Extended top hats (summary at end of first post)

udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
in Suspension, Braking & Wheels
Anybody have some data about how much to lengthen the stock top hats? I would assume you would want to extend them as far as you have lowered the car. I'm going to try to remember to go get some play dough today so I can measure the space between the hood and the stock top hat.


Summary:
-People have mentioned that if you extend them farther than 1" front or rear would have problems with the "droop height" of the suspension, the amount the wheels move away from the chassis when off the ground. Sounds to me like it basically is limiting travel.
-People have mentioned that 1" front and rear is plenty.
-People have mentioned 2" ID pipe should be used for the extension if you want the stock rod cover to fit into it, some people just use rubber boot type rod protection.
-People have mentioned 1-7/8" ID pipe with also work, but not with the stock rod covers.
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Comments

  • 91_wago91_wago Wagonist
    the rears you can extend them as much as you want but ive never seen them more then 2 inches. and the fronts you just do them as much as you can till it doesnt hit the hood.
  • Mandalore88Mandalore88 Senior Wagonist
    I'd love to see how they turn out/be interested in a set of 4. :D
  • dalowdadalowda New Wagonist
    i did 2 inches front and rear. ride is great.
    www.civicwagon.com
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    Did you just cut, add pipe, and weld? Do you remember the specs of the pipe you used?
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    I've only done one pair, for Revmaynard. We used some exhaust pipe couplers from Advance, I don't recall what size, but IIRC it was a 'between' size- meaning not the standard tube size, but the coupling to join two pieces (1 3/4 maybe?)
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    Good idea! They just opened a new advance right down the street from me, I'll go check it out and see what they've got.
  • Okiewagon1Okiewagon1 Wagonist
    bam-bam wrote:
    I've only done one pair, for Revmaynard. We used some exhaust pipe couplers from Advance, I don't recall what size, but IIRC it was a 'between' size- meaning not the standard tube size, but the coupling to join two pieces (1 3/4 maybe?)

    In for Pics Bam
  • NZ-DB8RNZ-DB8R Moderator
    My brother is currently making me some, should have them around easter. Ive got him to extend the front 35mm and the rear 50mm. Not too crazy but should help the ride
  • Swipe'dSwipe'd Wagonist
    sorry for my ignorance, but what is the point of this?
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    When you lower a car on stock struts, at that low ride height the damper rod sits very far down in the strut body and has a very limited range of motion, bottoming out very easily and causing the seals inside the strut to blow out. Thus ruining your struts and giving a very harsh ride. If you extend the top hats up by the amount you have lowered the car, then the strut rods will sit farther out of the strut body and the car won't bottom out at easily and there is a larger range of motion for the strut to dampen effectively.
  • klumklum Senior Wagonist
    whale penis? what one fits?!
  • Swipe'dSwipe'd Wagonist
    udubrx7 wrote:
    When you lower a car on stock struts, at that low ride height the damper rod sits very far down in the strut body and has a very limited range of motion, bottoming out very easily and causing the seals inside the strut to blow out. Thus ruining your struts and giving a very harsh ride. If you extend the top hats up by the amount you have lowered the car, then the strut rods will sit farther out of the strut body and the car won't bottom out at easily and there is a larger range of motion for the strut to dampen effectively.


    very helpful! thanks
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    klum wrote:
    whale penis? what one fits?!

    It appears to be the password jdm "eh-whale eh-penis extravagante" for the EG/EK But it is mounted upside down from the way this picture shows it.
    413.jpg
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    Here's some even more specific info about extended top hats:
    http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2682022
    Bottom line info from that ^^ thread (and another messier one on d-series.com):

    With Koni yellows the adjustment piece at the top is rather tall, so you cannot extend the fronts farther than 1" or you will have hood clearance issues. The rears can be extended as far as you want. A 1" extension of the top hat will compensate for approximately a 1.5" drop due to the lever action of the lower control arm.

    Fox racing sells them with a core charge for pretty cheap http://www.foxraceco.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=89_5_51&products_id=367

    And here's some sweet pics of some custom 1 piece top hats made on a CNC lathe!
    copiedes6300126dx0.jpg
    copiedes6300136si3.jpg
  • oilspotoilspot Wagonist
    udubrx7 wrote:
    Here's some even more specific info about extended top hats:
    http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2682022
    Bottom line info from that ^^ thread (and another messier one on d-series.com):

    With Koni yellows the adjustment piece at the top is rather tall, so you cannot extend the fronts farther than 1" or you will have hood clearance issues. The rears can be extended as far as you want. A 1" extension of the top hat will compensate for approximately a 1.5" drop due to the lever action of the lower control arm.

