Blown axle and broken engine mounts. " due to stress of car being low"

[totopo]

What about the shock absorber? Compression/ dampening and rebound rate? Is it constant through out its travel or the rate varies depending on what position it is in the stroke?
I have not researched the Civic's suspension, but on dirtbikes when we switch spring/ change spring rate, dampening and rebound are affected.
A softer spring not always gives plusher ride because with oil filled- valve controlled shock absorber we get different dampening and rebound rate depending what part of the stroke the internal rod is. Meaning initial dampening is soft but 1/4 - 1/2 is harsh. A soft or pre-compressed spring sends the suspension into that harsh portion easier/quicker resulting in a rougher ride. So when we do that we also redo the internal valving. $$$

When I hear or see someone simply takes the spring out and cuts it shorter to lower the car (not the case with the OP), not only it messes up the suspension geometry but will greatly affect how the vehicle will adjust to road conditions, it becomes bouncy.
Same goes when people switch to low profile tires, The car's suspension was designed with certain tire/side wall height which provides x amount of air cushion, and is part of the suspension tuning. When it is altered, yes you will get less tire/sidewall flex but also alters the tune of the suspension. HOw much does it matter on a civic when you go from 18 to 19 inch wheel? I don't know.

In general car shocks are desired to not be position dependent (though this isn't always the case) and instead use bumpstops when you get to the end of travel that has additional damping built in through the material. In general cheap oem stocks are pretty linear and not digressive like you really want. You can bottom out though, especially if you mess with the bumpstop and damage the shock.

yeah, as you lower, you need stiffer springs, as you have stiffer springs, you need stiffer shocks. so in general aftermarket lowering springs are WAY WAY too soft for the amount of travel you have because they can't go to stiff or else it gets too bouncy since the shocks are too weak. Most people who are lowering the civic don't really care about handling anyway though.

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