GC setup+front top camber plate requirement

[Mr. Burns]

I've searched, don't you fret.
I'm looking for a straight answer ultimately....

I've gone and installed Ground Control coilovers on my vert.

400# front
650# rears

my fronts are lowered slightly see, aprox 1" and when cruising along, especially at lower speeds my front end will literally bounce like i'm hitting switches. it *feels* like i'm bottoming out the shock, I believe I'm just hitting the limit of travel on the spring.

Everything is brand new, everything installed properly.

I did NOT install camber/top plates/bearing plated whatever you want to call them...

if I DID, will this eleviate my bottoming out issue?

obviously the GC's are meant to be used with them..is everyone using them?

[kronus]

camber plates will do nothing about bouncing. If you're running very low, you might be hitting your internal bump stops.

[IronFreak]

What shocks are you running? are they new? Are they billy sports in a shortened housing?

I built a setup for Kingston in KC using a similar setup and he uses the GC camber plates and doesn't seem to have these issues. You could very well be bottoming out your shocks if they weren't made for a lowered vehicle.

Edit: I put Koni adjustables in Kingstons setup. They are stock length, meaning I didn't shorten the housings.

[Mr. Burns]

that's what I thought, however i'm being told (reputable E30 guru) that these are what I need to control this.
not running low whatsoever.
I cut the bumpstops when installed, so i'm not hitting them...

[Mr. Burns]

What shocks are you running? are they new? Are they billy sports in a shortened housing?

I built a setup for Kingston in KC using a similar setup and he uses the GC camber plates and doesn't seem to have these issues. You could very well be bottoming out your shocks if they weren't made for a lowered vehicle.

bilstein sport brand new...

[IronFreak]

when cruising along, especially at lower speeds my front end will literally bounce like i'm hitting switches.

As in on just a flat road, or when you hit a bump?

[IronFreak]

bilstein sport brand new...

Did you shorten the housings when you installed them? or just put a large spacer under the shock?

[Mr. Burns]

As in on just a flat road, or when you hit a bump?

just when I hit a bump/dip in the road...it litteraly "bangs" it bottoms out so hard.
it's almost like i've reached the maximum amount of travel available on the shock, and it just hits, and bounced back to the point where it's not even comfortable to drive.

corners like a mofo tho.

*edit* yes the struts have the shortened housings.

I think my question is basically more or less...are all of you guys running a camber plate/top plate of somesort to affix the GC's to, as it is what's recommended...

[kronus]

sounds like your shocks aren't doing their job.

[IronFreak]

Do you know how much was taken out of the housing? I'd agree with Kronus in saying it sounds like you are bottoming out your shocks. Maybe up your front springs? I have a set of 6" 500# I think that I would literally send you for nothing if you want to try that. They are an off brand from an old kit but you could at least see if that alleviates the issue.

[IronFreak]

Do you have 5" or 6" springs up front?

[Hellabad]

Post pics, and I will see if I can help. Look at all the Bilstein pics in my gallery, that may be helpful in diagnosis also.

PS. when you say "shortened housings", did you actually cut and remove a section from the strut housing?


Jay

[Mr. Burns]

I *believe* they are 5" 400lbs Eibachs. (might be 6") I do recall when installing them they were awfully short.
Thank you for the generous offer IronFreak, however i'm going to try and remedy this...

Jay- no pics of the install unfortunatly...might have pics of the actual hardware tho...hold up
as for shortened housing, I simply ordered the billy sports that Turnermotorsport indicated as the proper application for GC's and lowering springs

[Mr. Burns]

this is how low I'm sitting...

[IronFreak]

If you didn;t actually section the strut housing buy removing materials and rewelding it back together I can almost bet your are bottoming out the shocks.