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**N9netwoAccord** · 10-07-2005, 03:58 PM

a set of sway bars wouldn't be a bad place to start... you gotta drill your own holes for the rear though from what i've heard... lowering it with some nice suspension would make a HUGE difference... also some wider tires maybe to help with the stance.. hope that helps

**uncle_el** · 10-07-2005, 04:00 PM

**deckeda** · 10-07-2005, 04:18 PM

IMO, if the springs and stuts/shocks are original do them first, Get a solid foundation going before you add an anti -sway bar.

You seem to be concerned mainly right now with body lean, and I can understand that. However, "handling" is so many other things too.

**starchland** · 10-07-2005, 04:57 PM

You can add a rear swaybar, but if your going through with all that work, drilling holes, etc, you may as well add an aftermarket one that is a little beefier. I know summit has one for 90 bucks. also like others have said, make sure the springs are a decent springrate.

**accrdpower** · 10-07-2005, 05:46 PM

first: a set of good stiff springs/coilovers. 2) good struts to handle the spring rates 3) drop it 2 or more inches 4) sway bar kit 5) strut tower bars front an rear 6) wider rims/tires
1) $2-$300 2) $200+ 3)priceless

4) 150ish 5) for both maybe 200 for quality ones 6) 16 or 17X7 with 215 or 225 width tires varies.

complete job with work done by yourself= about $1k w/o the rims/tires
but the look and handling will FREAKIN ROCK!!!!!!! i already have the springs and struts with a huge ass drop with some wider rims and tires and the ride is soooooo much better it is amazing!

**AccordWarrior** · 10-07-2005, 07:15 PM

Originally posted by marsluna

First I'd like to say hello to all the members here. I was wondering if anyone can help me decide what I should upgrade on my 90 Accord LX to make the handling a little better. What I'm looking for is something simple and not too expensive that will make a significant difference. I've never done any sort of performance mod, but I've done lots of repairs (clutch, head gasket, driveaxles, alarm install, to name just a few). It is my understanding that my LX does not come with a rear sway bar, which the EX does. Would that be a good place to start, and are the mounting holes required already there? Also, would replacing my front sway bar really make a noticeable difference, or what else should I consider doing (other than sway bars)? I'm not into any racing, I just want to see what I can improve in handling that won't cost TOO much. I appreciate any help and please keep in mind that I'm a complete newb at most of this stuff. THANKS

You're correct the LX doesn't have a rear sway bar. I'm in the process of putting the EX sway on the LX, because I got one from a friend. The problem is the lack of mounting holes. You do have to drill, and I'm not 100% sure yet the best way to drill it to fit it.

I wouldn't invest in the sway bars to begin. While they're nice, putting them in first won't help you all that much. I wouldn't bother with the front one, since a larger front bar will cause more understeer, which you don't really want with a FWD car.

As far as the springs/struts...unless you want to get a full coil over setup (Tein, Omnipower, etc) I would look into a spring with an adjustable shock, so that you can control the ride.

It really depends on where you live/the type of roads you drive on. Any drop over 2.0 is really impractical, adn you will scrape on everything...and that's just kinda silly, don't you think? If your roads are good, I'd recommend the Neuspeed/H&R Race/Eibach Sportline. If your roads are bad or have an expensive lip/body kit, look into Neuspeed/H&R sport.

For struts, your best bets would be KYB AGX, Tokico Illumina (sp?) or Koni Yellow. Koni Yellow is the best, but is 150-200 more than the rest. I'd say go adjustable just becasue that way you can tailor the ride to what you want. I wouldn't get the AGX on anything lower than a Sport drop.

For strut bars, if you're keeping the F series, get the Neuspeed 4 point brace. I have it on my car, and I put it on before I did my springs and struts. With okay front tires and blown front struts I was 10-15 mph faster in the same corner (no lie).

If you're going H, I'm not really knowledgeable in bars that will clear that swap (since the Neuspeed doesn't) but I think for those type every bar is the same, more or less.

In the tire department, a 7 inch wide wheel will really help out. If you get a 16" wheel, look into a 205/50 tire, and for a 17" wheel the ideal tire size is 215/45. It's the best compromise between ride comfort, handling, and in the case of a Sport drop, it will close up the wheel gap.

