Should I do the wheels & tires first?

or

Springs/sways?



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'01 Satin Silver w/Black, Navi_less, spoiler, mud guards, wind deflector.
Tint 15%, Polarqs M6s, Things to come: sub, air kit (if exists), maybe headers, CAI, and spring/sway combo.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1603513&a=12224080

 

I would go spring and sway first gives you a nicer stance and handling capability.

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1990Si
2001CL-S

 

w/ the money for wheels/tires you can get headers (29-32hp) and springs (looks and handling) and sways (just striaght up cornering ablilites) of course thats w/ out labor.

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CL-S
White/Ebony/Navi/Spoiler/Visor/Full Bra/Mud Guards/Acura Car Cover/Tint 20%,35%,5% on Sun Roof, Rockford 250a2 Amp w/JL10w6 / K&N Drop in Filter. Comptech Springs. Polarg m-6.
Comptech Headers, Comptech Sways, Eurolite Xenon Crystal high beams.
me.

gtech 0-60 6.03 w/ 438 pound load. preheader.

 

Sorry, I'm biased the stock tires really suck on blacktop. If you are going to drive on sandpaper, go ahead and go with the non-tire mods.




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Silver 2001 CL-S with NAVI

• Mud guards
• Wheel locks
• Toyo T1S 235/45ZR17-93W* Proxies on 17x8" SSR Competition wheels (48lbs less than stock)
• Kevlar/SS Brake lines ordered
• Comptech headers & sways ordered
• Silver AEM CAI ready
• 6 coats of Zaino magic

 

Spring and Sway all the way.

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2001 CL-S Satin Silver/Ebnoy
Spoiler, moonroof visor, 20% Tint,
PIAA 19173/19170
Mobil 1 Oil/Oil Filter
X-Pel/Upgrade Cup Holder
Clifford G4 Solaris Remote Start Car Alarm

Just order: AEM CAI/Denso Iridium Spark Plugs
On its way: Comptech Sway Bar/Brake Line/WS Apexi Coilover

 

springs sways, headers, NEW FUCKIN TIRES

 

Get the tires first. If you get the sways first (like I have done), you'll take corners faster and discover the limits of the stock rubber very quickly.

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Mike
2001 Satin Silver CL-S
Comptech headers, sways, PIAA 19169

"Never underestimate the power of a dark CLown!" - Darph Bobo

 

Get springs and sways first and wear out the stock tires before getting new ones.

 

One thought if you will get the spring and sways, I suggest you throw a brand new high performance struts this will also enhance the handling of your car and also saved money on installation....

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1990Si
2001CL-S

 

Handling improvements should always be first (IMO), unless the car is well equipped from the factory.

1.) springs
2.) sways
3.) shocks
4.) wheels/tires
5.) brakes
6.) engine mods
7.) cosmetics


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2001 Acura 3.2CL Type-S
Satin Silver/Ebony
No Navi/No Spoiler
Competch springs
35% tint
PIAA 19169 bulbs
K&N 33-2178 air filter

The Aviation Zone

 

did the springs only (kept factory shocks) first - looks and handles good
just got new wheels and tires - looks and handles GREAT!
can only guess how much better sways will make the car handle (won't add to look though)

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Satin Silver Type S w/ Nav, H&R Springs, AEM CAI, PIAA 912 Stealths, 3M Clear Bra, 18" Mille Miglia MM11, 225/40/18 Bridgestone Potenza RE730

 

It depends if you want speed or handling and how much $$ you have to spend.

If I had it to do over again, I'd buy the mods in the following order:

Tires - Listen to the guys who have upgraded their tires!! The stock tires are the absolute worst for spirited driving. While the springs and sway help the tires will still be the weak point.
Springs - Better handling and looks
Headers - Vvvvrroom!
CAI - Vvvvrrrrroooom vvvrrrooom!
Brakes - Probably my next mod after the wheels are installed next week.
Sways
Wheels

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2001 Satin Silver Cl Type S.
Comptech:Headers, Springs & Sways
AEM CAI
Toyo T1S Proxys 235/45/17
35% Llumar metallic tint
My Car

[This message has been edited by Mike (edited 04-10-2001).]

 

go with the springs and sways

 

I'd vote springs and sways with a very quick purchase of new tires.

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San Marino Red
Spoiler
Comptech Headers
Comptech Sways

 

Thanks for all the feedback.

I wanted to get new wheels and tires because I wanted the improved look of 18", but also get lighter wheels. If I get 18", then I obviously need new tires.

This car handles like a boat, and sometimes looks like one . Meaning that aspect needs to be improved with springs and sways.
While headers do give you the biggest hp gain, they are expensive. Also, this car has plenty of power, it needs to handle that power better. So to restare my question:
Taking into account that both the tire/wheel package will be done and springs/sways, which should be done first? Thanks

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'01 Satin Silver w/Black, Navi_less, spoiler, mud guards, wind deflector.
Tint 15%, Polarqs M6s, Things to come: sub, air kit (if exists), maybe headers, CAI, and spring/sway combo.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1603513&a=12224080

 

Springs and sways first because IMO the 18s with lower profile tires won't look good until you get the springs.

