5-Lug street/track - AST 4100 or GC Coilovers?

[blueapplesoda]

I'm torn.


$$$ AST 4100 z3 Kit (w/ camber plates)

or

$$ GC e36 on e30 Complete Kit



Are the ASTs worth the extra cheese?

It will see both street and track.

Any comments about either kit are welcomed.

[dnova89]

I fucking LOVED my AST's on the street. They'll be in my 2nd e30 soon which will see track time. Wish I could tell you how they are on the track, but on the street they feel so good and smooth, yet you're still on rails.

If you go with AST's hit up Elephant Motorsports, cheapest price I've seen so far.

[SpyHunter]

It's all about the damper. ASTs are leaps and bounds better then your basic Koni or Billy. I have driven the 4100s on a 325is, and 5200s on an e30 M3. Both are fantastic, but if you can upgrade to the 5000 series, do it. You can look up tarsust.com for prices, too.

[Ray Smoodiver]

Throwing it in there, Gaz are outrageously good too.

Given your choices, AST, though there is a lot to be said for having the manufacturer in your home country.

[Need4Speed1299]

Who is rob and why is he always an option???

[beenjamin]

hit up elephant motorsports, cheapest price i've seen so far.

+1

[nando]

definitely the ASTs. GC/koni are a nice start but they're pretty entry level.

I have my heart set on 5200's. Just gotta save up the 3+ grand.. :roll:

[GotCone?]

the nice thing about the 5k series is that you can get 5100's now and upgrade them to 5200s or 5300s later. Something you can't do with the 4k series.

[nando]

oh yeah, forgot about that..

5100s are probably even overkill for 99% of us.

[Bimmerman325i]

Things to consider-

GC E36 on E30 kit corrects the bad geometry from the 5lug conversion. Cheaper price, good shocks, probably a more capable suspension than you need at the moment. Can get double adjustables for same price as SA ASTs. I'm not well versed on HOW it fixes the geometry, but give Jay at GC a call and find out before you decide.

AST 4100s- best tire clearance of the AST options due to the non-inverted strut design. Great shock, lots of stateside support, and tons of internet nuthugging. Downside is cost, and on a 5lug converted car they do not correct the steering geometry like the GC kit does.

AST 5x00 series- less tire clearance compared to 4x00 series, but stiffer strut in cornering. Probably doesn't matter for your application. Other plus is they are easily and cost effectively upgradeable, so the suspension can grow with you. Again, does not correct the sucky geometry from the E36 5 lug swap. Price also really sucks.

There are pros and cons to either setup. Personally I'd go with the GC kit for your application, since you can get double adjustables and correct geometry for the same price you'd get the ASTs for. Plus, GC includes camber plates and rear shock mounts and springs in their price.

The AST damper is superior, but whether you, the driver, can take advantage or notice a difference is an unknown only you can answer. I'd go with the GC kit and call it a day, spend the difference on tires, wheels, and entry fees.

My e36 m3 has a TCK DA suspension which is practically identical to the GC DA suspension. A buddy of mine has AST 4200s on his M3, but they are otherwise similarly prepped cars. His car feels NO different than mine does. His car is NO faster than mine is on an autocross when the two of us are driving. The suspensions feel absolutely identical to me, handle equally good, and absorb bumps equally well. Thus, there is not enough of a difference for me to justify the ASTs at my current skill level. Yes, that's for an E36, so ymmv, but I figure I'd give some perspective.

[Adrian_Visser]

Things to consider-

GC E36 on E30 kit corrects the bad geometry from the 5lug conversion. Cheaper price, good shocks, probably a more capable suspension than you need at the moment. Can get double adjustables for same price as SA ASTs. I'm not well versed on HOW it fixes the geometry, but give Jay at GC a call and find out before you decide.

AST 4100s- best tire clearance of the AST options due to the non-inverted strut design. Great shock, lots of stateside support, and tons of internet nuthugging. Downside is cost, and on a 5lug converted car they do not correct the steering geometry like the GC kit does.

AST 5x00 series- less tire clearance compared to 4x00 series, but stiffer strut in cornering. Probably doesn't matter for your application. Other plus is they are easily and cost effectively upgradeable, so the suspension can grow with you. Again, does not correct the sucky geometry from the E36 5 lug swap. Price also really sucks.

There are pros and cons to either setup. Personally I'd go with the GC kit for your application, since you can get double adjustables and correct geometry for the same price you'd get the ASTs for. Plus, GC includes camber plates and rear shock mounts and springs in their price.

The AST damper is superior, but whether you, the driver, can take advantage or notice a difference is an unknown only you can answer. I'd go with the GC kit and call it a day, spend the difference on tires, wheels, and entry fees.

My e36 m3 has a TCK DA suspension which is practically identical to the GC DA suspension. A buddy of mine has AST 4200s on his M3, but they are otherwise similarly prepped cars. His car feels NO different than mine does. His car is NO faster than mine is on an autocross when the two of us are driving. The suspensions feel absolutely identical to me, handle equally good, and absorb bumps equally well. Thus, there is not enough of a difference for me to justify the ASTs at my current skill level. Yes, that's for an E36, so ymmv, but I figure I'd give some perspective.

Very informative post. I feel as though I learned something reading that.

[blueapplesoda]

I can for sure feel the difference when cornering in a better setup car, but the fact is I don't use this car to race as I have a IT car for racing.

Koni's are great entry level components as nando said. Just thinking maybe I should try something new.

If I was chasing a front pack car then I would consider the 5x00 AST, no doubt. But this car is strictly my daily driver which sees some fun track events eating up other track cars, no real competition driving. That is unless I decide to turn the car into a DMod car, but I doubt that will happen. DMod is a fast class...I'm not sure I am prepared for that, coming from IT and Spec classes. That is for another day.

[Jalves619]

GC E36 on E30 kit corrects the bad geometry from the 5lug conversion.

Definitely need some more information on this. I'm guessing that it just refers to using camber/caster plates rather than any actual modification of the steering knuckles.

The ability to get the shocks rebuilt somewhat locally would be one of major factors in my decision.

[Bimmerman325i]

@Jalves619- Call up Jay at Ground Control. I don't have a 5lug conversion (nor an E30 anymore) so I never researched it beyond discovering that it does exist and does correct the geometry issues. Specifics I don't know.

@Blueapplesoda-- I'd probably just go with the GC kit then. You've already got a racecar, and it sounds like you just want a fun car to track occasionally for shits and giggles. A GC suspension would more than suffice for that since you're not hunting for precious hundredths. It'd even work for that, come to think of it.