Ground Control's service rocks!

[FunfGan]

Warning: I will be bitching. So a couple months ago I called GC, and got my coilover conversion kit. I told them I was running standard Bilsteins on a 318is and would be doing some track/ autocross and they suggested 400 front/ 700 rear. So, about a week after putting them on, my Bilsteins blew. After about a minuite of searching on here, I found thats a common occurance. Fast forward to yesterday, I call them up to order their valved koni's. Sounds simple enough, no? Well apparently b/c I have a 318is, I also need to purchase the 325is struts to be able to fit the Konis, and send in my current front springs/ adjusters to be swapped for Koni ones. total cost? around $1100 including shipping. Yet a full kit including adjusters, camber plates, struts, springs would only be 1450? If we gave Gc all that info originally, and they obviously know the Bilsteins don't last very long, why wouldn't they just tell me it was going to be 2x expensive in the end to not just by the whole kit? Ok. Im done.

Edit: Thanks Trevor

[KenC]

I've never heard of it being common.

[FunfGan]

They're not valved for 400lbs/ 700lbs.

[nando]

uhm, you don't need 325is struts for a 318is. the strut housings are the same. It sounds like they thought you had an early 318.

[KenC]

What do you mean by having to get 325is struts? 318is ones are the same diameter.

[Lof8]

Can someone explain how stiff spring rates cause a shock to "blow?" My understanding is the shocks dampen or resist the compression and rebound of the suspension. Higher rate springs will produce less suspension travel and less "work" for the shock.

Sure, the valving may not be correct to match higher spring rates, but how do the higher rates cause the shock to "blow?"

[nando]

they provide more work for the shock. the shock's job is to control the spring, not to absorb bumps. by increasing the rate the shock has to work a lot harder because the spring pushes against it more.

[nrubenstein]

they provide more work for the shock. the shock's job is to control the spring, not to absorb bumps. by increasing the rate the shock has to work a lot harder because the spring pushes against it more.

Basically, the greater force blows out the seals.

[Brandon12V]

yep. too much rebound created by the spring can destroy upper seal on the shock.. At least when using a linear set. I don't know if this holds true on progressive rates.

[FunfGan]

Thats what I was confused about, I've never heard of the difference between engines having any affect on the strut size, but they said the m42 cars used a different strut...

[nando]

who did you talk to? whoever it was is dead wrong. probably wasn't Jay, but one of his minions?

[Fusion]

There were 45mm and 51mm diameter strut housings.
It's good practice to measure yours, since PO's could've swapped 'em and its not that hard to do to be 100% sure what you're ordering.

[nando]

45mm strut housings were only on *early* cars. the 318is was built in 1990-1991, there were only 51mm strut housings then.

[FunfGan]

I talked to Trevor I think? So I was correct in telling him that it wasn't different. Thanks for the help btw.

[z31maniac]

It sounds like a simple miscommunication, not a grand scheme to screw you out of money. That happens sometimes.


Next time, do your research before putting any cash down.