DIY: ILX coilover installation

33872 Views 45 Replies 14 Participants Last post by vindavid, 4 mo ago

SlammedILX

Discussion Starter · Sep 12, 2013

8

Hey guys, i'm here to provide you guys with instructions that i never got when installing my coil-overs.
I was in a hard debate between the D2 coil-overs and the ksports but in the end i ended up going with D2's because the purple looks nice. Also ran out of daylight since i received them at 6pm and went to work on them asap.

installation took about 2 1/2 hours since no instructions were included, and i had to figure out on my own how they was suppose to be set up.

** DISCLAIMER : I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR MISTAKES I AM JUST HERE TO GUIDE YOU TO INSTALLATION. IF YOU ARE NOT MECHANICALLY INCLINED, I SUGGEST TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT IS DO IT !!! ***

Tools that you will need.

1/2 or 3/4 Breaker bar(1/2in prefered)
1/2 Ratchet
22MM socket
19MM socket
17MM socket
14MM Deep socket
12MM socket
17MM open end wrench
14MM open end wrench
needle nose pliers
flat head screwdriver
Allen or Hex Keys for top of the strut if your coilovers don't provide you with some.

I prefer deep sockets but whatever floats your boat.

How i got them.

Step 1 optional - You can do front or rear first but i decided to let the car sit evenly on jack stands.

Step 2 - I wanted to knock out the rears since they are more time consuming and a little harder. Start removing the plastic clips from the trunk liner. Then push it aside so you can reach the strut.
There are about 10-12 push clips, 4 involve a flat head screwdriver and the rest you can just pull out with your nails.

Now evenly pull up through out this whole plastic thing (idk what its called) and it should pop right off

Step 3 - Push the interior lining towards the middle so you have room to maneuver around in there. Take your Allen/Hex key and a 14MM open end wrench to loosen the top bolt on the strut. **excuse the unfocused pic, it was kind of hard to fit my big ass camera in there.

Step 4 - Now go under and unbolt the strut with a 14MM socket.

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Reactions: 1

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ilxluv

· #21 · Sep 27, 2013

Its safe to say the majority of ilx users will get reps of whatever they get and probably wont know what company made them first so regardless you should be gold if you buy something authentic.

And you're low no doubt but I dont consider that slammed. You're scraping splash guards. That's where Id classify you. That is where my last car was that I didnt consider slammed.
It's a proper drop for sure!! But when your vitals are as close to the ground as that plastic splash guard we'll talk.

SlammedILX

Discussion Starter · #22 · Sep 27, 2013 (Edited)

Here's how she sits after I picked it up a little.

I don't want my vitals on the ground... Yet. That way if something messes up, acura would still cover it and not blame me for being to low haha. I'm not exactly financially stable enough to play too much with this damn car since it's still pretty new and expensive but give it some time and I'll have it looking like my old em1. For now, I need to be at a height I can clear the speed bumps and be able to exit the school. My college has some ridiculous paved sidewalks... I can pretty much only exit at 25-30 degrees.

I can't bring myself to get reps. They just seem so "bleh" on a new car especially like ours. No offense to the people that will buy reps, I know you guys have your reasons. Lmao I want something magnesium blue, trying to find te37's but it's no bueno.

Can you chop a set of mag blue te37's on? Or the te37SL's?

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ilxluv

· #23 · Sep 27, 2013 (Edited)

For me, hardcore offense to those that buy reps. I bought reps for my integra because I was cheap. No way around that.
I say if you can only afford reps you cant afford wheels and the money is better spent on performance tires in oem spec.

And honestly, not to keep the bitching going, but all I hear are complains about why someone with the username SLAMMEDILX isn't infact slammed. In my opinion your ride height is perfect. Id ride all day at that height and love it. But I wouldn't call it slammed because it's not. We drive in the same areas and I did that daily on my integra. No complaints or issues, I just did the damn thing.

So pardon my bitching, but drop the excuses and slam her already.

