what to do next?

[adriel_127]

hey guys, i've been a member here for a while now but am still a noob to fixing cars up. my fa5 is dropped on s-techs currently and my intention for this car is to mod it suspension wise only and not really for speed. i figured we live in cali and we cant really drive our cars as fast as we want cuz all the freakin laws we have. so i want to focus on suspension. what should i get next?

thanks in advance

[NIGHTHAWKSI]

front and rear camber kit.

[DUB2CRS]

Sway bars, big-brake kit

[Sirbelch]

Wait for Koni FSD shocks to come out and put those on. In the mean time, get 4 front camber bolts from Corsport and put them in. Get a shop to max out front negative camber (should be close to -2 degrees) and front positive caster (should be close to +8 degrees) and put the toe at zero all the way around. Big brake kits are a waste of money unless you plan to track your car at least once a month.

Also, read the highlighted blue threads at the top of this section and make an informed decision.

[DUB2CRS]

Originally Posted by Sirbelch

Big brake kits are a waste of money unless you plan to track your car at least once a month.

Ok, fine. How about Hawk HPS pads and some Motul brake fluid?

[LucasBlack]

good fluid is great, although if he is never actually pushing the car very hard for any length of time....then a much better fluid really isn't all that much of an upgrade.
and pads are good....just make sure you're not buying pads that operate best in a temperature range that you'll never see....

and i modify my suspension to go faster, i don't know about you...

[adriel_127]

thanks guys. im so inexperienced with this stuff. Sirbelch I think I'm going to go with what you said for now.

I didnt even know you can modify your suspension to go faster.

i just wanted it to handle like crazy on turns.

what pads do should i get?

[adriel_127]

Originally Posted by Sirbelch

Wait for Koni FSD shocks to come out and put those on. In the mean time, get 4 front camber bolts from Corsport and put them in. Get a shop to max out front negative camber (should be close to -2 degrees) and front positive caster (should be close to +8 degrees) and put the toe at zero all the way around. Big brake kits are a waste of money unless you plan to track your car at least once a month.

Also, read the highlighted blue threads at the top of this section and make an informed decision.

sirbelch, thanks man. you lost me already with what you said. lol but you seem really experienced with this stuff, how much experience do you have if you dont mind me asking? im just curious because i reallly want to do this car right and for that to happen i need to be getting advice from someone who is very experinced in this matter and not just people who know the basics. yo know what i mean? and should i get brake pads like they were saying? or is it useless. i figured i would only need that if i was modding to go faster.

[DUB2CRS]

I would think that if you're planning to have your car "handle like crazy", you're inevitably going to take turns faster, and in turn, drive faster. Obviously, upgrading your brake pads will increase your stopping, making your car safer for you and the other drivers on the road. So no, they are not useless.

[Yodums]

Originally Posted by adriel_127

should i get brake pads like they were saying? or is it useless. i figured i would only need that if i was modding to go faster.

It's fine to upgrade your brake pads and brake fluid. There's no real benefit to upgrading to a big brake kit unless you're going to be consistently tracking your car for long durations. The big brake kit actually increases your stopping distance. Its biggest advantage over a regular setup is you won't experience brake fade as easily as you do on a normal setup. FYI, tires stop the vehicles, not brakes.

[adriel_127]

Originally Posted by DUB2CRS

I would think that if you're planning to have your car "handle like crazy", you're inevitably going to take turns faster, and in turn, drive faster. Obviously, upgrading your brake pads will increase your stopping, making your car safer for you and the other drivers on the road. So no, they are not useless.

omg, duh! thanks good info people. so what do i do first though cuz i dont have the money to get all of that at once?

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

a real suspension

[Yodums]

Originally Posted by adriel_127

omg, duh! thanks good info people. so what do i do first though cuz i dont have the money to get all of that at once?

As mentioned, front camber arm bolts, rear camber kit and a good alignment is a good place to start. Wait for the Koni dampers to come out and set yourself up with a nice "piece meal" (that word always makes me laugh) suspension.

[Sirbelch]

Just wait until the Koni yellows (FSD) come out and get some Ground Control springs. This will give you a little time to save up. Like others said, pads and fluid will be good but that should be a little latter down the line unless you plan on 40 minute canyon runs.

First thing to get is an alignment. The factory alignment is set up to push. Get 4 front camber bolts, 2 per side and put them in. Go to an alignment shop and tell them to max out neagtive camber in the front as well as mx positive caster in the front. Then set toe to 0 at all four corners. This is going to maximize the handling of the stock suspension for about 120 bucks. Once you get used to that, get some sticky tires or, if you can afford it, a lightweight wheel/tire package that is wider than stock, but not taller than stock, so no 18's. Then, once you get used to that, get the suspension. The best place to get used to all this suspension stuff is your local Autocross events. You really can't push it on the streets like you can here. Autocross is going to improve your driving skills too which is the best mod ever. If all this isn't enough, hit me up and i'll give you even more ideas.

[adriel_127]

Originally Posted by BATANG CITY JAIL

a real suspension

which is what?

[adriel_127]

Originally Posted by Yodums

As mentioned, front camber arm bolts, rear camber kit and a good alignment is a good place to start. Wait for the Koni dampers to come out and set yourself up with a nice "piece meal" (that word always makes me laugh) suspension.

so when do strut bars and sway bars come into place? and the braces and all that stuff? im guessing after the springs and shock and camber right?

[adriel_127]

Originally Posted by Sirbelch

Just wait until the Koni yellows (FSD) come out and get some Ground Control springs. This will give you a little time to save up. Like others said, pads and fluid will be good but that should be a little latter down the line unless you plan on 40 minute canyon runs.

First thing to get is an alignment. The factory alignment is set up to push. Get 4 front camber bolts, 2 per side and put them in. Go to an alignment shop and tell them to max out neagtive camber in the front as well as mx positive caster in the front. Then set toe to 0 at all four corners. This is going to maximize the handling of the stock suspension for about 120 bucks. Once you get used to that, get some sticky tires or, if you can afford it, a lightweight wheel/tire package that is wider than stock, but not taller than stock, so no 18's. Then, once you get used to that, get the suspension. The best place to get used to all this suspension stuff is your local Autocross events. You really can't push it on the streets like you can here. Autocross is going to improve your driving skills too which is the best mod ever. If all this isn't enough, hit me up and i'll give you even more ideas.

wow, thanks a lot man. i think im gonna go with the order you gave me. thanks man. where are you in cali?

[Yodums]

Originally Posted by adriel_127

which is what?

Something that is custom. This does not include pre-built coilovers that have "adjustable" dampers that control a series of thing. You really have no information what this knob controls. In short, it comes down to ride quality. It's doing a bunch of things with that one knob -- bump valving and rebound valving.

Running lowering springs on stock dampers isn't necessarily a very optimal choice if your reasoning was strictly handling.

http://8thcivic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46108

http://8thcivic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41081

Good reads.

[Sirbelch]

Originally Posted by adriel_127

so when do strut bars and sway bars come into place? and the braces and all that stuff? im guessing after the springs and shock and camber right?

Don't worry at all about strut braces unless you are going to put R compound tires on your car and go racing in a class that doesn't allow roll cages. The sway bars should be last. If you get the ground control springs, you can chose the spring rate and shift the balance of the car a lot more than a sway bar can.

[adriel_127]

man, that's a lot of info. phew!. thanks guys. so i think going to go ahead and get the 4 camber bolts for the front first and get them adjusted and aligned, then the rear camber kit.