Video Tutorial for shortening strut housings and installing Ground Control kit

[CubbyChowder]

Thanks everyone!

how do you like the camaro shcoks?? too stiff? or perfect?

I personally like them, it's hard to say how good they are because this is my first e30 so I don't really know what an awesome setup feels like on an e30. How cheap they were compared to my other options was a huge plus. The ride quality is good and I don't feel like I need to change anything.

[F34R]

Are those Bilstein sports shortened and revalved?

[CubbyChowder]

Are those Bilstein sports shortened and revalved?

No, they are Bilstein HD's for a 325IX model e30. Unmodified.

[F34R]

Ah, makes sense now. Good job on the install and video.

Tip for anyone that does not have a good way to cut the housings. You can use a chop saw and a metal cutting disk(best form of all) OR a sawzall with a fine metal blade.

With the sawzall cutting TAKE YOUR TIME marking a complete circle. If you follow it you will have an almost perfect match.

I personally don't think the cutting is what people have trouble with. It is just the welding.

And I used the magnets before...3" angle iron works the best ;) Clamp it to the long housing and lay the piece in the extra angle iron. Comes out perfect every time.

[slammin.e28]

I got one of these to cut them. Perfect every time.

[F34R]

I got one of these to cut them. Perfect every time.

These are what I used on my first time. I did not like the angle they left for welding. But they work great for getting a perfect line.

[CubbyChowder]

good input guys, if anyone else has helpful tips, feel free to share.

I should've mentioned this long ago. TO ANYONE WHO PLANS ON USING 325IX BILSTEIN HD's FOR THE FRONT: You should cut the inner bump stop in half before assembling everything. When viewing the shock insert, there is a metal "cap" on the very bottom. This can be separated from the yellow shock housing which reveals the internal bump stop. Use an exacto knife to carefully cut this rubber bump stop in half (so it is half it's original length). This will help prevent you from bottoming out. Mark from Ground Control made a video showing his way of popping them apart. Simply hold the strut tube, flip it upside down so the cap is facing up and the threaded shock shaft is facing the ground and give it a firm tap on carpeted ground to push the cap out. Here is the video to help visualize what needs to be done:

http://s1207.beta.photobucket.com/user/GCMARK/media/Bilsteincapremoval.mp4.html?sort=3&o=0

In my case, I didn't really feel comfortable hitting my new shock against the ground so I separated the metal cap from the shock housing with a small flathead screwdriver (or you can use a chisel or something similar) and that worked fine. Just took a little bit of effort and off it came. Once the bump stop is cut in half, just pound the cap back onto the strut body and you're good to go!

I edited the original post with this information.

[e30vert]

Would have been nice to have this instructional video before I did mine! Well done sir!

I went by the step by step instructions that are posted on some other thread here. Used Chop saw with metal cutting blade (as F34R mentions) worked titties! Did not use those angle magnets as I have done my fair share of metal fab and just lined the tubes up and made sure they were true all the way around. Then tacked in place and checked again. Then stitch welded and checked again :)
Then finished the bead.

I used these special rings from Mark at Ground Control for the outer body of the strut tubes. They are just large enough to go over the strut tubes and have one edge cut straight so that there is clearance for the wheel.

Here is a pic:

[CubbyChowder]

I used these special rings from Mark at Ground Control for the outer body of the strut tubes. They are just large enough to go over the strut tubes and have one edge cut straight so that there is clearance for the wheel.

Correct, those are the same ones I used and mentioned in my tutorial. They are included in the Ground Control coilover conversion kit.

[mbonanni]

Just used this to do my coilovers. Great tutorial. I didn't o the work myself, but showed the machinist this video and said it was great.