Gabru678

iTrader: (1)

Hey Guys!

Been a while but I have ALOT to update, soon.

But right now I am looking at (finally) lowering my car.

I have heard the the Koni Yellow's and H&R Sport Springs are the best set up as far as ride and low balance goes.

Is this true?
Because I am currently on a website that has the Koni Yellow's for sale (link)

Total price comes out to $569.86 shipped to my door.
This includes all corners, and all of the assembly ( I know I will still have to buy some springs)

Now I was wondering what people have done with these?
What is the lowest people have gone? And how customizable is the ride? I daily this car and my mother drives it, I cannot risk her being uncomfortable.

And advantages/disadvantages over Coilovers?

The other set of coilovers I am looking at is
godspeed coilovers

for the 2g tl, I can get coilovers for $630 shipped to my door w/ tracking number
Features:
- Spring Rates, 12kg Front / 8kg Rear
- 16 Levels of Dampening
- Mono-Tube shock design
- Powder coated damper body
- Ride height and spring preload are completely separate (Ride height can be changed without touching spring preload)
- Poly Urethane bushing in both the top hat and lower bracket
- One Year Warranty from Date of Purchase
Compared to f2s
GSP uses higher quality stainless steel which is why the shock body on GSP coils are polished rather than bronze
GSP springs are linear and not progressive, meaning the spring rates stay true throughout. with or without load.

I dont really know what to do here.
Not very experienced in the suspension area
Lastly are these good prices? Or should I wait?

Gabru678

iTrader: (1)

Also are these better or worse that the SP3's?
And will I be able to stay at or below stock height if I was to get 19's ( I know its soo big but its the smallest they have for the exact style I want, and I wont get smaller Reps)

I am looking to go lowww, but still I DD the car.
Its just its a big price :P

fsttyms1

Konis are the best shock available. I personally like them better than coilovers, especially in climates that get snow and the cities use lots of salt and sand which in the past i have had destroy the ability to adjust height.

Check out our vendors like Excelerate or Heeltoe. They carry all sorts of shocks, springs and coilovers.

If you can find the Koni SP3s they are worth it because they have a few different height adjustment perches for the springs to sit on. If all you are looking to do is get it as low as possible get coilovers.

ExcelerateRep

As fsttyms1 said, we carry the Koni Yellows and many other options for the TL. The Yellows are one of the best options if you're looking to lower your car down. These will really help handling, and they offer adjustable damping knobs so you can adjust the shock a bit to make it softer of stiffer. They are also re-buildable and come with a lifetime warranty which is a big plus.

We often price match too. Feel free to send me a PM or an email to Tom@ExceleratePerformance.com and I'll get you the best price possible.

Front:
Koni Shock - Sport Series - Excelerate Performance - Japanese and European Performance Specialists!!

Rear:
Koni Shock - Sport Series - Excelerate Performance - Japanese and European Performance Specialists!!

Gabru678

iTrader: (1)

Thanks!
And yea I would definitely buy it from our sponsors any time I could.
I am not looking to go low as possible just a good 2" drop.
But I cannot sacrifice the ride.
Do these go softer than OEM as well?
Or only stiffer?


And Does XLR8 or Heeltoe have any SP3's? I didn't see them on the website.

Im also looking at ground control so I can adjust height and also the Pre-load of the suspension.

Gabru678

iTrader: (1)

If not what other Coilovers would come close?
FF2?

HairyMonkey019

iTrader: (7)

Imma get GSP sooner or later. Functions are manufactured in China and assembled in the US, "Made in USA". GSP made it simple saying their product is made in Taiwan, but totally shits on the quality of functions. After you break in the coils you can mess with pre load and have no worries of blowing shocks. Pre load should be adjusted to the way you like it.

01tl4tl

nothing is going to ride softer than OE- especially lowered!
shorter springs = you lose a lot of the preload/progressive area of initial spring tension- where it soaks up the little bumps.

Coilovers or aftermarket shocks in general tend to hop over the bumps quickly, compared to the rolling ocean waves you experience now - as it recovers from a dip or bump

What you are able to adjust is the flow rate of the shocks fluid- allowing more or less to the rebound stiffness/time after wheel/shock displacement from its neutral position

On softest setting there is an issue of tire rub into fender liners - rears are the worst

You MUST teach all drivers of your car to go at an angle crossing any street-driveway level changes!!

If the shocks are easy to spin the knob from medium/firm- where you will use it,
to softest for mom-- in a minute = that's helpful
Do not expect mom to climb in the backseat to adjust!

I run Tein SS- adjustable dampening with knob on top and leave them on medium soft = 5 of 16 all the time.
Wife is happy enough...I can adjust if needed but the only setting I really change it to is full stiff for track days or playing on the backroads

tires: 225/50/18s on my 01, there is 1.5 to 2 finger clearance from tire top outer edge to fender edge, that's with the spring perches at teins suggested starting point for setting height
That's approx. 2 inch drop from stock

expect any weight of friends in back seat to cause fender rub

01tl4tl

cant afford any loss of softness in the ride for mom? stay on the stock springs and install new decent quality strut inserts
most are a made with stiffer setting and gas filled type than stock- so the older springs take some of that out and feel more like it did in 2000 when new

new springs and struts = ride like tank

Stephen00TL

I had h&r sports springs on my 2000 tl with kyb agx shocks and it was a little rough at times. When I switched my suspension to the cl I went head and installed my koni yellows I had. They ride better and if you set them to full soft the ride is smooth. I have mine set to about half way and they handle better and still absorb bumps in the road better than the KYB shocks I had. One benefit the koni shocks have over coil overs is a lifetime warranty, most coil overs are one year. If your looking to go less than 2" I would go with h&r sport springs and Komi yellows. The drop is nice and they handle great.

Gabru678

iTrader: (1)

Hmm I may try and do just the fronts for now?

I feel like the stock suspension on my 03 TL-P is kinda tight.
It seems the dampers are tight it hits pavement gaps hard, but will have some good body roll in corners.
Its everyone elses softer?
Perhaps the previous owner replaced them without me knowing?
I seriously think that they installed some from the 3rd gen TL as it is rough ( 3rd gens were heavier so it may be soft for them but hard for our much lighter weight) now that im thinking about it.

So from what I understand as well about coil-overs is that they have a bit more customization for the springs and dampers?
But Strut and springs are better and more balanced, justifying the cost?

Also Keep in mind, while im down there i will be changing out all the bushing to new ones from the 3rd gen TL (as I hear they will fit and are newer) to really get that 'new car feel'

I appreciate the help fella's! Really I do!

Stephen00TL

You can adjust dampening with koni yellows or some coilovers. The main benefit with coilovers is you can adjust the ride height to where you want it. If you think the stock tl-p suspension is firm you may not want to change out the springs or go with coilovers because they will be firmer. You could just replace the shocks with koni yellows and use the stock springs. They have adjustable perches that can lower the car 20mm as well. Also you could get the eibach front and rear anti roll bar kit and it will get rid of a lot of body roll without lowering the car.

MrHeeltoe

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for that! Anyone can give away parts to people, but only the forum vendors have a vested interest in making sure the customer makes informed and beneficial decisions.

On SP3's though...

SP3 Konis were customized by Neuspeed with additional perch height settings. Neuspeed informed us in very early December 2010, that the SP3 dampers were not available any longer.

But no matter. Combining the regular Koni Sports with a Ground Control coilover set is a great way to get top quality dampers and springs in the car with the benefit of adjustable height.

That said, we Tom mentioned above, the Tein SS/SA becomes something really good to consider. These matched damper and spring sets not only have the ability to adjust height and ride firmness, they have shortened damper tubes which allow for the ride and handling to be maintained when the car is lower.

We have been doing Acura suspensions for the last 10 years and can help answer all your questions. Feel free to PM, call, or txt for more information.

Marcus
949-295-1668

01tl4tl

to eliminate body opposite roll into corners-freeway clover-leafs etc = Cusco lower frame cross brace bar- (see mr heeltoe for that and its upper brace counterpart)
That ties the lower suspension points and frame rails together and totally tightens up the cornering input- flatness thru turn
Wife noticed that right away as being far more comfortable than stock- no more grabbing the hand hold entering every hard turn!
Also makes freeway lane changes flat- just a flick of the wheel and back- you are in the next lane!

those bars were my first mod to the TL, long before it went lowered on the tein SS and bigger rims/lower profile tires
Besides the upgraded brakes, the bars were definitely a top 3 `best low cost mods` you can do for the TL

03 tls nc

iTrader: (6)

Koni or Bilstein over cheap coils all day. I run Bilstein sports that have adjustable perch heights with Eibach springs. Smooth and responsive. The Bilsteins are re-buildable and re-valveable.

HairyMonkey019

iTrader: (7)

Sub 2 category at buttonwillow
Full interior+SC=3000 lb car
Ken Suen Racing 2013 Civic Si Sedan w/ custom splitter

Godspeed.

fsttyms1

I have the Koni yellows with H&R sport springs. It rides far better than stock ever did. No one has ever complained of the ride, my kids as babies were able to sleep every where we went and never woke up from the ride. Exhaust and intake on the other hand

Aman

I have a 6th-gen Accord, so hopefully my experience will be at least a little relatable.

I have Koni Yellows with Neuspeed Race springs. Something like a 2" front, 2.25" rear drop I think.

How they ride depends on your definition of a good ride. I wouldn't characterize it as soft. But there's no bounciness at all, which is really nice. Front shocks are set to about 3/4 stiff.

It's important to reiterate what 01tl4tl said, that the Yellows are only rebound adjustable. Don't crank it to full stiff thinking that the car won't budge at all when you hit a bump. I found this video on YouTube which might help:


The lower you want to go, the stiffer your ride will have to be. Just how it is. It sounds like maybe a good shock with a not-so-stiff spring would be good for you. Pair it with some different wheels and you'll be good.

01tl4tl

BUT
he has to consider MOM drives or rides in the car, and smoothness- at least equal to a TL with 70kmilkes and needs shocks, rides. Smoother preferred!

Lowering by any means = you can kiss that idea of soft- or softer than OE goodbye!

some basic shocks, not racer type, is what you need with the OE springs and maybe some new top hats for the struts- wear dependent

Add a lower frame brace as I noted before= and its MOM APPROVED ride

when its your own car and not shared or chauffeuring, then drop it and have fun.

Until then- its really about Mom being comfortable- getting older is not easy on the body,,, you young kids don't understand when every bump in the road hurts,
the last thing you want is even more feel of the road!

AlanW

If your mom DRIVES the car, you might want to think twice about lowering it.
My wife has never seen a curb or parking block that she won't try to pull up over until the front tire touches it-she just apparently cannot remember the car is lowered a little.
My nose cone now has 2 cracks in it and numerous scrape marks, just from lowering it 1.5"