^^^Yup I noticed the rub marks also. The shiny spots where the undercoating has worn away.
Need to RAISE the NSX an inch to stop scraping
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Good thing is that you have lots of options available to you
First things first, you have to adjust your driving with angled entry and departure to/from driveways and speedbumps. Thats part of the deal.
I agree with Synth that your car isn't low, it's just lowered, and looks about the same height as my car which has Eibach springs and OEM shocks (same setup). If I don't angle my entry, I scrape the oem spoiler in the driveway. I'm not a fan of this setup although it works well in hard cornering.
Have driven another Primer's car with the KW V3 coilovers and they are a very good setup. Those are at the top of my shopping list.
First things first, you have to adjust your driving with angled entry and departure to/from driveways and speedbumps. Thats part of the deal.
I agree with Synth that your car isn't low, it's just lowered, and looks about the same height as my car which has Eibach springs and OEM shocks (same setup). If I don't angle my entry, I scrape the oem spoiler in the driveway. I'm not a fan of this setup although it works well in hard cornering.
Have driven another Primer's car with the KW V3 coilovers and they are a very good setup. Those are at the top of my shopping list.
get 94-01 wheels.
16" front and 17" rear = 1" raise all around
Absolutely INCORRECT!
http://www.nsxprime.com/wiki/Tire_Tech
http://www.rimsntires.com/specs.jsp
Fronts:
15" fronts have a 205/50/15 tire with a diameter of ~23.1"
16" fronts have a 215/45/16 tire with a diameter of ~23.6"
Therefore the 16" fronts will raise the car 0.25" (it's only 1/2 of the difference)
Rears:
16" rears have a 225/50/16 tire with a diameter of ~24.9"
17" rears have a 245/40/17 tire with a diameter of ~24.7"
Therefore the 17" rears will LOWER the car by 0.1"
What is true is that they will update the look, but you will NOT gain any height by changing the wheels out (if you use the recommended tire sizes).
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Thanks, folks - you are amazing. I'm feeling very happy about the NSX, and even happier since I've stumbled across this message board. It's a blast to drive - we haven't owned a sports car since I bought a new Mustang GT in 1989.
I'm very intrigued about restoring the springs (while still practicing angled approaches).
So, if I go to have OEM springs (re)installed, is that something the Honda service dept. can do? They'll be doing the car's routine maintenance; they handle my wife's Acura TSX so they know us. A wheel/tire store? There's a WheelWorks store close to me. Or someplace else?
Also, it looks like springs are an inexpensive part, and I'm assuming fairly common. If I go to a place like WheelWorks and way, "Please put on a set of OEM Honda/Acura springs and check the dampers," will they know what to do?
(My wife wonders if the car is a little higher off the ground, maybe she'll find it easier to climb in/out. That's a bonus.)
I'm very intrigued about restoring the springs (while still practicing angled approaches).
So, if I go to have OEM springs (re)installed, is that something the Honda service dept. can do? They'll be doing the car's routine maintenance; they handle my wife's Acura TSX so they know us. A wheel/tire store? There's a WheelWorks store close to me. Or someplace else?
Also, it looks like springs are an inexpensive part, and I'm assuming fairly common. If I go to a place like WheelWorks and way, "Please put on a set of OEM Honda/Acura springs and check the dampers," will they know what to do?
(My wife wonders if the car is a little higher off the ground, maybe she'll find it easier to climb in/out. That's a bonus.)
If you're going to replace the springs, definitely replace the struts. After 20 years they are pretty much shot. You can usually purchase a used set from a newer model, say 2002 or later, for about $500. Since you're going to replace the springs anyway, the cost of installation should be the same. Welcome to the best sports car I've ever owned.
Agreed. Some Bilsteins to replace those worn out shocks. And some low mile stock springs if possible. You understand that even stock springs may wear over time and even sag a bit. If you are still rubbing the front, take the lip off as a final measure after changing your driving style.
Not sure where you are located or who your honda dealership is but I would think very carefuly before taking the NSX there. I would try to find an NSX specialist in your area, for this and future maintenance. Probably be a lot cheaper than the dealer. Just my $.02
Based on my car being dropped 1.25", I would say his doesn't look lower than mine, so don't think they have dropped to 2" yet.
Anyway I agree with your post on the Bilsteins, I would recommend them even if he was going to OEM height...although it will look off to me. It's odd to me that Honda designs it that way.
I think OP needs to figure out what he can live around his area of town/ neighborhood with how low his car is. Also realize that you just have to drive it differently, angle on driveways etc and look out for things that might be a problem.
Hello, everyone - thanks for all the great thoughts!
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area - just south of S.F., near the airport. A Google search brought up Hilltop Auto Service in Daly City (very close to me) as an NSX Specialist. He has lots of NSX comments on his website:
http://www.hilltopautoservice.com/Comments.htm
Unless someone can suggest an issue with this place, I'll try to bring the car over there today at lunchtime!
