GC Coilover kit - what's the deal with the inserts/dampers?

[Eedubz]

I'm planning on getting an e30 within the next month or 2, and am researching my suspension options. I want to drop the car fairly low, even though it will be a DD.

I'm pretty keen on the GC coilover kit. On the GC site you can select the inserts you plan on using, I'm assuming so GC can spec the correct top spring mounts. One of the options is GC custom valved Konis.

Now my question is, where do you order these GC custom valved dampers? I've looked all over their site but can't seem to find them. I'd like to use these custom valved dampers. Anyone have an idea on the price of these? And are these custom Konis shortened to work properly with shortened strut tubes?

With regards to the rear setup, can I order custom valved Konis from GC for the back as well?

Unless I'm being a bit stupid and the dampers are included in the $399, which I highly doubt :???:

[nrubenstein]

You order one of the complete kits....

[Eedubz]

So it isn't possible to order the GC Koni Yellows separately? I don't really want to order the camber plates, bump stops and shock mounts right now.

I will get the strut shortening and welding done myself.

I'm assuming this is the complete kits...

http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/description.php/II=754/CA=173

[Philo]

Email GC or PM 'Hellabad' on this forum. It's not a listed item, but I believe they will sell you a pair.

[nrubenstein]

Well, you need the rear shock mounts.

[Eedubz]

Ok, so coilover conversion kit, GC Konis and the rear shock mounts. Would this be enough to start with?

[Eedubz]

Also, can the coilover kit be run with stock inserts? I know you lose travel, but can they be used until I can buy the GC Konis? Can the stock rear dampers be used too?

[jlevie]

Even if the stock struts/shocks are pretty new they will quickly fail if you try to use them with shorter/stiffer springs. The odds are that the shocks/struts that will on the car are blown out and way overdue for replacement. So they really won't work.

When you get the car, take a really good look at the entire suspension. The odds are good that it will need new tie rods, control arms, control arm bushings, subframe bushings, rear trailing arm bushings, motor, transmission, and differential mounts. You'll need to do all of that on top of the coil-over conversion. And for the coil-over conversion do it right and get the complete kit from GC.

[Eedubz]

Yeah and I plan on cutting the strut tubes so the stock inserts wouldn't work, forgot about that when I posted the previous post.

How big a difference does the custom valving in the Konis make? As far as I seen they are custom valved Corrado dampers. Is this correct?

Are the rear GC Konis normal e30 spec in terms of length?

[LuckyHenriksen]

I have been asking this very quesiton, and have been exchanging emails with Mark from GC and I finally figured out that they won't sell them to me unless I buy the full kit. Phooey

[87_black_325is]

Someone should sell shortened konis!

[z31maniac]

Yeah and I plan on cutting the strut tubes so the stock inserts wouldn't work, forgot about that when I posted the previous post.

How big a difference does the custom valving in the Konis make? As far as I seen they are custom valved Corrado dampers. Is this correct?

Are the rear GC Konis normal e30 spec in terms of length?

The custom valving is a big difference, that's what has the larger affect on ride quality than spring rate. Properly damped, you can run very high spring rates comfortably.

In reality, keep saving for another month or two, or how ever long it takes and just buy the full complete kit. Replace everything at once and then just be done with it.

It will you save you time, money and headaches in the long run if you can just be patient a bit longer.

[z31maniac]

Unless I'm being a bit stupid and the dampers are included in the $399, which I highly doubt :???:

You are right, that's just the adjuster sleeves. The full kit with everything is closer to $1800 IIRC.

[Hellabad]

Email GC or PM 'Hellabad' on this forum. It's not a listed item, but I believe they will sell you a pair.

Straight from the horses mouth:

In the times when Ground Control has enough struts and shocks, we have always sold them individually, at a fair price, with dyno sheets, instructions etc. Many people on R3V have bought them.

EXCEPT... right now GC is low on stock, and I am worried we may run out before we get the next shipment from Koni in Holland. This is the reason why we are "reserving" the specially valved struts and shocks that match our custom springs, to be sold as matched sets. We don't want to get stuck in a situation where someone wants a matched setup, and we have to say we can't do it because it wouldn't work right.

Hopefully by the Summer, we will be flush with custom Konis again, but until then we have to take it slow.


Jay

[Hellabad]

You are right, that's just the adjuster sleeves. The full kit with everything is closer to $1800 IIRC.

$1499 for either of these 2 kits

http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/description.php/II=754/CA=6

Yesterday I spoke with an R3V guy who did the math to buy vorshalg rear adjusters (with no upper perch), Eibach springs from ebay, front coilover parts from Summit, more springs from Bimmerforums, rear shock mounts from Rogue engineering (had to cut the reinforcement), reuse stock bumpstops, and Mustang rear shocks from TCK......

It was going to cost him way over $1600, plus he had to put it together himself. I'm just sayin'.....