Let's talk coilovers

[2fnloud]

I had GC coilovers for a while and they were pretty horrible. The ride was way too stiff and they were also pretty noisey without some sort of helper springs to take up the slack when the suspension unloaded. I don't think I'd feel all that comfortable racing with them.

I'm running the Megans now and after several track days they do their job. They may not be perfectly setup for my car but there are a lot of other things I can do to it before doing that will make it worth it.



Years ago I talked to a company about making custom coilovers for our cars and it got pretty pricey. However, they didn't have off the shelf struts for our cars. Now that Bilstein does maybe it's time to look into it. However on a car by car basis they're going to be just as pricey as already mentioned here.

I would imagine that C/O sleeves without helper springs is not an option. Do you remember what the spring rates were when you had the G/C sleeves?

[Maximal]

I would imagine that C/O sleeves without helper springs is not an option. Do you remember what the spring rates were when you had the G/C sleeves?

I remember looking them up somewhere back then but I don't remember what they were. I think they were software than I thought they would be with how harsh the ride was.

[DG]

The ride was way too stiff and they were also pretty noisey without some sort of helper springs to take up the slack when the suspension unloaded.

That may be a function of the sprung rate, or something may have been binding somewhere. If springs were rattling around at full droop it is possible that something got cocked over and jammed.

Ground Control's sleeves are really very good and I like their perch clamp system better than anyone's. But I've had entirely less success with their upper mount "solutions". Some are OK, but others are just right out to lunch. So I'm not a huge fan of systems that attempt to cram a standard spring into an OEM spring perch; I'd rather see a proper upper hat and spherical bearing.

But that, as always, adds complexity and cost.

DG

[2fnloud]

That may be a function of the sprung rate, or something may have been binding somewhere. If springs were rattling around at full droop it is possible that something got cocked over and jammed.

Ground Control's sleeves are really very good and I like their perch clamp system better than anyone's. But I've had entirely less success with their upper mount "solutions". Some are OK, but others are just right out to lunch. So I'm not a huge fan of systems that attempt to cram a standard spring into an OEM spring perch; I'd rather see a proper upper hat and spherical bearing.

But that, as always, adds complexity and cost.

DG

Perhaps we should contact AMR about getting said proper upper hats with a spherical bearing.

[2fnloud]

This is the upper hat that he developed for the Saturn S series:

[J. Fast]

They have very nice tooling. Absolutely beautiful machine work. I haven't seen any reviews other than google info on Honda and 240 boards so I wouldn't trust it. Their Evo converted pieces look really nice, and they are spherical bearing upgraded, but looks good and performs good are two different things. Anyone have more links or tech review info?

[2fnloud]

I could link you to the raves that the Saturn owners have with them. I dropped out of the Saturn scene right after he made the coil-overs, front strut bar, rear strut bar. for the S-series Saturn. I owned one of his rear strut bars....excellent craftsmanship.

[DG]

but looks good and performs good are two different things.

I usually just buy one and see what it takes to break it. Having access to a press can be fun!

Note that upper hats on front McStruts can be tricky. You want to build in camber/caster adjustability and the thing has to rotate smoothly in the steering axis - and I don't think a single spherical bearing cuts it. The common sort of design I've seen really doesn't pass muster; there needs to be a separate bearing on the steering axis, and the camber/caster slots should feature positive stops instead of just relying on clamping power (six allen bolts pinching down is evidence that the thing moves)

DG

[2fnloud]

I usually just buy one and see what it takes to break it. Having access to a press can be fun!

Note that upper hats on front McStruts can be tricky. You want to build in camber/caster adjustability and the thing has to rotate smoothly in the steering axis - and I don't think a single spherical bearing cuts it. The common sort of design I've seen really doesn't pass muster; there needs to be a separate bearing on the steering axis, and the camber/caster slots should feature positive stops instead of just relying on clamping power (six allen bolts pinching down is evidence that the thing moves)



DG

I only count four and there is no mention if there is or is not stops or grooves on the mating surfaces to prevent slipping.

[anyonebutme]

I usually just buy one and see what it takes to break it. Having access to a press can be fun!

Note that upper hats on front McStruts can be tricky. You want to build in camber/caster adjustability and the thing has to rotate smoothly in the steering axis - and I don't think a single spherical bearing cuts it. The common sort of design I've seen really doesn't pass muster; there needs to be a separate bearing on the steering axis, and the camber/caster slots should feature positive stops instead of just relying on clamping power (six allen bolts pinching down is evidence that the thing moves)

DG

I agree.

1 word: Vorshlag. Lowest stack height, separate bearing on underside for steering, largest pillowball out there, and ability to have them in non-adjustable config (popular with us spec class peeps) so no worry about adjustment slipping. Not to mention they are a bunch of great guys and being down the street from AST USA. Mine for my next setup are from them.