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

rumor has it he is still smiling to this day.

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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!

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

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

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.

Awesome content.... this is goals for anyone wanting to upgrade their suspension for the EP3. Good job 👍👍

You’re the absolute best! I learned so much from you since Sport Compact Car Magazine.

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.

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!

I followed everything here except I'm running form and function type 2s. Fr the day I got my car to today man it's like night and day. I wanted to get my suspension set up before I put my K24/k20 build in. I thank you so much!

This video was amazing. I love the ep3 chassis

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.

VERY informative and keep up the good work !!! cant wait for the K24 update .

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.

read all the articles on the website and started pricing things out, in love with the build, payed 1200 for my beater build . Thank you for all the hard work

Awesome in depth explanation of the technical stuff Mike

Soooo much amazing info and from experience! Please do this kind of video for every car ever made, 👍 Thanks

I just picked up this car today. Test drive was cool. Was used to driving a 2008 civic hybrid. So I wasn’t sure of what I was looking for as far as feel goes. Las Vegas highway driving is TERRIBLE! The North bound 95 had me feeling nervous on the way home from the purchase. I’m glad I found this video. I look forward to diving in to this thing as I go. Thanks in advance for the tips!

This vid helped me out so much, did all my upgrades myself & saved me so much money not to mention better handling

Love these long vids! Really interesting car to do it on too. NSX vid maybe? Ha!

I think I found a great formula to build up my RSX Type S for autocross! Thanks for the info @MotoIQ

Really enjoyed this!Need more of 15+mins of kojima videos!!

Very cool Mr. Kojima!!! Please keep more videos coming!!!

I wish I saw this video about two months ago😂 It's taken me that long to find out exactly what I need to sort my car out. Everything you said in this vid, I've already got and is getting fitted next week minus the roll centre adjusters and inverted tie rod ends, they're getting fitted a few weeks after the first lot. This is going to be the car I learn how to drive on a track with, I can't wait😬 nurburgring before the end of the year hopefully

Please do more videos like this. Just subscribed. Thanks.

Awesome video, really loved it. Just subscribed!

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.

I like this generation of the civic but I've always heard about it being notorious for having bad handling but I never knew why. This video helped me understand more as to why it has bad handling and I'll keep this information in mind if I do end up with an EP3 one day!

Love this guy and this technical ep!

Thank you. Easily the best video about EP3 Suspension.

man i know im late to the party but damn knowledge bombs thank you for making this video

Wish I still lived in simi cause I would love to get some consulting on my cb7 chassis but I guess it's a lot easier then this chassis thanks for the great info Mike great wealth of knowledge here

Have you ever done the engine or anything else with this? I learned more from this video then most in RU-vid combined.

Great information Mike!

Great Info Thanks So much for making the Vid!

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!

Excellent work on the ep3/dc5 chassis. Why not run a reverse stagger tire? That's the key for racers with this platform.

Definitely some good information for my RSX-S

This guy is pure smiling gold! 😊

Awesome stufffff!!! Love it!

@MotoIQ, Do you think the roll center extended ball joints would be an improvement to the steering geometry at factory ride height?

Very informative! This is real suspension geometry understanding!

Great to see more of you guys, but next time I hope you think of this while doing the upgrades and give us some clips of doing them and comparison of stock vs new parts and such!

Uncle! Loved this video. Please considering doing a Project Gen 1 IS300 sometime in the future.

Mike Kojima throwing you some knowledge! Ever wonder if there was someone out there that might know everything about a specific subject. I truly believe Mike is that guy for cars. Great informational video!

Very good and informative video.

Cant wait for the next video for the ep3 si

I couldn't stop smiling cause I felt like you were smiling the whole time...infectious...and you look like an Asian Mannie Fresh...+1 for that...great video, too...I wanted an EP3, but not no mo

Great vid, great explanations of the bump steer and roll center issues. Wish I knew to do these to my EP3 back when I was single and could mod freely. I did maybe half of what you guys did, but these extra bits (ball joints, LCA bushings, and Delrin steering rack insert) would've been very nice icing on the cake.

😂how’s she just gonna diss my car like that

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

Loving the long videos! Hope this series extends to the other MotoIq project cars *cough* S-turdteen *cough* Mike's R35 GTR *cough*

The best mod my ep3 tyoe r had was the turbo, with boost by gear that thing was an animal. Regret selling it all the time!. Recently got an fn2 type r, currently prepping that for its own turbo

WEALTH OF KNOWLEGDE.. Thx for sharing and your TIME

Any ideas on where to get these inverted tie rods and raised steering rack brackets? They're sold out everywhere and nobody seems to carry anything for EP3 anymore...

Fantastic, and I don't even had a fwd car, very interesting and top presenting, true gentleman 👍

Thank you. I'm wondering if all the points are applicable for the TypeR as well? What Wilwood calipers/set do you use? With these Enkei rims and ET35 are spacers required?

This is awesome, can we get a similar video going through the older eg/ek chasis as well?

This guy definitely knows what he is talking about. I test drove this car back in 2006 when I was looking for a sport hatch. I asked the salesman sitting alongside me if the tires were low or flat. Steering felt horrendous. He told me "Oh thats the electric steering, it feels different". Terrible feeling handling and steering. Immediately noticeable.

awesome explanations indeed! good job! where do i get those Delrin bushings from?

If someone was looking to start making suspension mods, where would you put the first $500 or so? I'm just thinking if I get a higher mileage/lower cost EP3 and can't justify doing all of these mods, what's the best bang for my buck?

