By Justy (216.254.141.68) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 12:48 pm:

What disadvantages are there to using different combinations of struts? Is it a bad idea to go with oil struts in the front and gas struts in the rear?

I was all set to go with the KYB oil struts, but then I found that a local place ("BC Shock & Strut" in Surrey, BC) had KYB Gas-A-Justs for a few dollars less, plus there's no shipping cost. But KYB doesn't make a REAR Gas-A-Just strut for Civic 1200 (according to their website, anyhow).

So I'm thinking of four possible combinations.
Prices are in Canadian funds. (for reference, $250 Canadian = approx. $160 US)

-- Front KYB Oil / Rear KYB Oil
Everything's the same all 'round, which is probably a good thing.
COST: $256 (+s/h for all four struts)

-- Front KYB Oil / Rear KYB Gas-A-Just
High performance gas struts in the back, but just better-than-stock oil in the front.
COST: $247 (+s/h on front struts)

-- Front Koni Wet Kit Oil Inserts / Rear KYB Gas-A-Just
High performance gas struts in the back, hydraulic choice of many Civic 1200 enthusiasts slipped into the existing front casings.
COST: $215 (+s/h on front inserts)

-- Front KYB GR-2 gas / Rear KYB Gas-A-Just
Gas all 'round, but GR-2 is designed for "maximum ride comfort" while Gas-A-Just is "high performance handling and response".
COST: don't know how much front GR-2 will cost yet, or if I can even find them!

Does anyone have a particular opinion as to what I should go for? My intended use is a combination of daily driving and, once I learn more about how a car should be set up properly (like, y'know, suspension strut choices), autocross.

Thanks in advance!!

By Don (209.181.52.73) on Thursday, February 14, 2002 - 06:54 pm:

Get the KYB's then save your money and save the casings for when you realy get serious, then to a coil over conversion at the same time.
Do it like this Kybs, next poly bushings from Oz and replace any worn items like tie rods, control arms etc. Maybe a rear swaybar.
The stiffer shocks and springs will do no good if the rest of the suspension is loose. Try this, then if you want more convert those cruddy strut mounts to bearings and the Konis and coil overs will provide some options. The Koni option up front may not be that bad either. BUT DONT FORGET ABOUT THE REST OF THE SYSTEM.