But that's at least my understanding with suspension. I went with Neuspeed Sport/KYB AGX myself. It's a good drop, but its not impractical, and once I upgrade to large wheels/tires, I won't have to worry about wheel gap.

**marsluna** · 10-07-2005, 10:24 PM

Alright... That's a lot of stuff to consider, but thanks for all the replies... I'm thinking I don't want to lower much (if at all) since I have to drive through some snowy winters here in Minneapolis. And I just spent some good $$ on all season tires, so I'll probably keep the OEM rims at least until these tires wear out (I bought 4 Goodyear Assurance Tripletreds - reviews for these on tirerack were really good). Maybe some new stiffer springs/struts are the place to start though, since these I believe are the originals, and my car has about 213K miles on it (but they're actually in really good shape for that many miles). But thanks again, I really appreciate all the help.

**deckeda** · 10-07-2005, 10:32 PM

Well said, AccordWarrior. My own journey (no thread whoring here, just trying to help) has taken me on a more conservative approach.

I decided on Eibach Pro-Kit springs because they seemed like the best compromise between stock height and the 1.5-2.0-inch drops that begin to make some people need camber kits and worry about scraping and whatnot --- I just didn't want to perhaps do all that for an extra inch or so.

For struts and shocks I wanted something that was designed more so for a decent ride and not ultimate handling capability. I mean, my wife and drive take turns driving it to work, and carry the kid, ya know? I knew that pretty much anything I did above the level of garden-variety Monroe/Gabriel crap was going to be better (stiffer, more controlled) anyway, so that made my choices something like AGX, Bilstein HD or Koni Red.

After picking the spring, my next concern was matching a strut/shock to it --- not necessarily getting "the best" or whatever, because I believe you have to match them as best you can for the intended application.

I've heard great things about AGX but didn't really see myself futzing around too much with the adjustments. I've also heard good things about the Bilsteins but Bilstein, in covering their ass, says not to use the HD model on a lowered car. True, Pro-Kits aren't that low but still it made me wonder. FYI they also make a Sport model but not for the CB7.

That left (well, there are of course others) Koni Red. I knew Konis were good but had to do more reading, since Yellows and AGX get more play here and elsewhere.

I quickly got the impression that Reds would be good for any car at stock height or a little lower, for situations that didn't need ultimate handling. Bingo. In fact, Koni says to put them on the softest setting for all-OEM situations, the middle setting for most aftermarket springs and it's rare to need the 3rd position. I emailed Koni and they answered back that the middle position was recommended for the CB7 using Pro-Kits.

As a further hint, somebody here was told by Koni (sorry, forgot the thread) that Reds at the stiffest setting = Yellows at lowest setting. That was further evidence (for me) that not only would I not need Yellows, I should not [i/]get[/i] Yellows.

Take all of this with a grain of salt --- I won't have any of it on my car for at least another week. And, as Elliot says, it's mostly subjective.

**deckeda** · 10-07-2005, 10:37 PM

Just saw your post re: Tripletreds

Fantastic all-season tire; interested to know how they do on the CB7.

My folks had them on their '02 CR-V and loved them. Moved them over to their '98 CR-V and got Dueler Alenzas on the '02.

Dad says the Alenzas are way too noisy

--- I just put them on my Element (that's 4 Hondas, for those of you keeping score at home) and love them. Anyway...

**marsluna** · 10-08-2005, 12:26 AM

Originally posted by deckeda

Just saw your post re: Tripletreds

Fantastic all-season tire; interested to know how they do on the CB7.

My folks had them on their '02 CR-V and loved them. Moved them over to their '98 CR-V and got Dueler Alenzas on the '02.

Dad says the Alenzas are way too noisy

--- I just put them on my Element (that's 4 Hondas, for those of you keeping score at home) and love them. Anyway...

Well, to tell the truth, I haven't had them mounted yet. I still have some tread left on my Yokohama Avids, so I figured once the temp gets down to where I'll have to deal with snow and ice, I'll have the tripletreds installed. I am myself curious to see how much difference they'll make (I've had a pretty good experience with the Avids, which were much cheaper). I'll have to get back to you on that one.

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Advice needed with 90 Accord LX Handling

Advice needed with 90 Accord LX Handling

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