Anyone running Ground Control products?

Conekiller13 · 10-10-2006, 08:36 AM

Is any one here running anything from Ground Control? I had a nice chat with them about their camber/caster plates and coil overs but wanted some first hand feedback. Thanks.

http://www.ground-control-store.com/...p/II=149/CA=90

gtsxr · 10-10-2006, 10:24 AM

I'm running the coilover kit with 325# springs up front and 300# springs in the rear on stock struts. I also have a set of helper springs in the rear. Over all I really like the way the car handles. At those rates the ride isn't too much different from stock. At high speeds it seems to be smoother, until a large bump is hit, then you get a little jolt, but it seems like all springs are like that. I think it's mostly due to the valving of the struts. At low speeds you feel more of the road becuase they are not progressive rate springs. Not being progressive rate does help with turn-in and makes the car feel a little more planted at speed though.

The only thing I would suggest is trying to find a set of dust covers to replace the stock units. Because the springs have a 2.5" ID the stock dust covers won't work so the strut shaft is exposed to the elements. I've noticed that I have to lube the rear struts about once a month to keep the dreaded strut clunk away. A lot of people have to do this anyway, so I don't think it's that big of a deal.

Other than that I have no complaints. Ride height adjustment is easy and mine don't make any noise. The spring rates I am using are about the highest you can go on the stock struts and they work pretty well together.

-Pete

Conekiller13 · 10-10-2006, 01:04 PM

Thanks!

RyanC · 10-10-2006, 07:06 PM

I am running the Ground Control coilover kit on my 05 STI, with 350s in the front and 300s in the rear. I just put the fronts in so I can't comment on their performance, but the rear springs have been great so far. I'll be taking the car to VIR this weekend after an alignment and corner-balance, and am expecting good things.

rsamerica · 10-10-2006, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conekiller13

Is any one here running anything from Ground Control? I had a nice chat with them about their camber/caster plates and coil overs but wanted some first hand feedback. Thanks.

http://www.ground-control-store.com/...p/II=149/CA=90

My buddy has there coil-overs for his BMW ITS race car. Seems pretty happy with the set up, but he says the valving is a little off, He is getting it revalved this winter.

Conekiller13 · 10-17-2006, 09:38 AM

Cool!

RyanC · 10-18-2006, 08:39 AM

I got about 160 miles on the full GC setup on my STI this weekend. The car also has Hotchkis Competition swaybars.

On RA-1s, with -3f and -1.6r camber, rear sway set to medium, the car was very neutral. It pushed a wee bit turning into the esses at VIR, but otherwise was great. Ride quality, while not an important factor as this is now primarily a track car, is fine. I had the car corner balanced, and have about a 13.5f/13.25r ride height (fender to center of wheel).

It was good enough for 2:15s at VIR on the long course, with only 40 or so laps. Definitely had more time in the setup, had my car behaved otherwise.

RainMaker · 10-18-2006, 10:10 AM

Does anyone have a setup where Ground Control replaced the stock cartridges with Koni cartidges?

thanks,
Chris

RacerXS · 10-18-2006, 10:33 AM

That is the worst website ever.

RainMaker · 10-18-2006, 11:05 AM

Hey Dan,

I just had a really long conversation with Mark @ ground control, whom you may also have spoken to.

The offer a full Koni DA coilover with any spring rates and camber plates for the front for $~2400. With their Advanced Design dampener, the price rises to ~$2900. They have a good deal of experience custom valving the AD dampener (its also DA), and its a little softer than the Konis, which they feel are extremely tough for the street.

Given that ZZYZX is considerably more money for the same thing (well, close, I know there are differences), Im encouraged by GC's prices. A fellow named David Lewis is running an STI in Washington with the AD dampeners.

The pricing on these is good enough that I really just need to work out which dampener to choose, and I suspect you are in the same boat. Koni single adjustables are available too, but they sound a little soft for what I need (and can tolerate on the street).

