Are these any good for lowering my Prelude?

[redlines4us]

I'm a newbie here and have a 1988 Prelude Si with 4 wheel steering. I'd like to lower the stance a little and still have a decent ride. Are these what's known as (TOKICO Blues) and is anyone running this setup? Can anyone give me any advice or recommendations on this product. The auction says it will lower my car 1.5 inches and will work with 4WS. I have about $400 in my budget for lowering my car and want the best bang for the buck. This site won't let me post a link, but it's ebay auction # 160117836751




Thanks! Bill

[Prelude13]

Well Bill, Tokico's are just fine.
They will work on your 4ws no problem. The suspension components are the same for 2ws Ludes other than the steering racks.
I have Tokico HP's aka "blues" with Neuspeed sport springs. It lowered my car 1.8 inches -see my vgarage.

Did you mean the Tokico handling kit that comes with the red colored springs?

It all depends if you want to slam your car and limit driveability or lower the car for looks. I have to say that the Tokico kit is the best, all around setup as it doesn't slam your car and it gives it better handling, so to speak.

If you want the best-bang-for-your-buck, i can suggest Koni shocks with Ground Control coilovers. My friend had that setup, it allows you to raise the car and lower the as you please. Plus, Koni's are less, "bouncy" than the Tokico's ---from experience.



Welcome to the board!

[redlines4us]

Thanks for the info and the welcome.
I just want to lower it for looks and nothing else while still having a decent ride and handling. I'm really looking for a setup that comes already with the springs installed on the shocks so I can do a quick changeout without compressing the springs and installing them on the shocks myself. Is the set I have seen in the ebay auction number 160117836751 any good?

[Prelude13]

http://i20.ebayimg.com/01/i/00/ff/3f/88_1.JPG

Yes, that kit is the one im talking about.
My friend has that setup. It doesn't slam your car, you still see a slight gap.


Here is my drop:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/11/web/815000-815999/815396_232_full.jpg

If you have no concerns about bad roads, then slam the car! If so, get the Tokico kit above.

...in all honesty, you may end up with a siezed bushing/bolt on one or two of your control arms. Always expect the unexpected. So dont try to cut-corners with the work. :biggrin:
Our cars are almost 20 years old. y0.

[redlines4us]

Thanks for the help! Bill

[redlines4us]

Thanks for the help and info.
I have it narrowed down to 3 choices.

Here they are:
1. TOKICO HP SHOCKS & SPRINGS -1.5" drop front and rear - $400 plus tax locally
(springs & Shocks)

2. EIBACH PROKIT LOWERING SPRINGS - 1.5" drop front and rear - $220.00 plus tax locally
(Springs only using my stock shocks)

3. H&R SPORT SPRINGS - 1.8 front drop and 1.8 rear drop - $225.00 ebay
(Springs only using my stock shocks)

I noticed that on the Tociko's that the springs aren't installed on the shocks. Would I have to disassemble my stock shocks and springs and use parts from them?

Thanks and what would you choose?

Bill

[Drew]

yea for the tokico you have to use a few of the original stock pieces. namely the parts here (http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/jsp/mws/prddisplay.jsp?inputstate=5&catcgry1=Prelude&catcgry2=2000&catcgry3=2DR+BASE&catcgry4=KA5MT&catcgry5=FRONT+SHOCK+ABSORBER) on the left side of the diagram.
and the parts here (http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/jsp/mws/prddisplay.jsp?inputstate=5&catcgry1=Prelude&catcgry2=2000&catcgry3=2DR+BASE&catcgry4=KA5MT&catcgry5=REAR+SHOCK+ABSORBER) on the right side of the diagram.

you can reuse the bump stop but i didnt, and i dont have a problem. just as long as you dont drive in really bumpy areas.

[redlines4us]

Thanks again.
I'll post some pics when I get it lowered next weekend.

By the way, here are some pics of my Prelude and a little info.
I just bought the car from the original owner 2 weeks ago. It's a 1988 Si 4WS and it just turned over 100,000 original miles. It's in absolutely mint condition inside and out. Always garaged and never driven in rain or snow it's entire life. New timing belt, water pump, belts and hoses 8000 miles ago. The guy bought it new for his wife and added Konig wheels, drilled and slotted rotors and other than that, it's all original with perfect original paint.
I plan on lowering it a bit and enjoying it!
Love this car!
P.S. That's my '95 Civic EX in the picture too.

