out buying true coilovers?

[SilverY2KCivic]

Well you can, just not as well or easily. Like I said, no matter the route you chose to go (between lowering springs, and "cheap" sleeve type coils, you'll have to get new shocks as well, otherwise once your stock ones blow out, you're ride will feel as bad as it ever could, and having the springs will be pointless. So it's GOING TO cost more than $200 no matter what. Also of note, Tein makes a basic true full coilover kit called the "Basic Kit" that retails for $750, but you can probably find most places for at least $100 - $150 LESS than that retail price. If you don't plan to lower or raise it, I'd recommend lowering springs over sleeves, better ride quality for sure. Neuspeed sports and Eiback Pro-Kit are both very nice lowering springs, I'd consider those before any others. Good luck with which ever you go with.