    Fox racing sells them with a core charge for pretty cheap http://www.foxraceco.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=89_5_51&products_id=367

    And here's some sweet pics of some custom 1 piece top hats made on a CNC lathe!
    www.civicwagon.com
    www.civicwagon.com
    Nice work!
    I miss having access to big machine equipment!!!
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    Just a note, those CNC top hats aren't mine! I just found the pictures on that honda tech thread.
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    Question for those of you who have done this already (cough*Bam*cough) what method did you use to cut off the bushing perch? I have access to angle grinders, ban saws, etc. I'm just not sure which would work best, and I don't want to screw any of these top hats up.

    thanks in advance!
  • AlphaxomegaAlphaxomega Senior Wagonist
    how much would one of you guys that have done this charge for a full set of extended top hats?
    a price with my shipped top hats for you to mod and
    one with you supplying them?
    just wondering :mrgreen:
    don't have access to the necessary tools to make them happen
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    http://www.foxraceco.com/index.php?main ... cts_id=367

    That's a good example of about how much you can expect to pay to have this done.
  • leWolfleWolf Senior Wagonist
    I think they said it was 75.00 for a set of tophats
  • AlphaxomegaAlphaxomega Senior Wagonist
    hopefully thats not how much you guys charge :oops:
  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    udubrx7 wrote:
    Question for those of you who have done this already (cough*Bam*cough) what method did you use to cut off the bushing perch? I have access to angle grinders, ban saws, etc. I'm just not sure which would work best, and I don't want to screw any of these top hats up.

    thanks in advance!

    I used a combination of an air cutoff wheel and a recip saw. It's a little tricky trying not to damage the mounting studs.

    I did remove the studs from one hat, just to see if it could be done. It's not worth the time, much easier to work around them.

    FWIW, $75 is silly cheap for this kind of handwork.
  • leWolfleWolf Senior Wagonist
    bam-bam wrote:
    udubrx7 wrote:
    Question for those of you who have done this already (cough*Bam*cough) what method did you use to cut off the bushing perch? I have access to angle grinders, ban saws, etc. I'm just not sure which would work best, and I don't want to screw any of these top hats up.

    thanks in advance!

    I used a combination of an air cutoff wheel and a recip saw. It's a little tricky trying not to damage the mounting studs.

    I did remove the studs from one hat, just to see if it could be done. It's not worth the time, much easier to work around them.

    FWIW, $75 is silly cheap for this kind of handwork.

    So yeah, i agree with bam, $75 for some professional built Hats? It's a good idea to just buy them!
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    $75 for a pair, $125 for a set. Plus shipping and core charge if you don't send yours in. I would definitely be getting these if I didn't just total my car tonight.
  • AlphaxomegaAlphaxomega Senior Wagonist
    lol im noob and couldnt figure out the pricing i was all confused and what not
    fuck you dyslecticia :x
  • SiWagonSiWagon Council Member
    :shock: I'm surprised that the posting police hasn't shut this thread down?Ooh I know why.
    Oilspot has the answer here:
    viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4552&hilit=tophats
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    I don't think they're going to shut down a relevant thread that a lot of regular posters are commenting on....... but thank you for posting that link, it will help bring together all of this data we have floating around in hard to find places.
  • leWolfleWolf Senior Wagonist
    udubrx7 wrote:
    I don't think they're going to shut down a relevant thread that a lot of regular posters are commenting on....... but thank you for posting that link, it will help bring together all of this data we have floating around in hard to find places.

    This thread has pictures. Since i lack the ability to read pictures are a must! :lol:
  • shakey021shakey021 Wagonist
    to everyone who hasnt done this and wants a little better ride for there lowered car !!

    DO THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



    i did it today and thought it would help just a little bit it actually made a HUGE diffrence !!!
  • civicking1990civicking1990 New Wagonist
    SHACKY 021 what height did u go in the front and on the back? Please reply :D
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