Impressions: Kyb Agx Struts, H&r Springs, H&r Sway Bar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,155
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From: Eau Claire, WI
Vehicle: 97 Tib
Alright, so after 4 months, I finally got the tib back..
The following stuff was installed:
New ARK exhaust (see my other topic)
New drilled/slotted rotors all around
New Hawk ceramic brake pads all around
KYB AGX struts all around
H&R lowering springs (1.5" drop)
H&R front sway bar
Non captive-->Captive swap
Anyway..
WOW. The car feels and drives AWESOME. I don't even need to slow down for corners now, I could take a 20mph corner at 50 no problem. And I only have the AGX's set on the #2 setting (which is another problem, see below). I turned the fronts up to 4, and the thing feels like a tank. I like it, but passengers get annoyed. The AGXs are VERY easy to adjust though, just pop the strut mount's cover off, and stick a flat head in, then turn it to whichever setting, there are 4. The rears are a little trickier because you have to take off the plastic cover (in the hatch, by the light and that fake little vent thing) to expose the strut, but still its really easy. So if we I go out in the country on some back roads, I'll take them all up to setting 4 and have some fun wink1.gif. 2 is the best for street driving I think though, maybe having the rears on 3 and fronts on 2, not sure yet, need to experiment a bit. I just hope that the ride doesn't get even rougher when I get my new wheels...
About the springs, this thing looks HOT! I don't know how some of you guys have any more of a drop than this though. I have 15s with the stock size tires all around, and there is not even enough room for my hand to be in the wheel well. VERY tucked! It's going to look AWESOME when I get my new 17" wheels (right now I have 2 RD2 wheel and 2 RD1 wheels, so its kind of ghetto, but thats what happens when you crack a rim..). And I can't ever imagine having a bodkit and being lowered, I'm already rubbing when I go into driveways and stuff, although I think that is because during the accident the fender liner got bumped, and its kind of hanging a bit lower in the wheel well. Either way, it's just something I'll have to get used to, angling over bumps and up driveways and such. Don't think I could handle being any lower though.
Not sure how much the sway bar helped me, H&R makes the biggest front sway bar available for our cars though, that's why I went with it. It's bigger than the eibachs. I've heard that RPW's is bigger, but those aren't available anywhere I know of.
The brakes don't really feel like anything special. They are a little grippier than my old ones though. I don't know if I broke them in properly or not, how bad is it if I didn't? I made a few hard stops, and made sure not to come to a complete stop, I did like a 40mph to 10mph, but I wasn't sure how hard, how often, etc...I never hit them hard enough to lock the tires up. Should I have? The biggest thing here is that the drilled/slotted rotors look REALLY nice on the car, they're shiney, and the pads are ceramic, so low dust, low noise, good stopping power.
Now, I do have one question. Has anyone seen AGX's, or kind of know how the adjustability thing works? There is a plastic sleeve that you stick a screwdriver in, push down and turn to the setting you want. On the right rear, the plastic thing got pushed down, like into the threaded stud that is connected to the strut, and got jammed in there. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get it out, and I made a mark so I know where the #3 setting is, so I can figure out where the others are, but does anyone know if you can just buy that plastic part separately? I don't know how I'll adjust it with the plastic piece being gone..
I wish I had a pic, unless you've seen these you probably won't know what I'm talking about. Plus that sounds really confusing. lol.
I'll try to get some pics of everything in the next few days, including the whole car, and you can all tell me what you think smile.gif
The following stuff was installed:
New ARK exhaust (see my other topic)
New drilled/slotted rotors all around
New Hawk ceramic brake pads all around
KYB AGX struts all around
H&R lowering springs (1.5" drop)
H&R front sway bar
Non captive-->Captive swap
Anyway..
WOW. The car feels and drives AWESOME. I don't even need to slow down for corners now, I could take a 20mph corner at 50 no problem. And I only have the AGX's set on the #2 setting (which is another problem, see below). I turned the fronts up to 4, and the thing feels like a tank. I like it, but passengers get annoyed. The AGXs are VERY easy to adjust though, just pop the strut mount's cover off, and stick a flat head in, then turn it to whichever setting, there are 4. The rears are a little trickier because you have to take off the plastic cover (in the hatch, by the light and that fake little vent thing) to expose the strut, but still its really easy. So if we I go out in the country on some back roads, I'll take them all up to setting 4 and have some fun wink1.gif. 2 is the best for street driving I think though, maybe having the rears on 3 and fronts on 2, not sure yet, need to experiment a bit. I just hope that the ride doesn't get even rougher when I get my new wheels...
About the springs, this thing looks HOT! I don't know how some of you guys have any more of a drop than this though. I have 15s with the stock size tires all around, and there is not even enough room for my hand to be in the wheel well. VERY tucked! It's going to look AWESOME when I get my new 17" wheels (right now I have 2 RD2 wheel and 2 RD1 wheels, so its kind of ghetto, but thats what happens when you crack a rim..). And I can't ever imagine having a bodkit and being lowered, I'm already rubbing when I go into driveways and stuff, although I think that is because during the accident the fender liner got bumped, and its kind of hanging a bit lower in the wheel well. Either way, it's just something I'll have to get used to, angling over bumps and up driveways and such. Don't think I could handle being any lower though.
Not sure how much the sway bar helped me, H&R makes the biggest front sway bar available for our cars though, that's why I went with it. It's bigger than the eibachs. I've heard that RPW's is bigger, but those aren't available anywhere I know of.
The brakes don't really feel like anything special. They are a little grippier than my old ones though. I don't know if I broke them in properly or not, how bad is it if I didn't? I made a few hard stops, and made sure not to come to a complete stop, I did like a 40mph to 10mph, but I wasn't sure how hard, how often, etc...I never hit them hard enough to lock the tires up. Should I have? The biggest thing here is that the drilled/slotted rotors look REALLY nice on the car, they're shiney, and the pads are ceramic, so low dust, low noise, good stopping power.
Now, I do have one question. Has anyone seen AGX's, or kind of know how the adjustability thing works? There is a plastic sleeve that you stick a screwdriver in, push down and turn to the setting you want. On the right rear, the plastic thing got pushed down, like into the threaded stud that is connected to the strut, and got jammed in there. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get it out, and I made a mark so I know where the #3 setting is, so I can figure out where the others are, but does anyone know if you can just buy that plastic part separately? I don't know how I'll adjust it with the plastic piece being gone..
I wish I had a pic, unless you've seen these you probably won't know what I'm talking about. Plus that sounds really confusing. lol.
I'll try to get some pics of everything in the next few days, including the whole car, and you can all tell me what you think smile.gif
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,881
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, AL
Vehicle: 2001/Hyundai/Tiburon
Wow, sounds amazing! I bet it's quite the change in driving feel with all that stuff installed!
And I assume you did the captive to non-captive swap, not the other way around? owned.gif
Hurry up with them pics!
And I assume you did the captive to non-captive swap, not the other way around? owned.gif
Hurry up with them pics!
