More than you ever wanted to know about the 88-91 Honda Civic suspension
Posted by Aaron Luptak
Kris Dahl Infallible Moderator Location: Issaquah, WA Join Date: 02/13/2006 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 282 Rally Car: Integra, Civic |
Aaron Luptak Elite Moderator Location: SLC Join Date: 02/15/2008 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 776 Rally Car: Civic... |
I agree that those spring rates seem pretty high - that's just ballpark numbers where I'm planning on starting discussions, not even necessarily buying those.
Kris, 343 lbs front works out to ~145 lbs/in wheel rate. Any chance you've got a ballpark on the motion ratio for the rears with the civic LCA? The .77 that I've calculated is with the DA integra LCA, shock mount is ~1/2" closer to the wheel on the civics so motion ratio should be a little higher.  KF7RWG 
http://www.utahrallygroup.com |
Reece Mod Moderator Location: Oklahoma City Join Date: 03/07/2013 Age: Settling Down Posts: 161 Rally Car: 1991 Ej20g'd Legacy |
Aaron Luptak Elite Moderator Location: SLC Join Date: 02/15/2008 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 776 Rally Car: Civic... |
Assuming you're going to run some sort of threaded spring perches (the included perches are made for an OE style spring), choose your favorite maker of 2.5" coilover springs - eibach, hyperco, swift, QA1, etc. I don't remember who JVL uses, nobody I've listed though. KF7RWG
http://www.utahrallygroup.com |
Reece Mod Moderator Location: Oklahoma City Join Date: 03/07/2013 Age: Settling Down Posts: 161 Rally Car: 1991 Ej20g'd Legacy |
Eric Larsen Infallible Moderator Location: San Mateo, CA Join Date: 09/05/2008 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 38 Rally Car: awd '93 Honda del Sol |
John Vanlandingham Senior Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/20/2005 Age: Fossilized Posts: 14,152 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4 |
You know every time I see this "motion ratio" thing---and then see spring choices outrageously overboard--like 50% higher than I might expect----and I see it constantly---I have to wonder why the results of peoples calculations are always so far off.... The Bilstein techs whop assemble the stuff I order once ---in seeming frustration I guess--I think he's just had another call from somebody---he asked "Why is it EVERYBODY, EVERY BODY!!! always thinks the need springs and dampers waaaaaaaaaay in excess of what they need? EVERYBODY!!!" I said "Everybody? Really?" He went on "Everybody!!! well except desert guys...they have sense." I meekly asked "Everybody?" "Yeah Otter-crossers, roadrace guys, street guys, rally guys EVERYBODY!!!!" Me " even me?" Him " No no you're the only guy who doesn't. Why's that?" Me "I guess cause I come from 20 years of bikes on gnarly dirt and I learned suspension is supposed to move, ya know? Like absorb some bumps, maintain grip, I guess".. Last year i worked with a good, intelligent young engineer, Tony Peto....has a Civic---and I said I'd work with him if we actually sat down and did some measurements---simple tape measure stuff. Cause as the newscasters in SanFrancisco said about that Korean Airliner: 
I'm goona email him and see exactly where we ended up, but I kinda recall it was no more than 225 in front and maybe 185 in rear.. The car worked good Here's an idea: can you post pretty photo and overlay lengths: Inner pivot to balljoint and inner pivot to where the fork thing intersects the arm... Like line A-B overall length, then line A-C to pivot....? John Vanlandingham Sleezattle, WA, USA Vive le Prole-le-ralliat www.rallyrace.net/jvab CALL +1 206 431-9696 Remember! Pacific Standard Time is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time. |
Aaron Luptak Elite Moderator Location: SLC Join Date: 02/15/2008 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 776 Rally Car: Civic... |
I'll try to get some of these, for the two or three different LCAs that I have. Will be a bit (maybe next weekend?) as I don't have spares (yet) for the parts I actually plan to use. KF7RWG
http://www.utahrallygroup.com |
Eric Larsen Infallible Moderator Location: San Mateo, CA Join Date: 09/05/2008 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 38 Rally Car: awd '93 Honda del Sol |
Kinda maybes like so? Is a rear and the bolt holes are the same diameter. 
 KK6EAR Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2015 02:15AM by RallySol. |
Eric Larsen Infallible Moderator Location: San Mateo, CA Join Date: 09/05/2008 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 38 Rally Car: awd '93 Honda del Sol |
Or maybe like dis?
Cast EG arm 
And a boxed '00 Si arm  KK6EAR Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2015 01:08PM by RallySol. |
John Vanlandingham Senior Moderator Location: Ford Asylum, Sleezattle, WA Join Date: 12/20/2005 Age: Fossilized Posts: 14,152 Rally Car: Saab 96 V4 |
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