Two of the most important areas of your car that need modification are your suspension and brakes. Without a good suspension you can't go around corners. Without good brakes you can't go around corners, or stop before you hit a brick wall.
Honda factory suspension and factory brakes for the most part are very good, but as soon as you start building the motor, or swapping out the engine you are going to need to modify both suspension and brakes. I would suggest you modify both systems before you even start performance upgrades. Even though Honda's are slow, with slight suspension modification, they are untouchable in the corners.
Poly bushings and good sway bars are probably the most important parts of suspension tuning. You can have the most expensive set of shocks and springs on the plant, and the best strut bars, but without a Poly Bushing set or sway bars, your car will never handle as well as it could.
Poly bushings are probably THE most important suspension modification you can make. Poly bushings kits replace all the key rubber bushings in the suspension. They do not allow the car to roll like it does from the factory. You will see a huge increase in handling from a set of these bad boys. They cost about 130 dollars for a set of Energy Bushings. Without poly bushings you car will NEVER handle as well as it could. Take your handling potential and seriously cut 50% off it if you don't have poly bushings.
Honda brakes on Si, SiR, Type S, Type SH, GS-R and Type R models are usually outstanding. Each of these models has a braking system perfect for its factory horsepower and weight ratings. As soon as you start to increase power you will need to beef up your brakes. If your car does not have serious modifications, upgrading brake pads, brake lines, and maybe upgrading into slotted rotors is sufficient. Big Braking systems are advised for cars with serious power upgrades and usually will only fit in a 17 inch wheel.
For the rest of us who are not blessed with driving these special models, we first need to upgrade our braking systems to the level of these special models. For instance, a great braking system for a disc/drum 6th gen civic EX coupe is upgrading to DC2 GSR or EM1 Si rear disc brake assembly, high performance brake pads, and stainless steel brake lines. Power Slot rotors can also be very beneficial in this set up. For the factory power the 6th gen EX produces (127 bhp) and even on the same car with intake/header/exhaust this braking system is more than acceptable and beneficial. Factory Honda parts are very high quality and can take more abuse than you may think. Upgrading to expensive Brembo Big Brake systems is not needed in a civic producing less than 160 wheel horse with no added weight of a motor swap.
When swapping in larger motors like a B18, B20, or an H22, big brake conversions or extensive brake work is usually advised. The added weight of these motors can take a serious toll on your car's braking distance.
Below are some examples of different levels of suspension/braking mods:
Sporty Civic Suspension (weekend racer):
1. Tokiko HP shocks
2. Neuspeed Sport Springs
3. Energy full poly bushing kit
5. Neuspeed front upper strut bar
6. Progress rear sway bar
7. Skunk2 front camber kit
8. Sprint rear camber kit
9. EM1 SI rear disc conversion
10. Red Stuff Brake pads
11. Goodridge stainless steel brake lines
Semi-Racing Civic Suspension (serious weekend racer):
1. Tein Basic full suspension
2. Energy full poly bushings kit
3. Neuspeed front upper strut bar
4. Neuspeed rear upper strut bar
5. SRR swaybar/tiebar combo
6. SRR rear lower control arms
7. SRR toe adjustment kit
8. Skunk2 front camber kit
9. Sprint rear camber kit
10. DC2 4 wheel GSR brake conversion
11. Endless brake pads
12. PowerSlot Rotors
13. Goodridge stainless steel brake lines
14. ITR master cylinder
Full Race Civic (not usually a daily driver)
1. Zeal fully adjustable suspension
2. Energy full poly bushing kit
3. Roll cage (weld in or bolt in)
4. SRR rear swaybar/tiebar combo
5. Progress front sway bar
6. Skunk2 front camber kit
7. Sprint rear camber kit
8. SRR toe adjustment kit
9. Brembo big brake kit
10. Goodridge stainless steel brake lines
These are just a few ideas to set you off in the right track; the shopping lists are more personal preference.
