PDA

View Full Version : What am I doing next weekend? Mugen.



BarracksSi
05-08-2004, 04:00 PM
Because of Mother's Day, I've got a 4-day weekend through Tuesday, which would be great for doing car work. Trouble is, the auto hobby shops on the local military installations also have a 4-day weekend off, so I'll be waiting until the following weekend to put in my Mugen suspension, along with helping to change the oil pan on what used to be my '86 Si.

Anyway, here's the goods, thanks to Victor (aka 97 TYPE-R 312) of VPR Motorsports in VA. Don't look any different from all the other Mugen pics posted anywhere on the internet... lol

Oh yeah -- that's an RSX-S sway bar. So, in one fell swoop, my Si will behave pretty differently!

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMzg2Njg1NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg
http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wMzg2Njg2NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1NDE%3D.jpg

chakra71
05-08-2004, 05:15 PM
I just did mine today! :cool:

Easy install. The only difficult part was getting the ball joints out of the front. I had to go and get a gear puller like the one shown in this thread. Link (http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=132932&highlight=mugen+dealer)

I had Progress springs on and the Mugen kit raised the car up about 1 inch from what the progress was. It still looks great.

But the best part is the ride. It's great. It's really great. Words fail me, but you'll see. I also have the progress rear sway and the car has no body roll to it, just turns where I point it.

Tomorrow I'm going to get new tires and an alignment. :D

BarracksSi
05-08-2004, 05:35 PM
Let us know how the alignment turns out!

I'm seriously tempted to just get a couple jack stands and do it before the weekend's out. Still, I had planned to take advantage of one of the frame lifts & huge array of tools at the auto shop at Bolling AFB.

Or maybe I don't have the patience... lol

chakra71
05-08-2004, 05:57 PM
just do it!

I used 4 jackstands and got the car up in the air a good bit. Air tools would have been nice, but were not needed.

Compared to some other installs... this was cake. It took about 4 hours and that was with a run to the store for that gear puller. Just be sure to have a friend to help because there are times when you need to hold the piece from below and put on nuts up top.

Ep3 No.2
05-08-2004, 09:06 PM
damn u rich bastards !
lol j/p but yah i was intrested on how the alignment comes along after the install.

BarracksSi
05-08-2004, 09:19 PM
Originally posted by Ep3 No.2
damn u rich bastards !

Hehe...

Actually, it's called "tax refund". ;)

I've got time to decide what to do next year, too.

DumbNewB
05-09-2004, 02:38 AM
how much did that cost you in total?

BarracksSi
05-09-2004, 04:26 AM
A grand for everything in the pics. Victor had been using the sway bar on his own EP for a while, but has since upgraded to a CTR bar, and offered to throw this one in for free.

foilpan
05-09-2004, 08:56 AM
yeah! i hope to install mine today if it stops raining. happy mother's day, mom, i'll be working on my car!

!@#$%
05-09-2004, 11:49 AM
might be alot, but could u post before pics with the progress and after with the mugen?

foilpan
05-09-2004, 06:41 PM
AAAAAGH!

i got three corners installed and spent a couple hours working on one of the 22mm bolts on the drivers side front. the damn thing won't come off! and on top of that, i ruined my tie rod end bolt with the puller i borrowed. it mashed the end of the bolt a little bit, so i can't get the nut back on.

this sucks.

i'm gonna have to ask the mechanic down the street if he can use his air wrench to get the nut off so i can finish the install. then i need a new tie rod end from the dealership.

:mad:

the1986
05-09-2004, 10:59 PM
you dont need a new tie rod end, this happened to me when i installed my springs. Get a pretty good size vice grip, and grip the top of the tie rod, and the suspension thing it goes into, tighten the vice, then screw on the bolt. It just needs to have sufficiant pressure on the tie rod.

-Teal

foilpan
05-10-2004, 07:15 AM
well, i got a new tie rod end anyway. the threads are mashed right near the hole for the cotter pin, so i can't even get the nut back on if i tried (i just did). i just have to figure out how to get the damn end off now...

BarracksSi
05-10-2004, 10:52 PM
Did I say next weekend?

I got the bug yesterday, and went to Autozone today to borrow a torque wrench, a tie rod puller, and buy some other tools that I didn't have already.

I started messing with the front (got it lifted and the wheel off), and started getting cold feet, thinking that I couldn't get it done by myself. So, I figured I'd wait until the weekend anyway.

While I was at it, I decided that replacing the rear sway bar would be easy enough, so I started on that. I put an allen key in the end of the bolt and a wrench around the nut (like the manual says), started yankin', and got the nut to move. It was going good for a while, then got REALLY stiff (like, stuck!), and I got nervous enough to decide to screw the nut back down. While trying to do that, the allen key's hole STRIPPED.

mother FUCKER. :mad:

So, I took the loaned tools back to Autozone. I called up Victor, and said, "Dude, I've lost any confidence I had in my ability to do this thing. What now?"

So, now, or more precisely about 40 minutes ago, it got installed down at his place.

