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

[Dimenus]

w00t. Package was misdelivered a street over from mine, but luckily the person who got it dropped it off. I didn't have any cash but I gave him some homebrew.

Tappin'

[RPM]

Originally Posted by Dimenus w00t. Package was misdelivered a street over from mine, but luckily the person who got it dropped it off. I didn't have any cash but I gave him some homebrew. Tappin'

Awesome! Thanks for the update. I once had a missing package say "delivered" by UPS, so I just went walking around the neighborhood looking for it. Found it sitting on the porch of a house 4 houses down. lol

[jeffdevo]

Frak! u sure, i just lost my boner

Originally Posted by Jdraps13 It's me haha

[gmoney542]

Finished installing my suspension today. The Ground Control kit feels really good, alignment is horrible though so I can't really get a good idea of how the car actually handles until I get an alignment this week.

[thepatient77]

Suspension came in last week!!!! I'll be installing it on Wednesday and post some pics as well! Thank you all that participated in this group buy and thanks @RPM; for making this happen!

[daafisch]

Made my trek to work today a little bit slower than normal due to the rain but the suspension didn't feel too bad on the awful I684. It was a little bouncier than with my swifts but nothing that is going to cause me regret. I have 600# fronts and 700# rears but I probably have them higher than most.

[Adog35]

Originally Posted by daafisch Made my trek to work today a little bit slower than normal due to the rain but the suspension didn't feel too bad on the awful I684. It was a little bouncier than with my swifts but nothing that is going to cause me regret. I have 600# fronts and 700# rears but I probably have them higher than most.

I have 450F/500R and i'm not over thrilled
with how it rides. This is coming from Swift Springs.

I feel the Koni's do a great job and eating up the small to medium
imperfections. It really does ride great on most roads, but with
dips and bumps it falls apart.

The compression seems slow and then rebounds back
pretty quickly. It really throughs you around in the seat. (Difficult to describe I will
post a video)

This might be related to the Spring Rate as well.

I live in L.A and our roads are some of
the worst in the country.

[Mattyhawk1]

Originally Posted by Adog35 I have 450F/500R and i'm not over thrilled with how it rides. This is coming from Swift Springs. I feel the Koni's do a great job and eating up the small to medium imperfections. It really does ride great on most roads, but with dips and bumps it falls apart. The compression seems slow and then rebounds back pretty quickly. It really throughs you around in the seat. (Difficult to describe I will post a video) This might be related to the Spring Rate as well. I live in L.A and our roads are some of the worst in the country.

Sounds like you need more rebound? I noticed you have gone from soft and adjusted stiffer over time, has it gotten better than when you were on the softest setting?

I currently have Koni Yellows on stock springs, will be adding GC springs when they come in from this GB. I am currently 1/2 turn from firmest front and 1/2 turn from softest on rear on stock springs.

The fronts have always felt soft on the compression side, and need more rebound.

The rears are really jittery when rebound it turned up too high. Compression feels good on the rears, but I really think the rears are valved for a stiffer rear spring.

From my experience on stock springs, my suggestion is to add more rebound rear only. Might help. The shocks Front to Rear really need to be adjusted very different from each other. Just don't use my settings to adjust yours to.

[daafisch]

Also keep in mind that Koni's adjustment is not really linear and sometimes vary from shock to shock. My fronts vary by 1/4 of a turn to get them similar (I compressed them and saw how long it took each to rebound). The fronts are set closer to full stiff and so are the rears.

[[R]usty]

Can anyone compare to stock suspension? What was the biggest difference?

[Crarrs]

Originally Posted by daafisch I compressed them and saw how long it took each to rebound.

That's not how they work. The gas pressure in the shock that forces them into extension is not tied to the damping circuit. Lee from Koni has corrected people about this a few times on this forum.

Koni Yellow rear strut install problem

[daafisch]

Originally Posted by Crarrs That's not how they work. The gas pressure in the shock that forces them into extension is not tied to the damping circuit. Lee from Koni has corrected people about this a few times on this forum. Koni Yellow rear strut install problem

Well it's known that Koni's aren't very linear and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside seeing them react the same.

