I have been recently researching what I should do for suspension for my 98 Civic EX. I have learned a lot about springs, adjustable coilovers, and struts from this great website!

I have ordered some 17" rims and tires (I got a ridiculous deal through Wheel Guyz). I simply want a practical setup. I didn't want to get wheels, then have a sh*tty ride that bounces around or is too rough. I know that the stock setup and tires is what will last longest and is what is designed for the car in the first place. But I want 17" rims. So…

First I thought I would go with adjustable Ground Control coilovers on my stock struts. Just get em off ebay right? After reading many of the posts I quickly found many people warning that the stock struts would quickly deteriorate from too much pressure, regardless of what coilovers I bought. I noticed that most of the people selling, for example, their CG coilovers, to buy a Tein setup. Is it true that after a while my stock struts wouldn’t take the pressure? I’m not racing or anything. Just daily driving.

So should I get the Ground Control coilovers with other struts? Many suggest Koni yellow and springs or coilovers. Or many of the combinations such as those found at http://www.modacar.com/products/Honda/Civic/MODASUP/ please check it out and rate those different setups for me. It would be EXTREMELY APPRECIATED!

Many talk of the Tein packages. These seem to be out of my price range. However, if someone tells me that the Teins will last longer than anything and that other setups (like those from modacar.com) won’t last as long as the Teins, I will probably save up and buy Teins.

My goal is to get a good comfortable suspension setup that will last as long as possible with my 17”s. I would like to just get GC coilovers on stock struts but think that that probably won’t last (cost $300). The packages found at modacar might be better to go with. However, would they not last that long either? (cost $500) Would the different springs and strut combinations eventually not work as well together? Would I be able to stick with Tiens for the lifetime of the car? (I plan to keep it for many years) (cost $1000+)

I appreciate any helpful posts!

-Benny

i was caught up in the same delema for my car... but went with the tien. there are many other bands out there that build full coil over sets that you can look into, and are a bit cheaper but Tein has the rep of being one of the best.
each tein sus system is custom made for one another and for the car it goes on. they will last the longest because they are made right the first time... the shock is mated to the spring and then both to a car.
plus if anything ever did go wrong, you dont have to buy a whole new system, they are re-buildable.
and if you havnt seen it yet... tein also offers an electronic add on for them. its a controler box for the inside of your car and then 4 boxes that attach to your struts. it allows you to adjust the dampening factor even while driving. and its wheel independed. they are also working on a automatic ride height adjustment addon.

Tein is the way to go. My quest for a set was setback because i was laid off... so who knows when i will get mine... good news is my gf is buyin me a neuspeed short shifter for x-mas... lol i love her

chris... feel free to message me if you wanna know more

Personally I'd say go full coilover. I say that tough as I have a set of Tein SS CO's on my '00 Civic coupe. So you and I can relate on that. Since you live out in Chatsworth, and are local to me, I can suggest an excellent place to get them from for a good price! How does $850 for a set grab you? For the price you'd pay for a set of G/C's and then a set of Koni Yellows, you'd might as well pay an extra $100 to go full coilover. I was in your SAME position the beginning of the year. First I was settled on G/C's an Tokico blues. Then I found out about those and switched to wanting Koni Yellows instead. Then after reading a bit on full coils, I was settled on the Neuspeed/Bilstein full coils. Then Drift turned me onto Tein, I always thought they were out of my league as most I had seen were $1500 and up. Then they came out with the SS model and things changed. I got a 2nd job, saved my pennies and ordered my Teins from a shop in San Gabrial. The rest is history, but I'm glad I got them, that way I don't have to worry about things blowing out on me since the springs and shocks are all perfectly matched to eachother. The 16-way adjustability is a nice thing to have as well, esp. if you do anything on a track by means of auto-x or just like your ride a bit stiffer when by yourself, and need to soften it up when others are in the car with you. The ride is VERY comfortable though. Email me if you want anymore info about them or where I got mine from.

if just a wheel combination was too rough of a ride for you, then dont buy Tein. they're performance suspension systems. in other words, "rough ride".

if you want better looks and a stock like feel, get some Prokit springs on Koni Sport struts.