Coilover Confessional

**dpzelenak** · 02-05-2013

great thread just what i was looking for.
instead of making a new thread im just going to ask my question here to also help people in the future.

Ok so im getting pricing and stuff together because im hoping to get coilover in the near future but ive ran into some problems.
that ht motorsports site(now Arraut Motorsports) has 2 different set, i guess the regulars and some with KYB struts. but for just the regular set 730~ and for the set with the KYB's itll be 1200~ so theres a pretty big difference in price there, my question is what would be better and whats the difference is it worth the extra 500 bucks or the just the regular set good enough. whats different with the kits just the struts? the mounts/springs/seals/bearings and all the other stuff is just the same?
thanks in advance

**REDCRAPGP** · 02-05-2013

I think the regulars would be using kyb gr2 struts then the better version is with the agx.

**dpzelenak** · 02-05-2013

then again theres always the cheap way out and find some on ebay, like
97 03 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP Coil Over Suspension Set No Reserve RARE | eBay
now would these be a good idea at all? never heard of that brand and it doesnt have the top mounts either

**REDCRAPGP** · 02-05-2013

There was a thread on those and I think they were stragg struts or some crap and had crappy spring ratings.

Ill see if I can find the thread.

Edit: pow..

http://www.grandprixforums.net/showthread.php?t=73145

**blueguy** · 02-05-2013

You'll also need the spinal brace mod.

Ride quality = .2/10

**rcdino1978** · 02-12-2013

So I bought these Coilovers and when I jack up the car, do my ****, then lower the car back to the ground, I hear a loud bang. What is that?
Because these are slip-on coilover setups, the spring dismounts from the top mount and when you lower the car back down it “snaps” (bangs or pops) back into place, it really doesn’t hurt anything and over time it seems to slip in place easier. This is another reason to get coilover covers, they help hold the spring in place so 9 times out of 10 you don’t get the “Bang” into place effect. I also found that lowering the car slowly tends to help.

Another fairly inexpensive way to get rid of that pop is to run a helper spring(not to be confused with tender springs) on the top of the coils.....when you jack it up, it will open up and fill in the droop, therefore keeping everything under a slight load and centered onto the spring perch. We sell them at Hyperco for $34.95/each, and they do not effect how the suspension works in any way, just keeps tension on everything when the suspension is in full droop(jacked up, etc).

Nice write-up Drunkie.......helps guys to truly understand things much better.

**Bio248** · 02-12-2013

i've got helper springs all around on my coil setup because they are a single adjustable coilover. i'm excited to get them on in the spring.

**MrPoopyButthole** · 02-12-2013

Good post on the helper springs, forgot about that option.

**SDGTP99** · 02-12-2013

Nice writeup! I'd like to add that GXP's do have front sway bars attatched to the struts.

**MoarkatsINmuhtrailer** · 02-12-2013

If you read he said that

**SDGTP99** · 02-12-2013

I skimmed through the thread. Guess I missed it. =\

**Sandman** · 03-22-2013

I've finally got my struts coming back to me so I need to get off my a55 and modify the other parts. What I never really thought about were the top mounts. I've seen all the modified mounts, but what about just using the stock mount as is with a top hat on the spring? I'm just lazy and if I could just use the stock mounts then I'd rather do that.

**Bio248** · 03-23-2013

that's how mine are put together with stock mounts even though im not running them that way.

**MrPoopyButthole** · 03-25-2013

You could try it, but....The issue is the spring is a 2.5" diameter and your stock springs have something much larger so they may not perch or sit in there correctly and could cause issues.

Also, a trick some guys do when they make their own top mount is flip the piece they use upside down and weld that in on the top mount, you do this so it can give you 1" extra of strut travel which is worth it.

**MrPoopyButthole** · 03-25-2013

**91parkave** · 03-25-2013

Finally got all my parts in for my swap I thought I'd read somewhere about bilstein struts not being able to work with the sleeves or something I know the rod is a lot thicker but shouldn't cause a problem. I measured the od of the housing on mine and they sit at 2.038 so everything should work.

**rcdino1978** · 03-26-2013

Originally Posted by 91parkave

Finally got all my parts in for my swap I thought I'd read somewhere about bilstein struts not being able to work with the sleeves or something I know the rod is a lot thicker but shouldn't cause a problem. I measured the od of the housing on mine and they sit at 2.038 so everything should work.

A-1 racing products makes a sleeve kit that works for the Bilsteins. Go to A-1 RACING PRODUCTS INC. - COIL OVER KITS and look for the kit made for the bilsteins. They also put the shock body diameters in the descriptions. You won't find a cheaper and better set of coilover sleeves.

**Bio248** · 03-26-2013

Originally Posted by Drunkie

You could try it, but....The issue is the spring is a 2.5" diameter and your stock springs have something much larger so they may not perch or sit in there correctly and could cause issues.

you need a spring perch that is for 2.5" diameter springs, then the funny washer that goes above it, then the top hat.