[Design]

Originally Posted by Adog35 I have 450F/500R and i'm not over thrilled with how it rides. This is coming from Swift Springs. I feel the Koni's do a great job and eating up the small to medium imperfections. It really does ride great on most roads, but with dips and bumps it falls apart. The compression seems slow and then rebounds back pretty quickly. It really throughs you around in the seat. (Difficult to describe I will post a video) This might be related to the Spring Rate as well. I live in L.A and our roads are some of the worst in the country.

Raise the rears .5-.7" temporarily.

If ride improves, it's more to do with the jounce bumpers. My guess ATM is the rebound force from the springs/jounce bumper is too much for the Konis to handle.

@Lee

[Ewind]

Hey @RPM

Any updates for us?

[winiarzk]

hmmm

[Dimenus]

Guys who have done the install, how long did it take you?

[gmoney542]

If you're just doing the Konis and GC kit then you can easily do it in a day.

The rear is super easy and you could do it in like an hour. The fronts are more difficult, have a BFH ready and I'd recommend sanding some of the paint off the Konis around where they go in the knuckle. I found that it was made more difficult because of how thick the paint is. Don't be afraid to beat the crap out of the knuckle and be patient. PB Blaster is your friend.

[timmcc02]

Agreed with what was said^^^ Took me about 7 1/2 hours to install kit plus corksport camber arms and align, but I have lift and arsenal of tools at my disposal

[daafisch]

Originally Posted by Dimenus Guys who have done the install, how long did it take you?

Took me 3 hours and I had to grind down the top nut to put the GC sleeves over my existing Koni's. I've also swapped suspension numerous times on these cars.

I agree with grinding down the paint, I also put some lithium grease around the base to help the strut go back into the knuckle and it helps if you need to pull it out again.

Try spreading the knuckle with a 1/4 drive ratchet and then hit the knuckle with a hammer or use the scissor jack trick.

[RPM]

Originally Posted by Ewind Hey @RPM Any updates for us?

Not really other than the last update I provided. A few California and international kits are on the way to us (for S.C., M.H., J.Mar., and P.C.) and a couple other kits will be shipping this week (for J.Men., and J.Dvi.).

After all of those are shipped, next should be E.L. and J.Dra.

[Jdraps13]

Originally Posted by Ewind Hey @RPM Any updates for us?

Sounds like we're gonna be last in the list, did you get your sheared bolt sorted out

[Ewind]

Originally Posted by Jdraps13 Sounds like we're gonna be last in the list, did you get your sheared bolt sorted out

Wrong person!

But, I look forward to comparing our suspension setups in a near future Edmonton meet.

[Jdraps13]

Originally Posted by Ewind Wrong person! But, I look forward to comparing our suspension setups in a near future Edmonton meet.

Haha yeah for sure I was thinking Edwin my bad

[Ewind]

Originally Posted by Jdraps13 Haha yeah for sure I was thinking Edwin my bad

This is Edwin. Edwin number 1
780mps3 is Edwin number 2

[Chimmike]

Originally Posted by Design Raise the rears .5-.7" temporarily. If ride improves, it's more to do with the jounce bumpers. My guess ATM is the rebound force from the springs/jounce bumper is too much for the Konis to handle. @Lee

I'm already at 1-2" fender to top of rear tire........so I don't have the car lowered much at all.............


as for install....7 hours? REALLY? did you take a cigarette break after removing each bolt? Shoot. lol.

[therza2169]

Question for the people that have already got these installed. How does it feel going over small bumps in the road at low speeds? I just got them put on for me yesterday and it's been pouring rain like a son if a bitch so I haven't been able to really test them out, but I did notice they seem pretty damn bouncy on them at low speeds. Hopefully the weather will clear up and I'll get a chance to put them through their paces.

[Chimmike]

my system seems to soak up the small stuff pretty well actually. I mean, this is a significantly stiffer spring than stock so we're to expect some changes. I'm just wondering if, perhaps, the konis are poorly damped. I don't know. I'm no suspension expert.

