PDA

View Full Version : Now for MY Mugen (long) review :)



02TafWhtSi
08-09-2003, 01:08 PM
Well, after 4 hard working hours my uncle and I have completed the Mugen Sports Suspension swap. Since we both installed the Eibach Pro-Kits exactly one year ago we kinda knew what to expect. Although, the right front hub still fell out of the axle despite our best efforts to keep it in place (we caught the left side just in time). That was basically our only setback. Not having to manually change each spring was a real time saver too. Everything fits perfectly and nothing broke or was damaged.

Now for the driving impressions. First, to my relief, the alignment does not seem to have been affected much at all. I took it to 70 and it still tracks straight (I'll still have one done at my dealership soon just to play it safe). The steering wheel is angled to the right about an 1/8 turn but no biggie - it'll be straighened during the alignment. The roads here in central NJ are no where near perfect but the Mugens are not harsh over pits and bumps like I'd thought they would be. My one ride quality complaint would be the choppiness over road irregularities. It feels like you are never fully stable but I assume its just a characterisitic of the stiff spring rates and shock valving. its not "bouncy" per say, just moderately "choppy" - I don't know how else to explain it. Cornering is absolutely amazing. Where the body would pitch, dive, and roll before - now it holds its even attitude through most anything you can throw at her. Off and on-ramps are like playgrounds now. Acceleration and braking are now nose dive and rear end squat FREE - as in NO MORE ! That amazed me more than anything else - just holds level and straight. I've only had them on a few days and have yet to truely push them through some hard cornering but it's obvious the awesome potential is there. Overall, a great setup and a very good upgrade. I would suggest Mugen work on the spring rates a little more to try and remove the choppy feeling in the ride though. Other than that - they are awesome. Below are pics
:)

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/pb3d1ab0c8787bf709f49c268616aabe9/fb711b91.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/pe57a06e68b01f6d2877378b2e96db4cf/fb711b93.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/p2e3e89bcc29e77a54aab0ecada129706/fb711b98.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/p3da2eadaa662c3bb2c67cfd864545a04/fb711b9a.jpg

ALCT
08-09-2003, 01:43 PM
Thanks for the review and pictures, I will definitely go with this setup but there is one thing that confused me:how come si nutt's car looks lower?:confused: do you think the springs will settle a bit?

02TafWhtSi
08-09-2003, 03:01 PM
Originally posted by ALCT
Thanks for the review and pictures, I will definitely go with this setup but there is one thing that confused me:how come si nutt's car looks lower?:confused: do you think the springs will settle a bit?

We're trying to figure that out as we speek. The only thing I can come up with is maybe King shipped him the Sport suspension designed for the Type R, which is already an inch lower OEM. Other than that, I have no idea :confused:

Civicvtec1ps
08-09-2003, 03:08 PM
aww there we go . perfect drop with 215/45/17 how many finger gaps do you have? about 2? looks great, you still had to use stock uppermounts right?

bob c
08-09-2003, 03:56 PM
Check the boxes for the middle part numbers to make sure you got the right kit. XK2 would be the SI and XK5 would be the RSX.
Hope this helps.

Bob

RockEP_SS**
08-09-2003, 11:32 PM
Nice! The drop looks good. How low did it go?

Rocky
Showstoppers USA

rswbrixton
08-10-2003, 07:59 AM
Good work 02Taf . Big thanks on your review . As asked by someone above , did you have to use stock uppermounts or any other factory parts ( other than nut-bolts) in this installation . Anyway you can sneek a couple pics of the assembly up inside the strut housing near top and top of strut housing from engine bay .


And please update with further reviews etc as you acumulate some more miles .

Good work again . car looks great .

02TafWhtSi
08-10-2003, 08:10 AM
Originally posted by bob c
Check the boxes for the middle part numbers to make sure you got the right kit. XK2 would be the SI and XK5 would be the RSX.
Hope this helps.

Bob

Both of my boxes say "XK2" Bob - maybe Si Nut got the RSX versions?

02TafWhtSi
08-10-2003, 08:18 AM
Originally posted by rswbrixton
Good work 02Taf . Big thanks on your review . As asked by someone above , did you have to use stock uppermounts or any other factory parts ( other than nut-bolts) in this installation . Anyway you can sneek a couple pics of the assembly up inside the strut housing near top and top of strut housing from engine bay .


And please update with further reviews etc as you acumulate some more miles .

Good work again . car looks great .

Thanks, everything was included with the kit. The only thing we had to reuse was the rear upper mounting nuts - nothing was borrowed from the orginal units themselves. Hope that helps!

