GB: GROUND CONTROL + KONI SPORT Coilovers for Mazdaspeed 3!

[Chimmike]

Here's to shipping updates today!

[RPM]

Originally Posted by TonyTheBrown I am not talking about the adjustment that is available by a knob. I am talking about the amount of oil the valves can flow throughout the rebound/compression cycle. A knob does not entirely determine this. It works within a set parameter determined by the size, shape, & # of holes found in the internal components. The OTS rebound curve is too aggressive and will impede proper handling/lateral grip more so when there is too much spring involved. What is being changed to the valving or internal components to handle more spring than what Koni recommends for their OTS Yellow? A twin tube damper is not black magic, so I am only asking if anything is being changed internally to run the spring rates GC is offering.

Understood, but it's not necessary to make any changes in this case. The motion ratio of the suspension has a large effect on the effective spring rate that the KONIs are actually handling. The spring rates quoted in the first post are the direct spring rates, but, due to the motion ratio (which is about 0.6 on the MS3), the effective spring rate is much less.

Today's update:

M.H.'s full kit is shipping today. The others are still being modified.

Yes, I realize this is exactly what I was told on Friday. I'm just relaying what I'm being told and my sales rep is apparently doing the same. I have told them that this is getting annoying. I do have tracking for M.H., though, and I'll be pressing for tracking on the others tomorrow.

[jeffdevo]

2 weeks is acceptable for a custom job IMO, thanks RPM. The guys on here are like kids who can't sleep waiting to open their presents for Xmas. Just keep us posted as quickly (often is preferred).

[461_SS]

Originally Posted by RPM Understood, but it's not necessary to make any changes in this case. The motion ratio of the suspension has a large effect on the effective spring rate that the KONIs are actually handling. The spring rates quoted in the first post are the direct spring rates, but, due to the motion ratio (which is about 0.6 on the MS3), the effective spring rate is much less.

While all the theoretical stuff is great to know and a very good place to go from I think this setup has been proven. At this point I'd be more interested in knowing what tire temps and suspension travel actually is (who has a 7 post shaker rig we can test this out on?) and what the driver thinks (since that is ultimately the final say. Every driver is different). I know myself and daafisch do AutoX whenever we can. Depending how motivated I am after competing in an event I'll do a writeup of the suspension setup.

Also what time do we have till to place our order tomorrow?

[RPM]

Originally Posted by 461_SS While all the theoretical stuff is great to know and a very good place to go from I think this setup has been proven. At this point I'd be more interested in knowing what tire temps and suspension travel actually is (who has a 7 post shaker rig we can test this out on?) and what the driver thinks (since that is ultimately the final say. Every driver is different). I know myself and daafisch do AutoX whenever we can. Depending how motivated I am after competing in an event I'll do a writeup of the suspension setup. Also what time do we have till to place our order tomorrow?

Group buy is open until midnight Central time tomorrow (Tuesday).

[Neverlift]

Originally Posted by RPM The spring rates quoted in the first post are the direct spring rates, but, due to the motion ratio (which is about 0.6 on the MS3), the effective spring rate is much less.

That is news to me the macpherson & multi link layout on the car would have a nearly identical motion ratio. I am just learning all of those dynamics, but I thought the front would be close to 1:1 since it is macpherson. How was this motion ration measured? Stock car, at stock height, with stock wheels & tires? I figured all of those factors would change the motion ratio. Thank you for humoring me & getting my wheels turning on this.

[RPM]

Originally Posted by TonyTheBrown That is news to me the macpherson & multi link layout on the car would have a nearly identical motion ratio. I am just learning all of those dynamics, but I thought the front would be close to 1:1 since it is macpherson. How was this motion ration measured? Stock car, at stock height, with stock wheels & tires? I figured all of those factors would change the motion ratio. Thank you for humoring me & getting my wheels turning on this.

Well, I'm no mechanical engineer. I've had to look a bit of this up myself after talking to GC. You might be better off having a chat with them directly, but I'll tell you what I know. The motion ratio is determined by how much the shock moves relative to how much the wheel moves, due to the design of the suspension. So, for example, if the wheel moves 1 inch and the shock only moves 0.6 inches, the motion ratio would be 0.6, which is apparently the case for the MS3. This means that if the direct spring rate of the spring is 500 lbs, the effective rate is actually 300 lbs.

