Ground Control Complete Kit Install and Initial Thoughts

[GC_Adam]

Originally Posted by AZFA20

I am excited to get mine too. Just waiting to hear they are ready

Alan the housing are at powdercoat now, I'm just waiting to get them back so I can ship your system out.
:happy0180:

[Sac-BRZ]

Looks great. Once again, GC is looking like the best option for coilovers for me.

[Simmons]

Do you know how much camber you can get up front?


Simmons

[Eric1855]

Originally Posted by Simmons

Do you know how much camber you can get up front?


Simmons

My alignment guy said it could have gotten over -3 up front, but I'm not sure exactly how far it could go. I didn't set it anywhere near that aggressive, at least not yet.

[TemeCal]

Originally Posted by Eric1855

My alignment guy said it could have gotten over -3 up front, but I'm not sure exactly how far it could go. I didn't set it anywhere near that aggressive, at least not yet.

Do you have the original camber bolts in, or do you have the crash bolts installed? -3deg is pretty impressive if you still have the original camber bolts.

[Eric1855]

Original bolts, but I am not sure if he meant I could get that much on the regular ones or with crash bolts, I wasn't thinking to ask.

[GC_Adam]

Originally Posted by Eric1855

Original bolts, but I am not sure if he meant I could get that much on the regular ones or with crash bolts, I wasn't thinking to ask.

Eric you should be able to get that without Cbolts. :happy0180:

[fatoni]

if you dont mind the small weight penalty, gc and your preferred shock is the way to go.

[bgibbsunc]

This kit is amazing here are a few shots of mine. Sorry if pics are huge

[GC_Adam]

Very Nice!

[Huehuecoyotl]

I hope the OP doesnt mind my adding to the review

This OP post made me order the setup, and while there are many options, I got the race setup since I do more highway and some track than I do city, and have a commuter car for that, tho I find more miles being put on my BRZ.

Some want the precise steering and feedback you get with heim type ends over rubber bushed, so Race may not be for everyone. They are firm but not jarring, compliant in a manner that makes pot hole avoidance semi optional and more realistically, recommended, than not, but its not like it is too firm, but the race setup masks nothing, so you do feel every crack in the road and can tell if its been filled in or if its new, it all does get transmitted, as I like it.

They came well packaged, and without that tape that is difficult to remove your parts from, frustration free packaged. No real weight savings to be had, they felt about the same in hand, I did not weigh them. the material is overbuilt and the welding is scales that overlap, paint seems thick, everything factory like brake lines and wire snaps lined up and fit fine.

WARNING, be careful as my front Left and Right shocks came with tags that were mismatched. It took a good look to put them next to the one that came off to see it was a mirror, and that was not correct. Once you match them up install is the basic/same as with any coilover.

My initial impression was not an accurate one, as they ship with the coils just touching the perches on both sets, full tall ride height. I put them in like this to see. This, while in fact close to the stock height, didnt seem to feel right, the rears felt too preloaded and tall, and not well matched to the fronts.it was bouncy and not 'confident', broke loose too easy. I lowered it all a bit still, not much better.

So, I 'radio'd ground control' they gave me some advice,

I dialed out all the rebound setting out of the rear and lowered the rear perches to better match the front ride height which I lowered a bit more also, a bit from where the perches touch coil, and rebound is just a half turn from full soft up front. 100% better now.

Accessing the rebound adjuster in the rear shock was hard to do for me with big clumsy hands, tho they said I could do it on the car, it was easy to do off the car. Smaller hands may have made it possible.

Now both front and real are almost even, and I have come down about 1.1" in the front and about 1.5" in the rear(down from stock), and now its much nicer, there is still plenty of shock travel yet it tracks over bumps and undulated corners fine, especially on apex's that unload the rear end feel much better that the out of the box setup.

it feels like it tracks better, there is more traction over all,and still a understeer, so going to the edge feels pretty safe. it slides evenly front and rear, the front breaks a bit sooner to let you know youre too fast.

initially starting off too tall seemed right as many threads here suggest against lowering too much, but I am finding lower tracks and handles better. I dont mind the fender gap, so i am only going lower if it actually rides and handles better without feeling like a set of bumpstops.

the spring rates are right, for a stiff tire like my Dunlop z1, and drifts, slides are with warning and recovered, if desired, easily. while they are firm, the handling is superb. once you soften up the dials its very nice.

the first few drives I did without the strut bar and it felt great and fine, I cant say you need this bar. I added the bar, and its not coming off, it makes input translate to steering on the ground faster feeling. I dont think it actually makes the car handle any better, but there seems to be better steering feedback/response.

I have yet to get the final alignment done but can say its making me smile already.

[matchamochi]

Did you ever consider the kw variant 3's? If so - what made you go for the GC setup? Thanks! great car btw.

[Eric1855]

Originally Posted by matchamochi

Did you ever consider the kw variant 3's? If so - what made you go for the GC setup? Thanks! great car btw.

For me it was just a matter of preference. I've had Konis and GCs on every car I've owned for the last 10+ years with no complaints.

[Huehuecoyotl]

I like how the single adjustment range works on the Konis on my m3, so I was delighted to get dual adjustable fronts for my BRZ. they feel the same, exactly. Koni's consistency is sweet.

The ease of adjustment on the fronts is great, I find I only need to dial the compression up front a bit to change character for track to where its bordering on too stiff for street.

I like that the rears are set, they are set right on compression. I keep the rebound fairly fast on all four corners for best grip and traction street or track. Ground control set the spring rates perfect - atleast for my aggressive style of driving and sticky tires.
http://www.koni-na.com/double.cfm