Modifying Your Front Upper Shock Mount
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 343
Likes: 1
From: Petaluma, Ca
hmmm...I'm wanting to lower my ride about 2" but very cautious about the stiff ride.
This mod has me thinking I can have best of both worlds, a lowered ride height, and "softer" front end ride.
I think I may do this....oh and any more people have Before/After pics?? Thanks!!!
This mod has me thinking I can have best of both worlds, a lowered ride height, and "softer" front end ride.
I think I may do this....oh and any more people have Before/After pics?? Thanks!!!
^^^Damn that looks nice! Any pics before you did the mod? What springs you got? I just bought some sportlines so I might do this.
Any problems with bumps, potholes or anything like that with the drop?
Any problems with bumps, potholes or anything like that with the drop?
Theyre Intrax springs - similar to the sportlines. The only 'before' pic I could find is below. No problems that I can recall... I had a local exhaust shop trim/re-weld my system to tuck higher - now the lowest part of my car is the fender tabs and I can clear most speed bumps easily. I rarely have a passenger until just recently (commuting to class with a buddy) and have noticed some rubbing in the rear/passenger side but I think a spin of the PHB will fix that
I cut exactly 1.5 coils off the front and rear of my factory springs. It lowered the car about 2" in front and back keeping a small amount of rake. My car sat rather high from the factory though.
Last edited by SStolen; Sep 30, 2012 at 06:47 PM.
I have some questions. Some things to consider with my set-up is that I have Koni SA's in the front with factory cut springs that lowered my car roughly 2" front and rear. My car sat high from the factory though. I think the front is still too high though so I am going to move the spring perch to the lower setting on the Koni shock.
1. I have a cutout under the driver seat that hangs lower than anything else on the car. It sometimes scraps speedbumps if I don't slow down enough. From what I understand, doing this mod allows the tires to go into the wheelwell further when hitting bumps so is it possible that I could bottom out on my cutout if I hit a dip in the road going too fast (some parts of the freeway around here has bad dips?
2. What are the benefits of the 40mm Koni bumpstops mentioned in this thread? Should I get them with my set-up? I haven't ran a factory bumpstop for ten years. The car rides fine. I don't feel like I hit anything but then again I don't aim for potholes or not slow down for speedbumps either.
Thanks
1. I have a cutout under the driver seat that hangs lower than anything else on the car. It sometimes scraps speedbumps if I don't slow down enough. From what I understand, doing this mod allows the tires to go into the wheelwell further when hitting bumps so is it possible that I could bottom out on my cutout if I hit a dip in the road going too fast (some parts of the freeway around here has bad dips?
2. What are the benefits of the 40mm Koni bumpstops mentioned in this thread? Should I get them with my set-up? I haven't ran a factory bumpstop for ten years. The car rides fine. I don't feel like I hit anything but then again I don't aim for potholes or not slow down for speedbumps either.
Thanks
Last edited by SStolen; Oct 1, 2012 at 12:53 AM.
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Verdad Gallardo What are the pros and cons of cutting some of the coil off the spring over moving the spring perch lower on the shock? Using your motion ratio, cutting a groove 1.25" lower than the factory perch would lower the car 2.1". I know that cutting some of the coil off the factory spring would give you a higher spring rate which would keep it off the bumpstop but other than that, it is the same thing?
So if my car is lowered 2", which it is, you're saying I only have 1" of suspension travel? So cutting .75" off the shock mount which which results in an extra 1.25" of suspension travel would more than double the travel I currently have.
Last edited by SStolen; Oct 1, 2012 at 01:10 AM.
Reviving this thread to warn anyone who has or may do this to their upper mounts. After cutting the end as described off a brand new set of moogs I had an unusually bouncy ride, but a perfect stance. After about three weeks I here metal hitting metal and it sounds like the inner fender/shock tower. My konis had pushed all the way through the mounts on both sides. I am very lucky to have not had a major incident as I drive 70 highway miles a day to work. Will post pics
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 3
From: Hou. TX.
Reviving this thread to warn anyone who has or may do this to their upper mounts. After cutting the end as described off a brand new set of moogs I had an unusually bouncy ride, but a perfect stance. After about three weeks I here metal hitting metal and it sounds like the inner fender/shock tower. My konis had pushed all the way through the mounts on both sides.
The piece on the top left. They are essential.
JasonWW , is 100% correct!
Every thread that I've seen where someone has had the shock pulled through the upper mount was the result of leaving that crucial piece out!
BTW, I run Koni SA's with the U.M.M., and a GroundControl adjustable coil over sleeve kit with 625 lb.in. front spring rates and have never had any problems in over +5 yrs with the modified upper mount on my daily driver Camaro Z28.
Every thread that I've seen where someone has had the shock pulled through the upper mount was the result of leaving that crucial piece out!
BTW, I run Koni SA's with the U.M.M., and a GroundControl adjustable coil over sleeve kit with 625 lb.in. front spring rates and have never had any problems in over +5 yrs with the modified upper mount on my daily driver Camaro Z28.
Last edited by 99Bluz28; Aug 14, 2014 at 04:33 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 3
From: Hou. TX.
The koni top hat is already shaped like there is a washer there. It's got a tapered top that allows the shock to pivot. So you don't need to add the washer with those shocks.
Last edited by JasonWW; Aug 14, 2014 at 07:38 PM.
+3 ive had mine done (properly) for years now driving up in the streets of New England no issues what so ever... car actually has ridden much better since i did this mod also running 2" drop in the front on 600lb springs and Koni SAs...
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: London..Britland !
Revivng this thread! You guys have got me sold on this idea...
Did a Koni SA/GC/eibach mod last year so I could lower the car all round but the front shocks have only got about half inch travel to the bumpstop and the ride is rough over speed bumps. Feels like its the start of bottoming out on the fronts.. Only lowered about an inch but the harder you hit 'em the worse it is. I even shaved a bit off the GC bump stop to give me more travel but this idea might save my sanity ..Good One !!!!
Did a Koni SA/GC/eibach mod last year so I could lower the car all round but the front shocks have only got about half inch travel to the bumpstop and the ride is rough over speed bumps. Feels like its the start of bottoming out on the fronts.. Only lowered about an inch but the harder you hit 'em the worse it is. I even shaved a bit off the GC bump stop to give me more travel but this idea might save my sanity ..Good One !!!!
You guys have got me sold on this idea...
Did a Koni SA/GC/eibach mod last year so I could lower the car all round but the front shocks have only got about half inch travel to the bumpstop and the ride is rough over speed bumps. Feels like its the start of bottoming out on the fronts.. Only lowered about an inch but the harder you hit 'em the worse it is. I even shaved a bit off the GC bump stop to give me more travel but this idea might save my sanity ..Good One !!!!
Did a Koni SA/GC/eibach mod last year so I could lower the car all round but the front shocks have only got about half inch travel to the bumpstop and the ride is rough over speed bumps. Feels like its the start of bottoming out on the fronts.. Only lowered about an inch but the harder you hit 'em the worse it is. I even shaved a bit off the GC bump stop to give me more travel but this idea might save my sanity ..Good One !!!!
Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: London..Britland !
Good idea..the GC ones look a bit crummy and soft..
Did the mod today by the way and now I got plenty of shock travel but i'm covered in S*itty rubber gunk
... Now the car is up in the air.. where do I get Koni bumpstops ?? Im in England, are there any vendors I can order from here or stateside that you know of?? I think GC must of stolen the originals !!
Did the mod today by the way and now I got plenty of shock travel but i'm covered in S*itty rubber gunk
... Now the car is up in the air.. where do I get Koni bumpstops ?? Im in England, are there any vendors I can order from here or stateside that you know of?? I think GC must of stolen the originals !! Staging Lane
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: London..Britland !
Thanks for that..I have sourced a Koni Deealer over here in England (Brit Land!)
While we are on the subject i see you did this mod ages ago and it all held up.
But there is one thing that concerns me and that is the washer that Jason recommends to use at the top between the mount and the top hat to prevent bind once you have done the mod.
Dosent that create a stress point in so far as there is less surface area contacting the mount where the shock top "pin" goes through the mount because you have removed material and placed a washer there.
I know the car is supported weight wise by the springs and there is no lateral loading on the shock to any extent and that the shocks themselves use the internal rubber/steel plate where the pin goes through and it all bolts together..
Anymore guidance please ?.. I am using a ground control system and see you are familiar with this..
Cheers