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GC on stock strut tubes question

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    #1

    GC on stock strut tubes question

    I know it sounds odd but since the springs are only 6" long or so, how do they take up the extra distance, even with the adjuster turned all the way up? Standard springs are 12" or so.

    I can't find any pictures of the GC's on a car to see what it looks like....and I just can't picture in my head how it works.
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    #2
    Check out this thread for a little incite.

    http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=69493


    "Its preparations are concealed, not published. Its mistakes are buried not headlined. Its dissenters are silenced, not praised. No expenditure is questioned, no rumor is printed, no secret is revealed."

    John F. Kennedy

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      #3
      If you use a short spring, from any company, coilover or not coilover WITH A STOCK STRUT: there will be a gap when the car is jacked up. This is because you have a strut that is too long for a lowered car.

      If you use a short spring with a strut made for a lowered car, there will be no gap, or maybe a little one. It depends on where the ride height is adjusted to. (If you go with too short of a strut to match the short spring, you can't raise the car up)

      So you may be wondering: what about all these Euro German (some of them made overseas and imported to Germany) kits with the double springs?

      The deal with double springs is to satisfy the inspections in Germany, and most of Europe that are different than the US. Most of the USA suspensions only use a single spring because: There will be more suspension travel, it won't make that clicking noise, and it is simpler to adjust.

      Jay from Ground Control
      Here is my photo gallery answering common questions about Ground Control Suspension, and e30 suspension problems in general.
      Ground Control Gallery

      The Ground Control facebook page: Dragged, kicking and screaming into social media to see what happens next.
      Ground Control facebook page

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        #4
        This is the best picture I have right now. It looks pretty much like this. There are different ways to section the struts, and if you get a KIT, it is much easier than trying to piece it together yourself. It is also usually cheaper, and always works better.
        Attached Files
        Here is my photo gallery answering common questions about Ground Control Suspension, and e30 suspension problems in general.
        Ground Control Gallery

        The Ground Control facebook page: Dragged, kicking and screaming into social media to see what happens next.
        Ground Control facebook page

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          #5
          Stock springs compress a lot, and sport progressive springs do as well - although not as much as stock.

          You compress stock springs to install them, so think of some of those 12" of springs as "slack". With the weight of the car pressing down, it is taken out.

          GC (or Eibach ERS) springs are linear so there is no softer portion and that 6" spring, stays 6" for the most part.

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by rwh11385 View Post
            Stock springs compress a lot, and sport progressive springs do as well - although not as much as stock.

            You compress stock springs to install them, so think of some of those 12" of springs as "slack". With the weight of the car pressing down, it is taken out.

            GC (or Eibach ERS) springs are linear so there is no softer portion and that 6" spring, stays 6" for the most part.

            What he ^ said.


            Jay
            Here is my photo gallery answering common questions about Ground Control Suspension, and e30 suspension problems in general.
            Ground Control Gallery

            The Ground Control facebook page: Dragged, kicking and screaming into social media to see what happens next.
            Ground Control facebook page

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              #7
              You can run GC's with the stock perch in place... but there are more advantages to modifying like most people do than leaving it the same. If you have the housings out and cutting the perch, etc... it is a great time to add M3-type swaybar tabs.



              I swapped my GC's out for H&R sports for a while in college and changing up my setup, but if I had cut the perches... I could have just picked up a pair of stock housings on the cheap.

              The biggest thing against keeping the stock perch is clearance, and more awkward reaching the adjuster to change height... etc.

              Comment

                #8
                Great info from everyone, I really appreciate it. Jay has been particularly helpful on explaining the subtleties of the E30 chassis mods.

                I have been trying to find a compromise to the complete coilover/shortened strut to solve the 2 basic issues I have now; 1) extra engine weight, which drops the car down farther on whatever spring I use, and 2) the lack of suspension travel associated with that drop.

                I've come to the conclusion that although it is possible to increase the front suspension spring rate (by adding cushioning material between the spring coils, or using a stiffer spring with the correct length), and increase the strut travel (by lowering the car on the strut, not shortening the spring on the strut), figuring all this out is taking up way more of my time and energy than I like.

                I thought it might be more cost effective to try to figure this out and buy the parts needed (springs, camber plates, etc). While it probably is, the time and effort to do this has not been productive.

                Time now to put the car up on stands and take off the H&R springs and Bilstein Sports, put them up for sale and get the coilover kit...

                Anyone want some nearly new parts (less than 200 miles on springs, 1K miles on struts/shocks)?

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