The Better Bilstein Ebay Coilover Thread
#61
Note that NA HDs have very different valving from NB HDs (it looks like that's what you have in your comparison), and Sports have the same valving as HDs except with a 1" shorter shock body.
#62
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Are you guys locking the collar to the shock body, or letting it float on the ring?
The locking Allen screws that came with the cheap eBay kit are to long and will interfere with the spring. No big deal to find smaller hex screws, just wondering.
Btw, same as Jake, the bearings won't fit over the perch. Since it's cheap, I'll have my machinist lathe the perches down a little to get them on.
The locking Allen screws that came with the cheap eBay kit are to long and will interfere with the spring. No big deal to find smaller hex screws, just wondering.
Btw, same as Jake, the bearings won't fit over the perch. Since it's cheap, I'll have my machinist lathe the perches down a little to get them on.
#65
Boom - Install was easy. No more Grave-Digger wheel gap:
For reference I'm on 10AE Hard S w/ 450 7" F & 300 7" R w/ NB tophats.
Have it set at roughly 12.5" F and 13.0" R. I figure that's just under 5" at the pinchwelds, but that's not a great place to measure on my car. Anyway, that's about as low as I'm comfortable going on these sleeves as I don't want to completely bottom out the threads. It doesn't rub anywhere and it's enough drop to get me to the recommended heights for the "dual duty" 949 alignment. I'm pretty sure 6" springs would be fine, especially with higher rates. Here's where they're set (about this many threads left on all four corners):
As far as driving impressions go, I haven't pushed it too hard because of rain and still needing an alignment, but it's a huge improvement over 150k mi Showas . The car feels so much more planted (grounded to the ground anyone?) and just eats up small bumps. Big bumps are another story; gets really bouncy and it's not pleasant - not kidney destroying harshness - more like seasickness inducing bounciness. Not a big deal unless you drive in Iowa or do a lot of off-roading. I can tell I definitely need more front bar, this is a loose set-up with OEM sways. Also planning on another set of 949 endlinks for the rear, you can see in the pic that there is some pretty bad pre-load going on.
Summary: if you're not happy with your suspension, and are looking for a budget solution, do this. It's affordable and easy. Don't over-think it.
For reference I'm on 10AE Hard S w/ 450 7" F & 300 7" R w/ NB tophats.
Have it set at roughly 12.5" F and 13.0" R. I figure that's just under 5" at the pinchwelds, but that's not a great place to measure on my car. Anyway, that's about as low as I'm comfortable going on these sleeves as I don't want to completely bottom out the threads. It doesn't rub anywhere and it's enough drop to get me to the recommended heights for the "dual duty" 949 alignment. I'm pretty sure 6" springs would be fine, especially with higher rates. Here's where they're set (about this many threads left on all four corners):
As far as driving impressions go, I haven't pushed it too hard because of rain and still needing an alignment, but it's a huge improvement over 150k mi Showas . The car feels so much more planted (grounded to the ground anyone?) and just eats up small bumps. Big bumps are another story; gets really bouncy and it's not pleasant - not kidney destroying harshness - more like seasickness inducing bounciness. Not a big deal unless you drive in Iowa or do a lot of off-roading. I can tell I definitely need more front bar, this is a loose set-up with OEM sways. Also planning on another set of 949 endlinks for the rear, you can see in the pic that there is some pretty bad pre-load going on.
Summary: if you're not happy with your suspension, and are looking for a budget solution, do this. It's affordable and easy. Don't over-think it.
#66
FWIW
I ordered collars/springs from this seller; Acura Honda coilover lowering Springs 96 00 Civic 94 Integra EK Em DC2 EF9 JDM | eBay which was posted earlier.
The springs, based on the measurements should be 370 - 380 lbs (all the same sizes so all the same rate). Color is silver so based on previous I wouldn't assume color = rates with all the ebay sellers. I'm using Summit springs anyway.
Quality is OK (for the price).
The Torrington bearings fit fine.
I'll try and get them together over the weekend
I ordered collars/springs from this seller; Acura Honda coilover lowering Springs 96 00 Civic 94 Integra EK Em DC2 EF9 JDM | eBay which was posted earlier.
The springs, based on the measurements should be 370 - 380 lbs (all the same sizes so all the same rate). Color is silver so based on previous I wouldn't assume color = rates with all the ebay sellers. I'm using Summit springs anyway.
Quality is OK (for the price).
The Torrington bearings fit fine.
I'll try and get them together over the weekend
#72
Hope that helps.
I don't think you'd notice it driving but I think having something like an isolator (or the bearings) would help keep the aluminum perch from getting chewed up from dirt and other crap but I don't know.
#75
There's no torsional load on the damper in a double wishbone setup. Alignment is a likely cause of a change in steering effort, spring binding is not.