Adjusting Ride Height on FK7 Civic Coilovers for Improved Handling and Alignment

Introduction to FK7 Coilovers

Coilovers are a popular suspension upgrade for the 10th generation Honda Civic FK7. They offer improved handling and adjustability over stock suspension components. In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at FK7 coilovers, examining what they are, their benefits, and how to adjust ride height on them.

What are Coilovers?

Coilovers replace the stock shock absorbers and springs on a vehicle's suspension. They are a coil spring over a shock absorber, hence the name "coilover". On the FK7 Civic, coilovers replace the front struts and rear shocks.

Coilovers offer a few key benefits over stock suspension:

• Fully adjustable damping - compression and rebound can be tuned for improved handling and ride comfort.
• Lower ride height - coilovers allow lowering the car for improved looks and handling.
• Adjustable spring perches - makes dialing in ride height easier.
• Stiffer springs - better wheel control and handling dynamics.

Quality coilovers like those from BC Racing offer 16-30 levels of adjustable damping, allowing owners to really fine tune the suspension for their needs. The adjustable spring perches make static lowering a breeze as well.

Benefits of Lowering Your FK7 Civic

One of the most popular reasons enthusiasts install coilovers on their FK7 Civic is to lower the ride height. Here are some benefits of lowering your 10th gen:

• Improved handling and cornering - lowering the center of gravity helps handling.
• Better alignment specs - negative camber is easier to achieve.
• Aggressive look - a lower stance modernizes the look.
• Close wheel fitment - wheels and tires fit better at a lower height.
• Improved aerodynamics - reduces drag and improves MPG.

Most owners lower their Civics 1-3 inches with coilovers. This achieves a nice blend of improved performance and aesthetics without being too low for daily driving.

How to Adjust Ride Height on BC Coilovers

If you've installed BC Racing coilovers on your FK7 Civic, adjusting the ride height is simple. Here's how to do it:

1. Jack up the car and support it securely on jack stands.
2. Loosen the lock collar at the top of the coilover. A wrench or channel locks works well.
3. Spin the spring perch up or down to raise or lower the car. Typically about 1/4" lower per notch.
4. Ensure the left and right heights match. Measure wheel gaps and fender heights.
5. Tighten the lock collar against the spring perch to lock in the height.
6. Test drive and adjust again if needed. It often takes 2-3 sessions to dial in the perfect ride height.

Adjusting ride height on the FK7 Civic is very easy with BC coilovers. Just take your time and make small adjustments at a time. Getting the car dialed in makes a huge difference in how it looks and handles.

Setting Corner Weights

For optimum handling, you'll want to set corner weights after adjusting ride height. This ensures proper suspension load and evenly balanced handling.

Setting corner weights requires corner weight scales - you can find shops that offer this service. The process involves:

• Measuring each corner's weight (front left, front right, rear left, rear right).
• Making adjustments to the spring perches to distribute weight evenly.
• Re-measuring and tweaking until weights are within 1-2% across corners.

Setting corner weights is an advanced process but critical to get the most from your coilovers. For street driving, goal for 52% front and 48% rear distribution.

Damping Adjustments

BC Racing coilovers offer 30 levels of adjustable damping. This allows tuning compression and rebound settings for the ultimate ride and handling balance. Some tips for damping adjustments:

• Run softer settings on the street. Start with ~10 clicks front/rear.
• Increase compression damping to reduce body roll when cornering.
• Add rebound damping to improve traction and stability.
• Adjust in 2-click increments and test drive to feel the difference.

Take advantage of the adjustable damping for improved handling. Dialing it in properly will help the FK7 handle incredible.

Wrapping Up

Installing coilovers is one of the best upgrades for the 10th gen Civic FK7. With features like adjustable height and damping, they offer great performance and looks. BC Racing makes an ideal coilover for the FK7 with high-quality components and easy adjustability.

Lowering your ride height between 1-3" improves the stance, handling, and alignment. Adjusting the BC Racing coilover height is very straightforward - just take your time test driving and dialing it in.

Now that you've installed coilovers on your FK7, get out there and enjoy the improved ride and handling!

FAQs

How much should I lower my FK7 Civic?

Most owners lower their FK7 Civics between 1-3 inches when installing coilovers. This achieves an improved stance and handling without being too low for daily driving.

Will lowering my Civic improve performance?

Yes, lowering your FK7 Civic 1-3 inches with coilovers improves handling by lowering the center of gravity. It also allows for better wheel fitment and alignment specs like increased negative camber.

What are the best coilovers for an FK7 Civic?

BC Racing coilovers are a top choice for the FK7 Civic. They offer adjustable ride height and damping, allowing owners to really dial in the perfect handling and ride quality.

How do I adjust damping on BC Racing coilovers?

BC Racing coilovers have 30 levels of adjustable compression and rebound damping. Use the provided damper wrenches to click them stiffer or softer. Start softer and increase slowly.

Will lowering affect my FK7 Civic's alignment?

Lowering will change your alignment specifications. You'll need an alignment with increased negative camber to correct toe and camber after installing coilovers.