SlammedILX

Discussion Starter · #24 · Sep 27, 2013

If I go lower.. I won't be able to make it into the parking structure on campus. Huge speedbumps, narrow exits so I can't go completely sideways. I'd still like to keep it under the meaningless warranty lol. We drive on the somewhat the same roads, my bumper has battle scars everywhere. Will I put her on the ground? Yes. But for now I'm comfortable with where she sits. I could go another 2.5 inches lower and be totally fine with that. But I'd be limited to where I can drive and where I can go. Plus acura warranty would be even more meaningless if my vitals hit. Unlike the 90's civics and integras, a bumper doesnt cost almost 450 bucks so I'm a little more concerned about fucking more shit up. Since I'm still a broke college student still trying to keep my car payments on time. As for the complaints, I honestly don't think it should matter what other people think about my name compared to my car. Builds don't happen over night and because I have coilovers now doesn't mean I'm suppose to automatically slam her. She'll get there, just be patient. I should have just got bags so you'd quit your bitching and we would all be satisfied to see an ilx at all heights.

And the reps aren't as bad of an offense to me as it is to you. Some people have families and rims aren't quite in the budget, not financially stable, etc. I wouldn't personally have them, maybe as a winter set. But it's whatever, if your car looks good or goes fast ill give you props.

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ilxluv

· #25 · Sep 27, 2013

I totally understand your reasons for not slamming your ilx. But thats just it, it's NOT slammed. Functionality is a understandable compromise to tuners that go the slammed route. You're consciously choosing to not slam the car to maintain functionality. That is awesome, no issues there. My issue however is saying the car is slammed. You can honestly say whatever you want about your car. But there are so many users here that simply AREN'T apart of the tuner community and are VERY impressionable. I just want them to understand yes this is low but not slammed. Slammed is a state that's not the easiest to get to and as youve learned, bags alone and doing it too quickly will create carnage.

When I first got my integra I wish people called me a ricer for spray painting my exhaust black, tearing out my rear seats and relocating my front plate. I wish someone gave me shit before buying replicas or some no name springs to save me the wasted money, time, and effort. As well as simply making a poor name for myself in the forums. Everyone here wants advice on what to do and not to do so Im giving them that. Exactly what I wish I had. Advice from someone with a vision and ideas. A car build without an over all vision will end up a ricers assortment of aftermarket parts that are individually great parts but together make a huge cluster fuck.

And bags alone don't make a car slammed. Bags are so you can drive slammed and lay frame while parked, not park slammed and drive moderately low.
Sorry for the hate. You're doing your thing and that's all you should do. Honestly I dont know if Ill even slam my own ilx; but I wont claim it is what it isn't until it is.

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Domani

· #26 · Sep 29, 2013

SlammedILX said:
Here's how she sits after I picked it up a little.

I don't want my vitals on the ground... Yet. That way if something messes up, acura would still cover it and not blame me for being to low haha. I'm not exactly financially stable enough to play too much with this damn car since it's still pretty new and expensive but give it some time and I'll have it looking like my old em1. For now, I need to be at a height I can clear the speed bumps and be able to exit the school. My college has some ridiculous paved sidewalks... I can pretty much only exit at 25-30 degrees.

I can't bring myself to get reps. They just seem so "bleh" on a new car especially like ours. No offense to the people that will buy reps, I know you guys have your reasons. Lmao I want something magnesium blue, trying to find te37's but it's no bueno.

Can you chop a set of mag blue te37's on? Or the te37SL's?

Love how your ILX is sitting. Do the fronts rub?
And good call on not going for reps. Reps kill the industry, if you really want to show support, buy the real deal, even if they're used and old.
For me its either the stock OEM wheels, OEM wheels from another car or authentic aftermarket wheels

SlammedILX

Discussion Starter · #27 · Sep 30, 2013

Domani said:
Love how your ILX is sitting. Do the fronts rub?
And good call on not going for reps. Reps kill the industry, if you really want to show support, buy the real deal, even if they're used and old.
For me its either the stock OEM wheels, OEM wheels from another car or authentic aftermarket wheels

Thank you for the kind words. The fronts don't rub at all until I have my car packed full of people, then they only rub when I turn all the way. But slightly.

As for reps, I can't stand them on my own car. For a 95civic or integra, it wouldn't be as bad since I wouldn't wanna throw 3000 wheels on a car that's most likely going to get stolen unless it was a show car that's hard parked in the garage or super lightweight for the track. As for the ILX, i don't see the point in buying a 30k car and crapping out on cheap wheels. Just my opinion for my own personal rides.

My team (Kingsmen) gets some pretty good pricing on parts and I'm going to take advantage of them. Soon I'll be rocking new suspension, drilled/slotted rotors until they produce BBK, and then my 3piece wheels shall be ready to be mounted after sema. Going VIP slowly but surely. Just can't decide between 18's or 19's, 18s in the front and 19 in the rear, step lip or no step lip, or just be simple and run a square set-up.

