Budget lowering kit - confirmed!

farfetchedfarfetched Wagonist
in Suspension, Braking & Wheels
I have a confirmation for a low cost wagon LOWERING KIT!
FRONT : 4 door civic strut and coils as an assembly - will net about 2 inches of drop. However, load carrying abilities will be deminished due to softer springs (4 doors have lower spring rate - smaller diameter coil wire) ...
REAR 4 door Civic coils while retaining wagon struts - will net you 2-3 inches of drop - VERY NICE (see my pics)
Again - This set up will diminish load carrying copacity of the Wagon!!!
Perform this mod at you own risk . My confirmation ONLY for informative purposes! I will not be liable for someones mistakes or failures! 8)

Comments

  • curtcurt Wagonist
    what i can't sue you damn!
    so i guess this is still year specific? or not if you keep the rear struts from your car isn't that where the diffrence is?
  • farfetchedfarfetched Wagonist
    I guess it applies from 89-to-91 Wagon (in my case RT4WD) ...
    The only change is rear struts - you are correct!
    Cheers!
  • farfetchedfarfetched Wagonist
    See it for yourself!
    www.civicwagon.com
    Cheers!
  • turbo_tegturbo_teg Council Member
    nice
  • jpciiijpciii familEE
    The drop in the rear doesn't surprise me, but I'm confused why the front would be so low... are you positive that the front springs are stock?

    How does it ride? Have you bottomed out on anything or does it scrape anywhere?

    Good job of finding a budget mod 8) It looks good. I want more pics!
  • curtcurt Wagonist
    yeah how does it ride?
  • farfetchedfarfetched Wagonist
    jpciii wrote:
    The drop in the rear doesn't surprise me, but I'm confused why the front would be so low... are you positive that the front springs are stock?

    How does it ride? Have you bottomed out on anything or does it scrape anywhere?

    Good job of finding a budget mod 8) It looks good. I want more pics!
    Initially I cut to much of the front coil...I corrected it with wagon coils cut only 2 coils. If you want to have very soft ride use the whole front strut form 4door Civic. Rear - I will RE DO it with wagon coils cut to fit to get more even front to back apearence!
    As to how it rides - not much different from stock RT4WD wagon.
    Due to rear sitting almost (about an inch away) on bumpstops the wagon corners a bit more stable - less body roll...
    With first attempt to lower front, it rubbed almost all the time due to sitting on bump stops (too low). After using wagon (cut) coils, it doesn't bottom out up front. However, rear bottoms out every time I go over a good bump or uneven pavement so to speak!
    I will correct that :wink:
    I like it!
    civic001sk1.th.jpgcivic002wg4.th.jpg
    Picture after first attempt
    img3208dw3.th.jpg
  • ThatDoodleThatDoodle Council Member
    whoa whoa!..... so that suspension setup is not oem spec? You mean to tell us that you cut 4 door springs to put on a wagon?
  • farfetchedfarfetched Wagonist
    shuttle xer wrote:
    whoa whoa!..... so that suspension setup is not oem spec? You mean to tell us that you cut 4 door springs to put on a wagon?
    Read carefully what I've written!
    I am experimenting with set-ups and correcting (form spare parts that I have) suspension to have it lowered w/o sacrificing ride. My wagon lowered rides as if it hasn't been lowered at all - That's was my goal :wink:
    Cheers!
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    farfetched wrote:
    I have a confirmation for a low cost wagon LOWERING KIT!
    FRONT : 4 door civic strut and coils as an assembly - will net about 2 inches of drop. However, load carrying abilities will be deminished due to softer springs (4 doors have lower spring rate - smaller diameter coil wire) ...
    REAR 4 door Civic coils while retaining wagon struts - will net you 2-3 inches of drop - VERY NICE (see my pics)
    Again - This set up will diminish load carrying copacity of the Wagon!!!
    Perform this mod at you own risk . My confirmation ONLY for informative purposes! I will not be liable for someones mistakes or failures! 8)

    Doesn't say anything in your original post about cutting springs...

