HKS is one of our favorite brands. It's not good enough to say they are a big part of the compact car and import tuning community. In many ways, they are the originators of it. In the USA, so many brands have started and grown big since the import and compact tuning scene became mainstream in the USA during the 90's. But the proof of concept was already there for them to launch those brands with confidence. Arguably, HKS is the most responsible for it.
I'm biased. I grew up in a time where HKS dominated import and tuner magazine covers, a very different time for the culture than the current digital media platforms of today. It was hard to hear about a Supra, Skyline, or RX-7 build without hearing about HKS simultaneously. HKS and Honda aren't as synonymous as say, Mugen. But that's only because HKS didn't focus on only one brand like Mugen. If anything, HKS could be seen competing alongside Mugen at their own game. While not being Honda only specialists, they have contributed significantly to what Honda enthusiasts have come to expect and enjoy from modifying their Honda. Coincidentally, HKS and Mugen both officially showed up to the scene together in 1973.
The Civic Type R is the latest and greatest Honda product on 4 wheels and HKS wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to keep riding the wave they helped create. They offer a lot more than they did back in the 70's and 80's and it's all worthy of your hard earned money being used to freshen up your Type R. We wanted to tell you a little bit about every single Type R product they make in case you're wanting to make your Type R build feel a little more nostalgic and/or JDM spec. Naturally, most of them are for the FK8 at this time. But we'll include a few FL5 parts that have been released up to this point and update this as they become available.
Buckle up those JDM harnesses, here we go. If you want to check out any parts individually, all items are linked to our website listings where you can also find them available to purchase.
You don't have to dive into expensive overnighted parts from Japan to have a little JDM flavor. In fact, some of their items could easily just be replacement items everyone will need no matter what. These basic items are an easy way to get what you need for your next round of maintenance. Snag an oil filter for your next oil change and if you're feeling like swapping out some wear items, a Nano Cabin Filter, Fine Tune V-Belt (accessory belt), and a set of Super Fire Racing Spark Plugs will only take a couple hours out of your weekend. I'll admit, the spark plug pricing is a bit of a head scratcher. But at least no other brand will say Super Fire Racing on the box. Finish it off with an appropriately colored red oil cap to show everyone you work on your own car. You'll be smiling before you even install this stuff knowing you're opening boxes covered in Japanese Katakana that you can't read.
[Oil Cap - 24003-AN001]
[Oil Filter - 52009-AK005]
[Cabin Filter - 70027-AH001]
[Serpentine Belt - 24996-AK046]
[Spark Plugs - 50003-MR45HLZ]
HKS has changed a lot over the years, but haven't at the same time. They like their shiny, polished intake and intercooler pipes, which is fine. It used to be that everyone did it and then nobody was unique. Everyone else started powder coating, anodizing, and painting their stuff, which is also fine. But by staying the same, they became unique again. Otherwise, they feature the same completeness of a kit as anyone can with brackets, hardware, moldings, castings, machining, mounts, bushings, etc. that all make a kit a true bolt-on experience for the end user. The finish of many of their parts are a bit more raw and unrefined than other brands, at least in my opinion. But it has a "we care about performance and function the most" vibe, while leaving out styling details that don't contribute to the overall goal. Whatever their styling philosophy is, it's definitely their own unique style. You can see the originality, it doesn't look like they're imitating anybody.
Aside from that, their exhausts are fairly legendary in their own right. They always feature very nicely styled tips with nice fitment and sound. There is nothing obnoxious about a HKS exhaust.
Available separately or as a kit, the HKS Type R intake features a larger diameter MAF housing creating one of two requirements, either you calibrate the stock MAF sensor in your tuning software or you buy the version with the aftermarket AFR sensor to make the ECU happy with the change. You can get the intake without the box but ideally, you need to use the airbox for best performance. Normally, even an aftermarket airbox dulls down the presentation of your intake system in your engine bay a bit. Not a concern here. It's carbon fiber and provides an "all business" look when you pop the hood.
[Intake Only - 70020-AH110]
[Intake + AFR (New MAF Sensor) - 70020-AH109]
[Carbon Intake Box Only - 70026-AH008]
[Carbon Intake Box + Intake - 70026-AH007]
[Carbon Intake Box + Intake + AFR - 70026-AH006]
Two different styles are available for FK8 and one for the FL5, so far. The Legamax exhausts are renowned for their application on the street. They are an upgrade, but they sound crisp, smooth, and not super loud. The Hi-Power units are designed more with true performance in mind and use less sound altering components in exchange for a little better engine performance. They also focus on lighter weight with the Hi-Power. So it ends up being a little louder, a little lighter, and more aggressive looking inside the rear bumper shroud.
