[akirarex]

I just took my eibach pro kit and kyb agx's off of my crx and put them on my hatch. I haven't driven the crx for about a year and I have been driving a stock dx hatch in that time. I also put an energy suspension kit on the hatch at the time I swapped the springs and shocks.

So today I drive it to work for the first time in this configuration. I don't know if I am just getting old or gotten "soft" from the luxury of stock suspension but this setup seems to be harsh, and almost like the takes impacts on many small bumps. It rides real nice on highway speeds, but lower speeds it just doesn't feel very good and my average speed to travel is about 30mph. So does anyone have a setup that handles uneven roads nicely while still being kinda firm enough to take turns at a high rate of speed? Do linear rate springs help this? All I am thinking now is that this was a mistake, but maybe the suspension has to settle and get worked in to operate smoothly again? Thoughts?

 

[Dren]

The Si stock springs and shocks feel nice and are pretty firm for good handling. You'll get a lot more out of something else, but the stock setup isn't bad at all. It is a good compromise. I like the ride of my Si better than the DX which has a tokico suspension package on it. The DX does handle better when it has the right wheels and tires on it.

 

[akirarex]

I think tonight I am going to check to make sure that I didn't overtighten some bolts... maybe it is binding up, I should go back and use a torque wrench on all the bolts just to make sure.

 

[Charles]

I am very happy with my stock springs and KYB GR2 shocks. Plus it helps with the potholes that are ubiquitous around here.

 

[Laure]

I, too, would like to improve the suspension feel at slow speeds on the terrible bumpy city streets I live amidst! I have an HF, all stock, with new Monroe shocks. (BTW, are Monroes crappy???? It seems like the only brand you can get at most shops.)

I LOVE the way the car feels at high speeds, on freeways. It feels good and tight then. But on bumpy roads, it feels loose and rattly. I really notice a difference when I drive a brand-new rental car on bumpy streets. So, what will make the biggest difference? Bushings?

 

[Charles]

I would check your bushings and springs. They are at least 15 years old now.

You can order any shocks (or dampers) you want and your local mechanic can install them. I love my GR2s but I understand they don't make them for the rex anymore. If I was cash heavy I would get Bilsteins.

 

[akirarex]

I actually wonder how much of what I feel is the bushings, being that they are polyeurathane now. But I did notice that the stock bushings that were in there were really hard, and torches cut the sleeve before it would even touch the rubber. I think my friend has intrax springs on his hatch and it doesn't feel that bad... granted it doesn't have poly bushings and it just has stock shocks. It seems to ride nice even as firm as it is. When I think of springs and shock combos it always seems like a bit of black magic of getting the right ride quality. I don't know though I haven't had any other springs than the eibach pro's.

 

[Charles]

The poly bushings are going to make your ride harsher.

 

[Kwicko]

If I had it all to do over again - and I will in the not-too-distant future, since I'll be starting a new job soon, FINALLY - I'd be inclined to go with *minor* incremental improvements. First off, a stiffer rear sway bar. Or, in the case of my car ('91 CRX DX), ANY rear sway bar. 15" wheels and tires help more than you might think, and I'll probably finish off with a set of Tokico Illuminas all around. Then maybe - MAYBE - a set of springs, but something that only lowers the car a little bit (around 0.75") and are a LITTLE stiffer than stock. If I remember right, there were some H&R springs (Soft Sport, maybe?) that looked like they'd fit the bill in this department.

Like you said, maybe we're just getting old, but for a street-driven car, I'll trade a little bit of handling for a little more ride comfort, up to a certain level.

I pointed out the 15s for a reason: People tend to overlook the differences a wheel & tire package can make. I've got two running, streetable CRXs right now, and they're essentially very similar in their suspension setups. I've got a '90 Si and a '91 DX. The two key differences between them are (a) the '90 Si has a rear sway bar where the '91 DX has none, and (b) the '91 DX rolls on 15x6" Integra "Mesh" wheels shod with 195-50/15 Dunlop SP5000 Sport tires, while the '90 Si is on the original 14" alloys with 185-60/14 Pirelli P4000s. The dynamic differences in the way the two cars drive is huge, though. With the Si it is easier to flick out the tail (due to the rear sway bar), but the DX just feels generally more "alive" and responsive, with crisper turn-in and more feel for the road.