Happy tuning.
-David
AIM: a99jdmracer
Honda factory suspension and factory brakes for the most part are very good, but as soon as you start building the motor, or swapping out the engine you are going to need to modify both suspension and brakes. I would suggest you modify both systems before you even start performance upgrades. Even though Honda's are slow, with slight suspension modification, they are untouchable in the corners.
Poly bushings and good sway bars are probably the most important parts of suspension tuning. You can have the most expensive set of shocks and springs on the plant, and the best strut bars, but without a Poly Bushing set or sway bars, your car will never handle as well as it could.
Poly bushings are probably THE most important suspension modification you can make. Poly bushings kits replace all the key rubber bushings in the suspension. They do not allow the car to roll like it does from the factory. You will see a huge increase in handling from a set of these bad boys. They cost about 130 dollars for a set of Energy Bushings. Without poly bushings you car will NEVER handle as well as it could. Take your handling potential and seriously cut 50% off it if you don't have poly bushings.
Honda brakes on Si, SiR, Type S, Type SH, GS-R and Type R models are usually outstanding. Each of these models has a braking system perfect for its factory horsepower and weight ratings. As soon as you start to increase power you will need to beef up your brakes. If your car does not have serious modifications, upgrading brake pads, brake lines, and maybe upgrading into slotted rotors is sufficient. Big Braking systems are advised for cars with serious power upgrades and usually will only fit in a 17 inch wheel.
For the rest of us who are not blessed with driving these special models, we first need to upgrade our braking systems to the level of these special models. For instance, a great braking system for a disc/drum 6th gen civic EX coupe is upgrading to DC2 GSR or EM1 Si rear disc brake assembly, high performance brake pads, and stainless steel brake lines. Power Slot rotors can also be very beneficial in this set up. For the factory power the 6th gen EX produces (127 bhp) and even on the same car with intake/header/exhaust this braking system is more than acceptable and beneficial. Factory Honda parts are very high quality and can take more abuse than you may think. Upgrading to expensive Brembo Big Brake systems is not needed in a civic producing less than 160 wheel horse with no added weight of a motor swap.
When swapping in larger motors like a B18, B20, or an H22, big brake conversions or extensive brake work is usually advised. The added weight of these motors can take a serious toll on your car's braking distance.
Below are some examples of different levels of suspension/braking mods:
Sporty Civic Suspension (weekend racer):
1. Tokiko HP shocks
2. Neuspeed Sport Springs
3. Energy full poly bushing kit
5. Neuspeed front upper strut bar
6. Progress rear sway bar
7. Skunk2 front camber kit
8. Sprint rear camber kit
9. EM1 SI rear disc conversion
10. Red Stuff Brake pads
11. Goodridge stainless steel brake lines
Semi-Racing Civic Suspension (serious weekend racer):
1. Tein Basic full suspension
2. Energy full poly bushings kit
3. Neuspeed front upper strut bar
4. Neuspeed rear upper strut bar
5. SRR swaybar/tiebar combo
6. SRR rear lower control arms
7. SRR toe adjustment kit
8. Skunk2 front camber kit
9. Sprint rear camber kit
10. DC2 4 wheel GSR brake conversion
11. Endless brake pads
12. PowerSlot Rotors
13. Goodridge stainless steel brake lines
14. ITR master cylinder
Full Race Civic (not usually a daily driver)
1. Zeal fully adjustable suspension
2. Energy full poly bushing kit
3. Roll cage (weld in or bolt in)
4. SRR rear swaybar/tiebar combo
5. Progress front sway bar
6. Skunk2 front camber kit
7. Sprint rear camber kit
8. SRR toe adjustment kit
9. Brembo big brake kit
10. Goodridge stainless steel brake lines
These are just a few ideas to set you off in the right track; the shopping lists are more personal preference.
Happy tuning.
-David
AIM: a99jdmracer
