Something feels funny

Intrepid

Well-Known Member
245
207
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Vehicle Model
Civic
Body Style
Si HFP
I started to drive my HFP Si this year and had it in to my local garage and had them swap the 17" Si alloys off and install the 18" HFP wheels for the summer and soon as the 18's were back on the back end of the car felt as if it were moving around, especially if you went into a turning lane and there was a bit of sand on the road the back end of the car wanted to step out.

So i made an appointment with the dealership and took the car in and explained to them what was going on and was told they would look the car over, got a phone call from the service advisor saying that everything looked o'kay but they were going to put it on their alignment machine and check out the alignment on the car. Received another call from the service advisor asking me whether i had installed winter tires on the car and told him that the car was parked all winter and not driven at all, he then went on to tell me that the car was pretty badly out of alignment, 3 out of the 4 wheels were toe'd in and that they would do the alignment on the car and return it to me. When i picked up the car i was speaking with the service advisor and asked if he thought that the car wasn't aligned after the HFP suspension was installed and he told me that doing an alignment on the car after installing the HFP kit wasn't specified in the installation procedure from Honda.

and this is a copy of the alignment sheet that was printed out



So far with this car i have not been overly impressed, the fit and finish of the car when we initially received it was poor, we have had both the interior rocker panel replaced because they were warped, the passenger door was aligned incorrectly, the HFP kit was poorly installed ( in twice to have it tweaked ) the alignment issue above and the motor burns oil excessively.

This is my First Honda, First new car, and so far i am not impressed with the first year and 15,000 kms :(
 
I think that ANYTIME you change a part on the suspension, you do an alignment. When you just swap out to lowering springs you do an alignment. Get behind the smaller SUVs and watch when they load the back up with grocery's. You will see the top of the rear tires angle inward. This is also what happens when you lower a car. For them to not do this, plus your previous experiences with this dealership, leaves me wondering what is going on there. I had a 1998 Crown Victoria. It suffered the famous plastic intake manifold cracking. I took it in to have it changed under a recall. After all said and done, I had to pay to have the oil changed because that was not covered under the recall, but is required anytime you open the motor. Go figure.
 
I was told in about 6 months to have it done again,they should settle by then,I'm going to have one done again when I get my eibach sway bar kit done so I guess I'm jus an alignment fool two in less than 7 days!
 
^ the bushings that came with the kit are no good? What are end links,how much and what is the point of upgrading.....educate me please!
 
^ the bushings that came with the kit are no good? What are end links,how much and what is the point of upgrading.....educate me please!


You can get endlinks and bushings that have ports to add grease. You can then use a grease gun and add more grease once a year or when you start to hear squeaking out of the suspension. The stock endlinks and the bushings that came with the sway bar are not greaseable. On top of the ability to grease the endlinks, an upgraded set is thicker and will provide more rigidity in the suspension. Neither of these are necessary, but both can be had for under $100 total and, in my opinion, are worth the modest cost.
 
Also, the universal greaseable bushings i got were also cut along one side in order for an easier install. So thats always a plus for not even $20
 
Also, the universal greaseable bushings i got were also cut along one side in order for an easier install. So thats always a plus for not even $20


The Progress Sway Bar bushings are already cut, too.
 
Yeah...crap. That means he would have to disconnect the endlinks. Of course, that would be the perfect excuse to upgrades those at the same time!
 
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