I would likely order them with 500f, 450r springs.

Another nice benefit is that revalving is $75 a strut and different springs (they are Eibach linear, I think), are $59 each.

We have what sounds a great option here, but I'd like to find some experience with it.

Anyone?

Chris

xtremeyolks · 10-18-2006, 11:48 AM

I have a full ground control system on my 06 sti and am relatively happy with it so far. I would recommend against the AD shocks, as they have a history of losing pressure and needing constant rebuilds. I have the koni double adjustables(8611) in custom ground control housings, along with their top mount camber plates in front and camber plates in the rear. David Lewis is a great resource, as he does have the AD shocks, but his kept blowing out also and eventually he rebuilt the shocks himself and everything has been fine since. He also built some sort of top mount camber plate thing for his front plates(on top of the GC plates) for more caster I believe. If you get the GC housings be prepared that the brake line brackets are welded about 1" off. Not a big deal, but I thought that was fixed from the past but apparently not. I'm running 500lb springs front, 400 rear and the ride isn't bad at all. If you need anymore info just let me know.

Karlton

xtremeyolks · 10-18-2006, 12:34 PM

FWIW i'm coming from a set of Zeal function v6 coilovers with the 10k/8k spring setup. Oh and about the only thing I like about the AD shock is that the rebound/compression can both be adjusted on the top. It's a bit of a pain to adjust my compression on the koni shock easily.

RainMaker · 10-18-2006, 05:48 PM

Karlton,

How noisey is the system compared to fixed perch struts?

What are the negatives of the Koni DA setup? It sounds like you have what I would get, spring-rate-wise.

thanks,
Chris

xtremeyolks · 10-18-2006, 10:54 PM

Well it's defintely more noisey, but it's to be expected when it's all metal to metal contact. There's absolutely no rubber in my setup. It makes kind of a thud going over big bumps. Theye are more quiet than my zeals were(sold them because the rear shocks kept blowing on me, but at least I got free rebuilds) but they are no where near as quiet as the stock suspension. The negatives are that it's a bit difficult to get to the compression dials(I went with the same length shock all the way around, you might want the longer ones in the rear...I think the 8611 comes in 3 different lengths) the front isn't hard but the rear is way up in the housing so I use a long screwdriver to get to it. I'll be making a tool shortly to make this easier so I can adjust them while on the ground. The shock is a bit heavy on compression to start with as i'm sure Mark told you so i'm sure the ride would improve if you got them revalved. Other than that I just love and trust konis in general so i'm pretty happy with them. I do miss the separate height adjustment/spring preload of my old zeals, as I don't like the spring losing contact with the perch or top hat. Total cost for the complete setup with f/r plates was $3100. So for about 3/4 the price of the zzyzx coilovers I got pretty much the same setup with plates, though I would like the fully threaded body and all aluminum bits of the zzyzx coils. Other coils of interest for me were the ohlins flag i coilovers. I just like ground controls because they are very flexible with what you want to do. It's easy to change springs etc, and the housings can accept the 8610 single adjustable koni, with just a different spacer on the bottom of the housing. Overall, you can't go wrong with any of the big buck coilovers.

xtremeyolks · 10-18-2006, 11:00 PM

Here's a pic of them

10-10-2006, 08:36 AM	#1
Conekiller13 STI Driver Car: Black '05 STi Fav Mod: Dealer delete option. Location: Donald, OR Posts: 256 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Anyone running Ground Control products? Is any one here running anything from Ground Control? I had a nice chat with them about their camber/caster plates and coil overs but wanted some first hand feedback. Thanks. http://www.ground-control-store.com/...p/II=149/CA=90 This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

