Ground Control, help needed!

[Mike_z]

Hey guys,
Don't kill me, I've scoured the suspension forums, looked through threads upon threads of builds trying to find info on this.

I want to go Ground Control coilers on my s50 e30. I live in NYC and roads absolutely suck, but I want a nice drop nonetheless, and good feedback when I take the car into the mountains or autox.

The issue I'm having is that almost all the threads I come upon have been regarding their coilover conversion, not a complete kit like I'm into. I want to purchase their kit with both the inserts and springs or the complete coilover kit with the camber plates and RSMs, However I see nobody running this or talking about that kit.

My big gripe is that I do not want to modify the strut housing if possible. I'm not looking for crazy low, but so that I can drop it to a point where I won't hit my pan and the wheel wells are filled out nicely with some 16" bbs.

Is there any advantage to getting either one? Or what would you guys recommend for my use? I wanted to ask you guys first because I understand if I asked GC, the best answer would always be the most complete and expensive kit.

Please forgive me if there is in fact a thread like this, but believe me when I tell you I think I tried every search option possible to answer the questions i'm having. Thanks R3V! You guys are awesome
-Mike

Sets i'm looking at-
street kit -> http://www.ground-control-store.com/.../II=912/CA=173

complete kit -> http://www.ground-control-store.com/.../II=540/CA=173

[Luke_M]

The only difference in those 2 kits is the complete kit includes camber plates and rsm's. The street kit uses stock strut mounts and rear shock mounts. FWIW I did the street kit and eventually added camber plates later down the road. The camber plates increased grip up front which is really nice. Plus with the touring plates you gain .5" of shock travel.

If you don't want to modify your struts you would need to just get lowering springs (H&R, IE3, etc) and add bilsteins or GC's koni SA's. I'm pretty sure the koni's are doable with simple lowering springs. If you don't want to adjust your height and cut your struts that would be the easier way to go.

[Mike_z]

The only difference in those 2 kits is the complete kit includes camber plates and rsm's. The street kit uses stock strut mounts and rear shock mounts. FWIW I did the street kit and eventually added camber plates later down the road. The camber plates increased grip up front which is really nice. Plus with the touring plates you gain .5" of shock travel.

If you don't want to modify your struts you would need to just get lowering springs (H&R, IE3, etc) and add bilsteins or GC's koni SA's. I'm pretty sure the koni's are doable with simple lowering springs. If you don't want to adjust your height and cut your struts that would be the easier way to go.

Thanks for the quick reply, I went lowering springs and Bilsteins on my previous E30 and was really disappointed I couldn't adjust the height, so height adjustment is very desired for me. How did you have to modify your strut housing? Did you shorten the length of your housing or simply cut the perch to allow for the coilover adjustment? Because the modification I don't really want to perform is cutting and re-welding the housing. Not looking for super low, but I do want to drop it a fair amount, and be able to adjust. thanks!
-Mike

[pandaiswong]

From what I understand, the street kit requires no modifications whatsoever to your stock strut housings. You can cut the spring perches off to make it cleaner, but it's not required. I'll dig up the thread where I got my info from later tonight.

[Mike_z]

From what I understand, the street kit requires no modifications whatsoever to your stock strut housings. You can cut the spring perches off to make it cleaner, but it's not required. I'll dig up the thread where I got my info from later tonight.

Thank you, I'd really appreciate that!
Like I keep repeating I want a nice relatively low stance with as little modification to the strut housing as possible, I know some people go batsh*t crazy and start taking off inches off the housing to tap the ground with the lip spoilers. Not after that at all. :)

[YosemiteSam]

While I don't have any experience with those two specific kits, I have dealt with GC from time to time and have had nothing but good interactions with them. I would strongly suggest giving them a call or emailing them directly, they are extremely knowledgeable and they won't try to upsell you beyond what you are actually looking for.

[pandaiswong]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=100365
Posts 7 and 8.

[gart]

Check one of my last posts for ride height. http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...=372503&page=4 I just put in the second kit you linked. I did take 1 inch out of the strut housing. I could go up about another .75-1". My tires sit about a one inch taller compared to the bottle caps, so take that into account when looking at fender gap.