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    New shocks; spring replacement worth it?

    Finally out of new user jail

    My 91 LX on all OEM everything underneath is in dire need of a suspension refresh. Quite bouncy and floaty, vibratey due to a CV axle, etc.

    I'm looking at ordering a set of the Koni STR.T oranges as my somewhat spirited commute (long twisty rural highways) will really benefit from them + adding a rear sway.
    My question is: it worth replacing the springs as well or do I reuse my original springs? If so, should I just get OEM equivalent springs from RockAuto or find a slightly stiffer spring? I am NOT looking to lower the car at all!

    The megathread is not useful to me because they are all lowering springs. This is not a race car, this is a highway commuter where I have to straddle random 2x4's in the road at 60mph lol.

    I haven't heard that coil springs typically wear out and I do not have rust issues. I feel like the rear springs sag slightly but that may just be the 150ish lb of subwoofer + tool kits I typically carry with me and I'm imagining things. At the same time it feels bad to be putting 33 year old springs on brand new shocks.

    #2
    "At the same time it feels bad to be putting 33 year old springs on brand new shocks."

    Listen to your brain.... 

    ​​​​​​​replace both.



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      #3
      yeah... i realistically knew that was the answer but I felt like I needed to ask anyway. Thanks raf!

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        #4
        Don't cheap out on brakes, wheels/tires, suspension or steering components. Not worth the tow job (nevermind your life).

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          #5
          What vendor are you guys using?

          I need to replace springs and shocks, was hoping to find bilstiens but konis would be fine. Or KYB. Looking for stock ride height.

          Eibach springs with bilstiens?

          Eibach with koni?

          ​​​​​Figure I will get the rubber spring perch and / or insulators at the dealer if they have them. Will see what's all there when I pull them apart.

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            #6
            Looking at eibachs website and they no longer offer springs for the 90-97 Accord.

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              #7
              Originally posted by UnicornHondaSE View Post
              What vendor are you guys using?

              I need to replace springs and shocks, was hoping to find bilstiens but konis would be fine. Or KYB. Looking for stock ride height.

              Eibach springs with bilstiens?

              Eibach with koni?

              ​​​​​Figure I will get the rubber spring perch and / or insulators at the dealer if they have them. Will see what's all there when I pull them apart.
              Koni is basically the only "oem+" upgrade strut path left.

              I put Lesjöfors springs from RockAuto on my konis. They're OEM spring rate in the front and, idk, maybe 10ish % stiffer in the rear as they are "cargo springs". Feels fine, definitely a lot better response.
              Last edited by SaddleMtnMan; 05-27-2024, 11:54 PM.

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                #8
                Cool thanks for the info.

                Never heard of those springs before... Are they French or Spanish?

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                  #9
                  Originally posted by UnicornHondaSE View Post
                  Cool thanks for the info.

                  Never heard of those springs before... Are they French or Spanish?
                  Swedish, actually! They've been making springs since like 1852... i've had no problem with mine and the coatings are tough.

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                    #10
                    Ah ok interesting, thanks.

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                      #11
                      SaddleMtnMan, did you ever purchase a new suspension set up?

                      I'm looking to get this going and I need a set of springs.

                      ​​​​​which brand springs are quality? For stock ride height....

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                        #12
                        Originally posted by UnicornHondaSE View Post
                        SaddleMtnMan, did you ever purchase a new suspension set up?

                        I'm looking to get this going and I need a set of springs.

                        ​​​​​which brand springs are quality? For stock ride height....
                        Yes, I've had a new setup on for a while.

                        I have Koni STR.T's for shocks and the Lesjorfos springs on them. They ride at almost exactly oem height, plus maybe 1/4" from not being worn out. In the front I have the oem sway bar and all the bushings are red polyurethane from Energy Suspension. Night and day to the old worn out shocks in terms of stability.

                        The only thing I haven't done yet is added a rear sway bar, the car still feels too light in the rear end and it's unsettling. I bought the 19mm Ultra Racing bar from ebay and as far as I can tell it will fit, I just haven't figured out how to add the mounts to my subframe as the LX frame doesn't seem to include the mounting points. I've been way too busy with life and a new job to really spend a lot of time under the rear of the car and do some drilling and welding.

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                          #13
                          Thanks for the reply. I hope the new job is going well, congrats on that.

                          I went with Tein springs and Koni orange shocks, I'm hoping that they work together, I will find out soon enough, about to start removing the old parts now, beginning with the rears.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by UnicornHondaSE View Post
                            Thanks for the reply. I hope the new job is going well, congrats on that.

                            I went with Tein springs and Koni orange shocks, I'm hoping that they work together, I will find out soon enough, about to start removing the old parts now, beginning with the rears.
                            No reason they shouldn't work together. Both aftermarket springs and the Koni shocks reuse the honda OEM top hats, bushings, bump stop foam, etc.
                            Fair warning, Koni shocks don't arrive with a shock body/shaft cover for either front or rear- the front you can reuse the Honda steel tube over-cover but in the rear you'll need to buy some rubber bellows from RockAuto or someplace and zip tie them on. Was a bit irritating actually, as I had assumed the shocks would come with covers.

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                              #15
                              SaddalMtnMan, you talking about dust boots?

                              I got those KYB brand, they came with bump stops. Will be taking a closer look at them in a few days.

                              ​​​​​im hoping the car doesn't sit too low.

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