Anythough, that's my experience.

Mike

 

[Kwicko]

Dang - I didn't see the part about the poly bushings until just now. Yes, those will definitely make the ride flintier. I put them on my '87 CRX and my '91 Accord Wagon. I tell people, not only will it stop on a dime, but you can tell if it's heads or tails! On the '87 CRX, I don't mind the harsh ride; it's a track and autocross car, never to be street driven again. On the Wagon, the bushings were, in all honesty, a mistake. That's how I feel about 'em, anyway.

But it's kinda funny, in a way - my Accord station wagon will out-corner either of my streetable CRXs. 'Course, that's not all down to the bushings; I basically replaced and upgraded every moving part in the suspension a few years back, then threw on some 16x7 Borbet wheels and Pirelli P Zero Rosso tires. Damn car has some grip, but it's just not very comfortable to drive any more...

Mike

 

[SETI20]

It's a matter of taste.
But seriously, it's no news that KYB's suck at lower damping speeds.

The only ones decent are Koni Yellows. Teins are good too...but costly.
Monroes are good too.

 

[coldtotouch]

This was a post i was going to start very soon.

I'm planning on overhauling the suspension very soon and i'm looking at finding something thats alot more forgiving on rougher roads. Anybody ever ride in a Lexus? (please don't tell me to go n buy a lexus, cause i love my crx!). I'm curious as to what the best suspension setup that is avaliable that gives an improved ride quality, without too badly sacrificing performance...

anybody have ideas? I'd really rather not lower my car, but if i must i'll go down an inch... and the biggest rims i plan on riding on are 15s... (prob. slipstreams, though i'm still unsure)

 

[akirarex]

It seems like we are all in the same boat here, love sporty suspension, but not harsh, love 15" rims, want some ride comfort, want only a very small drop in height.........

I had come to the conclusion a while back that kyb agx's kinda suck.

 

[zulued]

im right along with you.. i actually dont even want to drive my crx anymore. a 10 miles trip feels to long . i have a poly bushing kit kyb agx's and intrax 1.5 drop springs. with 15 in slips with falken azenis tires.

the poly bushings are the biggest problem im having with ride quality. i wont use them anymore. but the last summer i had the car out on a road coarse and i had a blast. if i had the money i would just trailer the crx to the track every weekend and race.

scarponze

 

[SETI20]

I have Skunk2's with koni yellow, fully braced, S-T swaybars and ES bushings. I have both 15 and 16" wheels

I drive my car 3 hours at a time on a regular basis.
It's a matter of setup. And ofcourse road conditions.
My car is a disaster on cobblestone roads. (Yes we have those here)

 

[crxfisher]

You all probably saw my setup. I got all of it done at once:

ES Poly bushings
KYB AGX's
Ground Control coilovers with a decent drop.

I was expecting to have a HORRIBLY harsh ride, but it's not that bad. Is it possible that those of you with the poly bushings didn't properly lube them up when installing? I don't know. But from what I heard, I was expecting a lot worse. Sure, it's a lot stiffer and I feel it a lot more. But for the performance gain I got, It is WELL worth it all to me. I love it. It's really not that bad of a ride quality.

 

[akirarex]

oh that bushing kit definitely got lubed to the max, that stuff just sticks to everything, oh did I mention that the lube they give you sticks to everything?

Maybe I should try different shock settings, they are on one now.

 

[coldtotouch]

What other options are there for bushing kits other than poly? Also how about coilovers? Tein? I don't mind paying a couple hundred bucks more to get the product that'll do the job as long as its worth the $!

 

[akirarex]

I don't think there are any options besides poly and stock.

I jacked my car up and watched the arms move freely as it raised up but just for safe measure I loosened the bolts and torqued them down to the right spec... it did make a difference with the rear not kicking up. Feels a little bit better now. But it does depend on what road you are on.

 

[joshman]

What other options are there for bushing kits other than poly? Also how about coilovers? Tein? I don't mind paying a couple hundred bucks more to get the product that'll do the job as long as its worth the $!

You could always go with Mugen at www.kingmotorsports.com