[Mattyhawk1]

Originally Posted by RPM Well, I'm no mechanical engineer. I've had to look a bit of this up myself after talking to GC. You might be better off having a chat with them directly, but I'll tell you what I know. The motion ratio is determined by how much the shock moves relative to how much the wheel moves, due to the design of the suspension. So, for example, if the wheel moves 1 inch and the shock only moves 0.6 inches, the motion ratio would be 0.6, which is apparently the case for the MS3. This means that if the direct spring rate of the spring is 500 lbs, the effective rate is actually 300 lbs.

That might be for the front. I believe it was determined to be closer to .9 MR for the rear

[RPM]

Originally Posted by Mattyhawk1 That might be for the front. I believe it was determined to be closer to .9 MR for the rear

Possibly. I didn't ask specifically about the front or rear.

[timmcc02]

Update? Any more kits ship yet? @RPM;

[RPM]

Originally Posted by timmcc02 Update? Any more kits ship yet? @RPM;

They just told me a minimum of 2 should ship today.

[RPM]

Today is the last day to order, by the way. If you've been waiting, be sure to get your order in by midnight Central!

[moonrider_99]

two quick questions

what is the difference between an occasional autocross and occasional Race Course configurations in terms of the actual hardware and also how do these kits do in Northeast with winter conditions and salt- do they last? Thank you

[461_SS]

Originally Posted by moonrider_99 two quick questions what is the difference between an occasional autocross and occasional Race Course configurations in terms of the actual hardware and also how do these kits do in Northeast with winter conditions and salt- do they last? Thank you

From what I've read GC kits have lasted some time. If I am not mistaken it is just the spring rates are stiffer. I'm not sure how much that will help or hurt since I don't know what suspension travel is. I'll most likely be going with the "aggressive" setup which what I saw was 525 front/ 600 rear. Push comes to shove you buy two springs OTS at about 65/each .

[Dumbguy]

This was my plan if I decide I don't like how they ride. I'm planning on doing a 3hr trip the weekend after install to really decide what I want to do. I went aggressive occasional autox btw.

Originally Posted by 461_SS From what I've read GC kits have lasted some time. If I am not mistaken it is just the spring rates are stiffer. I'm not sure how much that will help or hurt since I don't know what suspension travel is. I'll most likely be going with the "aggressive" setup which what I saw was 525 front/ 600 rear. Push comes to shove you buy two springs OTS at about 65/each .

[RPM]

Originally Posted by moonrider_99 two quick questions what is the difference between an occasional autocross and occasional Race Course configurations in terms of the actual hardware and also how do these kits do in Northeast with winter conditions and salt- do they last? Thank you

They'd be similar, if not identical.

The kits will last fine up north. They are designed to withstand all sorts of conditions, including racing, and are made of the same, or better, materials than the OEM setup.

[nybe0010]

order placed. thanks @RPM;

[Hal]

So I am regretting my H&R + Koni yellow purchase. H&Rs feel fine but the drop is just garbage to me.

Therefore I would like to purchase just the GC sleeve.

So add me to the list.

[JDMJOSH]

I think your too late brah.

[RPM]

UPDATE: A total of 4 kits have shipped. 2 more going out today/tomorrow. The large shipment of KONIs is still supposed to arrive at GC tomorrow. The remaining orders will start shipping Friday or Monday. It will take them time to modify all of these KONIs, so we don't expect them all to ship at once. They'll be going down the list in the order you guys placed the orders.

[moonrider_99]

Originally Posted by RPM They'd be similar, if not identical. The kits will last fine up north. They are designed to withstand all sorts of conditions, including racing, and are made of the same, or better, materials than the OEM setup.

The GB is over so it doesn't matter that much anymore but your answer doesn't really answer my question, there's a lot of ways to select things from the pull down menu on your site and it would be nice to know how this translates into actual numbers and how one kit is different from another based on the selections made by the customer.

[RPM]

Originally Posted by moonrider_99 The GB is over so it doesn't matter that much anymore but your answer doesn't really answer my question, there's a lot of ways to select things from the pull down menu on your site and it would be nice to know how this translates into actual numbers and how one kit is different from another based on the selections made by the customer.

