Dropzone coilovers

[gimmezell]

I'm interested in dropping my '00 Civic EX 1 1/2". I can't afford to drop it right, meaning I can't afford Koni Yellows. What are be the drawbacks up just using coilovers for now?

Thanks,

Gimme

[SilverY2KCivic]

Well expect to blow out your stock struts in roughly a year, could even happen in 2 months depending on what sort of spring rate the Drop Zones are rated at. To my understanding, they are a bit more bouncy than Ground Controls, and that means they will be working your struts that much harder. Id say save for some Ground controls if you go with coilover sleeves. Remember, especially with springs, you get what you pay for. But here's my real opinion on it. If you possibly can, try to save for a set of true coilovers. You absolutely won't regret it. Even if you got Koni Yellows to go with the Drop Zones, it still isn't ideal, because neither part is designed for the other. Where with coilovers, springs are exactly matched to appropriate stroked shocks for ultimate performance. When I decided I wanted to lower my ride, I was originaly going to get a set of Ground Controls, then s`ave up to get some Tokico Blues (which are half the price of the Yellows, but I later found out, not good for lowering on). Then I figured with all I'd spend on that (about $600), I might as well save up a little more, and do it right with some coilovers. Well after a long while of talking about it (always bragging I was gonna get them someday), I finally have my car dropped "2 on a set of Tein SS coilovers, I couldn't imagine going any other route with my suspension. With sleeves like Drop Zones, and even Ground Controls, you are stuck with whatever ride quality they give you, but with coilovers, if you get ones that allow you to do so, you can get up to 24-point adjustability of how still, or soft your ride feels going down the street. Something sleeves and even Yellows won't let you do. They won't come as close to stock feel at least, as true coilovers allow. But since you mention on a tight budget, still save a little more for Ground Controls, they will at least be a little easier on your stock struts, giving you a little more life out of them. Good luck with it!

[gimmezell]

thank you for your infomative info.

[SilverY2KCivic]

No prob. Don't let my post discourage you from the Drop Zones, I just haven't heard really that much good stuff about them, just that they tend to bounce a lot and basically tear up your stock struts until you replace them. I justr think that you might like the quality of the Ground Controls, better. But since I'm lowered on true coilovers, I'm gonna recommend them over sleeves. If you'd rather not pay $270-$300 for a set of Ground Controls, then maybe consider the Skunk2's. Almost as good, but less of a price. Around $249 for them at most places.

[Metal Siren]

my friend has drop zone on his 2000 integra LS. It rides fine, no neck breaking its been about a year now and the drop zones go for 95 bucks compare to the 230 he paid for his earlier.
(Dropped it after 4 months of getting car)

Now my other friend has Ground Control coils on his 01 civic and that thing bottoms out a mofo. You can't help but wonder how long his suspension is going to last.
(Dropped it after 9 months of getting car)


And my other friend has an 02 civic but with skunk2 coils on his ride. same result but not as bad cause his drop is .25 higher than my friend with the 01.
(Dropped it after 2 months of getting car)

Hey moderator...do you have any opinions on the tanabe full coil over set-up? the sustec..I was looking at those or the Teins. What is a good price for a set of those?

[Metal Siren]

this might be last minute but my friends and I are going to the california speedway in fontana on the 17th at 8 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. You should come on down, be nice to talk to a fellow DX owner....we are in the same boat-2000 Silver DX coupe....AUTOMATIC

[SilverY2KCivic]

Sounds cool!

I might be able to make it out on sunday, but I'm booked up today (the 17th). Anywho, I have heard good things about the Tanabes. I hear they are really excellent coilovers. I don't know a decent price on them however, but my Teins that I have, I paid $850 for! Not too shabby. And then another $70 at a local shop to install them. If you want more info about it, email me and I'll give you the contact into of where I got mine.

On that '01 Civic with the G/C sleeves, was it on stock struts, and how low was it dumped? All that I know is that I'm WAY happy I went the route I did by getting the Teins rather than coilover sleeves. Like last night I was driving up the 60 and 605, and they just glide over any roadway impurfections. I have it set on the stiffer side right now, so it bounces a little, but a few twist and clicks of the adjuster on the tops of the struts, and I can return it to an almost near stock ride feel. Try that with a set of sleeves around some Koni yellows.

[95civicman]

man why'd you pay someone to put the assembly in? it's mostly bolt in stuff. like puttin in a CAI cept with bigger wrenches. heh. yea took me all day to put in my drop zone springs and they ride pretty good

[95civicman]

man why'd you pay someone to put the assembly in? it's mostly bolt in stuff. like puttin in a CAI cept with bigger wrenches. heh. yea took me all day to put in my drop zone springs and they ride pretty good cept it does get a lil bouncy over like 5 mph speed bumps but doesn't everyone's? the only thing i was disappointed about was the drop. they said 2.5 but i only got around 1.5 out of it.

[SilverY2KCivic]

Since they are rather pricey shocks/spring combo, I'd rather have them installed by a professional who does this on a pretty much daily basis, than me who's never installed shocks or springs before. Plus the fact that I don't have a spring compresser incase I were to need one. And I didn't have an entire day to spare to do it myself, which I know I would have needed.

[95civicman]

don't they already come assembled so you wouldn't need to compress anything? just take the stock assembly out and put the new one in. that would take around 3 hours tops. the only thing that took me long was finding a place to change the springs for only 40 bucks. luckily i know folks. but i always see them and they are already on the shock and you just put them in. maybe i know weird people tho?