how to get to rear shocks?

[revs]

hi, i'm a suspension noob so please be patient,
This week i got my neuspeed race springs (2.5" front 2"rear) and koni yellow shock absorbers fitted to my 98 civic. Its low and i love it. Trouble is i don't know what settings the shop set on my shocks. I'm guessing they must be on maximum firm cos i feel every little bump in the road. While i love the stiff ride and handling, my girl friend doesn't seem to appreciate it and constantly complains she feels sick . I bought these koni yellows specifically for the adjustment factor so i could put them on soft when she is with me in the car.
Trouble is i can get to the front shocks easily enough, but how do i adjust the rear shocks? i tried taking off all the carpet in the trunk to get to them but no luck. Are they hiding behind the plastic side wall mouldings? or do the rear shocks need to be taken out to be adjusted? and what is the ideal set up for maximum ride comfort? should they be set softer in the front and a little firmer in the rear? or should front and rears be set to the same level of firmness?

thanks guys for your help. This is a great suspension combo and i love it, but my girl says if i don't sort out the ride quality when shes in the car then she won't, well.. you know...

[CivicSiRacer]

Hahah my old old girlfriend had to have me pull over when I got my Tokico Illuminas and Neuspeed Sport Springs (1.75" drop).

All you should have to do is pull back the carpet right by where the seats meet the trunk. Turn clockwise (if I remember right) to stiffen up the rebound, and counter-clockwise to soften it up.

For everyday street driving I recommend all soft. And you feel every bump because you are on Neuspeed Race springs. Did the shop remember to cut the bump stops?

[revs]

thanx civicsiracer, girlfriends can be such a headache lol. Well i expected the race springs would be stiff and thats why i ordered them. I'm sure the shop cut the bump stops because the car sits really low now. I'm on 17s. I assume that if the shop did not cut the bump stops that the car would not have acheived the expected drop? is that right? thank you for all your help

[CivicSiRacer]

Originally Posted by revs

thanx civicsiracer, girlfriends can be such a headache lol. Well i expected the race springs would be stiff and thats why i ordered them. I'm sure the shop cut the bump stops because the car sits really low now. I'm on 17s. I assume that if the shop did not cut the bump stops that the car would not have acheived the expected drop? is that right? thank you for all your help

you don't ride on the bump stops, if you do then you are going to ruin your shocks. The bump stops sort of protect your shocks from bottoming out. I would check to make sure.

Also your ride is stiff because of race springs AND 17" wheels. Bad combo

[revs]

lol, well i kinda figured rim size had sumthin to do with it! i pulled back the carpet and i couldn't find the rear shocks. Iono, maybe they are in the hard plastic side wall housing where the 6x9 speakers are located on top. I'll take photos to show you if i haven't explained it well. oh well, i like the ride and my girl will just have to take the bus! thanks for the help!

[BullShifter]

You should keep adjustable shocks/struts on the SOFTEST setting for the first 500-750 until the suspension is fully settled. Also it's a good idea NOT to drive around on the stiffest setting because you will shorten the life.

Usually I keep my struts set the same or slightly stiffer in the rear(oversteer)