Rocky - this kit lowers the EP just about 1.5" so its a very nice drop, not too crazy.

rswbrixton
08-10-2003, 08:25 AM
Perfect . You are a gentleman and a scholar . Lets us know more of your thoughts on these as time goes on .

Dont expect to see mine till end of August . Its goin to kill me .

greenguy
08-10-2003, 04:18 PM
:pSuh-weeet! Doesnt the car just feel a million times better?!?

02TafWhtSi
08-10-2003, 07:17 PM
Originally posted by greenguy
:pSuh-weeet! Doesnt the car just feel a million times better?!?

Yes and no. When I really push it, she feels like a track ready race car - solid and flat. When I'm just babying her around town though the choppy ride can get a little upsetting - definitely not for the Caddy crowd I'll admit.

*

On a side note, I'll be driving down to southern VA on Wednesday so I'm a little eager to see her highway behavior. Its about 460 miles one way (about 9 hrs) so I hope its not TOO bad. :angel:

02SilverSiHB
08-11-2003, 04:43 AM
hey 02, I know you already said how much it drops, but could you tell me how many fingers you can put in the fender? About 2? Looks good man!

Gasp23
08-11-2003, 09:15 AM
Nice review. I will definitelly get this set up once I save enough $ for it.

How do you think it would look with stock wheels?

TEKBRAIN
08-11-2003, 10:12 AM
It will look like my car. You can see it in the member section.

02SilverSiHB
08-11-2003, 10:20 AM
Originally posted by Gasp23

How do you think it would look with stock wheels?
http://ephatch.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18793

Gasp23
08-11-2003, 11:10 AM
Thanks
:D

Gasp23
08-11-2003, 11:26 AM
Ok here is my next question.

How difficult is it to install it? I'm a complete newB with suspension. Would I be able to do it my self? Or just take it to a shop maybe the dealer?

I'm currently saving for my wheels, which will be about $1600 total and I thought of maybe doing the suspension first since it's cheaper but I don't want to spend too much money on the install if I can't do it.

02SilverSiHB
08-11-2003, 12:08 PM
Originally posted by Gasp23
Ok here is my next question.

How difficult is it to install it? I'm a complete newB with suspension. Would I be able to do it my self? Or just take it to a shop maybe the dealer?

I'm currently saving for my wheels, which will be about $1600 total and I thought of maybe doing the suspension first since it's cheaper but I don't want to spend too much money on the install if I can't do it.
it would be easier than just swapping out the springs...it's a striaght swap from my understanding. Take out your stock shock/spring and put in the new one. You wouldn't have to bother with a spring compressor. 10mm,12mm,14mm,17mm,19mm,22mm sockets and wrenches is all you'd probably need.

Si_Nutt
08-11-2003, 12:19 PM
Check this link, Gasp23.

http://ephatch.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7153

Just delete the steps where you have to change out the springs. This mod is very easy, worst part is when the front axles pop out, but you just have to wiggle them back in while someone holds the opposite wheel. Freaked me out the first time back in May of 02 the first time I put springs on, but now it is just part of the swap. No biggie. Do your homework and give it a shot. Modding your car by yourself is very rewarding, not to mention saves you $ for more mods! Let us know if you need anymore help....

Si_Nutt
08-11-2003, 01:56 PM
To set the record straight, I checked my boxes, both are marked 50000-XK2-K0S0 SPORTS SUS KIT (EP3)
The plot thickens....:confused:

02SilverSiHB
08-11-2003, 02:47 PM
Originally posted by Si_Nutt
Check this link, Gasp23.

http://ephatch.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7153

Just delete the steps where you have to change out the springs. This mod is very easy, worst part is when the front axles pop out, but you just have to wiggle them back in while someone holds the opposite wheel. Freaked me out the first time back in May of 02 the first time I put springs on, but now it is just part of the swap. No biggie. Do your homework and give it a shot. Modding your car by yourself is very rewarding, not to mention saves you $ for more mods! Let us know if you need anymore help....
when I helped djsolution out, we used a real small bungie cord to keep the axle from falling out...saved a ton of time

02TafWhtSi
08-12-2003, 07:25 PM
Well, I got a little bored and decided to add a few more pictures from the install. The first pic is of the stock shocks with the Eibach ProKits compared to the Mugens. Now you all get to see my ugly mug :eek:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/p459d45094b887081d2cc8259811ad654/fb67580b.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/p2c549c2e92533d8d3ebaea0ee4fac5b0/fb675803.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/pf79520d73dfa0dfaeef03a150e411ac5/fb6757fc.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/p29fba1b12e0d42d1217dd1b1f786405a/fb675808.jpg