GC - How many fingers' gap is a 1.5 inch drop?

[Toshiro]

Hey, I just installed my GC/Koni yellow setup, and I didn't measure anything ride-height wise before the installation, so I'm not sure how to figure out what a 1.5 inch drop would be. I've heard that is pretty much the lowest you can go before it starts to mess up the suspension geometry or requiring a revalve on the shocks, so it's what I was going to shoot for.

Right now I have about a 3.5 finger gap between the top of the tire and the fender, and I have 225/45/17 tires.

On another note, I got my coilovers used and they weren't the Koni setup, but I just now (post-installation) realized one of the main differences is in the way the sleeve sits on the shock body. Mine are currently mounted on the metal rings that come with the Konis, and it's basically just like the stock setup- There is a cup-like ring sitting on each shock body, and the entire GC sleeve sits on top of that. Is this wrong/incorrect, and will it do any harm (besides making the ride height higher)?

Thanks!

 

[Toshiro]

Here's a crappy picture to give you an idea:

 

[jtmcinder]

That picture is hilarious.

- Jtoby

ps. You're supposed to remove the spring perch before putting a GC sleeve on your shock.

 

[1fast97gsx]

That picture is hilarious.

- Jtoby

ps. You're supposed to remove the spring perch before putting a GC sleeve on your shock.

that's gonna sound nice with the perches hit the upper mounts :laugh:

 

[Toshiro]

Thanks, I try hard to provide some comic relief. :thumbdown

The sleeves didn't catch on anything without the spring perches, and some of them wouldn't fit over the top of the shock. I guess I need to go buy the little rings that go inside of the sleeves, then.
Hooray for n00bs like me.

 

[Toshiro]

Well, it's all fixed. I now have about a 2 finger gap, and I think I'm going to raise it up a little tomorrow. If I were to do a zip-tie test, would that eliminate any purpose in me guessing what my ride height should be?

 

[jtmcinder]

Stock ride height for a 2G AWD is 15.5" from the center of the wheel to the fender lip. Not sure if FWDs are the same.

- Jtoby

 

[Toshiro]

Sweet, thanks, that's what I was looking for. Mine is actually about 14" right now, lucky guess, I suppose. However, I did the zip tie test and when I jacked up the car again to look, the zip ties were stuck up against the bumpstops. Should I trim the bumpstops (right now they are stock) for a smoother ride?

 

[Coldandafraid]

eibach prokits, 1.2 drop, says trim bumpstops 20 millimeters. So...

 

[Toshiro]

Hm, ok. The reason I asked is the GC instructions say to trim it if you drop the car more than 1.5 inches, and to leave it if you drop the car less than 1.5 inches. Also, I'm pretty sure my setup is stiffer than pro-kits, and I believe that would make a difference. I'll probably trim them some day... next time I feel like taking them all apart for the third time or so, haha.

 

[Raph]

Hm, ok. The reason I asked is the GC instructions say to trim it if you drop the car more than 1.5 inches, and to leave it if you drop the car less than 1.5 inches. Also, I'm pretty sure my setup is stiffer than pro-kits, and I believe that would make a difference. I'll probably trim them some day... next time I feel like taking them all apart for the third time or so, haha.

i trimmed about 1/3rd of the bump stops off..do it now..everything will loosen nicely,besides,since uve done it twice now,maybe u can set a new world record for uninstalling/installing konis... :laugh:

make a pic so we can see the drop(pic of car from teh side)