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View Full Version : Suspension fair warning for AWD conversions...


IPD
10-02-2010, 09:42 PM
aftermarket coilovers for our cars (apparently regardless of brand...judging by pics of all available types i've seen for 3/s) do NOT have the clearance in the back around the axle flange that the stock mounts do. when my car is on jackstands, the adjustment tube on the bottom of my coilovers actually TOUCHES this flange. when on the ground, there is clearance, but not as much as with a stock setup.

i'm assuming that this is due to the alteration in mount-angle caused by the conversion. mine had to be torqued into place with the lower mount bolt because they would not be coaxed into position due to that flange.

on the positive side, i can now fit a fist under my fenders, whereas before i couldn't even fit two fingers--and i had the score marks on my tires to prove it. these DO certainly allow you to raise the car. mine are currently set at 20 full turns from the top of the adjustment tube. i'll let you know how the fronts go tomorrow...
DocWalt
10-02-2010, 09:46 PM
Pics? I am like, frying my brain trying to picture this, lol.
IPD
10-03-2010, 08:40 AM
i'll see if i can snap a pic today.
green-lantern
10-03-2010, 01:51 PM
i'll see if i can snap a pic today.

Get off your ass and do it Thadd! I think I know what you are talking about but I'm not sure.
IPD
10-03-2010, 06:47 PM
Get off your ass and do it Thadd! I think I know what you are talking about but I'm not sure.

sorry guys, no pics today. i'm VERY unhappy with my car right now. the $$$ that i spent SPECIFICALLY for a set of volks that would clear 2g tt brakes was, apparently, a waste. i nearly had to leave milt's with 2 of his wheels on my car; the brake caliper clearance is THAT bad. i want to falcon punch dennis so f**king bad right now.

on a side note, the d2's ride excellent. i'm happy with them. it's a tad lower in the front than it was...and i'll have to make sure i don't scrape as i'm dd'ing it (whenever i can get back to dd'ing it). the bumps don't bother me any. feels no different (possibly slightly better) than the stock stuff i had on before.

anyways, since i don't have a picture (and won't till at least next weekend) let me try and explain it a bit better. if you jack the back end of the car off the ground, look at where the rear struts mount on the bottom. these run right past the rear axles (rotating assembly); whereas on the fronts, the strut mounts ABOVE the axle. the part of the axle that has the least amount of clearance has a disc/flange/whatnot with bolts in it. it is this part of the axle that contacts the larger-diameter-tubed coilovers when the car is on jackstands.
Hans@GZP
10-03-2010, 11:20 PM
We put Ksports on an awd conversion and had clearance in the rear... although it was extremely close.
ChargerX3
10-03-2010, 11:45 PM
Pics, or ban!
green-lantern
10-04-2010, 01:24 PM
anyways, since i don't have a picture (and won't till at least next weekend) let me try and explain it a bit better. if you jack the back end of the car off the ground, look at where the rear struts mount on the bottom. these run right past the rear axles (rotating assembly); whereas on the fronts, the strut mounts ABOVE the axle. the part of the axle that has the least amount of clearance has a disc/flange/whatnot with bolts in it. it is this part of the axle that contacts the larger-diameter-tubed coilovers when the car is on jackstands.

OK, yeah I thought that’s what you were talking about. The stock stuff came very close. I’ve been thinking about getting a set of those coilovers. I might have to 2nd guess it.

Sucks about the wheels man. I would be very pissed also.
IPD
10-04-2010, 05:13 PM
http://www.3sgto.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=1155&d=1286226725
http://www.3sgto.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=1156&d=1286226735

this is on the ground. i assure you it touches when it's in the air.
IPD
10-04-2010, 05:16 PM
OK, yeah I thought that’s what you were talking about. The stock stuff came very close. I’ve been thinking about getting a set of those coilovers. I might have to 2nd guess it.

Sucks about the wheels man. I would be very pissed also.

my offer still stands on the c-ultra's...if you're interested in buying the gt-c's.
green-lantern
10-04-2010, 05:17 PM
I wonder if it's going to rub when you hit a hill fast.
green-lantern
10-04-2010, 05:18 PM
my offer still stands on the c-ultra's...if you're interested in buying the gt-c's.

I'm good with the wheels I have now. thanks
Hans@GZP
10-05-2010, 11:41 AM
OK, yeah I thought that’s what you were talking about. The stock stuff came very close. I’ve been thinking about getting a set of those coilovers. I might have to 2nd guess it.

Sucks about the wheels man. I would be very pissed also.

Paul, you can run coilovers on an awd conversion without any problems. There is still clearance unless you plan to launch your car off a ramp like night rider.
IPD
10-05-2010, 06:39 PM
Paul, you can run coilovers on an awd conversion without any problems. There is still clearance unless you plan to launch your car off a ramp like night rider.

:stupid:

unless you plan on being airborne, it shouldn't be a problem.
green-lantern
10-23-2011, 05:10 PM
So this ended up being OK huh? I'm thinking of picking up a set of megans.
stealthee
10-23-2011, 09:23 PM
Do eeet.
IPD
10-24-2011, 07:15 AM
agreed. do it. 3/s's shouldn't look like low-rider's on the rear axle & 4x4's on the front.
MiNi_ViPeR
10-26-2011, 05:28 AM
So, are you fwd, converted to AWD?
I feel like I read somewhere that the upper mounting point (perch) on the AWD cars is in a different position.
I would assume this is to move the strut away from the axle to avoid the issue you're having....
If that's the case you could look into changing those out too if it REALLY bothers you. Deff would be some work though...

Oh, and don't forget to re align the car. :D
IPD
10-26-2011, 05:32 AM
So, are you fwd, converted to AWD?
I feel like I read somewhere that the upper mounting point (perch) on the AWD cars is in a different position.
I would assume this is to move the strut away from the axle to avoid the issue you're having....
If that's the case you could look into changing those out too if it REALLY bothers you. Deff would be some work though...

Oh, and don't forget to re align the car. :D

evan (shooter83) actually did this with his first conversion. he did a meticulous tit-for-tat exact duplication of factory placement strut mounts. LOTS more pita though, and really not worth it.