Suspension Problem/Spring Recommendation Please Help!

jameskjamesk Wagonist
in Suspension, Braking & Wheels
Hello,

I just put on my H&R Sport springs and KYB GR-2 shocks and I'm really low in front. (Back end is fine, cut one dead coil off of rear to bring it down).

The problem is that I'm afraid the springs are too soft because I'm bottoming out on even smaller dips in the road. Keep in mind my front end is a little heavier than normal because I have a b18 swap.

What can I do, short of buying full coilovers? Should I get stiffer springs in front? Should I do the unthinkable and get some ebay coils for the front?

I got the H&R sports because I thought they wouldn't drop me down that low, and I'd be safe on bad roads... I was wrong! Help me stop bottoming out!

Comments

  • jameskjamesk Wagonist
    Thinking of trying some 1" coil spring spacers first...
  • SiWagonSiWagon Council Member
    Sounds like you want to raise the fronts 1"(25mm).
    Try Eibach Pro-kit front springs.The spring rate is the same as your H&R's,but .7"(18mm) taller.
    or
    TANABE GF210 (orange) same drop as Pro-kit,but 20% stiffer.I know nothing of the Tanabe.
  • jameskjamesk Wagonist
    Thanks for your help and I'll look into them.

    I'll try that after I give rubber coil spring spacers a whirl. They add 1" and claim to increase spring rates by 100lbs...
  • LowFlyin'LowFlyin' Moderator
    Are you bottoming out the shock or around bottoming the tire out on the chassis?

    If you are just bottoming out the shock, you might try looking for a shorter shock.

    What application was your KYB for?
  • jameskjamesk Wagonist
    No its not the shock bottoming, its the frame/structural components/oil pan/whatever near the front end.

    The shocks and springs were all for an ef. I know the wagon weighs more (esp. with the b18), but I didn't think it'd be this low in front...

    Spacers should be in tomorrow, gonna try them first, then switch to plan b if its still too bad.
  • 503Wagon503Wagon moderator
    Picture? Wanna see how low it is lol!
  • debrisdebris Wagonist
    503Wagovan wrote:
    Picture? Wanna see how low it is lol!

    me too! ...personally I think that you can never be "too low"
  • simplyhondasimplyhonda Council Member
    I had the same setup as you but with the stock motor - H&R's with KYB's, one coil cut & everything. Mine bottomed out quite a bit. Not too bad with just me - 160lbs. in the car. But if I put anyone else in there, it bottomed out like crazy. Mainly in the rear on road dips, bridges, etc. Front bottomed out in turns mainly. My solution was not worry about it & let her scrape I could have rolled fenders and done all kind of stuff but for now I just raised it back up to stock height for the winter. I'll study on the low suspension over the winter and deal with in the spring when I lower the wagon again. I'm sure most of have seen it, but here is a pic of mine with that setup to get a visual, Lets compare. I'd like to see yours too. It will be interresting to see what you get worked out, then I can steal your research. :)
    183.jpg
    262.jpg
  • jameskjamesk Wagonist
    ^^
    Simplyhonda,

    We have the same setup, but mine never did look like yours...

    Heres the stuff
    207.jpg

    The new powerplant
    208.jpg

    Crappy pic of the drop... there was less than half an inch from the mudflaps to the pavement.
    209.jpg

    I know its not super low compared to others, but the springs are sooo soft, and the front was significantly heavier, any dip in the road would mean *BANG*

    Since the last pic, I got the 1" spacers installed in the front, and another coil cut off of the rears. Day and night difference! The car is much more level now and I'm not scraping on everything. Finally I can relax a bit more when I drive and not have to clench my ass cheeks for every little bump in the road.

    I'll get some new pics up soon.
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