10-10-2006, 10:24 AM	#2
gtsxr Amateur STI Driver Car: 06 CGM STi Location: Reston, VA Posts: 48 IWSTI Addict since: Jan 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	I'm running the coilover kit with 325# springs up front and 300# springs in the rear on stock struts. I also have a set of helper springs in the rear. Over all I really like the way the car handles. At those rates the ride isn't too much different from stock. At high speeds it seems to be smoother, until a large bump is hit, then you get a little jolt, but it seems like all springs are like that. I think it's mostly due to the valving of the struts. At low speeds you feel more of the road becuase they are not progressive rate springs. Not being progressive rate does help with turn-in and makes the car feel a little more planted at speed though. The only thing I would suggest is trying to find a set of dust covers to replace the stock units. Because the springs have a 2.5" ID the stock dust covers won't work so the strut shaft is exposed to the elements. I've noticed that I have to lube the rear struts about once a month to keep the dreaded strut clunk away. A lot of people have to do this anyway, so I don't think it's that big of a deal. Other than that I have no complaints. Ride height adjustment is easy and mine don't make any noise. The spring rates I am using are about the highest you can go on the stock struts and they work pretty well together. -Pete Last edited by gtsxr; 10-14-2006 at 05:45 AM.

10-18-2006, 11:00 PM	#15
xtremeyolks Junior STI Driver Car: 06 STi Fav Mod: GST Tune Location: Fremont/Davis CA Posts: 117 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Here's a pic of them This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

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10-10-2006, 01:04 PM	#3
Conekiller13 STI Driver Car: Black '05 STi Fav Mod: Dealer delete option. Location: Donald, OR Posts: 256 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks!

10-10-2006, 07:06 PM	#4
RyanC Junior STI Driver Posts: 127 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I am running the Ground Control coilover kit on my 05 STI, with 350s in the front and 300s in the rear. I just put the fronts in so I can't comment on their performance, but the rear springs have been great so far. I'll be taking the car to VIR this weekend after an alignment and corner-balance, and am expecting good things.

10-17-2006, 09:38 AM	#6
Conekiller13 STI Driver Car: Black '05 STi Fav Mod: Dealer delete option. Location: Donald, OR Posts: 256 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Cool!

10-18-2006, 08:39 AM	#7
RyanC Junior STI Driver Posts: 127 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I got about 160 miles on the full GC setup on my STI this weekend. The car also has Hotchkis Competition swaybars. On RA-1s, with -3f and -1.6r camber, rear sway set to medium, the car was very neutral. It pushed a wee bit turning into the esses at VIR, but otherwise was great. Ride quality, while not an important factor as this is now primarily a track car, is fine. I had the car corner balanced, and have about a 13.5f/13.25r ride height (fender to center of wheel). It was good enough for 2:15s at VIR on the long course, with only 40 or so laps. Definitely had more time in the setup, had my car behaved otherwise.

10-18-2006, 10:10 AM	#8
RainMaker The Next Petter Solberg Car: 08 Z06 Corvette Fav Mod: Jack Jack Location: Portland, OR Posts: 882 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	Does anyone have a setup where Ground Control replaced the stock cartridges with Koni cartidges? thanks, Chris

10-18-2006, 10:33 AM	#9
RacerXS S204 Racer Car: 05' Sti Black Fav Mod: Dyslexia Location: Central, NJ Posts: 3,351 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2004 Trader Rating: (13)	That is the worst website ever.

10-18-2006, 11:05 AM	#10
RainMaker The Next Petter Solberg Car: 08 Z06 Corvette Fav Mod: Jack Jack Location: Portland, OR Posts: 882 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	Hey Dan, I just had a really long conversation with Mark @ ground control, whom you may also have spoken to. The offer a full Koni DA coilover with any spring rates and camber plates for the front for $~2400. With their Advanced Design dampener, the price rises to ~$2900. They have a good deal of experience custom valving the AD dampener (its also DA), and its a little softer than the Konis, which they feel are extremely tough for the street. Given that ZZYZX is considerably more money for the same thing (well, close, I know there are differences), Im encouraged by GC's prices. A fellow named David Lewis is running an STI in Washington with the AD dampeners. The pricing on these is good enough that I really just need to work out which dampener to choose, and I suspect you are in the same boat. Koni single adjustables are available too, but they sound a little soft for what I need (and can tolerate on the street). I would likely order them with 500f, 450r springs. Another nice benefit is that revalving is $75 a strut and different springs (they are Eibach linear, I think), are $59 each. We have what sounds a great option here, but I'd like to find some experience with it. Anyone? Chris

