Gonna get rims, tyres, suspenion

[rincewind]

Hi all, just joined the forum :wave:

Got a few questions about rubber/rims/springs. I'm driving a 97 Civic 1.6 SOHC CXi (yeah it's basically the slowest, but it's small and fun to drive... the reason half of us probably got a Honda!)

Anyway, I want better handling! I don't race (too many close calls on speed cameras even when I'm not trying to go fast!) so instead I've decided to make my ride feel more fun around corners :) Right now, if I do more than about 100 clicks on a road that isn't fairly good, it feels like i'm all over the place and about to take off!

Anyone know where I can find out the modification regulations in Canberra? Specific to Canberra... NSW / Vic is different, I'm pretty sure of that.

I asked around a few places which I knew stocked good brands (e.g. Falken, BF Goodridge, Enkei) and then picked the one that treated me the best. Quickfit have been the most impressive so far.

With purely performance (i.e. not the "phat dropped on guts" look, they recommended:
- new tyres, i've got Monzas on the front and Simos (spelling?) on the back. they suuuuck lol. I'm not driving flat out, but I can lose traction on demand.
They recommended BF Goodridge "G Force Sports" over Falkens, saying they are better in 15". Anyone confirm this? OR suggest any other brand/make? I only wanna go to 15"s cos I'm not looking for the big wheel look, just better handling, and they said that if i went to 16"s the ride would be noticably rougher (not keen on that, just firmer/tighter).

- new springs and lowered 1 or 1.5" inches (they said that amount gives all the performance gains u really need)

- since the car's done 140,000kms, they said I'll most likely need new shocks. The brands they said they sell are Pedders, and if i heard correctly, "Levels" ??? I've never heard of that brand, tho i'm deaf and probably wrote it down wrong. BUT what i wanna know is: is it worth asking them to try and get eibach or koni shocks in? koni "yellows" sound like the benchmark on the forums i've read so far. and if they're gonna cost about 800 extra, i'd like a brand good for hondas, not just generic. I've read on here that pedders shocks are terrible...

Do places like Quickfit usually give engineers certificate? Are they needed after lowering or change of tyre size?

Also considering a rear sway bar as it appears to be a cheap mod that ppl say does make a difference, long as its not so thick that it tears the chassis. With that in mind, anyone know what thickness u can chuck in the EK 97 chassis?

I know there's lotsa questions there, so go nuts guys/girls :)
Thanks in advance!

[Eclipsor]

You would probalby be better off buying the parts yourself. Unless they're going to give you a deal including fitting or something. Some of the traders on these forums sell suspension parts including koni's.

I upgraded my tyres a while back and that does make a huge difference. I've put springs lowered by about that much on which also made a good difference to handling. Plus I added an oem swaybar which helped again. I want to get shocks but need to wait till I have enough to get ones what will make the change worthwhile. My stock ones are going ok. They've done 150k's.

It's not hard to do the work yourself. Or even find a freindly ozh person nearby. I'm sure they'd do it cheaper than any place like quick fit.

[rincewind]

yeh but i wouldnt get a guarantee and this is my only ride...

[CONAN]

Get EK4 Vti-r suspension. great upgrade, $150.

[BLKek]

Levels, they most likely said Lovells...

I hear KYB is a reasonable strut, not to bad on price, Pedders are repainted and badged Monroe....

[rincewind]

So is monroe any good? Looking at a Hot 4's mag I have, the typical setup seems to be King springs and either Koni or Pedders shocks. PS, I know it's a magazine about looks and not performance/handling etc. I think I'll ask if Quickfit can get Koni's in (I'd doubt it tho.. all the local shops here seem to mostly do local gear, with a couple of exceptions)

[Eclipsor]

where are you located? For the springs you'd be better off with some Eibach's or something if you're after performance. Someone is selling some in the forums atm.

[Lukezen27]

If theses are only mod’s you’re doing then you should think about buying super light weight 15” rims


Lightens the car by heaps and the shocks don’t have to work as hard :p

K's here http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18512

[DannyB]

if it's handling you want why not get d2 coilovers?? they're pretty awesome from what i hear and really aren't badly priced at all for coilovers!