2.5" drop springs... now no suspension travel

maroon88irocmaroon88iroc New Wagonist
in Suspension, Braking & Wheels
So I lowered my wagon with 2.5" drop springs and stock shocks/ stock everything else. Now there is zero suspension travel like you sit on the front of the car and it doesnt budge. I am thinking about buying some 1.5" springs b/c this is a every other day driver car for me and I want it to still be confortable to ride in. Anyone have any suggestions on why it is bottomed out? too much drop or what?

by the way I only did the front b/c when I set it off the jack I realized it was probably going to be too low for me. its hard to see in the pics but the front mudflaps are about 1 inch above the ground at the max.

heres a pic:

stock:

www.civicwagon.com
dumped:

IMG_0221.jpg

Comments

  • Dr. Stink FistDr. Stink Fist New Wagonist
    i droped mine 2.5 inches amd love the look yeah it bottoms out a little and rubs the inner fenders when i hit bumps but im happy and yes your mud flaps will drag everything mine do but its looks great i think anyway
  • 90shuttle90shuttle Senior Wagonist
    Get some extended tophats for some extra clearance
  • CharbCharb Administrator
    What did you expect?

    cheap route = cheap results
  • crxedcrxed Band Wagon
    Did you remove the dustcovers from the stock shocks?
  • maroon88irocmaroon88iroc New Wagonist
    crxed no I didnt, I used everything that came off the stock shocks just installed the drop springs. How would the dustcovers affect anything?

    Charb - thanks for your input but Im not going to put $500 worth of coilovers onto a $1500 car.
  • btbammerbtbammer Wagonist
    Yeah man, if you want it to look right for cheap.

    This is what I did, and it worked well.
    1. Ebay adjustable coilovers. 50-100
    2. Extended tophats. 75-100
    3. Front /rear camber kit 100-200
    4. Alignment 50-100

    It will run you about 300-500
    But no matter the worth of the car, if your driving it and want it to look and ride good, charb is right, its like a tattoo. A cheap tattoo isn't good and a good tattoo isnt cheap.

    Hope that helps.
  • TheGmanTheGman Wagonist
    maroon88iroc wrote:
    crxed no I didnt, I used everything that came off the stock shocks just installed the drop springs. How would the dustcovers affect anything?

    If you left all of the bumpstops in, thats probably your problem.
  • crxedcrxed Band Wagon
    And there is no room for the dustcovers to be in there anymore, the car may be sitting on those covers now. Just remove them and split the bumpstops in half.
  • AintGotNoSolAintGotNoSol Wagonist
    Agreed, remove dust covers and bump stops, or use different parts.

    On other civics, I have been able to cut half of the bump stops off, making a shortened bump stop, and i also cut the lower rubber section of the dust cover off. However, when i tried this on my wagon, with EF struts and del sol lowering springs, the back bottomed out very easily (with me just leaning on the cargo area). Didn't even try the fronts.

    I also recommend buying or making extended tophats... Home-made Top Hats

    and /or

    swapping to 86-89 accord front struts Shorter Struts
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    86-89 Front Accord struts + 1" tophats in the front with those springs would be perfect. I just did this on my wagon and it rides awesome. I can build you tophats too.
  • AintGotNoSolAintGotNoSol Wagonist
    Man that's exactly what i was just thinking of trying. What would you charge to build a set of those top hats?
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    I charge $50 for a set of 4, but I usually have the local guys give me there stock ones back once the swap them out. So there is some shipping involved too.
  • AintGotNoSolAintGotNoSol Wagonist
    I see. Ok that sounds fair. If or when I decide to do this, I may hit you up!
  • JayTeeJayTee Wagonist
    Typically you need to cut the bumpstops in half. However I still think you will have issue with bottoming out as the strut is too long.

    Are the rear springs installed in that photo?
  • AintGotNoSolAintGotNoSol Wagonist
    JayTee wrote:
    Typically you need to cut the bumpstops in half. However I still think you will have issue with bottoming out as the strut is too long.

    Are the rear springs installed in that photo?

    Das a what i said!

    And no, he said he only did the fronts, and realized it would prob be too low, so he didn't do the rears yet.
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