More pics on my Instagram - aaarontheasian

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cfrp

· #28 · Sep 30, 2013

just want to say that I think its slammed.

everyone has their own opinion on what they think is slammed.

I think that is pretty dam low.

Would not be able to get to work in a car like that. Not without loosing some parts on the way lol

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SlammedILX

Discussion Starter · #29 · Sep 30, 2013

cfrp said:
just want to say that I think its slammed.

everyone has their own opinion on what they think is slammed.

I think that is pretty dam low.

Would not be able to get to work in a car like that. Not without loosing some parts on the way lol

Haha yeah, this is an aggressive drop and I can barely get around town with it but I love it and I really don't want to raise it back up. It's usually just those little guards that scrape and I'm probably gunna take those off when I get my wheels.

lilly

· #30 · Sep 30, 2013

SlammedILX said:
Haha yeah, this is an aggressive drop and I can barely get around town with it but I love it and I really don't want to raise it back up. It's usually just those little guards that scrape and I'm probably gunna take those off when I get my wheels.

at least your out in Cali, no worries about raising it back up. In my parts of the North East if you drop your ride that much either you have a winter beater or you need to raise it back up before the snow hits, otherwise your plowing for the city free of charge...

You have wheel plans? IMO go gold with a white ILX, looks really clean... good work BTW, glad to see you do your own wrenching...

ilxluv

· #31 · Sep 30, 2013

cfrp said:
just want to say that I think its slammed.

everyone has their own opinion on what they think is slammed.

I think that is pretty dam low.

Would not be able to get to work in a car like that. Not without loosing some parts on the way lol

When youve been on a website like hondatech or nwp you get flammed to hell for posting in the slammed section if you're splashguards aren't nearly completely shaved off. In my integra I had half the oem splash guards slowly shaved off by the roads and it still wasn't low enough. That is all I am judging to. In no way do I mean to say it doesn't look great though!!

Glad to see another ilx owner taking a vip route. That makes two of us. For a while Im sure they'll both blend in as becauseracecars until some real aggressive wheels go on and vip custom parts start accumulating.

SlammedILX

Discussion Starter · #32 · Sep 30, 2013

lilly said:
at least your out in Cali, no worries about raising it back up. In my parts of the North East if you drop your ride that much either you have a winter beater or you need to raise it back up before the snow hits, otherwise your plowing for the city free of charge...

You have wheel plans? IMO go gold with a white ILX, looks really clean... good work BTW, glad to see you do your own wrenching...

Ohh geez, I'm sort of glad that it doesn't snow like that here. Cali sucks at times, like smog every 2 years/cops dislike imports a lot more and just little things but other than that it's fine lol.

I have a bunch of wheel plans, but thanks to my team being sponsored by a few reputable shops in La. I met up with a few venders that were at the R1 concepts show and I'll be getting a killer deal on some custom 3 piece wheels. I'm taking my car in for measurements this week. There's no way I can say no to $4000 wheels sold to me at pretty much the cost of making them. Just deciding if I wanna run a square set-up or staggered. 18's or 19's.

And thank you, I don't trust other people touching my car. I'm used to handling my own cars so it would feel weird if I had a shop do it. Not to mention the extra cost of installation haha

ilxluv said:
When youve been on a website like hondatech or nwp you get flammed to hell for posting in the slammed section if you're splashguards aren't nearly completely shaved off. In my integra I had half the oem splash guards slowly shaved off by the roads and it still wasn't low enough. That is all I am judging to. In no way do I mean to say it doesn't look great though!!

Glad to see another ilx owner taking a vip route. That makes two of us. For a while Im sure they'll both blend in as becauseracecars until some real aggressive wheels go on and vip custom parts start accumulating.

Well of course you'd get flamed on hondatech. They troll and flame you for no reason at all.

As for the VIP, I think the ilx is more suited for VIP than it is for track duties lol

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ilxluv

· #33 · Sep 30, 2013

Agreed 100%
Its a luxury car so I want to treat it as such. It'll definitely fall into the stance scene first then slowly into VIP.

SlammedILX

Discussion Starter · #34 · Sep 30, 2013

Even though it's a luxury sport, it doesn't feel luxurious nor sporty. It's compact but the curves make it look bulky so the stance/VIP scene comes into play. I feel as if the 2.4L engine struggles to pull the almost 3000lb shell at times. 201hp(without my intake) and it's barely keeping up with integra gs-r's and 99-00 si's. It barely took out my friends 95 integra Ls 4 door; and to make it worse the Ls was only running 3 cylinders !? Would be a lot more sportier with the 3.0 or 3.2L vtec w/ LSD.

