Sporting a new set of 17x8.5-inch +32 SSR Type-F wheels and Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec tires, the DC2 Integra had the right footwork. But with its stock ride height and plush suspension, it looked more like a 4x4 than a sports car. Some suspension tuning would fix that.
Choosing a proper coilover or spring/shock combo that works for you has become quite a challenge these days. With the market being flooded with budget systems, it’s often hard to decipher the bad from the mediocre to the good. Nine times out of 10, price is the deciding factor, which is understandable; we all have budgets to work within. Going with cheap coilovers or even a lowering spring is fine if you plan to keep your car on the street and don’t care about ride quality. However, if you want to go fast around a track or go head-to-head with your friends on an auto-x, then you need to go with proven components that will deliver the performance you desire.
Heading online to check reviews is a solid idea, but don’t always believe everything you read. Remember that anyone can call themselves an expert online, and it’s best to reference several forums. Personally, I like to go to the track and see what the fast cars are running and talk to the owners. That way, I’m getting first-hand information from legit drivers/racers, not some 18-year-old know-it-all who thinks a parking lot is a racetrack.
Having been to many time attacks and witnessed our very own G35 project car shave 2 full seconds off its track time by switching to KW coilovers, I knew that KW Suspensions would be my coilover of choice. Sure, there’s a bit of a premium to pay to get into a KW Variant 3 setup, but it’s well worth the extra bucks. The 14-way adjustable, low-speed compression and infinitely adjustable rebound means you (if you know what you’re doing) or an expert can fine-tune the suspension for a variety of track conditions while the high-speed setup has been tuned by the factory engineers for comfortable street driving. Most budget coilovers offer combined compression and rebound adjustment, so it’s very easy to do—but it’s rarely the optimal or fastest combination. To be ahead of the competition, individual compression and rebound are key. The KW V3 coilovers offer many great features, but my personal favorite is that the coilovers are constructed entirely out of stainless steel. This makes them not only durable but resistant to the effects of corrosion and rust. You will never have to battle with rusted collars again.
The KWs provide both compression...
The KWs provide both compression and rebound adjustment, making them the ultimate tunable coilover.
Installation is straightforward and can be done in two to four hours. However, you’ll have to use the top hats off the factory suspension setup, so you’ll need a spring compressor. KW does this to ensure a smooth and factory-like ride on the street. With a solid metal top hat comes the clanking and harshness associated with metal-on-metal contact, which no one wants for the street. They factory top hats give up a little at the track but make up a ton on the road. The trade-off is well worth it.
The Integra’s double-wishbone suspension doesn’t allow for much camber adjustment from the factory, and even if it did, it wouldn’t suffice with the wheels we’re running. We needed an aftermarket solution. Skunk2 offers a plethora of suspension pieces that provide some serious adjustment of camber and toe—exactly what I needed to ensure the wheels and tires wouldn’t contact the fenders.
 A quick comparo of the stock...  A quick comparo of the stock components to the aftermarket parts. |  The stock top hats have to...  The stock top hats have to be installed onto the KW V3 coilovers. They will provide more comfort for the street over metal-type top hats. |  The Skunk2 parts provide an...  The Skunk2 parts provide an unmistakable look and stiffen the entire rear end up—perfect for those track days. |