Got my TEIN SS in yesterday. They are the BEST purchase I have made so far for the CL-S. Not only does the coilovers make the car look great, but the ride has improved ten fold.

I have the struts set at a moderate-soft rate (driving in Pittsburgh is like driving continously on cobble-stones). 9 clicks in the front and 11 clicks in the back (total of 16...16 being the softest).

The car holds to the ground much better and the brake dive/side-to-side lean is essentially eliminated.

A few thank yous to:
- Shawn S for his great instructions for removing the rear seat
- Shoofin'TL (a-tl.com) for his detailed spring installation instructions. One thing to mention about these instructions...the author uses non-metric sockets for removing bolts. I always thought that Hondas used metric so I tried to use comperable sockets.
- my buddy Hydz for his skilled mechanical help.

Here are some pics:

 

Your front is too high. Front should be at least as low as the rear. Other than that, nice work.

For reference here were my drop numbers (measuring same way you are):

Comptech sport springs: Front exactly 14.0", Rear exactly 14.5"

Initial NEX coilover drop: Front 12.75", Rear 13.1"

Current NEX drop is: Front is 13 & 3/8th", Rear 13.75"

It's up to you - if you like having your front end look like you're always accelerating, fine, but it looks silly IMHO.

 

The front end it too high...Jrock is right. You need to lower it another inch, then lower the back another inch too The rear fenders are cut lower, so in my opinion it looks best with less wheel gap in the rear. I look at the bottom of the car. When that's even, I think it looks best. Great job!

-Aaron

 

Aaron, your car is the ONLY CL that looks good with the rear wheelwell lower than the front - because you can SIT IT ON THE GROUND.

From a distance the first thing people notice will be the wheel wells and if the rear one is sitting lower on a moderate drop, it looks silly. But it is cut lower so it depends on if you want to look good for everyone else or just look good to you.

In my case I like the slight rake better anyway, so it was easy for me to decide to make sure the front is lower than the rear.


Oh and just some advice to save you some time - with stock tires, you can drop as low as my initial NEX drop without rubbing unless you're a heavy-set fellow or you routinely have a full compliment of passengers.

Also if you drop even as low as my current drop, you will need at least one set of camber kits (front or rear depending on which is the problem on your car... it seems to differ for every car) or possibly both, like I did.

Keep a close eye on your tire wear!!

 

nice job chikai, those look awesome.

now drop that sucker another inch. for reference, my car sits at just under 13" in front and rear. peer pressure is a bitch, eh?

 

Hehehe my front splashguard was 3" off the ground (lowest point under the car), so judging by your sig, you were at 12.5". Most excellent drop but you must be rubbing like a mofo in the twisties!

 

I actually went and raised my car another 3/4" in the rear to match the front. It now has somewhat of a "rake" look to it, so it doesn't look like it's accelerating all the time.

I would love to slam my car, but I think after reading this story you'll understand why I don't want to have a slammed car in Pittsburgh.

 

jrock, no rubby. even w/ the 235's.

chikai, i'm not sure why you would spend the money for the tiens and end up w/ less than a comptech drop?

i drive my car on some pretty rough streets. cobblestones, manholes, railroad tracks etc. you name it. no problems whatsoever.

 

why waste all the money on coil overs if that is all the lowering you're going to do?
seems sorta pointless to me...

 

How do you know where to adjust the coilovers on height so its even all around? I have personally never installed coilovers, but I have done many regular spring installs. I am just not sure how you know exactly if its perfect all around?

 

silverbullet = bandwidth waster

 

Uhm you measure just like he did - the distance from center cap of wheel to top of wheelwell edge. If they are even all around, the car will appear even from the side. This will actually make a slight rake since, as 4pumped pointed out, the rear wheelwells come down a bit lower than the fronts.

But it will LOOK normal because the distance from the rim to the wheelwell edge will be even all around. I actually went a step further and have my fronts lower than my rears distance-wise so it actually has a bit of a rake in appearance.

 

ur gonna need a camber kit

 

here's mine

 

i personally would have set the coilovers a hell of alot lower but it is your car so do as you like

now i really want coilovers cause with my system my car looks goofy as hell with the back lower than the front

chikai by the way what suspension setup did u have before cause i noticed u said the ride was better

 

COME ON AARON

An inch, who you kidding......:P

 

Not really... cauz the pics are linked not attached.. but still is a big fat

...Car looks great with the TEIN's.. I'm assuming you took the plunge because you wanted a somewhat minor drop without giving up any ride quality (like the Comptech springs would do).... if you so, you seemed please with the results..

sooooo was it worth blowing off that Chick to get the install done??????

DOM

 

Yup, not a bandwidth waster, just an annoyance.

 

really nice really nice

 

Time for some 19"s

 

Well excuse me guys! I didn't even pay attention to that! lol...its fixed.

 

haha...you guys are too funny!

Yeah...I keep calling the chick that I blew off this weekend...(so I can install the coilovers) I don't think she's too happy w/ me right now. It's all good though...went out and got drunk anyway. i'll see her on another day.

As for slamming my ride to the ground...it's not going to happen. Number one, there are some camber issues I don't want to deal w/ in the rear tires.

Number two, I need the clearance to get around the roads of Pittsburgh. I already lost an Integra to fucking potholes of Pittsburgh roads. If you don't know already, I basically slammed my Integra and I hit a sewer hole cover that destroyed my engine/tranny (over $3,600 down the drain).

So stop telling me to lower my car anymore.

I spent $900 for the coilovers because I wanted a stiffer ride w/ a slight drop. I now have the option of making the ride insanely stiff for AutoX events in Pittsburgh when necessary.

 

dont worry nigs.... hell lower it.

i did same shi when wi first gk0rsat coileobers.

i brely olo2wered it then i drooppws ;ite l;ole cracu
\\\\\

helll lower it;. he jusat adjusting

 

damn soopa. having a good night i see.

 

chikai, you must lower your car, it is your destiny.

 

I had OEM springs/struts....

huh...soopa, "coileobers"?

 

chikai I'm gonna go with tiens when my stock shocks go bad. How's the ride quality with the tiens on?

 

Looks good K-dawg.... keep up the good work ...

 

chikai you are welcome and also this probably the best mod I purchase so far.

 

It looks fine the way it is, i lowered my GTS too much and ended up crushing my oil pan.............my car's exhaust would easily hit road reflectors daily..........i will never lower my car that low again.

 

So far the ride quality has been better than stock. I have the dampener adjusted to slightly lower than the medium setting and it rides about 10-15% stiffer than OEM.

The biggest difference is the lack of body roll side-to-side and front-to-back. The car feels a lot more tossible (although the tires still suck) and there is zero bounce even after hitting the biggest dips in the road.

Like I said before, this is probably the best purchase I've made so far for the CL-S.

 

ummm. dayum...

i must of had a good night!


umm, ya. i dont know what i was trying to say... so uhh... sowwy. :'(

 

sober interpretation.