Thoughts on coilovers

[zfever]

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with the JOM coilovers... I'm either going to go with those or save an extra $120 and go with the eBay ones. Any opinions would be much appreciated.

[e30austin]

Go hard or go home. Don't get that eBay shit. Save for some Ground Controls or something.

[kennyvb]

What are your goals?

I have them but paired with Bilstein Sports so it might not be an accurate assessment of ride quality. I cut the perches off my front strut housings and modified the JOM sleeves so I could go really low in the front. I just run the JOM springs in the rear (no adjuster, no spring pads) and wish they could still go lower in the rear. I will probably end up getting new shorter and stiffer springs in the rear so I can actually use the rear adjuster. With that said, they ride much better than my blown stock setup but had I do it again, I'd get another coilover setup like German Engineering's.

[LuckyHenriksen]

GC, BC, or GAZ all the way

[ck_taft325is]

Go hard or go home. Don't get that eBay shit. Save for some Ground Controls or something.

Well, considering the JOM's have the same front spring rates as the majority of GC kits ordered... yeah.

What are your goals?

I have them but paired with Bilstein Sports so it might not be an accurate assessment of ride quality. I cut the perches off my front strut housings and modified the JOM sleeves so I could go really low in the front. I just run the JOM springs in the rear (no adjuster, no spring pads) and wish they could still go lower in the rear. I will probably end up getting new shorter and stiffer springs in the rear so I can actually use the rear adjuster. With that said, they ride much better than my blown stock setup but had I do it again, I'd get another coilover setup like German Engineering's.

I'd go completely the opposite. Swap out the rear springs for something far less binding than the JOM's. I used GC rear 4" 800lb rears in my S50 car. I'd go softer in retrospect but the goal was to be roughly the same with around 150lb's of sub gear in the rear that never ended up going in. The stock JOM front adjustment is stupid large. You can tuck rim nearly on the JOM coil kit. The only thing is, if you go that low you will blow your shocks. Just like you'll blow Billie sports in a heart beat if you're slammed. Get either some sports revalved or, short bodies. That's your only solution for being slammed.

If you want to go track your E30, don't get the JOM's. If you're looking for a fairly aggressive street setup (read: stiff) that lasted me over 20,000 miles without a SINGLE ISSUE while being very, very low, then get the JOM's. It's a fantastic bang for your buck. The rear springs bind to a stupid degree. It was and is my only complaint about the JOM kit.

Everyone that preaches "GC OR NOTHING!!!" is just a sack hanger. I love GC's and wouldn't stray far from their website for a TRACK CAR. As is recommended by GC as they are a track suspension. For daily use I don't want to obliterate $500 + camber plates that do pop regularly. It just is what it is. Harder parkers like to preach about how elite their GC's, or whatever are but if you're not tracking, your just jabbing your gums or doing something stupid on the street ;)

Again, if you want to be low and have a good handling ride? JOM's with GC rear springs/adjusters is my recommendation for on the cheap. If you want to track it mostly? Pass over the JOM's and expect to pay what it costs to make a track car. Get GC's or AST's.

[kennyvb]

Yeah, my JOM rear springs do bind but I'm not sure why you said you'd go the opposite. When I said I'd replace the JOM rear springs with newer shorter and stiffer springs that's what I meant--I'd go with rear springs that are shorter and stiffer than the JOM rear springs which seems like what you did with the GC kit (I probably wouldn't go as stiff as 800#, though).

I don't consider my car slammed as my fronts are level with the spring-only rears. Right now I barely tuck a stock diameter tire. For my application, I wanted coilovers adjustable ride height that I could "dial-in".

[djjerme]

I went the German Engineering group buy route (which is pretty much the same as building your own..) the setup is pretty similar to what GC does: modified strut housing, Billy sport shocks, sleeves, springs, and camber plates. You can find several how-to's on building your own, including cutting down the stock housing, and welding steel threaded sleeves to the body to use the ix front struts. For me it came down to the cost for Ground Control vs. What my time is worth - my time lost, so I went the homemade style..

[Den_k321]

I have JOM on my car, love it. Plus i bought it on the first group by for only $380 shipped =]

[AirplaneBuilder]

^^ we got ours for $370 cuz we ordered 2 kits to one address :) ... Anyway I have joms for some time now and can't complain about them. Car even corners nicely with them on high speeds! Perfect for someone who wants a low look and save $$$

[PNWDan]

I went the German Engineering group buy route (which is pretty much the same as building your own..) the setup is pretty similar to what GC does: modified strut housing, Billy sport shocks, sleeves, springs, and camber plates. You can find several how-to's on building your own, including cutting down the stock housing, and welding steel threaded sleeves to the body to use the ix front struts. For me it came down to the cost for Ground Control vs. What my time is worth - my time lost, so I went the homemade style..

Shhhh don't tell everyone lol

[zfever]

I appreciate the input guys! Im mainly looking for a daily driver setup...based on your opinions, Im gonna go with the JOM's... I have no plans on tracking the car. Thanks again!

[ck_taft325is]

Yeah, my JOM rear springs do bind but I'm not sure why you said you'd go the opposite. When I said I'd replace the JOM rear springs with newer shorter and stiffer springs that's what I meant--I'd go with rear springs that are shorter and stiffer than the JOM rear springs which seems like what you did with the GC kit (I probably wouldn't go as stiff as 800#, though).

I don't consider my car slammed as my fronts are level with the spring-only rears. Right now I barely tuck a stock diameter tire. For my application, I wanted coilovers adjustable ride height that I could "dial-in".

Totally misunderstood you! I thought you said you replaced the FRONT coils on 'em. I was like, "Why? They rock" heh. My bad, hombreskidizzle.

[e30newbie1212]

Where do you plan to purchase the JOM's?

[LuckyHenriksen]

hombreskidizzle.

Best new word I have heard all day. Thanks ;)