Comparison: Stock Suspension vs. HFP Suspension vs. KONI/ Swift Springs Suspension

[Geovone]

All right, thanks for the response.
Guess I'll stick to getting the HFP suspension

[riceme]

Great post it has helped me a lot.

[Xtreme Thunder]

I am starting to require higher rate springs.

Been in contact recently with Redshift Motorsports about a custom coilover. I know I did not want a coilover due to NY winters, but I may make the jump and switch out for my current set-up during winter months. That will also give me time to do the maintenance on the coilovers during the winter months and vise versa.

Goals:
Redshift KONI S/A or D/A. (undecided)
Less 1" stock height

Front:
Redshift's coilover sleeves.
Hypercoil or Swift 2.5" I.D. springs.
Hypercoil or Swift Helper springs.
ASR pillow ball camber plate.

Rear:
Redshift's adjustable spring perch.
Hypercoil or Swift 2.5" I.D. springs.

Spring free length to be determined. I only need 1" less stock height, so I may go with a 7-8" free length spring.

Spring rates to be determined.

[Xtreme Thunder]

OE (si)
(Front) 200 in/#-- (Rear) 230 in/#-- Spring Rate Stagger 1.15:1

Civic Type R (FD2)
(Front) 294 in/#-- (Rear) 345 in/#-- Spring Rate Stagger 1.17:1

Mugen “Type R” Set
(Front) 271-290 in/#--(Rear)367-390 in/#--- Spring Rate Stagger 1.35:1

Spring Rate Increase (Si to Mugen Type “R”)
Front-------------Rear----------------Stagger
35%-45% -------60%-70% ----------18% increase

With that being said, I was thinking about this for my DD spring rates either:

(Front) 308 lbs/in--(Rear) 447 lbs/in---Spring Rate Stagger 1.45:1
(Front) 280 lbs/in--(Rear) 447 lbs/in---Spring Rate Stagger 1.60:1
(Front) 336 lbs/in--(Raer) 504 lbs/in---Spring Rate Stagger 1.50:1

I still need to calculate the best free length to use for each option.

[drahgon]

Originally Posted by Xtreme Thunder

Get some used/ blown oe dampers on here and use them for the KONIs. I did that and cost $35 shipped.

Is there any difference between si and non-si front strut housings? Can I use non-si struts with the koni inserts on my si?

[Xtreme Thunder]

Originally Posted by drahgon

Is there any difference between si and non-si front strut housings? Can I use non-si struts with the koni inserts on my si?

There are slight variations in the strut stamping between si and non-si, but I would call KONI to confirm that the non-si housing can acctept the KONI front insert.

I know that the suspensions are cross interchangeable in a physical sense. I want to say you will be fine, but call to confirm.

[eliSurf limited]

Subbed to read again later when I get the HFP suspension...

[Str8JDM]

you paint the front struts yourself so it all matches?

[Xtreme Thunder]

Originally Posted by Str8JDM

you paint the front struts yourself so it all matches?

No, I had them powder coated to match.

[Turk]

what does the word 'stagger' mean in terms of spring loads?

[Xtreme Thunder]

Originally Posted by Turk

what does the word 'stagger' mean in terms of spring loads?

It is a simple ratio of, in this instance of comparison, front and rear spring rates. In those instances above, you take the rear spring rate and divide by the front spring rate to get the ratio. If the dampers are valved properly to the spring rates the higher stagger ratio FA/FG will have a greater tendency to oversteer; i.e. make the car quicker around the track when controlled properly. Lower the stagger, the more neutral the handling. There is not one correct stagger to go by. The poor motion ration in the rear requires the spring rate to be pretty high when compared tot he front to get favorable handling characteristics while on the track.

[akronmusician413]

did you need to realign your suspension after installing the koni/swift setup?

[Xtreme Thunder]

Originally Posted by akronmusician413

did you need to realign your suspension after installing the koni/swift setup?

Yes, hence the custom alignment numbers! Any time you unbolt major suspension parts you should get an alignemnt.

[akronmusician413]

so camber kits would be the only accessory hardware that i would need? shops can adjust toe and caster without additional hardware right?

also i plan on getting the koni/swift setup and i already own a progress rsb with reinforcing brackets but i havent installed it yet

[Xtreme Thunder]

Caster may be able to be adjusted by the subframe, but will not be accurate. You would need LCA bushings to do such. Not sure if any work from previous models or if any has been produced since the last time I ran a search for such product.

Toe is adjustable, to a certain degree, with factory hardware.

[akronmusician413]

how off was your alignment from factory specs when you installed the koni/swift setup?

[Xtreme Thunder]

I don't recall, I went to get aligned with all my hardware installed and asked for my custom specs. I will double check to see if before specs are on there, but I only think the print out had final achieved numbers.

[aac0036]

Amazing writeup! This will be very useful for me since it's exactly what I'm looking for in a suspension setup.

[peter5012]

Where did u get that KONI? It is cheap.

[Xtreme Thunder]

Originally Posted by peter5012

Where did u get that KONI? It is cheap.

I got them when they were first released from KONI-na for FA/FG chassis. KONI-na was running a super introductory price, which trickled down to the sponsors on here for an even cheaper price at $500 shipped for both the front and rear.

That was the time when everyone was biitching that $500 for dampers was overpriced. I know KONI and their reputation in the consumer automotive and industrial industry and knew that was an excellent deal for dampers of that level.

They have provided me with many excellent performance and non-performance related miles.

I purchased them from Excelerate Performance, a site sponsor.