GC coilover question

[greg1333]

I have a set of the e30/e36 hybrid Ground Control coilovers for my e30. I noticed when installing them (car on jackstands) there is play on the top spring perch. not a little, a lot. about 3/4" vertical movement between were it sits against the shoulder of the strut at the bottom and the underside of the camber plate on the top.

Is this normal or am I missing a spacer that would lock it in position???

[Northern]

When the weight of the car is pushing the spring into the upper perch, the perch should be seated in that convex/concave surface without the upper perch touching the strut insert. Without weight on the spring, the upper perch should fall until it hits the strut "shoulder" where it steps up in diameter.

I think that clearance is what you're describing, and that's fine.

[d_elson0]

can possibly try a helper spring too. if you don't want that gap when the suspension is at full droop

[greg1333]

Thanks for both responses....I don't care for the idea that its not in a fixed location, so maybe a helper spring is in order...

[d_elson0]

I use swift springs on my Moton struts on my other car. if i recall the price is not bad.

[SkiFree]

What you are describing is normal and not an issue.

Bear in mind that the shock travel is reduced by whatever the thickness of the compressed helper spring. I don't like that idea more than I don't like the idea of the spring being in a fixed location while the car is on a lift.

[greg1333]

I would think you would want the load on the strut to be on the shoulder of the shaft and not the small area on the thread transition. if that makes sense.

[Northern]

The plates are designed so that the spring weight goes into the perch and into the camber plate, and the spherical bearing only deals with damper and location related loads. That's why they don't make contact.

[greg1333]

The plates are designed so that the spring weight goes into the perch and into the camber plate, and the spherical bearing only deals with damper and location related loads. That's why they don't make contact.

interesting, I will have to look at the set up closer, but from what I remember the upper perch rides on the bottom of the spherical bearing and drops away from it under droop...But I will confirm tonight when I disassemble them.

[greg1333]

It appears that the bottom of the camberplate is convex and the top of the upper perch is dished to fit. I contacted GC and they confirmed that with my model of coilover the upper perch was free floating.