DIY Network

Tricked-Out Suspension: Takin' It To The Track From "Tricked Out" episode DTRK-101

A modified suspension on this 1996 Honda allows it to push the limits on an SCCA racecourse.

In this segment of Tricked Out we take the souped-up 1996 Civic to the track where the car's owner, Marc Turner, takes it through the test course to see how much difference our suspension modifications really make.

At a local Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) club race, we test out the suspension upgrades with some real-world driving tests. An SCCA event like this is the best and safest place to be if you have the urge to drive your car really, really fast.

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	Marc Turner, owner and driver of our tricked-out Honda Civic, prepares to take the car for a test drive on a SCCA race course.

Sports-car enthusiast and weekend SCCA racer Marc Turner is the owner of the 1996 Civic we tricked out in this episode. With the new modifications, he's aiming to shave a few seconds off his time through the racecourse.

In his first run through the cones, the set-up appears a little loose. There's more body-roll and tire-squeal than we'd like to see and hear. When pushing the car to the limit, the loose suspension and wheel-hop are a little out of hand.

To adjust for the softness in the set-up, some fine-tuning is done to the shocks, and tire-pressure is increased from 38 psi to 45. With the front suspension tightened up, the Civic takes a second run. Along with the added tire pressure, the firmer shock-settings make the Civic's suspension much more resistant to body roll, keeping the car flatter in the corners. In the second run, with the new suspension dialed in, Marc tweaks his total time downward from 50 seconds to 48.

	The adjustable shocks enable the suspension to be tightened just enough to reduce body-roll -- and shave seconds off the car's finishing time.

The Bottom Line

The cost for this set of suspension modifications breaks down thusly:

Coil-over kit, $299
Shocks, $396
Front- and rear-strut tower braces, $140
Performance tires and wheels (set of 4; mounting and balancing included), $1080

Total = approximately $1915

RESOURCES :

Sport Compact Bolt-On Performance Guide: Import Cars (Sport Compact Bolt-On Performance Guides)
Author: Joe Pettitt
Order this book from Amazon.com.
Voyageur Press (October 2000)
ISBN: 1884089526

Honda & Acura Performance Handbook (Performance Handbooks)
Author: Mike Ancas
Order this title from Amazon.com.
June, 1999
Publisher: Motorbooks International
ISBN: 0760306699

Honda/Acura Engine Performance: How to Modify D, B and H Series Honda/Acura Engines for Street and Drag Racing Performance
Author: Mike Kojima
Order this title from Amazon.com.
April 2002
Publisher: HP Books
ISBN: 155788384X

Honda/Acura Performance Handbook: High Performance Modifications for Street and Drag Racing Applications
by the editors of Sport Compact Car Magazine
Order this title from Amazon.com.
November 1999
Publisher: HP Books
ISBN: 1557883246