On the positive side, I don't have to go out and spend another 6-7 grand for a boosted 400whp car if I do an "all show no go" car haha.

ilxluv

· #35 · Oct 1, 2013

I definitely see it as a luxury car. Entry level, but still.

I personally wouldnt want a larger engine. I went with the ilx on purpose and I feel 2liters are perfect. Still .2 more than the integra. As well Ive got the auto so it is a bit more luxurious there.
I don't street race or even try to pull on cars next to me, just not my thing, Id rather drive low and break necks than fast and beat whips.

A show car mentality with some tasteful engine mods and a small turbo set up a few years down the road sounds like the perfect vip inspired car to me.

SlammedILX

Discussion Starter · #36 · Oct 1, 2013

Technically it wasn't on the street, it was at Sacramento speedway for funsies.
I don't really condone of street racing since it does put other lives in danger as well as mine on public roads. Unless it's like an abandoned air strip or something of that nature.

Well they advertised it as a sport luxury, but it doesn't feel sporty... At all. A bigger motor would be nice, like the new type-sh awd lol.

I'll probably end up dressing the engine bay up a little more. Possibly turbo or kraftswerks sc.

Domani

· #37 · Oct 1, 2013

ilxluv said:
Agreed 100%
Its a luxury car so I want to treat it as such. It'll definitely fall into the stance scene first then slowly into VIP.

looking forward to that, a true VIP Acura ILX. Haven't seen anything like that yet, at least nothing completely VIP

ilxluv

· #38 · Oct 1, 2013

Turbo is definitely in my future due to the placement of the 2.0. A supercharger would be a hassle to get to vs a small snail chillin where the airbox sits.

And Domani, technically the ilx isnt a proper vip platform. Youd need a big body rwd luxury sedan for that. But it will most definitely be so VIP inspired that the basic definition of a VIP car is the only thing lacking.

cfrp

· #39 · Oct 4, 2013

ilxluv said:
When youve been on a website like hondatech or nwp you get flammed to hell for posting in the slammed section if you're splashguards aren't nearly completely shaved off. In my integra I had half the oem splash guards slowly shaved off by the roads and it still wasn't low enough. That is all I am judging to. In no way do I mean to say it doesn't look great though!!

Glad to see another ilx owner taking a vip route. That makes two of us. For a while Im sure they'll both blend in as becauseracecars until some real aggressive wheels go on and vip custom parts start accumulating.

I stopped posting on HT a while ago. And never really visited NWP. But I understand everyone has their own standard and tolerance for driving around with lowered cars. I dont like scrapes so I usually lower my car up to the point where I dont scrape and thats about it.

I think if you really wanted to slam your car you should really look into accuair or bags. Nothing beats actually being slammed to the ground "

SlammedILX said:
Haha yeah, this is an aggressive drop and I can barely get around town with it but I love it and I really don't want to raise it back up. It's usually just those little guards that scrape and I'm probably gunna take those off when I get my wheels.

I'd keep the guards. They protect the actual vitals like the oil pan and subframe from getting scratched up.

Trust me you dont want to loose paint on your subframe. It'll just rust and cause problems in the future.

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ilxluv

· #40 · Oct 4, 2013

Well for my posting it isnt about tolerance. If you know the HT slammed thread users were constantly posting when they were lowered but not slammed. When users would inform them they arent slammed theyd get all upset and make excuses, mainly that their driveway is steep, their commute to work sucks, roads in their state blow, etc etc. But every state has a slammed crew that does it without complaining so in my opinion you either are or you aren't. There is no "Im dumped but not slammed" bs. If you have no issues commuting you aren't slammed. Slammed isn't easy, ever.

Airbags are a great way to be slammed but you need to maintain that low while driving or its not slammed its just hard parking. People in the stanced scene on bags park laying frame and drive lower than any ILX Ive seen so far.
Recently static drops have run supreme and people everywhere will claim you are doing it wrong if you aren't dumped on static.

Me personally, I say go air bags or go home when it comes to a nice car like these. I hate myself for saying this because I truly think users werent even talking about bags until I started mentioning them when I first got the car. So now Im on the fence between trying to be different and do what I actually want. But Im also learning a lot of people are talk so Ill just do my own thing and make my own name for myself.

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