Hi everyone
Im new and was wondering if there might be some people out there to help me. I have a 95 Honda Civic EX and am planning on taking it through a lot of dirt roads on a road trip down to Mexico. My question is what would be the best option for my suspension setup to ensure a relatively stable ride through these dirt roads? I know a lot of people buy springs to lower there car but I would want to raise it as high as possible to combat these dirt roads and have any of you used your suspension set up to handle tough roads / weather and if so how did that turn out? I know a Civic isnt supposed to be an offroad vehicle but believe it can get me there and back and hope some of you can help me who have done suspension modifications and have an idea as to what Im talking about. I appreciate you taking the time to read this and I appreciate any feedback that you may have, even if it is harsh criticism. Thanks again and I hope you guys have a wonderful New Year!

 

I wouldn't even consider raising a civic for backcountry driving, mostly because of safety issues. Civics aren't notoriously wide, so if you raise the center of gravity, your car will become dangerously prone to tipping (this is doubly so due to the lack of a solid frame and ample body weight). Plus, I have never heard of a lift kit for a Civic, so you would be building your own Frankenstein suspension. The only thing I would tell you to do if you are really serious about taking this car down to Mexico is to have replacement suspension parts on hand and know how to put them on...

 

Thanks for your reply Kappa22. I hadnt considered the higher center of gravity before and thats an excellent point. Im just afraid that if I do take it down there it wouldnt be able to handle the hour or so drive through dirt roads as it is now. I already have some big tires on the car (not wide but tall-almost fill in the wheel well) and perhaps thats the only thing I can do until I get down there and see what happens. Would your recommend to even mess with the factory struts and springs because at the very least I would want it as high as it sits now. If these aftermarket springs just lower my car than I will be better off just staying with the factory springs and hope it isnt too bumpy a ride.

 

Yeah, I would say that's the best compromise for safety's sake

 

Please tell me if this is a bad idea, but I've seen those idiotic looking wheels with the incorrect offset sticking out FAR out of the fenders of some ricers and I think that those would actually help the tipping issue...and may-be try to make some sheet metal skid plates...

 

i dont know about the skid plates, but if you do, unhook the negative battery terminal before you weld on the car. it can cause all kinds of problems. but as for the wheels, those are a bad idea. they are REALLY bad on your wheel bearings because of the extra leverage they have on the wheel hub. it causes them to run really hot.

 

Well I was wrong about the wheels....but when I said skidplates I actually ment a piece of sheetmetal and a can of self-tapping screws...easier to fix of the road

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. I do not believe I will try and do any welding or anything like that, sounds a little bit too extreme but thanks for the suggestion. I didnt want to raise my little civic up to a truck height although that would be quite a fun job but rather just raise it an inch or two from factory height because there will be 4 people going and that along with our luggage will be sure and lower the car back to factory height. I right now have a set of 16" with 205 Michelin tires and they do fill up the wheel well (a lot of rubber-exact opposite of low profile) and was wondering if this would be okay. I may end up going with a new set of struts and springs because I would hate for any of that to break and would feel safer driving on new ones than the ones on there now. Again, I appreciate everyones replies and I hope you all have a Wonderful New Year!

 

michelin tire are horbile!!!!!!!!!!!![:'(]