[mgsm666]

Originally Posted by ButtDyno

As for spring length - I have the GC housings in the rear and I'm going with a helper spring in the rear for next year so that the spring is constantly seated - this should help with the creaking/rubbing of the spring on the perch. It's rubbing on threads I'll never use, but I'd like to make the sound go away I don't know if this happens on the inserts though...

john

First of all, thanks for the immediate response.

In regards to tires, i ran 615's this year, and they were ok...i'll be running them again next summer because i already own them, but after that will be switching to re01-r's. Staying on a college budget, but still having some fun

Now, spring lengths: so does 8" sound correct? I haven't done the math for myself (dont fully understand all the measurements - almost there, but not quite). Keeping in mind the 14/13.5 ride height and GC plates up front for the added bump travel, will i be able to avoid coil bind?

Jesse

[stretch]

Originally Posted by mgsm666

Stretch / Mark / anyone else that can help!

So i've read over this entire thread (about six times), and i'm left with a few questions. First of all, i'm planning on running hacked wrx housings in the rear with inserts, and full GC housings in the front, as well as GC plates up front for the added inch of bump travel. Also, by the time i do this i'll also be running 22-24mm sways (probably front + rear, as 27 seems a little excessive for a DD that hates understeer ).

That sounds like the right way to do it.

p.s. Stretch, I live near (and auto-x with) Jay - the guy you sold your GC's to. I'll be home over christmas, and i'll definitely be begging him for a ride. You ended up keeping the eibach springs though, correct?? Aren't they slightly progressive? Basically, trying to get a sense of how i could modify your setup to fit my needs (based on how they feel when i get a ride).

He's running 315lb/in up front and 250lb/in in the rear. The front springs are the ones I thought felt progressive, but perhaps I was overly critical and was just hitting the bump stops. Remember, I was NOT running the camber plates which are essential for getting the proper amount of bump travel out of this setup. Don't even think about running the GC setup without them unless you'll be at the stock ride height!

Anyway, for spring rates, I think 336/280, 350/300, 392/336, or 400/350 would all do well. You may have to run 8" spring front and rear to get your desired ride heights. I don't have specific enough measurements, but 9" springs might be a little too long.

Jay is running a 9" long front spring, 8" rear, and he can probably help you estimate these things. Keep in mind he hasn't yet (to my knowledge) cut the stock rear spring perch off, so there's roughly 1.5" of perch travel he can't yet use. (I kept it on since I sometimes switched back to the stock springs.) So, whatever he has his rear ride height at, figure he has the potential to go 1.5" lower if desired. Going to an inch longer spring would eat up an inch of that, and going firmer would eat up a small amount (3/8" or so) more.

If you think you can run a 9" rear spring, do it. The rear struts have a lot of travel so they'll use whatever the spring can give. Ideally you want the rear spring perch near the very bottom of the threads at your desired ride height.

An 8" front spring is probably sufficient since there isn't as much travel up there.

[mgsm666]

Thanks for the response stretch...

What do you think of buttdyno's idea of running 1" helpers to try to reduce noise?? If i recall, you didn't really have any issues with noise, did you? Worthwhile to run helpers in the rear?

Also, I'm not sure i completely understand the rear perch issue. Could you explain a little more? It seems like what your saying is that the stock rear perches restrict travel, and by cutting it, you gain 1.5" of bump travel?!?! That can't be right, can it? (edit: i will be cutting them, as i have no desire to go back to stock springs...)

Sounds like 8" springs are the way to go. I think i'll start with 336/280, and if they're too soft, i can pick up a pair of 392's for the front, and switch the 336's to the back...love the interchangeability

Now, sorry for all the questions, but what about bumpstops?? Did you take the new rear bumpstops and cut them in half --> giving you front and rears? Would you recommend doing the same? Or some other suggestion.

Thanks to everyone for your patience and all the advice!!


Jesse

[stretch]

Jesse, it's hard to show without a picture. The stock rear perches get in the way of the Ground Control sleeved perches unless they're cut. You won't be able to adjust them any more than half way down the sleeve.

I never had any noises at all, nope. ButtDyno runs firmer springs, which I would think would alleviate the issue if anything (the spring compresses less), but perhaps that's the difference.