[ogsmakdade]

holy crap that car is clean! more pics now!

for the record I've driven prelude13's red 3rd gen and the suspension is dope.

[redlines4us]

I just posted more pictures in the "New Member Area".
Thanks again! Bill

[Prelude13]

Yah i just saw it, nice Civic coupe too!
I have one, a '98.

Had... :redface:



If you want to slam it, like in your intro thread, go with the 1.8 sport drop, either Neuspeed, H&R or Eibach. They all make sport drops. The reason why i say sport is b/c the sport and race(Neuspeed) look almost identical. Hence my pic above in post #4

Think twice about using the stock shocks though...you might as well treat your ultimate handling 4ws machine to some nice suspension modification(s).
You'll thank me when you hit the twisties :biggrin:




EDiT: tip-when you lower your car, make sure you are gentle with the end links...they tend to "snap" off -17+years old, it happened to 3 Preludes i worked on. :(
:cool:

[ogsmakdade]

Note to self:: don't let B work on my suspension. hahah

[Prelude13]

^^bah.


:biggrin:


i found this for you, lowered on that Tokico kit 1.5 inch drop:
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i15/diamondsleeper/Finished/DSC04549.jpg

[redlines4us]

Thanks (Prelude13) for the picture. Would you happen to know what size wheels are on that car? I'm going to keep the 14" Konigs on mine for now, but later on I may want to go with 15's or even 17's. Would the 1.5" drop look alright with my 14's? (Still too much gap?)

P.S. I'll be ordering my lowering parts on Wednesday and I'm still not sure if I want to go 1.5" front and back or H&R Sport Springs for a drop of 1.8" Front and 1.7" rear.
Any suggestions before Wednesday would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks again! Bill

[Prelude13]

those are the stock blades, 14 inch.

My friend has the Tokico handling kit with 17 inch rims.
His gap is very small:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g279/jonnyray_photos/P5120081.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a182/rheakpl/car/IMG_0170.jpg
(Not a great pic since his car is black :sick: --then you see my car next to his)



Your gap(if you chose to purchase the Tokico kit) will be noticeable, like in the pic above.

All of my posts in this thread should give you a good guide on which to purchase come Wednesday. I live in a major city and I have trouble driving 1/3 of the time. This is why i push the Tokico kit, albeit, it wont look slammed.




:cool:

[redlines4us]

Prelude13,
So your '90 is dropped 1.8" all around and you're using Tokico HP "blues" with Neuspeed sport springs. Are they also 14" wheels? Would you be able to run 17's with that drop without any rubbing issues?
That's an awesome ride you have and the drop is great!

[redlines4us]

Well, I ordered my lowering stuff today. (Didn't go as expected)

I went to the local performance shop today (Streetshow Motorsports) to order my Tokico kit and they told me that their distributor had a number HPK233 for the Tokico kit for my car ('88 Prelude). I told him that the HPK233 is for a '92-'01 Prelude and my kit is HPK223 instead of 233. He insisted that his distributor had the correct number. I came home and called Tokico (1-800-548-2549) and they confirmed that HPK223 is indeed the number for my kit, but it only lowered my car 1.25" instead of 1.5". So if anyone ordered the HPK223 Tokico kit, your car is only lowered 1.25". Even the ebay kits list it as a 1.5 drop (Wrong). Don't you love the wonderful world of the internet?

So with all that said, I've decided to go with Tokico blue shocks and Eibach Prokit lowering springs for a 1.5" drop. They will be here tomorrow and I'll most likely get them installed this weekend if everything goes as planned.
Once again, thanks for all the help and I'll post some pics after it's lowered.

[redlines4us]

Here's a picture of my Prelude lowered. Sorry for the poor picture quality. I'll have to borow my daughters camera to get better pics.
Anyway, I think it's a perfect drop. It handles great, looks awesome and steers like it's on rails!

[dewynsd]

Clean ride, I'm working on mine, same model, trying to get it looking that good