calling all DIY Coilover guys.

[mike96]

I am at the moment just trying to get an idea on what you guys have done to install the DIY coil over kits. I honestly could care less about the spring and upper spring seat I know what I want to do about that, I am more concerned about the threaded sleeve over the shock body. What brand did you use and how did it turn out? When I picked up my talon it originally had some no-name spring sleeves over the factory struts and had I thought about it at the time I could have kept them, however I had picked up a set of Koni illumina shocks and springs for a decent price so I offed the sleeves. now that I am in the process of installing urethane bushings in the car I would like to swap out the springs for something that rides just a tad taller. I don't have the cash to drop on a full up coil over setup and I defiantly don't want to go back to stock. So I was thinking of getting a pair of 575-625lb springs for the front, a pair of 300-350lb springs for the rear, some good upper spring perches and threaded bodies for the shocks. what have you guys used?

 

[crimsondragon]

Ground Control coilovers over Koni yellows. Short of going with a pillowball mount to let the setup truly shine, it's the best bang per buck in my opinion.

 

[TheMadCheshire]

I did not make some for my dsm, but I did make some for my sentra which is my rallycross car. I second ground controls for the sleeves. They can help you with spring rates and heights if you need them to by giving them a call. Koni yellows are definitely the way to go for the actual strut. Springs can be had from ground control or eibach or even Summit. I picked up a few pairs before I found the ones I use through Summit. At about 50 bucks a spring, thats just too bad to do some testing. Ground Controls will come with springs though.

Be advised, Konis plus g.c.'s will set you in about the 700-900 range where some ots coilovers start. Pillowballs will put you even closer to that mark. Goodluck

 

[crimsondragon]

In regards to springs, just look for Hypercoil springs in the rates you're looking for.

 

[Bricktop]

Springs

Here is a good source for springs. Cheap also.

http://shop.a1racing.com/coiloverkits.aspx?page=2

Here is a source for the sleeves, nuts and tops. A1's stuff is NICE. Build yourself a coilover kit that is just as good as a Ground Control setup(maybe better). But, HALF the cost.

 

[jtmcinder]

Be advised, Konis plus g.c.'s will set you in about the 700-900 range where some ots coilovers start.

Yes, but the OTS coilovers you get for that price are complete and utter crap. Clearly the OP is trying to do this right, so let's not dangle inexpensive wastes of money in front of him, OK?

 

[Bricktop]

Yes, but the OTS coilovers you get for that price are complete and utter crap. Clearly the OP is trying to do this right, so let's not dangle inexpensive wastes of money in front of him, OK?

I know this wasn't directed towards me. But, The First link has Hypercoil and Eibach coils for $40 a pair. A1 Racing stuff is top notch. All the dirt track roundy round cars in my area use them. If the tubes,nuts and tops can survive that abuse, They for sure can work for us.

Struts and shocks you are on your own.

 

[jtmcinder]

The springs are, by far, the easiest part (although choosing the right rates is not). The keys are (a) good sleeves and (b) a well-designed hat. The sleeves are also easy: GC, making sure to tell them that you have Koni Sports so they send the correct ring. The hats are where it takes some work. I have no idea if RRE still sells their pillowballs; they were great. You want as flat as hat as possible, so you don't give up any travel.

 

[NWHTanK]

RRE Eclipse and Talon Index
Here are the upper mounts. Nice reading by the way.

 

[crimsondragon]

I know this wasn't directed towards me. But, The First link has Hypercoil and Eibach coils for $40 a pair. A1 Racing stuff is top notch. All the dirt track roundy round cars in my area use them. If the tubes,nuts and tops can survive that abuse, They for sure can work for us.

Struts and shocks you are on your own.

I'm curious as to what the inner diameter of the spring hat for the shock rod is. I had a difficult time sourcing 2.5" spring hats that were not slotted. Eventually I found some for a BMW to fit Bilsteins. The shock rod hole were fairly oversized so I had to source nylon bushings to keep it in place. Of course I had to pay out the ass for those hats as well.

 

[mike96]

As I dig into the suspension a bit more it looks like I am going to have to put the coil overs on hold for a bit. I am curious to know though how the ground control set install. I am trying to run off of memory hear and the last time I did a coil over install on a strut it was on a no kidding McPherson setup so when you slid the spring sleeve over the strut the sleeve sat all the way down onto the spindle mounts. On the talon I am having a hard time figuring out how the spring sleeve sits over the struts when both ends are totally open like all the pics I have seen so far. The fronts I can see but the rears not so much. I get the Koni setup as there is basically a lock ring that holds the sleeve in place.

As for my overly low ride hight I have found that both lower ball joints are shot, there is about 1/4 inch of slop in them and both factory bushing that the shocks mount to look like they were put into the oven and melted (I will get a pic for you tomorrow). So it looks like lower control arms are next on the list of need to purchase before the car gets back on the road.

Thanks for all the input so far though. I am going to look hard at the ground control setup though once income tax comes in. Probably for both the the talon and the Subaru.

 

[1whitegsx]

If trying to make your own coilover setup from parts off of A1 and racewerx website, does anyone know what spring lengths and diameters are needed. Also what size sleeve's are needed. I tried looking up ground controls specs to compare but havent had any luck. Anyone on here build their own?