I don't think helpers are necessary, but there is WAY more droop travel in the rear than the spring could possibly use. You'd need 3" helpers at least to keep the spring seated at full droop. Keep in mind that this increases the solid length of your spring assembly, though, forcing you to 8" springs at a maximum (no way you'd get 9").

That said, since the Koni rear do not have any gas pressure, I don't think you run a risk of the springs becoming unseated in use.

One possible idea is to drill a hole in the GC rear perch, tap it, and put a set screw in. That'll keep it from rotating, which is probably the source of the noise. Then put some lube on the top of the spring.

[mgsm666]

^^ got it...thanks for all your help stretch!! I'm sure i'll have a few more questions as i get closer to ordering these, but for now, i don't think i could've asked for more useful information.

Thanks!! This is why i love these forums...


Jesse

[FleaDog]

any updates from anyone running the setup?

[ButtDyno]

Originally Posted by FleaDog

any updates from anyone running the setup?

What would you like to know?

I am still super happy with mine. I just took them off for the winter since I haven't put dust boots on them yet (and have no reason to be running 450 lb/in springs until March). Next year I'll probably go with slightly stiffer springs but I plan on keeping the setup for a while.

john

[waktasz]

Mine are for sale.

Unfortunately they won't fit my new STI

Anyone want them? They have about 6 autocrosses and 3,000 miles on them.

[FleaDog]

Hey guys, sorry if this is a dumb question, can you just use the koni inserts with OE (sti, wrx) housings with jdm pinks/ grp n hats? anyone done this? results? thanks

[ButtDyno]

That should work - not the focus of this thread - but it should work. I am using Grp N's on mine.

[mgsm666]

any updates from people running the SA's?? Rear struts just went bad...again. So it looks like I'm gonna be making a purchase a little sooner than expected.


Jesse

[JD_STI]

Originally Posted by stretch

So, this really does appear to be (in my eyes) a Zzyzx setup for much less money.

Originally Posted by spazegun2213

I've always said that Zzyzx's are WAY to expensive for what you get. a long time ago i remember them saying they can do custom valving at an additional cost

I realize this was said far before the Zzyzx EM Sport coilovers were released. I didn't read through this entire thread so I apologize if this has been covered/updated, but, the EM Sports are about the same as this GC DA setup.

I'd be surprised if anyone were to say the EM Sports are WAY to expensive for what you get.

When you're spending over $2k is it really going to break your wallet to spend a couple extra bucks to have them custom valved.

[ButtDyno]

Originally Posted by JD_STI

I realize this was said far before the Zzyzx EM Sport coilovers were released. I didn't read through this entire thread so I apologize if this has been covered/updated, but, the EM Sports are about the same as this GC DA setup.

I'd be surprised if anyone were to say the EM Sports are WAY to expensive for what you get.

When you're spending over $2k is it really going to break your wallet to spend a couple extra bucks to have them custom valved.

The biggest advantage I see for the GC rig is the shocks themselves. I know people have done it but I thought that the 8610's (EM Sport SA setup) were only good for 450 lb/in.

It can be hard to get support from GC sometimes though, that's the biggest issue the other direction. Mark knows it but not everyone at GC does and sometimes Mark is busy. He does really know his stuff though.

[mgsm666]

Placed my order on Friday!! Mark was awesome - took the time to really go over every last detail, and explained everything to me. Extremely helpful and a super nice guy.

8" springs all around - 350f/300r, Koni inserts in wrx housings for the back, and it looks like i'm gonna be going with the camber/castor plates in the front too.

The bank is not pleased, and its gonna be hell waiting for them to arrive, but i'm pumped to get them on and dialed in.

Thanks again Mark, Stretch, Jay, and everyone else that helped me figure all this **** out!


Jesse

[tuskenraider]

Originally Posted by mgsm666

Placed my order on Friday!! Mark was awesome - took the time to really go over every last detail, and explained everything to me. Extremely helpful and a super nice guy.

8" springs all around - 350f/300r, Koni inserts in wrx housings for the back, and it looks like i'm gonna be going with the camber/castor plates in the front too.

The bank is not pleased, and its gonna be hell waiting for them to arrive, but i'm pumped to get them on and dialed in.

Thanks again Mark, Stretch, Jay, and everyone else that helped me figure all this **** out!


Jesse

Well if you're looking to save a few bucks, I have some new GC plates you might be interested in.