Active Dampers too stiff on FL5. Disabled with Damping Cancellation Kit

[m_kluch]

The funny part about this is that a bunch of FK8 owners are currently buying up LE ADS modules to make their ride stiffer and raving about how much of an improvement it is. Here we have the FL5 owners that are stiffer and trying to go softer like the FK8 lol.

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[s2kdriver80]

The funny part about this is that a bunch of FK8 owners are currently buying up LE ADS modules to make their ride stiffer and raving about how much of an improvement it is. Here we have the FL5 owners that are stiffer and trying to go softer like the FK8 lol.

I was the guinea pig on the civicx boards and I probably started it. Honestly, the base FK8 ADS is fine and probably better performing for most people in most driving situations. If you were referring to some posts on civicx, there seems to be only a handful of people wanting to make the upgrade, unless it's trending on fb or something that I missed. It seems odd that FK8 owners want to upgrade since most people I observe tend towards comfort (installing better ride quality springs, fatter sidewall tires, etc). I'm the odd strange one since I actually like stiff rides for the engaging feel.

 

[CTR]

It's almost like they could have left it alone and let the stiffer 11th gen Civic chassis make up the difference. I suspect the Integra Type S coming allowed the engineers to push things even further with the FL5 knowing that the customers who wanted comfort would just buy that instead. The problem is they weren't released at the same time!

 

[AspecR]

The funny part about this is that a bunch of FK8 owners are currently buying up LE ADS modules to make their ride stiffer and raving about how much of an improvement it is. Here we have the FL5 owners that are stiffer and trying to go softer like the FK8 lol.

I was gonna say the same thing. Personally I don’t find the FL5 to be stiff at all. Then again I’m used to a F8X M4 Comp.

 

[ne_typer]

I was gonna say the same thing. Personally I don’t find the FL5 to be stiff at all. Then again I’m used to a F8X M4 Comp.

I'm coming from a 911 and a new VB WRX--the FL5 rides like a dream in comfort mode in comparison. Even Sport is not terrible to be honest. Haven't actually used +R in any meaningful way here in New England.

 

[modern_sports_car]

I was gonna say the same thing. Personally I don’t find the FL5 to be stiff at all. Then again I’m used to a F8X M4 Comp.

To me, the stiffness even in R mode is fine. It’s the bounce under hard cornering that’s the problem.

 

[modern_sports_car]

Update: I just tried this and am glad I did. I love the car and don’t mind the ride stiffness at all even in R mode. The issue for me is the way the front end hops/bounces so strongly I can’t see how it passed testing at Honda. Just terrible. (Reducing VSA reduces ~35% IMHO—could be placebo effect.) Unplugging the active dampers solved the problem. Awesome. However, the car felt ‘floaty.’ As someone else said, once it sets in a corner, it just hangs on. In fact, it feels a lot like my 2007 Civic Si sedan (a car whose handling is vastly underrated). That’s the issue though—it feels like a Civic Si. The bounce is gone and it’s still very high performing but it feels like a Civic Si (the new one) rather than a Type R. Obviously, that’s subjective. I dunno. The bounce was gone but so was the car’s ‘edge.’ Further, in my car anyway, once unplugged, all other drive modes were inaccessible. Nothing else was adjustable. See pic. Bottom line, I loved that I’ve now found the problem that causes the ‘bounce’ but I’ve got to find a different way to solve it. I wish it was something Honda could fix with an update somehow. I’d pay $500+ for some kind of ‘EMS’ for the suspension to tune this kind of thing out while retaining stock suspension. But without that, it seems like I’ll need to buy coilovers.

 

[TheTopher]

Just for fun....I ordered an ADS control unit from a '21 Type R on ebay. $42. I'll see if plugs in and works

 

[Brandondan1]

I believe the pedal dance works with individual mode as well. So you can still have the comfort dampers without the nannies kicking in early. It's kind of a hassle to activate each time, but the FL5 makes you come to a complete stop before doing the "long-press TCS off" anyway... Just realize the pedal dance is truly 'full-off,' so drive within your limits on the street.

The FK8 definitely has better ride quality. Looking forward to your results!

 

[elusiveaura]

Def interested in outcome of this.

Just for fun....I ordered an ADS control unit from a '21 Type R on ebay. $42. I'll see if plugs in and works

 

[1971Camaro]

I was gonna say the same thing. Personally I don’t find the FL5 to be stiff at all (i like feeling the road). Then again I’m used to a F8X M4 Comp.

I haven't found it that bad either, but i haven't been lucky enough to push the speed and corners yet beyond the metro highway speed (still on break-in).

I used to carry passengers and animals in the back of a 2003 Honda CRV, and you could really hear/feel the road in that car. In fact, i constantly had complaints about bumps from the back passengers. So, i was paranoid about the stiffness of the CTR, but yet my passengers said this was a softer ride. Go figure.

No matter what, the cancellation kit is a great solution. thanks! And yah... hope it will be adjustable on the 2024 S.

 

[Kfo_cpa]

I’ve been driving around and enjoying the daily drive. It feels a tinny bit more plush than stock comfort mode (not as harsh on bumps and not bouncy), and you still feel the rigid chassis. I wish Honda made this the comfort mode - it would be nice for road trips.

I also like the stock comfort mode with ADS plugged in. That was the only suspension setting I liked previously because I’m driving in Chicago and not on the Suzuka lol. It was a little more edgy which I liked, but bounced a little when you pushed it hard, which I didn’t like.

Overall, I’m going to keep the panel off and see what happens. I would like to try FK8 and type S if it’s any good or compatible.

 

[Kfo_cpa]

Pic of connector

 

[keller]

Pic of connector

Seems promising.

Pic of fk8 ADS module:

Pic of fk8 connector:

 

[Kfo_cpa]

Yes, it does. Thanks for posting that.

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