Originally posted by sir_crx
-#2: Higher spring rates mean you need greater damping power to make them ride decently, or you'll bounce all over the place Which means you need a performance shock. If you want a good ride with either springs or coilovers, you have to get a better shock, end of stork.
-Skunk2s have relatively high spring rates, that's why your ride wasn't very comfortable. They're actually a performance suspension, unlike the OBX system
-they are fully adjustable and ride excellent compared to the set of skunk2 and agx I had
I had the good combo, still rode like ass, ALL coilover do have a high spring rate, something that is less than 12" tall to support part of a 2500lb car has to, Aftermarket spring do have a high spring rate but over a taller spring, that's why in general, springs ride better than coilvers. Only reason I'm pointing all this out is because I spent $$$ on my suspension...I didn't buy washer lights, or vtec lights here, you said obx isn't performance, I'm stating that a fully treaded body, coilover/strut assembly, w/ 16 way adj struts is not going to be cheap, even if it says OBX it still retails for $1200, its adj, perf when I need it. That's all, if I said I hate integra drivers would you defend yourself?
AGXs are a good shock, but they're hardly up to controlling higher spring rates. On the other hand, the lower spring rates of the OBX (Dropspeed, Tenzo, all the cheapies are just one company's rebadge) are easily controlled by their dampers.
You are correct, coilovers and most all shorter springs have a higher spring rate
than stock. However, comparatively, OBX has the same kinds of spring rates you could expect from an average lowering spring... which is to say, rather low.
For less money you could get a quality spring & shock combo which would have the same handling characteristics and better quality. I have seen pictures of broken collars on OBX coilovers. I can't say the same for Ground Control or Skunk2. The Skunk coilover horror stories are from the days of Skunkworks, and just passed on as 'my cousin's sister's boyfriend's cellmate in jail had those and they broke' stories.