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2001 Acura 3.2 CL Type S
Satin Silver Metallic/Ebony

Stock, for now at least.

 

why not springs and tires?

if not...springs and sways...no doubt...

besides, if you upgrade ur rims b4 lowering the car, you'll look like an SUV...

 

Rod and Cee El Es,
I agree with both of you, the 18s make the car look little bit ridiculous without lowering it, however the gap wont be much different than it is right now since I intend to keep the same diameter.
I think that you guys are right, I should probably do springs and sways first.


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---------------------
'01 Satin Silver w/Black, Navi_less, spoiler, mud guards, wind deflector.
Tint 15%, Polarqs M6s, Things to come: sub, air kit (if exists), maybe headers, CAI, and spring/sway combo.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1603513&a=12224080

 

Yeah, but the lower profile wheel always makes the gap look bigger for some reason and the gap is big enough as it is, so go for the springs first. I was thinking if I should wait to get the springs and wheels/tires done together or if I should just go ahead and get the springs done now and then wait for the wheels. The car's getting aligned when I install springs, would I need another alignment when I get the rims? If so, I would save myself some money doing both together, but I haven't really found rims that I really want and would like to wear the stock tires down a bit more too.

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2001 Acura 3.2 CL Type S
Satin Silver Metallic/Ebony

Stock, for now at least.

 

I did the Tires first (car stuck like glue). I gave some rides to people and they couldn't believe it. I'm talking about really twisty road/high g loading with constant change in curve radius and direction. I could drive "fast" stock, but one the tires were on, I was stuck like glue.

Try the stock tires on some black, fresh, blacktop (pavement). You see the car push so bad, that it will scare you (it scared me). After, tires, very little push and very fast. Pig squealing is gone, and VSA will barely come on in hard starts (not so with stock tires -- it would light up with a feather touch on a paint strip).

The wheels -- 13 lbs vs 25-26lbs (stock). The unsprung weight and rotation inertia is so much lower, that it feels like I tossed 2 people out the window, and the car rides over washboard surfaces like a luxo-cruiser.
The steering is very light.

So, I now am waiting for the sways. Comptech gives the wrong rates for front and back. The 68% front and 130% back increases are for a CL. I did some calcs and the change is closer to: front = 13% more and rear 80% more.

The rule, generally speaking is this:

Use the sway/roll bars to balance the car from side-to-side.

Use the springs for balance from front-to-rear.

If this is technical, you probably want the bars based on the raves here. Everyone says the nasty sway goes away (or is much better).
(Don't shoot the messenger)

The springs (IMO) make the car look just right, but the springs were designed for the Accord, NOT the CL-S. The make the car look great and it will lower your CG. So, you will get less dive on braking and less squat on acceleration.

So, you need to decide what YOU want to improve 1st.

RAW GS --> tires
Rotation inertia/unsprung weight (nimble feet/shoes) --> light wheels (17" or 18")
Less sway, less understeer/push --> sways
Better look, less dive, less squat, lower CG --> springs.

Note: depending on who you talk to, everything in this world is a trade off. Acura are not dummies.

The tires will get you less gas mileage by about 10%.

The wheels will just empty your pocket book for some really light and great looking ones.

The springs will make it look great, but the ride will be harsher (by how much depends on the driver); they also squeak from time-to-time. (And the progressive coils in the back are compressed from day one.)

The sways will increase the tendency of the rear to come around (Don't let off the gas in a "at the limits" situation) -- you did want balance yes?

So, is that enough?


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Silver 2001 CL-S with NAVI

• Mud guards
• Wheel locks
• Toyo T1S 235/45ZR17-97W* Proxies on 17x8" SSR Competition wheels (48lbs less than stock)
• Kevlar/SS Brake lines ordered
• Comptech headers & sways ordered
• Silver AEM CAI ready
• 6 coats of Zaino magic

 

Go for the springs and sways first. A lowered car with stock rims shows nothing but improvement from a car with stock rims at stock height. On the other hand, a car with custom rims at stock height will look awkward with that fugly wheel gap.

[This message has been edited by SC TL (edited 04-11-2001).]

 

great point

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"the needle got buried at 140.....1,500 RPM later...the tach got buried"

 

I was actually planning to use my stock set for the winter. However, thanks everyone for the responses, I think I will take everyone's advise go ahead with the comptech springs and sways.

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---------------------
'01 Satin Silver w/Black, Navi_less, spoiler, mud guards, wind deflector.
Tint 15%, Polarqs M6s, Things to come: sub, air kit (if exists), maybe headers, CAI, and spring/sway combo.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1603513&a=12224080