I brief story about why I hate 01 Honda Civic EX

amusement · 08-02-2004, 07:17 PM

The story begins ...

Last weekend I planned to swap my Niece's front struts and shocks. I already bought the shocks and a new coil compressor. Off I went with the knowledge of years of Toyota behind me.

Then ....

Stuff hit the fan when I found the tie rod ends were binding to the shock. I had to use a hammer (ouch) to punch it out. One of the a-arms slid off it's stand and bam the CV inner joint pulled out. This wasn't a perty sight. Three bearings on the cement. I discovered the tie rod ball joint dusk cover had to be replaced. It's a dealer only part. Argh! The proper tool to remove the dust cover is $187. That's right folks! Mac makes it for Honda. Honda sells it to customers with a "heck" of a mark up.

It took me three hours to install the CV inner joint for passenger side and anther 25 minutes for the drivers side.

Now I understand why so many Toyota 4x4 owners swap to a SAS setup.

Ok, the real cool thing was the coil compressor I bought on ebay.
Here's a picture of it

Don't like 01 and above Honda's would rather work on my old "departed" Toy 4x4 pickup.

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SLC Punk · 08-03-2004, 06:41 AM

Did they change to Mcpherson (SP?) struts in 01?

My 00 Civic Si's suspension was a snap to swap parts out of...

TDiddy · 08-03-2004, 06:44 AM

ooh, hydraulic? how much was it?

amusement · 08-03-2004, 12:23 PM

They did change the struts for 01.
The hydralic coil compressor was $138 plus 50 to ship. I got it from ebay.

Today I had to use it again. A piece of plastic fell down between the compressor coils in the car. Argh!

The coil compressor worked brilliantly again. It saves so much time and fustration.

Good Times · 08-03-2004, 12:52 PM

man sounds like you had a heck of a time working on that civic....

it's been awhile for me working on those small boogers but i didn't know they changed to struts too...

hope everything turned out to be a ok

amusement · 08-03-2004, 03:42 PM

Yah, everything is ok. Just venting about how engineers create the car but, don't work on them. The 01 civic's right (passenger) CV is so d@mn cramped up. I took on a this project thinking I knew what I was into. Then ... BAM! CV joints, tie rod end dust covers replaced. The dust covers were 3.45 a piece. Honda wanted 9.45 per CV boot strap. I went to schucks and got them for 4.00 per pair.

If you drive a 01 or newer Honda don't put your tire into a ditch. The inner CV joint will come out. Then you will be seriously stuck.

I miss straight axel .... :cry:

jimbo74 · 08-03-2004, 03:46 PM

dont diss on civics, its basically anything front wheel drive.... vehicles today arent what they used to be.... and almost any fwd car is going to be more cramped than a 4x2 or 4x4 truck, as most of the 4x4 are predominately rwd first and have the engine mounted correctly and not transverse

08-03-2004, 06:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
SLC Punk Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: SLC, UT Posts: 5,875	Did they change to Mcpherson (SP?) struts in 01? My 00 Civic Si's suspension was a snap to swap parts out of... __________________ -Travis 1997 4Runner SR5 V6 4X4 Supercharged Desert Dune SOLD :( 1992 Celica All Trac (AWD-Turbo) #223 of 271 US spec for 1992 FOR SALE 2005 Tundra Double Cab Limited 4X4 2.5" lift 265/70R17 Dueler Revo's 4Runner and Celica Webpage

08-03-2004, 12:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Good Times Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,693	man sounds like you had a heck of a time working on that civic.... it's been awhile for me working on those small boogers but i didn't know they changed to struts too... hope everything turned out to be a ok __________________ 2003 4runner SR5 4x4 Chaos Edition Chaos Edition! Operation Rebuild Chaos Edition Need to reach me or ask questions? You can find me here!

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08-03-2004, 06:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
TDiddy Contributing Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Urbandale, IA Posts: 7,113	ooh, hydraulic? how much was it?

08-03-2004, 12:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
amusement Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,509	They did change the struts for 01. The hydralic coil compressor was $138 plus 50 to ship. I got it from ebay. Today I had to use it again. A piece of plastic fell down between the compressor coils in the car. Argh! The coil compressor worked brilliantly again. It saves so much time and fustration.

08-03-2004, 03:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
amusement Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,509	Yah, everything is ok. Just venting about how engineers create the car but, don't work on them. The 01 civic's right (passenger) CV is so d@mn cramped up. I took on a this project thinking I knew what I was into. Then ... BAM! CV joints, tie rod end dust covers replaced. The dust covers were 3.45 a piece. Honda wanted 9.45 per CV boot strap. I went to schucks and got them for 4.00 per pair. If you drive a 01 or newer Honda don't put your tire into a ditch. The inner CV joint will come out. Then you will be seriously stuck. I miss straight axel .... :cry:

08-03-2004, 03:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
jimbo74 Banned Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 6,582	dont diss on civics, its basically anything front wheel drive.... vehicles today arent what they used to be.... and almost any fwd car is going to be more cramped than a 4x2 or 4x4 truck, as most of the 4x4 are predominately rwd first and have the engine mounted correctly and not transverse