Ground Control height change & Alignment

[No_Skillz]

I have Ground Controls and Tokico Illuminas. I have GC's set to 1" drop. When I change the height of the GC's, does it change any of the alignment settings other than camber? I live in an area with pretty heavy snow, so during the winter I would like to raise back to stock height. I know the camber will be changed a bit, but will anything else be affected so much that I will need another alignment? If I do, how do those of you who have GC's deal with it? I don't feel like shelling out 80 bucks every fall and spring.

 

[wret]

I have Ground Controls and Tokico Illuminas. I have GC's set to 1" drop. When I change the height of the GC's, does it change any of the alignment settings other than camber? I live in an area with pretty heavy snow, so during the winter I would like to raise back to stock height. I know the camber will be changed a bit, but will anything else be affected so much that I will need another alignment? If I do, how do those of you who have GC's deal with it? I don't feel like shelling out 80 bucks every fall and spring.

Camber is the least of your worries. Raising or lowering will change your toe, both front and rear.

I know, I know, Ground Control used to advertise (maybe still does?) how their system was better because you could adjust it quickly and easily with one hand. This led some to believe that an adjustable suspension would be practical for those in colder climates. One could hear of snow on the whether report, walk out to the drive or garage, reach under the car and tweak a widget, thereby raising the suspension, all while holding a cup of hot chocolate in the other hand. Then, in the morning, drive by and wave to all the other stranded motorists with normal cars. Well, we can dream.

Back to reality. Dialing in the suspension is hard enough without making changes every few months. But every time you change the ride height as little as half an inch at any corner, I would recommend checking the toe. Depending on where you are in the bump/toe curve the change could be slight or it could be enough to eat your tires before spring.

 

[suicidal2af]

Camber is the least of your worries. Raising or lowering will change your toe, both front and rear.

I know, I know, Ground Control used to advertise (maybe still does?) how their system was better because you could adjust it quickly and easily with one hand. This led some to believe that an adjustable suspension would be practical for those in colder climates. One could hear of snow on the whether report, walk out to the drive or garage, reach under the car and tweak a widget, thereby raising the suspension, all while holding a cup of hot chocolate in the other hand. Then, in the morning, drive by and wave to all the other stranded motorists with normal cars. Well, we can dream.

Back to reality. Dialing in the suspension is hard enough without making changes every few months. But every time you change the ride height as little as half an inch at any corner, I would recommend checking the toe. Depending on where you are in the bump/toe curve the change could be slight or it could be enough to eat your tires before spring.

Or, alternately, you could mark all of the adjusters for 2 different settings, so you could just dial in a low setting or a high setting as needed. Granted, it wouldn't be a 2 minute job, but you'd be able to fairly accurately make winter adjustments.

 

[No_Skillz]

Thanks for the info guys. Helped much.

 

[jtmcinder]

Or, alternately, you could mark all of the adjusters for 2 different settings, so you could just dial in a low setting or a high setting as needed. Granted, it wouldn't be a 2 minute job, but you'd be able to fairly accurately make winter adjustments.

You really only want to drop the front, both for drag-racing and autocrossing, so it really is a 2-min job. At least, that's what I am averaging and I'm a klutz.

- Jtoby

 

[suicidal2af]

You really only want to drop the front, both for drag-racing and autocrossing, so it really is a 2-min job. At least, that's what I am averaging and I'm a klutz.

- Jtoby

Most members of the site are dropping their cars for non-performance reasons, so they won't be stinkbugging it.

 

[No_Skillz]

Since I ride on them lowered most of the time, could I possibly:

Do alignment lowered, raise it when it snows. I'll have bad alignment at this point, but it will only probably be for a few days at a time.

Drop it back to the exact previous settings when roads are cleared... will alignment be ok?

 

[jtmcinder]

Most members of the site are dropping their cars for non-performance reasons, so they won't be stinkbugging it.

Hey! Stinkbug pwnz ju!

Drop it back to the exact previous settings when roads are cleared... will alignment be ok?

Yes.

- Jtoby

 

[suicidal2af]

Hey! Stinkbug pwnz ju!

I happen to like the stinkbug look, actually.

To the OP, here's the best thing to do. Drop your car and get it aligned. Take something that will be fairly permanent, paint works pretty well. Mark all of your alignment settings, including your coilover collar.

Raise it up to your winter setting, get another alignment. Mark all of the settings in a different color.

Adjust everything back to where it was. When winter time rolls around, crank it up to your winter marks...after the weather gets better, drop it back to where it was before.