So my car is only about 7 months old. It’s the 2016 ILX Premium/Aspec. After driving the 2015 TLX V6 loaner for almost two week, I love how that car handles. I know you probably can never get that same feeling in the ILX but something close to it. Which would be a better upgrade and noticeable difference in the handling? I want that tight feeling when you turn and little or no body roll. Which should I go first? Sway bars or coilovers? If coilovers, what is a good brand out there. My previous car, which is the 2003 RSX-S, I had the Tanabe coilovers and I really like it, but it looks like they don’t make one for the ILX. Honestly, I don’t like Tein, I find them too stiff for my taste. Although damper adjustable is fine too. Please help.

 

honestly, they both accomplish the same thing...tightens chassis for no body roll.
butt, how they acomplish that is different.

one links the control arms togehter by using a stiffer torsion bar

and the other gets rid of body roll by actually stiffening of the springs and shocks.

one will be cheaper than the other...
which do you have the budget for?

 

I have budget for the coilovers. But cannot afford both yet. If they both accomplish the same thing, I think i would rather go to the cheaper route for now since I don't wanto lower my car yet. What do you think?

 

agreed, and thus the reason why I posed the question as a financial one.

do they even make aftermarket sway bars, tho!?
the rear will have a more "fun" effect, as in you will be able to throw the back end of your car out in a corner if you upgrade just the rear.
the front sway bar will be harder to install...

 

Rear sway bar

 

So rear sway bar is best bang for the buck it is.



Justnspace, not sure, I haven’t research on it yet. If not, I’m pretty sure and hopefully the Civic version will fit.

 

Just get the Eibach kit.... they make a front and rear sway bar... springs if you want (since you say you don't want to drop yet)...... get some 25mm spacers so that the wheels have a wider track, nicer look... BOOM.... lastly, add in the front and rear lower tie bars (CHEAP, $150-ish for both).... BAM call it a day... can add in other little stuff...rear control arms, Trunk brace, other little bars.... they won't do a ton... maybe all together......

of course... if you are adding this stuff yourself, then its cheaper... if not, buy all that stuff and have the mechanic/ tech throw it all on at the same time, save on labor...... sha ZAM... you'll notice a big difference...

 

^the front is a bitch to install tho. front subframe has to come down... unless you can somehow tetris it in.

 

YEA.. true.. I haven't added it (yet) myself because of this... Will most likely need an alignment after front sway bar install... I also just bought and received a Pro Civic Sirimoto (their house brand seems like) Front Strut Tower bar... It is made for the 9th gen Civic.. but it will definitely bolt up... The way it's designed it's actually hidden on the Civic under the cowling... I have been too busy to see how... or IF....it will actually fit on the ILX... It may be a no -go... Then I guess I'll have to sell it at a car meet or something... Felt like trying it tho... Was only about $100...

 

^you're correct, once subframe is removed and re-installed, WILL NEED an alignment

the ILX didnt come with a stock strut bar?
on my 2006, Acura gave the TL a strut bar, but its most likely to stiffen the windshield and not the shock towers.
as many a friend cracked their windshield driving without the strut bar.

 

I be installing it all myself. I love doing suspension work. I think they the easiest next to changing fluids.



Thanks for the helpful response. I don’t want to go too crazy on the upgrades/mods. I think a rear sway bar would be the best bang for the buck right now. As for springs, no way, they will blow out the stock shock absorbers. Just need something that handle nice and feel planted to the road.

 

NOPE no stock front strut tower bar on the ILX... My buddy's 2014 TSX has a stock one in plain view as well...

Yea.. I figured that I would add that piece last so I can have an alignment done after I add in all the other suspension mods... So far - 1)Swift Springs (says about 1.5' drop... I'm thinking slightly lower), ...2)Type R rear sway (20MM from stock 14mm),..... 3)front and 4)rear lower tie bars....5) 25mm Spacers all around... 6) Michelin Pilot Sport AS3 Tires.....7) Buddy Club Rear Brake racing spec pads......have an X brace, doesn't fit with my Buddy Club Downpipe, so removed it... if anybody wants it, DM me......

And purchased but not added - Sirimoto Front Strut Tower bar, and rear control arms...

future suspension mods - 1)Front sway bar (last piece I will add)... 2)Front Racing Spec pads (whenever stock pads wear)... 3)Spoon Subframe Rigid collars... 4)trunk brace....5)rear upper tower bar....and 6) middle lower bar

 

No problem... The newest 9th Gen Civc SI Year model has a 20MM rear sway bar... if you want the cheapest, easiest, rear sway bar upgrade... there you go... Can't go wrong with OEM... There is one bar that goes up to 24mm... but literally costs more then twice as much... I MAY get it myself once I have beefed up everything else... Kind of paranoid about subframe tear out issues....and I don't want to put on the big bar before all that...

I'm on springs for close to 30k miles, no issues with stock struts.. but if they ever blow... well then I guess I'll just have an excuse to switch to either coil-overs or air bag suspension... depending what my money situation is like at the time...

 

Hi everyone. Just got my car about a month ago (16 ILX premium). Just curious what are some good websites to research and buy parts for our cars?

 

 

There aren't any.