10-18-2006, 11:48 AM	#11
xtremeyolks Junior STI Driver Car: 06 STi Fav Mod: GST Tune Location: Fremont/Davis CA Posts: 117 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	I have a full ground control system on my 06 sti and am relatively happy with it so far. I would recommend against the AD shocks, as they have a history of losing pressure and needing constant rebuilds. I have the koni double adjustables(8611) in custom ground control housings, along with their top mount camber plates in front and camber plates in the rear. David Lewis is a great resource, as he does have the AD shocks, but his kept blowing out also and eventually he rebuilt the shocks himself and everything has been fine since. He also built some sort of top mount camber plate thing for his front plates(on top of the GC plates) for more caster I believe. If you get the GC housings be prepared that the brake line brackets are welded about 1" off. Not a big deal, but I thought that was fixed from the past but apparently not. I'm running 500lb springs front, 400 rear and the ride isn't bad at all. If you need anymore info just let me know. Karlton

10-18-2006, 12:34 PM	#12
xtremeyolks Junior STI Driver Car: 06 STi Fav Mod: GST Tune Location: Fremont/Davis CA Posts: 117 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	FWIW i'm coming from a set of Zeal function v6 coilovers with the 10k/8k spring setup. Oh and about the only thing I like about the AD shock is that the rebound/compression can both be adjusted on the top. It's a bit of a pain to adjust my compression on the koni shock easily.

10-18-2006, 05:48 PM	#13
RainMaker The Next Petter Solberg Car: 08 Z06 Corvette Fav Mod: Jack Jack Location: Portland, OR Posts: 882 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	Karlton, How noisey is the system compared to fixed perch struts? What are the negatives of the Koni DA setup? It sounds like you have what I would get, spring-rate-wise. thanks, Chris

10-18-2006, 10:54 PM	#14
xtremeyolks Junior STI Driver Car: 06 STi Fav Mod: GST Tune Location: Fremont/Davis CA Posts: 117 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Well it's defintely more noisey, but it's to be expected when it's all metal to metal contact. There's absolutely no rubber in my setup. It makes kind of a thud going over big bumps. Theye are more quiet than my zeals were(sold them because the rear shocks kept blowing on me, but at least I got free rebuilds) but they are no where near as quiet as the stock suspension. The negatives are that it's a bit difficult to get to the compression dials(I went with the same length shock all the way around, you might want the longer ones in the rear...I think the 8611 comes in 3 different lengths) the front isn't hard but the rear is way up in the housing so I use a long screwdriver to get to it. I'll be making a tool shortly to make this easier so I can adjust them while on the ground. The shock is a bit heavy on compression to start with as i'm sure Mark told you so i'm sure the ride would improve if you got them revalved. Other than that I just love and trust konis in general so i'm pretty happy with them. I do miss the separate height adjustment/spring preload of my old zeals, as I don't like the spring losing contact with the perch or top hat. Total cost for the complete setup with f/r plates was $3100. So for about 3/4 the price of the zzyzx coilovers I got pretty much the same setup with plates, though I would like the fully threaded body and all aluminum bits of the zzyzx coils. Other coils of interest for me were the ohlins flag i coilovers. I just like ground controls because they are very flexible with what you want to do. It's easy to change springs etc, and the housings can accept the 8610 single adjustable koni, with just a different spacer on the bottom of the housing. Overall, you can't go wrong with any of the big buck coilovers.