It needs an alignment, but other than that, DAMN it's nice. Took an exit curve from the tunnel under the Capitol's reflecting pool that empties out near Constitution Ave. a lot quicker than before, no swoopiness, just rock solid all the way to the exit. It actually felt less fast because there wasn't the same amount of drama. This shit's gonna be fun... hehe

It doesn't look slammed, either, which isn't the look I'm going for. Actually, my intent wasn't to change the looks much at all -- I was after the better composure with the Mugen setup. But, it's dropped just enough to where it looks really nice. Many Japanese manufacturers -- and especially Honda -- style car bodies that integrate really well with the wheels (many American cars look like the wheels intrude into the body lines), and the subtle drop makes that integration look even better.

Pics later -- I'm headed to bed!

DumbNewB
05-10-2004, 11:14 PM
Get those pics up soon!

BarracksSi
05-12-2004, 06:46 PM
The evolution...

http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/USDA-All-Stock.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/USDA-C8-Stock.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/USDA-Mugen-C8.jpg

The old wheel gap (4-finger salute... ;) )
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Gap-4-fingers.jpg
and new:
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Gap-2-Fingers.jpg

From the side, stock suspension:
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Profile-C8-Stock.jpg
and with Mugen:
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Profile-Mugen-C8.jpg

BarracksSi
05-12-2004, 06:52 PM
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Washed-Stock.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/Washed-C8-Mugen.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/AMC-C8-Stock.jpg
http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/AMC-Mugen-C8.jpg

There ya go-

BarracksSi
05-12-2004, 07:05 PM
Just for kicks, here's the Photoshop I did with silver C8's --

http://img66.photobucket.com/albums/v201/BarracksSi/USDA-C8sPhotoshopped.jpg

GrahamBo '02
05-12-2004, 07:16 PM
Mmmm.. Mugen.. Good.

I was thinking about the Teins, but I don't really AutoX and I just want a small drop and better composure. The Mugen seems to fit this a little better than the Teins. IMO

foilpan
05-12-2004, 07:28 PM
sweet, barracks!

your car is so shiny and oh so fresh now!

isn't the ride 100% better than stock? i find the steering more precise now (even though i really need an alignment). i can't believe the stock height is about 4 fingers. crazy! i've had about 1 or 2 since i installed my old progress springs last year. the mugen drop seems *just right.* i feel like i just got home and there are freshly baked choco-chip cookies on the table!

:D mmm... mugen!

BarracksSi
05-12-2004, 07:43 PM
I've got two reasons to be in my car right now. One, my building's a/c isn't activated yet (they're waiting until the 14th, which is as late as legally possible), and my car's a/c works; and two, the Mugen SS just fuckin' rocks, especially when combined with a stiffer rear sway (RSX-S in my case).

The ride quality is a lot like stock. I've told people that you don't really notice any difference from stock until you really get on it around corners, and then it just scoots. I get into a 2nd gear corner, mash the throttle, and the sucker just goes, with a lot less understeer and a lot more speed. I want to find someplace to learn its limits without worrying about hitting anything.

The rear camber is at the far end of "within spec" (-1.76 on each side), and the front is good to go in all dimensions. I don't think I'll bother with a camber kit or anything.

I'm highly impressed, and I don't think I'd benefit any further by having an adjustable setup (partly because of my own lack of suspension setup knowledge, and partly because Mugen did this SO well).

97 TYPE-R 312
05-12-2004, 10:45 PM
Great review and pics! Before and after pics rock. Glad everything worked out for you. Mugen is a no brainer here!

-Victor

DumbNewB
05-13-2004, 01:30 AM
What size wheels and tires?

BarracksSi
05-13-2004, 02:22 PM
Rota Circuit 8, 16x7, and 205/50 Kumho 711 tires. I might go with 215/50 (closest 215's to stock diameter) when these wear out, but I haven't decided on what kind of tire. If I go with Azenis, I'd have to settle for either 215/45 or 205/55.

Whichever -- I've got quite a while before I need to make a decision.

97 TYPE-R 312
05-13-2004, 08:43 PM
If you had noticed, I run 215-45ZR16 AZENIS on my TYPE-R. I love them! For the price and what they can do on and off the track, they are worth it.

-Victor

scrunkness
05-15-2004, 11:12 AM
Nice looking car I just have one ? whats with the mud flap are you going off road anytime soon. Its not a rally car! Get rid of them they will make the car look so much better.

BarracksSi
05-15-2004, 11:56 AM
Originally posted by scrunkness
Nice looking car I just have one ? whats with the mud flap are you going off road anytime soon. Its not a rally car! Get rid of them they will make the car look so much better.

I have gone off road (well, gravel roads, but they're still not pavement), and I don't mind having them there to protect from paint chips caused by flying rocks.

Function first, and I'll worry about the looks later. I'm not vain enough to do something that may make it look better but leave it less protected. Besides, can you see the plastic door edge guards?