I agree, but as we stated earlier, GC never gave us any exact rates. They just told us to collect the information from our customers and they would use it to determine the appropriate rate when the order was processed. The options I made up myself, just so they'd have an idea of how the car was being used. An autocross setup would be basically the same as a road course setup, though.

[yourname2221]

Originally Posted by moonrider_99 The GB is over so it doesn't matter that much anymore but your answer doesn't really answer my question, there's a lot of ways to select things from the pull down menu on your site and it would be nice to know how this translates into actual numbers and how one kit is different from another based on the selections made by the customer.

read the thread, it had been covered when this first opened up.

[daafisch]

Got my GC only kit today!

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Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[gmoney542]

Hopefully some kits ship today!

[RPM]

Originally Posted by gmoney542 Hopefully some kits ship today!

My sales rep at GC is out today, but I was able to confirm that the KONI shipment arrived at GC. If we get any tracking numbers today, we'll be sure to send them out. Otherwise, I'd expect more kits to start shipping on Monday.

[jeffdevo]

I'm running 225s will I need to roll my fenders?

[gmoney542]

I'm gonna go ahead and roll mine. I've had my 215s rub in the rear on my stock suspension, though I think mine is much lower than it should be. I have about a one finger gap in the rear.

I'd rather take some time to roll the fenders than have them ruin tires or get pulled out by the tires.

[timmcc02]

Just received mine last night and install happening now

[smoogs12]

Originally Posted by gmoney542 I'm gonna go ahead and roll mine. I've had my 215s rub in the rear on my stock suspension, though I think mine is much lower than it should be. I have about a one finger gap in the rear. I'd rather take some time to roll the fenders than have them ruin tires or get pulled out by the tires.

Something isnt right here.

So you have a completely stock wheel/tire setup and you are rubbing?

You should have much more than a 1 finger gap in the rear.

[gmoney542]

Originally Posted by smoogs12 Something isnt right here. So you have a completely stock wheel/tire setup and you are rubbing? You should have much more than a 1 finger gap in the rear.

My wheels are 18x8 +40. They stick out an inch more than stock wheels, but I don't think it's a very aggressive fitment.

It hasn't always sat that low. My rear shocks are completely blown, and I don't think the struts are in good shape either. When I got the car it was about 4 finger gap in the front and 3 in the back. Now it's about 2 in the front and 1 in the back.

[smoogs12]

Aaaah ok. I saw 215 and assumed stock wheels.

Carry on.

[gmoney542]

Originally Posted by timmcc02 Just received mine last night and install happening now

What options did you select when ordering and what spring rates did GC send you?

[timmcc02]

I selected the aggressive/ occasional drag. The rears are stamped 600 but the front have a weird stamping so I am unsure of the front. If you are also installing the corksport camber arms be prepared to be extremely pissed when adjusting them.

[Dumbguy]

Originally Posted by timmcc02 I selected the aggressive/ occasional drag. The rears are stamped 600 but the front have a weird stamping so I am unsure of the front. If you are also installing the corksport camber arms be prepared to be extremely pissed when adjusting them.

That's comforting... I got the corksport camber arms too...

[timmcc02]

Originally Posted by Dumbguy That's comforting... I got the corksport camber arms too...

Don't get me wrong beautifully designed piece but who fucking uses a 26mm nuts, no one in my shop had a 26mm wrench so I used crescent wrench. I literally had to pull the wheels and disconnect the arms on the alignment rack to adjust it

[gmoney542]

I got Corksport camber arms too. I'm pretty sure all camber arms that can be adjusted on the car are a pain in the ass though.

[timmcc02]

Originally Posted by gmoney542 I got Corksport camber arms too. I'm pretty sure all camber arms that can be adjusted on the car are a pain in the ass though.

Ya I'm gonna ask my snap on guy next week if he can get me a thin 26mm wrench just to give it another go on the car

[RPM]

Originally Posted by timmcc02 I selected the aggressive/ occasional drag. The rears are stamped 600 but the front have a weird stamping so I am unsure of the front. If you are also installing the corksport camber arms be prepared to be extremely pissed when adjusting them.

Your fronts are 525.

[timmcc02]

Originally Posted by RPM Your fronts are 525.

Hey good job guys for getting this together. Ground control did an excellent job packaging these and cutting the perches