ssjason232

iTrader: (14)

so i just put konis and strano springs on my camaro. Ride is awesome, stiff enough, but not bad at all for around town driving. The only issue i have is the ride height.

i guess i want it just a little lower than it is now. For some reason, my buddys trans am with eibachs and stock shocks sits way better than my camaro.

Given im running bigger wheels (18/19) and he has (17/18), but the gap between my fender and tire is a lot higher.

My car is not a DD, in fact i only put 3-4k on it a year. and 2k of that was a trip to SC. That said, not so concerned with perfect ride quality over performance.

SOOO, i was thinking about getting a Ground Control kit for my car and keeping the konis.


For those that have this kit, what are your opinions of it? How has it held up? most important, what spring rates are you running?

Ive also heard (from sam) that this kit will void warranty of konis, but ground control said b/c it mounts same as factory setup, it wont? guess ill have to go to koni for that.

Overall, good kit to buy, or should i stay away.

z28bryan

iTrader: (7)

If (BIG IF!!!) you dont care about ride quality, have you considered the lower front perch setting and doing rear heater hose mod... Once again.. nothing I'd ever do or recommend.. but it will lower the car a little more. Around ~ 1/2 inch all around possibly?

ssjason232

iTrader: (14)

the rear actually sits perfect, its the front that needs lower.

I dropped it to the lower perch and it was only about a 1/4 difference, i moved it back up until i get the koni bump stops. I just got a set of eibachs, gonna try that out, but am leaning toward the ground control.

just need some imput on them and some spring rate suggestions.

ssjason232

iTrader: (14)

anyone want to step in with some spring rate suggestions?

YellowToy/A

iTrader: (1)

I like like mine. I have Koni and and 400lbs/in. It is tight but not to bad. I have double adjustable koni and made a few change in both ways before I was happy. So I would recommend 400 or 450 lbs/in.

ssjason232

iTrader: (14)

wow. that low? ive been doing lots of searches and everyone seems to be running 500-650 front and 125-175 rear.

thats crazy

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Eibach Pro-kit are only 400 lb/in in front...

If you want to go with the GC setup, that's fine. But remember that it's not a simple install like a spring, you have to make the sleeves fit the Koni and that will tend to void the Koni warranty. As for spring rates, I can tell you that my springs were developed the other way 'round... but running a set of coil-overs on my car and when I found the rates and heights I liked best I made a set of springs to save a lot of hassle. If you have to have that ride height adjustment then I'd say you have your answer--and you know the spring rate I like so just use that.

ssjason232

iTrader: (14)

I have your springs in now sam, but for whatever reason, the drop in the rear is greater than in the front, which just looks wack. I just moved the spring to the lower perch on the konis and it helped a little, just not as much as i hoped it would.

Im actually okay with some gap, im not looking to slam the thing like a low rider, just need to get it proportional.

Im running staggered wheel sizes too, so thats probably not helping having a 19 in the rear and only an 18 up front.

I love the way the suspension feels and rides, the konis were an awesome investment and im glad you (sam) talked me out of another set of bilstiens.

What rate are your springs sam?

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

The rates are well publicized, 550/150. You don't actually give any ride heights, or the heights of you tires... My guess is simply that the rear tires look smaller (thinner sidewalls) and that's making things look odd. I've got to say that too low in the rear is a very uncommon complaint, and most of them folks are looking to lower the rear more... I'm perplexed.

ssjason232

iTrader: (14)

Ill have to measure it on level ground tomorrow.

I just went out and measured the diameter of the wheel/tire. fronts are 1.5inches smaller than the rears (18/19).

Looking at it now, its probably more the big rear wheel taking up more of the fender well, and the front is what it is.

1.5 (or 3/4) on each side of the tire, would make up the visual difference im seeing on the car.

This is before the drop with the staggered wheel. you can see the difference in it even here
[IMG][/IMG]

this is after, lower perch
[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

the bottom pic is kinda crappy, but this is where it is most obvious.

ill get some better ones tomorrow when the weather is a bit better

ssjason232

iTrader: (14)

looking more and more at this sam, i think its just the larger size wheel, which i never really wanted in the first place.

my options are lower the front more to compensate for the taller rear tire, or to just get some 18s for the back.

Sam Strano

iTrader: (41)

Call me crazy, I think it looks great.............. And look at it stock, it had a HUGE front gap. That's not the case now.

z28bryan

iTrader: (7)

What's your front and rear tire size specs?

ssjason232

iTrader: (14)

yea, the pics look really good, but i think some of that is because of the angle of the car. on dead flat it looks a bit different.

285/30/19 rear,
245/40/18 front (i think, off top of head)

6spdchevy

iTrader: (2)

it looks good to me, i just had some 17/18 installed and i love em

99FormulaM6r

iTrader: (2)

It's possible to safely run on the lower perch up front if you do the Upper Mount Mod (if you do a search you'll find it). If this extra drop is enough for you it'd be worth a look. However, I think it looks pretty nice as is

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

Have you measured your front and rear ride (wheel well arch apex to ground) ?

If my calibrated eyes are correct , I believe your rear tires must be a 285/35/19. With the rear wheel/tire height being greater in the rear it fills the rear wheel well more then in the front, which already has a higher arch then the rear so it gives the appearance of the rear being lower then the front.

IMO, I would do the Upper Mount Mod and put the spring seat on the lower perch first, since it's a no cost option.
If you still decide to get the Ground Control set-up and go lower, then go with at least a 550 lb.in. spring rate preferably higher (575-625).

ssjason232

iTrader: (14)

That pic is on the lower perch. I havent driven it yet on there untill i do the UMM, but just to see how it sat.

Im pretty sure im just gonna get some 18s for the back. Called OE wheels and they will sell me two wheels for the rear. Might like that look better anyway.

Your eyes are very well calibrated!

z28bryan

iTrader: (7)

Well the sizes he has are stock tire diameter. I was wondering if he had different sizes. Verified on this http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

99Bluz28

iTrader: (35)

Yeah, the sizes he posted are stock height, but the photo's say otherwise. A 285/30 would clearly have a shorter sidewall (about 1/2") then a 245/40. Furthermore a 285/30/19 wouldn't fill the wheel wells that much.