Lude Generation

The Prelude I have just bought could do with replacement suspension and I've got Koni sport shocks in mind, but I'm in a peculiar situation:

Here in Spain they do not allow you (well they do but there is money, paperwork and headache involved) to replace your OEM springs with anything but that, OEM or identical aftermarket replacements. Due to this, I am only interested in lowering the car anything between 20-30mm and improving handling (this being the main concern).

Question: What would be the best setup for me with these shocks to improve handling and 20-30mm drop (NO MORE!)? Standard springs? Lowered springs?

Cheers LG.

I would recommend Eibach lowering springs but they are expensive- they should be about 30mm lower - this is what i have on my 4th gen
remember you can alter the ride height by moving the spring perch up or down on the shock - so in theory you could set them up to be the nearly same height as oem if you want but youve got to set this before putting them on the car. there are two setting for the front and three for the rear. Normal setting for lowering is top perch for fronts and middle perch for the rear
Ive just finished building another set of konis - these ones use Apex springs - again about 30mm drop.
So i think the drop is more to do with the perch height rather than the springs being shorter.

search out a set of access springs

vanzep wrote: remember you can alter the ride height by moving the spring perch up or down on the shock - so in theory you could set them up to be the nearly same height as oem if you want but youve got to set this before putting them on the car. there are two setting for the front and three for the rear. Normal setting for lowering is top perch for fronts and middle perch for the rear
Ive just finished building another set of konis - these ones use Apex springs - again about 30mm drop.
So i think the drop is more to do with the perch height rather than the springs being shorter.

So you're saying the only thing that lowers the car is the adjustment on the shock?
Surely if I was to put eibach -30mm drop on konis with the konis set on their lowest setting (-20mm IIRC) then I would have a total drop of -50mm more or less in this example?

mercutio wrote:search out a set of access springs

Me likey.
Apart from being rare from what I see, I'd like to buy new parts to replace the old and I doubt I'd find a new set of these at a decent price hahaha

or swap the front lower forks for those from a dc2 that will drop you 10mm closer to the ground

mercutio wrote:or swap the front lower forks for those from a dc2 that will drop you 10mm closer to the ground

Good idea. Unfortunately I do need to change the suspension though due to the old suspension being tired out. I'm stuck between getting standard springs and konis or lowered springs and konis...

tom023 wrote:So you're saying the only thing that lowers the car is the adjustment on the shock?
Surely if I was to put eibach -30mm drop on konis with the konis set on their lowest setting (-20mm IIRC) then I would have a total drop of -50mm more or less in this example?

Yep, this is how I understand it too?
Confused...

maybe didnt explain things too clearly
You can get 20mm drop on the koni fronts and 30mm drop on the rears by moving the perch up and down. Sounds like you will be best to go with oem springs on konis. You can keep them at oem height or drop 20mm at the front and 10, 20 or 30mm at the rear. You can alter the rebound in seconds once they are fitted.

might also be an idea to look at replacing the oem rubber parts with es poly

vanzep wrote:maybe didnt explain things too clearly
You can get 20mm drop on the koni fronts and 30mm drop on the rears by moving the perch up and down. Sounds like you will be best to go with oem springs on konis. You can keep them at oem height or drop 20mm at the front and 10, 20 or 30mm at the rear. You can alter the rebound in seconds once they are fitted.

Dude that was exactly the answer I was looking for. That's what I'll be doing then when the time comes. That way I'll be able to pass inspection without a problem due to not having lowered springs.
The main idea is to improve handling and stability, this being the objective I'll also be looking into getting a complete poly bush kit for the car. Having the car sitting slightly lower is a bonus for looks.

I better start saving those euros...