Vteckidd
11-04-2009, 06:29 PM
My CRX has had Tein Integra Type-R RA suspension on it for the last few months. The suspension was originally designed for of course a much heavier car aka the Integra. This meant heavier springs rates and the suspension was really a "track style" suspension geared toward those who wanted to road race their ITR.
At the time my CRX had some bobo 200k mile suspension on it and i had the Teins laying around so i decided to install them. I had driven the ITR that the Teins were originally on and the ride was stiff but definitely bearable for everyday use.
Well on my CRX it drove like ABSOLUTE ASS. The car felt like it was on a pogo stick, any bump in the road would send ripples through the car , my kidneys felt abused, many times on I285 i would come OUT OF MY SEAT because of where the pavement lines were. It was just very horrible ride.
One of the main problems with the 88-91 CIvic/CRX and DA is that MOST of the suspension companies out there dont make the proper length strut. Ive had bad luck with Omnipowers, KSports, Megans etc. The problem is a LOT of the companies like to use the geometry from the Integra/92+CIVIC and keep the shock length the same. The problem is the EF struts are much shorter. The result is you have to slam the coilovers on the ground to get even a MODERATE lowered ride height. this results in almost no suspension travel and a horrible ride. For many the only alternative was the Ground Control/Koni Yellow setup which is a costly $800+.
I talked to the guys over at Skunk2 (mainly Robert) and they were very knowledgeable and assured me that the ride height issue with the front struts was addressed in their coilover setup and i would be happy with the ride quality, as well as the performance. Being a long time Skunk2 supporter, i decided to give it a shot.
Suspension arrived and i got a chance to swing by Mainstream Performance to have the coilovers installed. I wont lie i was still a little leery of how it was going to turn out, but heres the results:
BEFORE:
This was the TEIN ITR RAs adjusted all the way down in the front, with still plenty of fender gap
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/IMG_2095.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/IMG_2098.jpg
AFTER
SKUNK2 PRO-C COILOVERS
Shortened strut, but almost no pre-loading. Rides like a CADILLAC!
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/CRX3-2.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/CRX6-1.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/CRX2-1.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/CRX5.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/CRX1-1.jpg
FINAL ANALYSIS:
The car rides like a dream. No more bruised kidneys or getting bounced out of my seat if i drive over a pebble in the road. The car feels much more solid and planted on the road. I took some quick left and right turns to just feel it out and even on full soft the car felt just much more responsive.
Appearance wise, the car def sits a good 1in lower in the front and i havent even touched the coils yet. I still have some more room to go if i want an even lower ride. The back is noticeably lower without much work.
all in all its a very COMFORTABLE ride that i dont think really sacrifices any performance. Im not a road racer by any means, but i plan on trying to track the car in the spring next year. This is a good budget setup, i recommend these or even the non dampening PRO-S if you are looking for just a good street setup which 90% of you probably would be great with.
At the time my CRX had some bobo 200k mile suspension on it and i had the Teins laying around so i decided to install them. I had driven the ITR that the Teins were originally on and the ride was stiff but definitely bearable for everyday use.
Well on my CRX it drove like ABSOLUTE ASS. The car felt like it was on a pogo stick, any bump in the road would send ripples through the car , my kidneys felt abused, many times on I285 i would come OUT OF MY SEAT because of where the pavement lines were. It was just very horrible ride.
One of the main problems with the 88-91 CIvic/CRX and DA is that MOST of the suspension companies out there dont make the proper length strut. Ive had bad luck with Omnipowers, KSports, Megans etc. The problem is a LOT of the companies like to use the geometry from the Integra/92+CIVIC and keep the shock length the same. The problem is the EF struts are much shorter. The result is you have to slam the coilovers on the ground to get even a MODERATE lowered ride height. this results in almost no suspension travel and a horrible ride. For many the only alternative was the Ground Control/Koni Yellow setup which is a costly $800+.
I talked to the guys over at Skunk2 (mainly Robert) and they were very knowledgeable and assured me that the ride height issue with the front struts was addressed in their coilover setup and i would be happy with the ride quality, as well as the performance. Being a long time Skunk2 supporter, i decided to give it a shot.
Suspension arrived and i got a chance to swing by Mainstream Performance to have the coilovers installed. I wont lie i was still a little leery of how it was going to turn out, but heres the results:
BEFORE:
This was the TEIN ITR RAs adjusted all the way down in the front, with still plenty of fender gap
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/IMG_2095.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/IMG_2098.jpg
AFTER
SKUNK2 PRO-C COILOVERS
Shortened strut, but almost no pre-loading. Rides like a CADILLAC!
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/CRX3-2.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/CRX6-1.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/CRX2-1.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/CRX5.jpg
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/Vteckidd/CRX1-1.jpg
FINAL ANALYSIS:
The car rides like a dream. No more bruised kidneys or getting bounced out of my seat if i drive over a pebble in the road. The car feels much more solid and planted on the road. I took some quick left and right turns to just feel it out and even on full soft the car felt just much more responsive.
Appearance wise, the car def sits a good 1in lower in the front and i havent even touched the coils yet. I still have some more room to go if i want an even lower ride. The back is noticeably lower without much work.
all in all its a very COMFORTABLE ride that i dont think really sacrifices any performance. Im not a road racer by any means, but i plan on trying to track the car in the spring next year. This is a good budget setup, i recommend these or even the non dampening PRO-S if you are looking for just a good street setup which 90% of you probably would be great with.