Great video!

Thank you for this video, it helps to point in the right direction with this awfull suspension. Why did you chose the inverted tie rod ends instead of the rack riser to correct the bumpsteer plz? How much did you drop the suspension?

Very detailed and informative

Great video, thanks.

Thanks for the tips .

Nice video - I found the biggest help to dialling out the understeer on my EDM EP3 Type-R was fitting the thicker (22mm) JDM anti-roll/sway bar (and fitted the front one for good measure as well, mainly for JDM header clearance). Installed adjustable rear camber arms, Spoon progressive springs all round (-25mm), and a lower rear brace, and the improvement was very noticeable

Me: Do I really want to watch a video on a car I don't much care about? Well it's motoiq 5 minutes in: has fundamental epiphany about suspension tuning. Thanks Mike, great as always.

I just finished the chassis on my Civic-EM2. Thanks for this video, it gave me some inspiration. I used the SHG steering rack slider as well, I was able to do it by myself in the garage with the stock D17A2 and steering rack in the car. I loosened the center boot on the rack from its perch's, turned the rack all the way to the side of the motor where the airbox was removed, and shimmied it out from the side and shimmied the new one in. I also did full bushing kit on the control arms, trailing arms from Hardrace. I also used Hardrace ball joints, and adjustable rear upper control arms from Hardrace. BC racing coilovers The wheels were changed to EP3 Type-R wheels in Silver with 205/45-17 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ tires. I used base model RSX hubs/spindles/wheel bearings and RSX Type-S brake rotors, calipers, and pads. The speed sensors were retained using EP3 speed sensors. I used OEM sway bar links and OEM outer tie rods, adjustable inner-tie rods from DaVinci Racing. I retained the factory 2005 EM2 front sway bar and 13mm rear sway bar with new bushings for both. The car was professionally ride-height adjusted to not scrape on any of the driveways, aligned for aggressive street driving, tires were road force balanced and the car was also four corner balanced. It's fucking amazing now. I can't wait to k-swap. I can't decide on a swap, the possibilities are endless and I don't know what my power goals are. I've already got a DC5 subframe, DC5R hubs with buddy club roll centers, hasport motor mounts, DC5S pedal set, DC5 shifter and shifter cables. Still have a lot of parts to collect.

How much did you lower this? Tegiwa says the the roll adjusters and rack riser would see nothing for my car. I've got about a 30mm drop.

I have watched this video like 3 times. hahaha. such a sick set up and obtainable as well.

Very informative video! I have an em2 that i take to the circuit and im aware of suspension geometry problems. This video takes my knowledge of it to another level though. Now I know my em2 wanders on the straight away and ill be ordering the shg steering rack slider. I do have a question about the ep3 ride height you guys chose. It seems like its too low and i can see the rear lower control arms are pointing up because its so low. Wouldnt this ride height be an issue on the track?

So these mods pertain to the first gen insight? Really been wanting to do one after I finished my ekk24

I wish to see that kind of video for E46! Plz MotoIQ!

In my euro ep3 type-r at front I have the caster joints, and rca's. I don't have inverted tie rods. The feeling is amazing but now I ear some noises at front. Is that Shg spacer enough to stop this noise??

Awesome overview / explanation - happy to see the unloved EP3 get some MotoIQ treatment. One question: In the article, it says you used 8kg front springs, but in this video you say 7kg. Could you clarify which is correct? Also, which front sway bar setting are you running currently (inner/outer hole)? Thanks!

Are these same issues on the honda element? I'm coming from a 1st gen CRV and the change in handling is signifigant.

Wait..hey karla!!! Wow what a surprise to see u

Interesting video Mike. I was wondering if you were familiar enough with the UK Type R EP3 enough to explain what differences there are between the U.S EP3 SI and the Type R we got across the pond? My type R is stock suspension wise apart from camber adjustment bolts/arms front and rear. It bump steers as you explained in this video, but I also find my Type R can be quite tail happy which is really fun when you play with it on the throttle :)

What's the exact wilwood brake kit for the ep3? I was trying to look for one.

Love it Have one almost with the same build and same color!

Man this video is great, are u an engineer at all? You seem to know some multivariable calculus like moment arms nd planes in space, i have a base rsx with horrible bump steer issues especially with the summer tires i got on now, poly bushings, ball joints, sway bars and steering rack insert r a def must the way u explained it... cant wait to start changing some of these parts out!

Ive been thinking about getting one. Im tired of old rusty Integras (on my second). I was worried at the beginning of this video, but im cool now.

Fantastic video! I have a UK model EP2. I’ve yet to touch the suspension but I want to do it right. Are these mods applicable to the EP2?

Do more ep3 stuff

Awesome, always very interesting to tune a FWD

I subbed I’m getting a ep3 white for 3900 but I want a decent canyon build I have a 2010 fit this will be its big brother

Awesome video

Any suggestions for the eg2 (del sol) as far as suspension goes?

what helped in my european civic type-r was a 25mm rear sway bar, + caster bushings, + caster top mounts, shorter tie rods for more camber (-4 front and -1,5 rear with 245/40 tires). i didnt do roll center adjusters and inverted rod ends, but the feeling was allready much better this way

I've looked everywhere for these coilovers could you give me a link where they have them for the ep3 they don't show them on their website... thanks in advance.

I think it is awesome that he never stops smiling