Lowering Springs: Different options, opinions, experiences..

[absolutjh]

I have used both the Skunk2 adjustable coil-overs and now the Eibach lowering springs in conjunction with the Koni Adjustable Struts and Neuspeed upper strut brace. It seems as though many of us are looking to lower the stance and increase the handling. Here is a good place to put in your 2 cents...

Lets see who's used what and what they like and dislike about their set-up.

[mattt]

I've not yet lowered my crv. I am looking foward to what I will read here. :)

absolutjh : You forgot to put in your own imput! How is the eibach/koni setup like? This is what I am thinking of getting myself.

[absolutjh]

The coil-overs are in a box in my garage, and for sale. I opted to replace them with the Eibach lowering springs (in hind sight I might have chosen the Neuspeed or H&R if I had it to do over again). The coil-overs are awesome in that they are adjustable. When I went to lower the CR-V I was not sure how much I would need to lower it. So instead of being disappointed with it not being low enough with the springs (1.5" turned out to be enough) I opted for the adjustable coil-overs. After a year of use I chose to put in the Eibach springs for a more comfortable ride. The Skunk2 coil-overs were great but a bit on the bouncy side. The Eibach are a great height but too soft now. The progressive rate is fantastically smooth but my wide wheel and tire set-up rubs on the inside of the fender lip, so it need to roll the inner lip of the fender to eliminate the rubbing on my sidewall.

[jondreash]

I've not yet lowered my crv. I am looking foward to what I will read here. :)

I second that.

[mattt]

The Skunk2 coil-overs were great but a bit on the bouncy side. The Eibach are a great height but too soft now. The progressive rate is fantastically smooth but my wide wheel and tire set-up rubs on the inside of the fender lip, so it need to roll the inner lip of the fender to eliminate the rubbing on my sidewall.

Just out of curiosity, could you tell us your wheel/tire combo (also, offset if available)?

Skunk 2 coilover are usually quite stiff. I looked into h&R sports (had them on my civic with koni yellows and loved them) but they seem to make the front end wheel gap bigger than the rear end one? Anyone here ride with these coils?

I can't find neuspeed coils for CRV's.... do they exist?

[absolutjh]

here are two sources for Neuspeed, Skunk2, H&R, and Eibach
http://www.wholehyper.com/springs.html

http://www.nopionline.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_clearance&makeid=140&modelid=031&catyear=2001&vTitle=2001%20HONDA%20CR-V&vaffid=0&vtype=A&vcatid=0

My Wheels are 17" x 7" +40 offset, tires are Yokohama YK420's 225/55/17 (as close to factory specs as possible)

[mattt]

Thanks... I'll need to reconsider my coils since these are exactly the numbers I expect my wheels to be (minus the offset).

Found some interresting pictures of h&r coils... all we need now is some imput on thier performance on a crv.

http://www.autoshow.permaisuri.com/Content/Autoshow.asp?AutoID=20030509001452

[CR-V DooD]

According to their website, the springs lower 1.4" in the front and 1.3" in the back.

My thoughts on the springs:

Positive:

*Great ride, almost comparable to stock (not a bouncy bouncy feeling you get when it's too low and your shocks are pretty much blown)
*Helps fill in the gap inbetween my 17" rims and the wheel well pretty nice and i don't have any rubbing at all with my 225/55/17's.

Negative:

*The only thing i don't like (which is my fault for not thinking about it) is the fact that the lowering is almost equal. If you look at the CR-V it looks as though the back end is already lower than the front. So once you lower it...it looks as though the back end is lower than the front. So if i were to do it again, i'd be getting something that lowers more in the front (maybe by about an extra .3-.5") and it would look perfect.


Overall:

**** out of *****

[mattt]

A friend of mine had this problem with his honda civic after he swapped a Integra engine. Only his front end was to low.

What he did to level the front was double his upper pillow mounts... here's a crude drawing...

http://www.guideauto.com/AlbumPhoto/berge61720939.JPG

This brought his front suspension up about 0.25".

[enayce]

According to their website, the springs lower 1.4" in the front and 1.3" in the back.

If you look at the CR-V it looks as though the back end is already lower than the front. So once you lower it...it looks as though the back end is lower than the front. So if i were to do it again, i'd be getting something that lowers more in the front (maybe by about an extra .3-.5") and it would look perfect.


i have to take a closer look later but i have never noticed the rear to be lower than the front on stock shocks and springs...and it looks like the eibach does 1.8 in the front and 1.4 in the rear...i guess that would balance out the v and the front and rear would appear to be the same height?

[enayce]

The coil-overs are in a box in my garage, and for sale. I opted to replace them with the Eibach lowering springs (in hind sight I might have chosen the Neuspeed or H&R if I had it to do over again). The coil-overs are awesome in that they are adjustable. When I went to lower the CR-V I was not sure how much I would need to lower it. So instead of being disappointed with it not being low enough with the springs (1.5" turned out to be enough) I opted for the adjustable coil-overs. After a year of use I chose to put in the Eibach springs for a more comfortable ride. The Skunk2 coil-overs were great but a bit on the bouncy side. The Eibach are a great height but too soft now. The progressive rate is fantastically smooth but my wide wheel and tire set-up rubs on the inside of the fender lip, so it need to roll the inner lip of the fender to eliminate the rubbing on my sidewall.

when you had the coilovers on, how hard is it to adjust them?

[absolutjh]

Enayce,

Adjustment only takes a few minutes, and a floor jack. The kit comes with the wrenches for adjustment. No need to remove the tires, just jack the car up a few inches, adjust the sleeve perches a few turns, lower the jack and your done.

[oOo]

I have the Eibach springs on. One thing I find annoying is that when I have my tires, 225/55/17, seem to rub against the wheel well more then I like. If you're going to get 17" rims I would suggest a different tire size.

Re: the Koni Yellows. I heard that one of the spring perches is slightly higher then stock. Can you confirm this?

[absolutjh]

You know...I never checked that out. The Konis I have are great. The adjustment for the fronts is easy, not real drastic, but noticeable. The rears are not "adjustable" but do allow for two different perch settings. There is a slip ring that allows for two height options & mounting options. I opted for the lower of the two for increased stiffness and lower stance.

[mattt]

You are supposed to be able to adjust the rebound on your rear shocks. Only, you can't do it intantly like with the front shocks (nob on the perch). You have to take the shock of the car prior to ajustment.

http://www.koni-na.com/comp.html

It's a odd thing that Koni would not make the rears ajustable via the perch... the civic and integra rear shocks made by koni are all ajustable like the front ones.

I used to keep mine around 4/7 on me old civic.

[absolutjh]

The tech at Koni say the rear are only adjustable via the perch setting.

[thaimonkee]

sp absolutjh. do you want to sell me your coilovers?.

[esteebin]

I was thinking of putting H&R springs with Tokico HP shock/struts on my 98 CRV. Anybody have this setup, and their opinions on it? I plan to keep rim/tire stock because I just want a lower profile and I like the stock alloy rims. Thanks.

esteebin

[esteebin]

BTW---- is the drivah.com marketplace for the aftermarket parts still up and running? They have a great deal on the H&R springs and Tokico shocks/struts. And I was thinking of purchasing it there if opinions are favorable for that setup.

esteebin

[absolutjh]

thaimonkee

Yes i would be happy to see a new owner for them