Put some KYB AGX shocks on my car with new KYB strut mounts. Just to let you guys know if you are doing this, leave the KYB strut mounts out. They are junk. They flex so much that when you come to a stop, the car will bounce up and down. I plan on writing a letter to KYB to voice my concern. They are one of few that make aftermarket strut mounts for the civic and I'm pissed cause they were $15 per corner.

If you change out the mounts, go with OEM or Energy.

BTW, does anyone know the Energy part number for 96 Civic LX strut mounts? I believe its 16-7103. Does this sound right? Are the ones on the front the same as in the back. I know Honda calls out a different part number for front and back.

Thanks!!

 

Are you talking about the little bushings that go in the top and bottom of the strut hat that bolts up to your strut tower? If so they are the same for front and rear.

I'll have to look for the part #... I got the whole ES master kit so let me look through the papers I have for the part # and I'll post it up.

 

Part # 8096 for the "upper shock tower bushings". I think that part # is prefixed with a 16... i.e. 16.8096.

 

Sorry if I'm hijacking this thread, but did you like the ES busings? In reference to "tight" steering, did you notice a big difference?

 

I was curious about this too, so no worries. :thumbup:

I've looked for the 16.8096 on the Energy homepage and that number is not listed for individual sale. Any other ideas? :dunno: I don't want to buy the whole master set...

 

I ordered the KYB "strut mounts" once a long time ago. They were nothing more than the rubber donuts that you put in the actual spring perches to stabilize the shock piston. Yeah, they are not much different than the OEM rubber ones and I returned them.

About switching them to polyurethane, I honestly don't think you'd feel much of a difference at all. If you can do so cheaply, go for it, but I wouldn't expect much.

 

Yeah they will be about 80% the same feel man !

 

I actually haven't had the pleasure of feeling the ride yet. Due to my busy schedule, I only have a few hours here and there to work on my car.

It's been on jack stands for about a week and a half. I'm doing a couple things at the same time though, that's why it's taking so long. I've installed my WS cat back, replaced all the bushings, replaced 2 lower ball joints, installed my rear trailing arms(disc conversion) & ES trailing arm bushings, and am working on getting the master cylinder and proportioning valve in now. The only other thing I'm waiting on is my ss brake lines which should be here in a couple days.

Once I get it all back together and get the brakes bled, I'll let you all know how she handles. :thumbup:

:edit: Also, I know they don't list the upper strut bushings individually but I'm pretty sure you can still buy them. I was thinking about the problem you described and wanted to run this by you.... Did you reuse all of the stock strut parts? In particular the metal sleeve that runs in the middle of the two upper strut bushings. I had a similar problem when I installed my struts and springs. I reinstalled all of the stock components with the new struts but somehow the lower of the two upper strut bushings and the metal sleeve had fallen out of two of my struts spring hats before I got them back together... this caused my car to bounce a lil and make some clunking noises. As soon as I figured it out, I put them back in and it rode just fine.

 

The whole strut assembly was replaced from top to bottom, not including the spring. I replaced the strut, plastic strut cover, bumpstops, washer, lower rubber mount bushing, sleeve, upper rubber mount, top washer, and lock nut.

I did notice that I could fold the KYB rubber mounts in half in my hand. They were very squishy. How do the Energy ones feel? I drove the car about ten feet with the KYB mounts in and took them back out and put the OEM ones with 130k on them back in and it felt really good, but I don't want to leave them in there. I'm just debating more or less to go with OEM or with Energy.

 

You definitely should not be able to fold them in half... even the oem ones are stiffer than that. The ES ones are a very firm poly but I don't know how much difference there is over oem since I haven't gotten to drive it yet.... even when I do drive it, I probably won't be able to tell since I changed all the bushings h: