MeentSS02
03-05-2004, 04:03 PM
Let me just give you a brief description of this, since I know few will have ever heard of it...
The Ground Control kit is an adjustable coil over kit that can be used on the stock, as well as most aftermarket shocks without a problem. If you have or want Konis, you have to do a little modding to put them on, but they can be made to work. Basically, the Ground Control portion of the kit includes threaded aluminum collars with an adjustable spring perch that threads on the collar. For the fronts, the collar slides over the shock, and is *supposed* to slide over the c-clip on the shock where the spring perch would normally rest. I'll go into the *supposed to* part in the install description. For the rears, the aluminum collar sits on the spring cup, and the spring rests on it, so the shock is still mounted in its stock location.
Install -
This was the tricky part. The rears went on without too much of a problem (although my panhard rod didn't want to go back in), but this is where I ran into the first of my complaints about this system. The aluminum collars in the rear do not seat very well in the spring cup on the rear end...they are able to shift around a lot, and I did not like this. After talking to Sam Strano, he suggested that you could rotate them around to see if they would fit any better, but it really doesn't improve the situation any. They haven't fallen out or anything, but for the money I paid, it should fit much better. Also, I was unable to use the rear spring isolator...it couldn't be lowered to any more than stock height with it in there. So out it went, but the clanking is driving me nuts back there, so I have some Energy Suspension spring isolators on order from Jegs (they are for a Mustang) that will be trimmed to fit.
Now on to the fronts...this is where it got interesting. The aluminum collars are made to be able to slide over the c-clip on the shock. This tolerance is very tight, however, and is more like a press fit than I would care to see (and I'll tell you why in a sec). It takes the weight of the car to seat it, and when it does this, it does it very fast, and drops the car an extra inch without provocation. On my kit, the tolerances were so tight on the passenger side that it never seated. In fact, we thought the problem was with the driver's side since it did slide down, which prompted us to get after it with an air hammer and clamp it in place with a muffler clamp for safety reasons. After a call to Sam Strano, he informed me that it WAS SUPPOSED TO SLIDE OVER THE CLIP, which pissed me off to no end, because this meant we hammered the crap outta the drivers side collar and spring perch for no reason.
As of last night, I got the car back down to the shop that installed it, and we did the BFH mod on the passengers side to get it to seat. After about an hour of hammering and squeezing, we were finally able to get it to seat (with both of us jumping up and down on the front of the car. We took the muffler clamp off the driver's side (no damage to the shock, thankfully), and it slid into place without any more issues. Once we got it adjusted, it was good to go (FINALLY).
Review -
All in all, this system should have been much better for the price. I'm sorry, but for $1000 (Ground control kit plus revalved Bilsteins), this should have worked without issue, and been much better quality wise. This is way overpriced for what it is...but it is the only company that makes an adjustable coil-over kit (as of right now). I still don't buy the rear end problem with the aluminum collar not sitting on there very well...the way it sits, it might be seeing some loads that it wasn't designed for, but so far, no problems.
Pros -
Fully adjustable ride height (I have mine set at about an inch drop, which looks really nice with my 17" ZR1s).
Spring rates are linear, and can be changed for about $50 or so (compared to ~$230-250 for a Pro-kit and the like)
With my setup (400# linear springs up front, revalved Bilsteins, 125# linear springs in the rear, Bilstein HDs), it turns in very well, and the ride is a lot more firm, but not harsh. The body roll has been somewhat reduced as well.
Cons -
It costs a lot of money.
Since the front is a press fit, you would have to do some serious pounding if you needed to get the aluminum collar off the shock (like if you wanted to change the shocks out). That could get expensive real fast...
Rear aluminum collars don't seat well, and couldn't use my factory rubber spring isloators.
The adjustment must be done with the car in the air, and a lift is highly recommended. In other words, it isn't as adjustable as I'd like it to be.
I'd like to thank Travis (02 WS6 TA) from the PC gang for the awesome work on the install, and the generosity to fix the problem last night without charging me a penny more. His work was top notch...
It is quickly becoming known as the "thousand dollar pro-kit," and rightfully so. In hindsight, I would have just gone that route and saved a lot of cash. Take this review any way you want to, but before you go deciding to do this, make sure you talk to me.
The Ground Control kit is an adjustable coil over kit that can be used on the stock, as well as most aftermarket shocks without a problem. If you have or want Konis, you have to do a little modding to put them on, but they can be made to work. Basically, the Ground Control portion of the kit includes threaded aluminum collars with an adjustable spring perch that threads on the collar. For the fronts, the collar slides over the shock, and is *supposed* to slide over the c-clip on the shock where the spring perch would normally rest. I'll go into the *supposed to* part in the install description. For the rears, the aluminum collar sits on the spring cup, and the spring rests on it, so the shock is still mounted in its stock location.
Install -
This was the tricky part. The rears went on without too much of a problem (although my panhard rod didn't want to go back in), but this is where I ran into the first of my complaints about this system. The aluminum collars in the rear do not seat very well in the spring cup on the rear end...they are able to shift around a lot, and I did not like this. After talking to Sam Strano, he suggested that you could rotate them around to see if they would fit any better, but it really doesn't improve the situation any. They haven't fallen out or anything, but for the money I paid, it should fit much better. Also, I was unable to use the rear spring isolator...it couldn't be lowered to any more than stock height with it in there. So out it went, but the clanking is driving me nuts back there, so I have some Energy Suspension spring isolators on order from Jegs (they are for a Mustang) that will be trimmed to fit.
Now on to the fronts...this is where it got interesting. The aluminum collars are made to be able to slide over the c-clip on the shock. This tolerance is very tight, however, and is more like a press fit than I would care to see (and I'll tell you why in a sec). It takes the weight of the car to seat it, and when it does this, it does it very fast, and drops the car an extra inch without provocation. On my kit, the tolerances were so tight on the passenger side that it never seated. In fact, we thought the problem was with the driver's side since it did slide down, which prompted us to get after it with an air hammer and clamp it in place with a muffler clamp for safety reasons. After a call to Sam Strano, he informed me that it WAS SUPPOSED TO SLIDE OVER THE CLIP, which pissed me off to no end, because this meant we hammered the crap outta the drivers side collar and spring perch for no reason.
As of last night, I got the car back down to the shop that installed it, and we did the BFH mod on the passengers side to get it to seat. After about an hour of hammering and squeezing, we were finally able to get it to seat (with both of us jumping up and down on the front of the car. We took the muffler clamp off the driver's side (no damage to the shock, thankfully), and it slid into place without any more issues. Once we got it adjusted, it was good to go (FINALLY).
Review -
All in all, this system should have been much better for the price. I'm sorry, but for $1000 (Ground control kit plus revalved Bilsteins), this should have worked without issue, and been much better quality wise. This is way overpriced for what it is...but it is the only company that makes an adjustable coil-over kit (as of right now). I still don't buy the rear end problem with the aluminum collar not sitting on there very well...the way it sits, it might be seeing some loads that it wasn't designed for, but so far, no problems.
Pros -
Fully adjustable ride height (I have mine set at about an inch drop, which looks really nice with my 17" ZR1s).
Spring rates are linear, and can be changed for about $50 or so (compared to ~$230-250 for a Pro-kit and the like)
With my setup (400# linear springs up front, revalved Bilsteins, 125# linear springs in the rear, Bilstein HDs), it turns in very well, and the ride is a lot more firm, but not harsh. The body roll has been somewhat reduced as well.
Cons -
It costs a lot of money.
Since the front is a press fit, you would have to do some serious pounding if you needed to get the aluminum collar off the shock (like if you wanted to change the shocks out). That could get expensive real fast...
Rear aluminum collars don't seat well, and couldn't use my factory rubber spring isloators.
The adjustment must be done with the car in the air, and a lift is highly recommended. In other words, it isn't as adjustable as I'd like it to be.
I'd like to thank Travis (02 WS6 TA) from the PC gang for the awesome work on the install, and the generosity to fix the problem last night without charging me a penny more. His work was top notch...
It is quickly becoming known as the "thousand dollar pro-kit," and rightfully so. In hindsight, I would have just gone that route and saved a lot of cash. Take this review any way you want to, but before you go deciding to do this, make sure you talk to me.