[Legamax Premium (FK8) - 31021-BH003]
[Hi-Power Spec L II (FK8) - 31019-AH106]
[Legamax Sports (FL5) - 31021-AH005]
Available with or without the piping, the HKS intercooler is a very nice bolt-on part with nicely formed end tank castings that fit like stock behind your bumper. Because of the full manufacturing capability HKS has, the cast end tanks provide smooth flowing intake tracts for the air to make its way to the throttle. The core is right around double the volume of the stock intercooler. HKS takes a different route than most aftermarket intercoolers here with a tube and fin core. You see mostly bar and plate used in the aftermarket because of it's ability to cool better. But where a tube and fin has some advantage is maintaining pressure as it doesn't create as much of a restriction. It's a give and take and this is the direction HKS went. Even though you might be curious why it's the same method of construction as an OEM core, you can be sure the entire unit is executed much better with fully welded end tanks, smooth flowing castings, a denser core, and much more volume and surface area to transfer heat away.
[Full Kit (FK8) - 13001-AH004]
[Intercooler Core Only (FK8) - 13001-AH005]
[Piping Only (FK8) - 13002-AH001]
[Full Kit (FL5) - 13001-AH007]
[Intercooler Core Only (FL5) - 13001-AH008]
[Piping Only (FL5) - 13002-AH002]
Arguably the most well known and iconic single part in HKS' catalog over the years is the SSQV blowoff valve. It's a pull style valve which means it doesn't have the traditional single spring push type valve where if you don't pick the exact spring that matches the vacuum of the engine, there can be a leak at higher boost levels or not enough pressure to open it during low boost throttle closure events. That problem doesn't exist with the HKS SSQV. The dual chamber design doesn't allow boost or spring pressure to be factor in how well the valve performs. It's the same no matter what. It's not just a cool shape, cool name, or a fancy sound, it's actually one of the best blowoff valves money can buy. The best part for Type R owners that want it? They make a full kit around it so you don't have to go custom and weld on any flanges. In this case, because you're relocating the valve, they also give you a new cold side charge pipe to connect it to so you'll be replacing that entire piping section along with the valve. HKS intercooler piping is designed to fit with this additional pipe if you go this route.
[Full BOV Kit - 71008-AH009]
[Recirculation Kit - 71002-AH003]
Even though the Type R has a truly awesome OEM suspension compared to its peers, it still doesn't do what all of us usually want which is to lower the car and/or make it more track worthy. HKS has two different setups for the Type R, the Hipermax S and Hipermax R. Appropriately named, S is for street use and R is better suited for race or track use. They are very similar but the R features a few items that make it more suited for the track while maintaining comfort on your way to work. While they both come with adjustable upper mounts with spherical bearings, upper rear mounts, one-way dampening adjustment, and height adjustability, the Hipermax R gets the following upgrades. It uses a higher quality oil internally, a higher strength, low vibration spring, and an upper spring retainer segregated from the upper mount (also a feature on the S model, but an upgrade from the previous track based model). The upper spring retainer is the largest difference and one of the main changes when HKS went to improve on the previous flagship track model, the Max IV SP. With this change, the spring can pivot and move entirely in sync with the shock body, which improves steering response, smooths dampening, and reduces friction during up and down strokes. The spring compresses in a linear direction with the whole shock. Both are priced very similarly, with the R version coming in only slight higher.
[Hipermax S Coilovers FK8]
[Hipermax R Coilovers FK8]
[Hipermax S Coilovers FL5]
[Hipermax R Coilovers FL5]
If you're getting a Hipermax suspension setup, it'll disconnect the factory electronic suspension entirely. HKS makes an error canceller that removes the notification in your dash that your suspension is malfunctioning. It's available separately for the FK8 kits and comes with the FL5 kits. If you don't use this, there will be an error light on your dash every time you drive. So this is a very convenient compliment to the coilover kit and can be used with any coilover kit that doesn't come with their own.
[Error Canceler - 45012-AH002 (FK8 only, different version comes with FL5 kits)]
For those that always find themselves thinking about how much more corner speed they are going to take into turn 1 next weekend, hopefully an oil cooler is already on your Type R. If it isn't yet, this is for you. This is very much a track specific modification that keeps your hot oil in check as you make it around the track over and over. The kit is very complete and has a beautifully crafted aluminum air guide to direct the cool air from under the driver's side headlight into a 9 layer cooler. Because the OEM oil cooler is water cooled, the hotter the oil gets, the hotter the water gets too. A double whammy on your engine for putting in track duty. With this cooler, it won't allow the coolant to be as affected by the hot oil, resulting in cooler water temps too.
[Oil Cooler - 15004-AH104 (FK8 Only)]