[alextheguineapig]

Originally Posted by Chimmike my system seems to soak up the small stuff pretty well actually. I mean, this is a significantly stiffer spring than stock so we're to expect some changes. I'm just wondering if, perhaps, the konis are poorly damped. I don't know. I'm no suspension expert.

I've been following this thread for awhile, the Konis I ordered from edge (I have them paired with swift springs) are really rough even on super soft and its starting to get to me on bumpy roads. I thought GC was revalving them to match the springs--which makes me uncomfortable about buying the kit because the dampers wont be matched to the springs, but it doesn't seem like the GC kit is properly valved either.

[RPM]

I forgot to post this...

Regarding the spanner wrenches, I know that some of you received them and others didn't. GC said that the kit wasn't intended to come with them, but if anyone who did not receive them would like a set, they would be happy to send them a set. So, if that applies to you, just shoot me a PM with your order number (and address if it has changed) and I'll have them sent you a set.

[461_SS]

Surprised the kit didn't come with the wrenches considering you need them to adjust the spring preload.... What they think we are going to use?

[daafisch]

no preload adjustment. Just height. Spring comes loose when it's completely unloaded so adjusting the collar is easy with your hands.

[Design]

Originally Posted by Chimmike my system seems to soak up the small stuff pretty well actually. I mean, this is a significantly stiffer spring than stock so we're to expect some changes. I'm just wondering if, perhaps, the konis are poorly damped. I don't know. I'm no suspension expert.

The Konis should be good up to 600 lbs IIRC. At stock height, there's less than .5" clearance between the rear shock and jounce bumper.

Is anyone else here running a shorter bump stop with better results? It's not something the MS3 community normally recommends. But on a 500lb spring it might be a more appropriate solution:
Ground Control - Foam bump stop ($12.00ea)


I'd be hesitant to do anything too drastic until Lee has had a chance to weigh in.

Originally Posted by daafisch no preload adjustment. Just height. Spring comes loose when it's completely unloaded so adjusting the collar is easy with your hands.

That could be problematic on the rear for our cars (if adjusted too low).

[daafisch]

Originally Posted by Design The Konis should be good up to 600 lbs IIRC. At stock height, there's less than .5" clearance between the rear shock and jounce bumper. Is anyone else here running a shorter bump stop with better results? It's not something the MS3 community normally recommends. But on a 500lb spring it might be a more appropriate solution: Ground Control - Foam bump stop ($12.00ea) I'd be hesitant to do anything too drastic until Lee has had a chance to weigh in.

All the full kits came with bump stops. I have the front GC bump stops from my previous setup and I cut my rear stops when I originally installed my previous setup as well.

[alextheguineapig]

Originally Posted by daafisch All the full kits came with bump stops. I have the front GC bump stops from my previous setup and I cut my rear stops when I originally installed my previous setup as well.

How much did you cut off when you were ok swift springs? I have mine a full height and I'm wondering if that is making it more stuff than it should be.

I already have the front gc bumpstops.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Chimmike]

yeah the rear came with GC bumpstops.

[daafisch]

Originally Posted by alextheguineapig How much did you cut off when you were ok swift springs? I have mine a full height and I'm wondering if that is making it more stuff than it should be. I already have the front gc bumpstops. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm pretty sure it was 2 notches.

[jeffdevo]

Yes to JD the Boner is back! Now waiting to hear what you guys recommend for settings!

Originally Posted by RPM Not really other than the last update I provided. A few California and international kits are on the way to us (for S.C., M.H., J.Mar., and P.C.) and a couple other kits will be shipping this week (for J.Men., and J.Dvi.). After all of those are shipped, next should be E.L. and J.Dra.

[Mattyhawk1]

Just got tracking, thanks!

[JDMJOSH]

Originally Posted by Mattyhawk1 Just got tracking, thanks!

Me too, thanks @RPM

[[R]usty]

Got mine too. Thanks @RPM;!