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area - just south of S.F., near the airport. A Google search brought up Hilltop Auto Service in Daly City (very close to me) as an NSX Specialist. He has lots of NSX comments on his website:
http://www.hilltopautoservice.com/Comments.htm
Unless someone can suggest an issue with this place, I'll try to bring the car over there today at lunchtime!
Make sure you get an alignment once you have decided on the direction you want to take 
BTW nice color combo!
BTW nice color combo!
I was looking at a california car that was serviced by a guy names DON at Hilltop. He seemed to have good credentials.
Not a good idea!!! The later struts have different damper rates (since they were made for the slightly heavier NSX-T) and as people on Prime who have done it will tell you... will actually raise the car's height (ask shawn110975).
http://www.nsxprime.com/wiki/Model_Information
NSX Wiki said:
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Just learn to drive the car as a lowered car, your car is not that low. The stock height looks ridiculous IMO, and a lot of others' opinions. Very anti-sportscar.
+1 on these guys. Have heard good things about them.
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The rubbing in the right front wheel-well is telling you that there have been bigger wheels on the car in the past because the OEM front tires are pretty small and don't rub with your lowering-level. New 215/40/17 will rub. Half-worn 215/40/17 won't.
You should be able to get used OEM springs quite cheap. They don't sag as I've seen on many old and high-miles car. I agree on the Bilsteins replacing the soon leaking OEM shocks. If you are scratching everywhere with this quite conservative drop you should not use the lower perch of the Bilsteins IMO.
A little scratching of the front-spoiler is not that bad, it's a wear and tear part. :wink:
You should be able to get used OEM springs quite cheap. They don't sag as I've seen on many old and high-miles car. I agree on the Bilsteins replacing the soon leaking OEM shocks. If you are scratching everywhere with this quite conservative drop you should not use the lower perch of the Bilsteins IMO.
A little scratching of the front-spoiler is not that bad, it's a wear and tear part. :wink:
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Hi! Am back after meeting with Don the NSX guy in Daly City.
He agreed that the car had been lowered (by too much, he said), and recommended picking up four OEM springs — and if possible with their struts. He said that the current struts, after having been used with the lowering springs, would no longer be as effective as they should be. He recommended going onto NSXPrime (smile) and looking for a full set on the forum, which I will do shortly.
He quoted a price of $300 to install the new parts.
Don also checked the transmission and said that the serial # was too high to have the snap-ring problem. Yay! But he said that the car has the original timing belt and this should be replaced, quoting a price of $1,700 for the two-day job. Boo!
Comments, O Wise Ones?
He agreed that the car had been lowered (by too much, he said), and recommended picking up four OEM springs — and if possible with their struts. He said that the current struts, after having been used with the lowering springs, would no longer be as effective as they should be. He recommended going onto NSXPrime (smile) and looking for a full set on the forum, which I will do shortly.
He quoted a price of $300 to install the new parts.
Don also checked the transmission and said that the serial # was too high to have the snap-ring problem. Yay! But he said that the car has the original timing belt and this should be replaced, quoting a price of $1,700 for the two-day job. Boo!
Comments, O Wise Ones?
Thx, GoldNSX...
All - I don't see a full suspension (argh, one sold yesterday!), but as someone pointed out, someone is selling a set of OEM springs for $30.
Should I wait for the full suspension, or simply change the springs (disregarding Don the NSX mechanic's advice)?
All - I don't see a full suspension (argh, one sold yesterday!), but as someone pointed out, someone is selling a set of OEM springs for $30.
Should I wait for the full suspension, or simply change the springs (disregarding Don the NSX mechanic's advice)?
Seems rather high for timing belt change?? If u decide to do that u might want to have the water pump replace too. Most ppl will tell u to do that. Along with all 23 coolant hoses. Good luck. I have 2004 strut with tein s tech on my car, 1993. My right side was rubbing too. dont look that high to me. If u use 2002+ shovks AND springs then it make it raise higher. From reading I gather, shocks dont change height of car. Springs does. So if u use 02-04 shocks with earlier yrs springs, u Should maintain eatlier yrs height.
Not entirely true, many after market shocks have adjustable perches.
To the OP, I would get a set of Bilsteins over the OEM ones. I think they will cost less and be better. As for springs and ride height that's a personal choice.
As for the TB price - you would need to find out what he included in that, was it just the TB or did it include WP all other belts? Pulley? Anything else?
If you are on the original timing belt, I would make that your top priority for getting done.
The TB quote included the water pump - he mentioned it specifically and said he'd "take care of everything," but I didn't ask him for more details. I was still in shock over the $1,700 figure!
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I'd get those springs for $30 and get Bilsteins. They will last longer than 10+ year old shock and will give a better ride. It only adds about $200 but it's worth it over OEM ones. This was, you even don't disregard Don's advice.
As for the TB service, $1700 is not bad if all is included and the tech is experienced on the NSX (please remind that there aren't many of them out there). In the end it's better to pay more to an experienced tech who did it several times before than looking for the lowest possible price. TB jobs are 'complex' enough to justify that.
Good luck!
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