RMC22
05-16-2004, 09:02 PM
Nice pics, looks great.
But holy crap, our EPs were hideous at stock height.. Can't even remember it, but damn, I feel embarrassed for driving around without any drop for so long.

BarracksSi
05-16-2004, 09:14 PM
Maybe it's because there are almost ZERO modified cars in my part of town, but I never really noticed how high it was while it was on stock rims. Switching to the C8's made the height more evident, but it didn't seem awful.

Funny how much of a difference an inch & a half makes, though. I walk backwards from the car more often now so that I could look at it longer.

Accordexcpe95
05-16-2004, 09:31 PM
damnn your car looks soo much different than the last time we met. your ride is looking awesome. we need to have a meet soon so u can give me a ride with that suspension set up :) :D

BarracksSi
05-16-2004, 10:37 PM
All I did was rims & suspension, and yeah, it looks a lot different. I think yours looks even more different than mine, what with the USDM bodykit and all (which would be the only reason I'd get rid of those mudflaps).

For a demo ride, we'll have to find someplace that's open enough for a bit of speed... lol

Civicvtec1ps
05-20-2004, 10:15 PM
Very nice review.
I am tempted to buy mugen ss over fullcoilover setup.

I had Tein ss on my old car, and never really had time or effort to change height and dampenings.
Mugen ss might be perfect setup for daily drive and autox use.
I just wish drop was TAD lower than that.

EP_404349
05-20-2004, 11:19 PM
Originally posted by BarracksSi
All I did was rims & suspension, and yeah, it looks a lot different. I think yours looks even more different than mine, what with the USDM bodykit and all (which would be the only reason I'd get rid of those mudflaps).

For a demo ride, we'll have to find someplace that's open enough for a bit of speed... lol

I just have a few questions for you...

1. can you adjust the height? if no then how low is the drop?

2. is it stiffer then stock??

3. is it bouncy??

thank you for your answers....

the JigGa mAn
05-20-2004, 11:22 PM
Originally posted by EP_404349
I just have a few questions for you...

1. can you adjust the height? if no then how low is the drop?

2. is it stiffer then stock??

3. is it bouncy??

thank you for your answers....

A1. NO its not height adjustable...and i forgot how low the drop is it think its some where in the 1.5" neighborhood.

A2. yes they are stiffer than stock (someone correct me if im wrong)

A3. probly not (only owners can answer that)

foilpan
05-21-2004, 03:24 AM
Originally posted by EP_404349
I just have a few questions for you...

1. can you adjust the height? if no then how low is the drop?

2. is it stiffer then stock??

3. is it bouncy??

thank you for your answers....

1. about 1.5"

2. yes, but not annoyingly so

3. no -- smooth as glass

i recommend them. it's too bad the price is a bit steep. :'(

Makross
05-21-2004, 05:23 AM
sweet nice stance

BarracksSi
05-21-2004, 09:54 AM
1. With my hands, it went from about 4-1/2 fingers to 2-1/2 fingers of gap, which translates to, yes, 1.5".

2. It's a touch stiffer than stock, but not really. If you told a non-EP-owning passenger that it was stock suspension, they might think it was "sporty", but they certainly wouldn't say harsh.

3. It bounces about as much as a deflated basketball -- and that's a good thing. There are some unnecessarily harsh expansion joints on a bridge in my area, and on stock suspension, they'd upset the car somewhat, with a bit of wallowing afterwards. On Mugen, they do hit a teensy bit harder, but as soon as the wheels clear the bumps, the car is right back to normal.

I honestly didn't notice the swoopiness of the stock suspension until the Mugen went on, and then I remembered how it used to ride. I'd like to watch the process that Mugen goes through to develop this stuff.

I'm also expecting to find out if my mileage has gone down on this tankful -- because I'm enjoying driving harder... ;)

EP_404349
05-22-2004, 09:13 AM
Thank you to everyone that has reply to me... Your information has been very helpful... I'm about 95% sure that I will get this set-up... I was on http://www.kingmotorsports.com/ and saw that they cost $1,000 and right now it's free shipping within the continental US... Most likey I will be getting it there unless you guys have another place that's cheaper... Also is there a thread that someone has made that explains how to install these...??? thanks a lot again guys...

chakra71
05-22-2004, 11:10 AM
The install is pretty much straight forward. I used the service manual and looked at this thread:

Club RSX thread (http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=132932)

It took me about 3 hours with a trip to the store. I noticed that at first the ride was quite a bit more harsh than stock, but it has softened up just a bit with break-in. Now the ride is perfect. I'm very happy with my suspension now. :cool:

EP_404349
05-22-2004, 02:11 PM
Originally posted by chakra71
The install is pretty much straight forward. I used the service manual and looked at this thread:

Club RSX thread (http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=132932)

It took me about 3 hours with a trip to the store. I noticed that at first the ride was quite a bit more harsh than stock, but it has softened up just a bit with break-in. Now the ride is perfect. I'm very happy with my suspension now. :cool:

thank you very much... :D