So far with some searching, I've only found strut bars as being a cheap suspension upgrade. I don't want to lower, raise, or otherwise dump a bunch of money into my suspension.

The theme of my car is "bread and butter", I'm sticking to I/H/E on the motor, so I want just the inexpensive basics for the suspension... if strut bars make a noticeable difference, then that's probably all I'll do.

The brakes on these cars are fine IMO for street only use, so I'll be done trying to figure out my setup once I figure this Q out.

 

You could also get sway bars, its not as easy as strut bars but not as hard as lowering springs. For brakes, you can get a performance pad. Hawk makes some good brake pads. You could also try getting some slotted rotors. Some say they help brake faster and others say they don't. If you get rims, slotted rotors do look pretty good.

 

Thanks for the info. I've tried slotted rotors before, they don't help with braking power, they just help with fade. IMO... I'm probably going to leave my brakes alone.

Are sway bars spendy? They won't make the car ride any rougher will they? Do you think a sway bar/strut bar combo will make a big difference? I thought these cars came with at least one sway bar, but I guess not???

I know lowering is the best option because it brings the COG down, but I just don't want to lower the car.

 

you can get a set of sway bars for about 300. Megan racing makes good strut bard and man do they make a difference, also a lower tie bar will aid nicely too. You will see a noticable reduction in body roll w/ a full set of strut bars, and even more so w/ some sways.

Suspension Techniques and Progress Tech are good sway bar companies, but do some searching and see what fits your budget.

 

Based on that ebay strut bar thread, I'll be getting those, and if I think I need more after that, and I have the cashola, then I'll probably swing for some sways. Thanks.

 

I think that civics only come with front sway bars and you will have to buy new control arms to use rear sway bars. I'm not sure about that, but i'm pretty sure that they don't have rear sway bars.

 

civic SIs have rear anti sway bars. you can just get one from one of those. i got a quote for 100$ for the rear once from honda.

 

If my civic already has a front sway bar, and mods are required to run a rear, then I probably won't mess with it and just worry about strut bars...