    FYI, cutting springs dramatically changes the springrate and is.. ghetto. Save up the $200 odd dollars for some properly tempered and rated springs. DOn't encourage people to do things that are stupid and dangerous. Just because you put in a disclaimer, it doesn't mean people won't do it and get hurt.
  • SiWagonSiWagon Council Member
    farfetched wrote:
    Initially I cut t0o much of the front coil...I corrected it with wagon coils cut only 2 coils. If you want to have very soft ride use the whole front strut form 4door Civic. Rear - I will RE DO it with wagon coils cut to fit to get more even front to back apearence!
    As to how it rides - not much different from stock RT4WD wagon.
    Due to rear sitting almost (about an inch away) on bumpstops the wagon corners a bit more stable - less body roll...
    With first attempt to lower front, it rubbed almost all the time due to sitting on bump stops (too low). After using wagon (cut) coils, it doesn't bottom out up front. However, rear bottoms out every time I go over a good bump or uneven pavement so to speak!
    I will correct that :wink:
    I like it!
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    Pacifier wrote:
    Doesn't say anything in your original post about cutting springs...

    Two can play that game. :)
  • farfetchedfarfetched Wagonist
    Pacifier wrote:
    farfetched wrote:
    I have a confirmation for a low cost wagon LOWERING KIT!
    FRONT : 4 door civic strut and coils as an assembly - will net about 2 inches of drop. However, load carrying abilities will be deminished due to softer springs (4 doors have lower spring rate - smaller diameter coil wire) ...
    REAR 4 door Civic coils while retaining wagon struts - will net you 2-3 inches of drop - VERY NICE (see my pics)
    Again - This set up will diminish load carrying copacity of the Wagon!!!
    Perform this mod at you own risk . My confirmation ONLY for informative purposes! I will not be liable for someones mistakes or failures! 8)

    Doesn't say anything in your original post about cutting springs...

    FYI, cutting springs dramatically changes the springrate and is.. ghetto. Save up the $200 odd dollars for some properly tempered and rated springs. DOn't encourage people to do things that are stupid and dangerous. Just because you put in a disclaimer, it doesn't mean people won't do it and get hurt.
    To some it is GHETTO to some it is NOT!
    I am not gonna spend $$ on a cheap daily driver car!!!
    I got nice rims/tires and wanted to lower car to have it looked a bit cleaner w/o whooping gaps between tires and fenders!
    I've accomplished it - I am HAPPY
    I don't really care if you like it or not ----I just stated the facts of what I've discovered :wink:
    Cheers!
  • farfetchedfarfetched Wagonist
    Doesn't say anything in your original post about cutting springs...
    http://www.hondacivicwagon.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=2294
  • farfetchedfarfetched Wagonist
    Just because you put in a disclaimer, it doesn't mean people won't do it and get hurt.
    You and I understand that...
    However, after an extensive research I've found no conclusive information wether or not one could use suspension parts (direct swap) from a different model of the same make! I've done a similar "project" with my other car which is a few classes higher that Honda Civic - Infiniti Q45. There is a wonderful forum for many different Infiniti models where people make all sorts of mods and custom fab jobs. I've yet to see someone who objects to different oppinions with such passion :wink:
    That's cool! :D
    I had not other choice other than discover it myself!
    FYI, cutting springs dramatically changes the springrate and is.. ghetto. Save up the $200 odd dollars for some properly tempered and rated springs
    I have a degree in automotive engineering so I know a little bit about metallurgy for automotive applications :wink:
  • HaydzHaydz Moderator
    Nice, didn't even see the other topic on the same subject.

    FYI, EF Civic hatch shocks and springs fit in and give a good drop too, without the need for cutting any coils and diminishing the springrate.
  • ZLITESZLITES New Wagonist
    Pacifier wrote:
    Nice, didn't even see the other topic on the same subject.

    FYI, EF Civic hatch shocks and springs fit in and give a good drop too, without the need for cutting any coils and diminishing the springrate.

    How much drop?
  • ludesrvludesrv Band Wagon
    Wow that is such a bad idea. Let's take our old springs out guys and strap it some weaker ones. What could be wrong with that?

    You will see higher rates of metal fatigue in the springs. First the car will likely start to sag and eventually bottom out due to weakened springs.

    Don't be cheap. Decent lowering springs are 150$! And you don't need any fancy tools to lower a car. Just aim the strut away from you when you release it.
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