Originally Posted by SIcivic99
Since we're talking about suspension, I have been looking to drop my car as well. Still I'm new to all of this, so bear with me. I own a 99 civic SI, currently i am running on 15 si wheels. I want to go buy 16's for my car...probably a bronze or so (my car is red). I probably want to go 1.25 to 1.5 drop front and rear. If im gonna lower it i wanna do it right to prevent problems in the future. So im trying to figure out the right kit to get. It's a daily driver, not for autocross or anything. I don't want to buy something that is too much for daily driving. I know i'll need springs, shocks, and i should probably get camber kit. Would someone please let me know what the best route for me to go with would be. Anyone that has an si and has a setup please help if possible. Also i don't know how to do all the work by myself, so i could either get a friend to do it or get someone to do it professionally, which means more money...how much would it cost me roughly for labor if i had to go professionally installed? Any help on this would be great thanks guys!
What you need is a "street" based setup. "Sports" based setup are too low for your purposes and the shocks might also be stiffer making the ride bumpy. I mentioned a few brand names in the above replies. Stick to those and you should be satisfied with your purchase. I do not recommend dropzone or other unknown brands since they have not been tested fully by anyone I know. If you shop around you can piece together a shocks and springs combo for around $350 to $450 for a base setup. Adjustable dampener setups are more expensive.
You do not need a camber kit but if you feel more comfortable with correct camber, then get one. Just remember that alignments are more important than camber. The truth be told, I have omnis on my car dropped 1.5" with no camber kit. 10K Miles later and I am still fine with the wear on V-rated tires.
You can install the kit yourself if you would like to save money. A basic tool kit is all you need. Do a search on this forum and you will find a step by step guide. If not, your local mechanic can do it for $60 to $75 an hour for approx 2 to 4 hours of work. This varies from mechanic to mechanic.
Good Luck with your new project.