Project EP3 Honda Civic Si: Why the Suspension Sucks and How to Fix It!

Us nerds at MotoIQ like to think we do a pretty good job setting up a car so it handles great, but did we bite off more than we could chew with (arguably) Honda's worst handling Civic--the EP3 generation? What did we do to correct it? Did it work? Watch to find out, with MotoIQ's chassis engineer, Mike Kojima, and test driver, Karla Pestotnik!

MotoIQ Project EP3 Civic Si:

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[mikegoogle]

Suspension (7:53)
Whiteline Polyurethane Rear Bushings (8:00)
Fortune coilovers (8:35)(12:59)
10kg rear spring (9:42)
7kg front spring (10:10)
24 mm Whiteline rear swaybar (10:30)
Hardrace balljoint (11:29)
Whiteline bushings front and rear lower control arm (12:01)
Hardrace bump steer correction kit (13:08)
SHG Motorworks block (13:45)
24mm Whiteline front sway bar (14:42)

Tires (15:19)
Enkei rpf1 17x8in 35mm offset (15:40)(18:55)
235/40/17 nitto nto5 tires (15:50)
Roll fender lips (16:05)(19:00)
RSX type S hubs (16:44)(19:09)
RSX type S knuckle (16:57)
RSX type S axle (17:15)

Brakes
Wilwood 6 piston calipers (18:26)
Centrics slotted rotters, heavy duty pads, braided steel lines, caliper (19:14)

[BurnAfterEating]

rumor has it he is still smiling to this day.

[ek]

this guy really knows his shit. i am very impressed and it was a joy to listen and learn.

[Ratdaddy]

This man is making a tech out of anyone that’s teachable!

[matinirudolph]

This guy is the biggest NERD EVER!!! i love it!!!! finally someone who's talking about the science of handling from an artists POV

[ianmiller]

This guy helped me understand what I needed to do to fix bump steer, and overall improve my EP3. I love watching this video. Also, it's great to know the good body structure, makes me feel like I chose my chassis well

[ryanmac]

Holy crap! MIKE KOJIMA IS STILL AT IT! One of my favourite contributors of the Sport Compact Car era.

[dTheHammerb]

"This car corners like crazy." Yep! Own one myself with a lot of suspension upgrades and holy sh*t did I learn a lot about other suspension bits and steering upgrades from your incredibly informative video here. God Bless you my friend, thank you!

[jasongt]

This is one of the greatest car videos I've seen on youtube or TV. Such a good delivery style. Super technical while still digestible to the driver looking to modify and/or solve problems with their car. Thank you guys for doing this. Mike is the man.

[minilogoguy]

Despite being a sort of unpopular platform there's a lot of juicy info in here.

[nezabytes]

Ive been saying for years that Honda should have never got rid of the double wishbone suspension. Best Motoring has a video I saved that compares the DC2 Intergra to the DC5 Integra in regards to their different suspension setups. I personally hate McPherson suspensions. I was thrilled when Porsche introduced double wishbone to the front of the new GT3. The reviews of how tossable the GT# is in a corner is remarkable. I have a 98 Accord with multilink up front. Its wonderful! The dual axis strut is what BMW and the New Honda Civic type R use. I still don't like them. Imagine how good the civic type-R would be if it wasn't compromised and employed the double wishbone or multilink suspension! Honda needs a reality check.

[angeldmr]

Don’t have this guy speaking at a funeral. Everybody : “ why does he keep smiling” lol

[BernsteinOmega]

I watched the whole video without even owning an EP3. Make a video like this for the Sentra B13 and I'll love you guys forever!

[brittonbrumitt]

The FN2 was the absolute worst Civic in every way. I have always has a soft spot for the EP3.

[calebfulton]

This video helped me out a lot on my backroad banger ep3. Replicated everything here minus the control arm caster adjusters and it's a massive difference from stock clapped suspension with coilovers.

[SRVET-S]

thanks for the tech info, only just bought my ep3 type r recently and its a good car, took it through afew canyons driving it in anger and there's afew things that were mentioned in video (bump steer, numb steering and the rear does feel twitchy at times ) good to know that they can be fixed with simple bolt ons. Great video thanks alot

[KennyZoobs]

Just installed: Buddy Club N+ Coil overs, Progress rear sway bar kit, front LCA bushings, Megan Racing RCA Ball joints, and the Hardrace In-versed Tie Rod ends. Car handles so much better now! Like a go cart! So much rotation. Just need that rack slider now.

[chinmonmon]

thank you guys for all your hard work man seriously, when I got my EP3 i thought it handled great for a daily when stock, but by time the car started handling worse and worse by time " not knowing it was the rack slider taking a shit". and when lowering it it just went to solid shit. i tried looking for fixes and got stiffer bars, polyurethane front control arms, extended lower ball joints. and still had horrible wondering. and then learning about the DuPont black Delrin material rack slider from your web site it fix all the problems and made me remember why i loved this car again. and mixed with the inverted tie rods this car is solid. now i love having a great handling car with ought having a stiff harsh daily. It's a bitch to get to that point with this car, but it's worth it with it's wonky short shifter and comfortable daily. again couldn't Thank you guys enough!

[mcgoo]

I didn't like these cars until I owned one, and now I miss it every day. If you want some more suspension advice, look to the old forums; there's a guy, mustclime or something like that, that has these dialed in.

They have some inherent geometry issues, but it's not hard to make them handle great. Look at how well loved the type r is. He had similar advice; control the roll with the back with stiffer springs and sway bar, go less bar (if any) up front and softer springs. Lowering is a death sentence past 2" or so.

These are seriously fun cars. And practical! I'm 6'1 and could walk through the back seat area (crouched, but walking) to clean it. Unlike my brother's hatch and eclipse where I could barely sit in them.

[nevertoolate]

very good knowledge about suspension geometry! thank you, Mr. Kojima