Ground Control faq/video/picture/ideas thread

[JoeBoxer]

Thanks Adam that sounds really good for me, can't do anything right now but can't wait to see the pics.

[GC86]

Originally Posted by uspspro

Thanks for moving this, any answers??

Originally Posted by uspspro

What spring rates are you providing when someone orders one of the defined options on website, such as "touring," "aggressive," etc?

At what spring rates, do you recommend using each of the three damper options?

I will quote from the very first post in this thread, and then explain.

Originally Posted by GC post

Actually, we probably can't answer THE most common question "What spring rate should I get?". This would be like asking somebody what color your car should be. We just finalize spring rates after personal communication, like picking out the paint of your car AFTER you see the colors.

I understand that it may appear that the words "touring. aggressive" etc. would mean a specific spring rate and length. Those words are simply descriptions of what type of suspension you get, including dampers and bumpstops.

Ground Control does not have any kits in a box. So if you order a suspension, we don't just go to the fax machine and drop ship a box to your house.

In fact, if you specify "aggressive" for example, we still don't have a box to send to you. These words are, let's say, categories of what type of suspension we would build for you.

So, one might think that asking about "touring, aggressive, race" springs, we would only have to develop 6 combinations of spring rates and dampers to answer that question. That would only be only scratching the surface...... Ground Control has a huge inventory of springs, and they are combined to be the best result for each customer, rather than the easiest result for Ground Control to have in a box.

The obvious variations would be based on your address, and any other comments or wishes you may have about your car.

[gmookher]

Its basically the most custom kit I could find, so I bought it! I am starting out with their recommended rates. I have a plan to try a stiffer equal rate setup at the track but suspect its gonna be firm for off track use.

The coils are like $60 each, so its pretty cheap to get a stiffer set, and if you have them valve you with dual adjustables, you should have plenty of adjustment so long as your 2nd set of coils are just marginally stiffer. if I need anything revalved shock wise, they are right there and ready to work with me. Wasnt able to find that from any other vendor-abilty to custom order and spec coils and valving.

The costs just seal the deal like icing on a cake, the customer service is stellar and each order is a custom order. Tough to beat, so long as you dont mind waiting for them to build your order- takes a few weeks.

I own Bilsteins and I own Konis in my garage already. I cant see any good reason to hold out to see what they come up with. I think what the GC setup comes matched with will be plenty good, and likely come in at a lesser cost from my experience with Bilsteins. They look a little prettier, the bilstiens, but that have had their share of finish corrosion issues, so going by the cover of that book is not a way to choose. Internally, I do think youre dealing with six of half dozen there, both top notch construction. The uber stout welds on the GC sold me. The RSM is beefy. The bar is alum, and way cool, and those camber plates are thick like a prime rib steak. Thats bad assed.

[GC_Adam]

Originally Posted by gmookher

The costs just seal the deal like icing on a cake, the customer service is stellar and each order is a custom order. Tough to beat, so long as you dont mind waiting for them to build your order- takes a few weeks.

Gem, the only reason it took a few weeks for your system is at the time you placed your order we where waiting for a new batch of aluminum to show up which included your blue parts. We now have everything in stock and are shipping complete systems within 7 working days and camberplates within 2 working days.

Adam

[ebphoto]

i need money.
coilover kit sounds awesome.

[JoeBoxer]

Originally Posted by ebphoto

i need money.
coilover kit sounds awesome.

They have some even cooler stuff for us street only guys coming too, I am pretty sure I've found my suspension also.

[jdzumwalt]

I ordered this strut tower bar and camber plates from my local shop yesterday.
Looking forward to it

Gregg

[gmookher]

Originally Posted by jdzumwalt

I ordered this strut tower bar and camber plates from my local shop yesterday.
Looking forward to it

Gregg

what color did you get-curious?

[jdzumwalt]

Originally Posted by gmookher

what color did you get-curious?

got it in Pewter. I needed about 1 more degree of camber for my track setup.

[GC86]

Originally Posted by uspspro

Can you describe the difference in feel between these and the standard camber plate model?

How is the steering feel, with the lack of a bearing???

This is an excellent question.

What I believe the original poster is asking, is "How hard is the car to steer without a bearing".

Well, to explain: Every Ground Control camber/caster plate HAS a steering bearing, but this is not necessarily true of all camber plates.

The confusion arises from that fact that the GC RACE camber/caster plates have TWO bearings, and the Street have a bushing and a steering bearing.

So, when we say the street camber/caster plates don't have a bearing, we really mean that we made a whole separate strut mount with a bushing, but the steering bearing is still there. (That's why this is such a good question)

And now to finally answer the question:
The steering is exactly the same as the race and the same as stock FT86. There is a bit of ride flex, intentionally, to allow for noise isolation from brakes, wheel bearings swaybar links etc.

I have attached a video of the testing, to show the minimal, yet necessary flex, for NVH reduction. (Ground Control does not believe in making "One size fits all camber plates")

[GC86]

From this thread:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...8&postcount=20

GC has been fortunate to be able to do extensive testing, because we had Koni build special strut inserts in Holland, and they are already here. We did not have to wait for anything to arrive in February or March.

Attached below are 4 different FT86 struts, including Koni race and Koni SPGC custom valving. Any one these four pairs of damping could be chosen by you (or for you).

(four pairs, each plot is a max and min of each damper, so 8 graphs total.)

Also attached is a picture of one of the custom valved GC strut inserts. As you can see, it is not a regular off the shelf Koni strut.

[GC86]

The street suspension uses, compared to track:

Longer stroke front strut with street damping.

Street camber/caster plate (still top mount)

Softer rear shocks, top adjustable Koni, using the billet mounts.

Of courses four different springs.

And the least obvious of all, less camber built into the GC housings, so that a low street car can be adjusted to zero camber if desired.

The "race" suspension is completely custom made, and any or all these above , including strut length, can be changed (or not, whatever makes the car faster)

Any other questions, please post here.

[ngabdala]

Someone tell me what to do. I haven't installed my BC Racing BR Coils with Swift Springs. Please just tell me

[JoeBoxer]

Anybody looking for a GC kit here is an awesome deal

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150970784556...84.m1423.l2649