Overview
The Integra continues in the enviable tradition of providing a fully independent, 4-wheel double-wishbone suspension for a superb combination of sporty handling and excellent ride quality.
The objective was to provide the Integra driver with a vehicle that is responsive and comfortable in daily driving, yet with excellent cornering stability, good traction and stable behavior. To meet these requirements, the double-wishbone configuration has been refined and developed to provide even higher levels of steering precision, response and linearity.
Front Suspension
The components of the front suspension are an L-shaped lower control arm, an upper control arm, a coil-over shock absorber, a stabilizer bar and a performance rod. For the GS-R front suspension, the engineering team also specified the use of a shock tower bar and on the Special Edition and the GS-R, a stabilizer bar equipped with ball joints instead of rubber bushings. The tower bar ties together the tops of the front spring/damper assemblies. The performance rod is designed to act as an A-arm cross brace to enhance handling and precision and stiffen the front lower subframe. The tower bar and performance rod are designed to enhance rigidity and contribute to suspension precision.
In order to enhance stability under braking in both a straight line and while cornering, the L-shaped lower control arm has been equipped with specially tuned compliance bushings. These bushings allow the lower control arm to impart a toe-out condition on the front wheels. Allowing the wheels to toe out while braking in a corner enhances stability and allows the vehicle to track more precisely.
The engineering team has tailored the suspension to take the full benefit of negative scrub geometry, especially when braking on a split-friction surface. Under this condition, the suspension tends to maintain greater directional stability by countering the forces that would normally tend to steer the vehicle in the direction of the side with the lower traction coefficient. By balancing these forces, the Integra tends to brake with maximum stability.
Rear Suspension
The rear double-wishbone suspension components consist of upper and lower control arms, a trailing arm, a coil-over shock absorber and a stabilizer bar. All models of the Integra share the same rear suspension componentry and calibrations.
Suspension Tuning
The engineering team focused on the areas of improving linearity, balancing oversteer and understeer characteristics to achieve more neutral handling, and providing the driver with high-quality feedback and enhanced traction. The spring/shock combination has been altered considerably in order to provide both a better ride and precise handling. For a smoother ride, the spring rates have been reduced 25% at the front and 15% at the rear, compared to the last generation Integra. At the same time, the shock damping rates have increased and the shock uses a larger, 30 mm cylinder, compared to the 25 mm unit in the 1993 Integra. In addition, the shock absorber has been equipped with the exclusive progressive valve unit, which opens progressively in response to wheel loads. Most shock valves are designed to either open completely or close completely in response to vertical wheel loads. This system provides better ride quality along with excellent handling.
High Rigidity Brake Calipers and Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
All Integra models feature 4-wheel disc brakes, with ventilated rotors at the front and are solid at the rear. For maximum rigidity of the braking system and to provide a shorter pedal stroke, new stronger front brake calipers were developed. These calipers are larger, stouter units that have a higher resistance to flexing and "spread" under severe braking conditions.
The Integra LS, Special Edition and GS-R use the latest-generation Acura ABS system. This system is lighter and even more efficient than before, reducing the amount of pedal kickback during ABS operation in situations such as hard braking.
Torque-Sensing Rotary Valve Steering Gear
The Integra features an innovative, power-assisted steering gear design that is lighter and more compact than conventional power steering systems. Instead of modulating power assistance to the steering rack in accordance with road speed, this system varies power assist by a combination of engine rpm and the amount of torque generated between the pavement and the tire. The advantage of this system is that it exercises more precise control over the amount of power assist provided. It also provides more linear steering with regard to lateral loads encountered while cornering.
Wheels and Tires
The Integra RS is equipped with P195/60 R14 85H all-season tires. The LS is equipped with Michelin XGT-H4 P195/60 R14 85H all-season tires. Both models are equipped with steel wheels and wheel covers. The GS-R and Special Edition feature Michelin XGT-V4 195/55 R15 84V all-season tires mounted on lightweight aluminum-alloy wheels. The tires for all models have been specifically developed to work in concert with the suspension calibrations, to provide excellent traction, stability, controllability and predictable handling behavior.