TeamCapri
Tech, Repairs, Upgrades => Brakes/Suspension/Tires/Wheels => Topic started by: Fedaykin on October 08, 2008, 02:19:00 PM
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Hi, I've got the ground control coilovers on my car and the tokico struts, but I was wondering if anyone knew just how unsafe (if at all) it would be to cut or grind the spring perches off the struts so there wasn't all that extra lip hanging there. You know, just enough so that the coilovers had something to rest on, it seems like it would hold OK... Plus it would create some needed clearance down there.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/Fedaykin87/Springperch.jpg)
Not my car but the same way as they mount...
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/Fedaykin87/Springperchcut.jpg)
Would this be OK? Probably not that much cut off but you get the idea...
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Ya, that's the way most people (non-capri at least) do it. Post up pictures when it's done.
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ya good luck with that. if that coilover gets lose, or warps a little, it will slide on ya. i wouldn't chance that for the world. i have 17" wheels on my car, and i used spacers to clear the perch in the rear. and i been using ground control coil overs for over 2 years. if you do it do it right, its not worth not being save.
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You could always just trim it on the outside until your wheel clears, then you still have 270* of the perch to hold the collar on
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The cut photo is how I put mine together. I used a large flat washer turned to 1/8" larger than the diameter of the strut body ( this gives you 1/16th" either side) and welded to a 3/4" long section of pipe. I cut all but the welded tabs of the seat off at the same height and used Polyurethane sealant to secure it in place. They have over 2k mi. of hard use on them (tried hard to break them) now and work very well. I didnt use the stock coil leingths or spring rates on mine they were soft and prone to bind when you pushed it hard into corners. I wasnt looking for the slammed look but a stabil solid spring rate.
The lack of clearence between the strut body and the very thick machined washer prevent it from sliding past the remnants of the seat and the urethane keeps everything centered. I have no noises or issues with it yet.
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how mach you pay for them
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The Tokico GC combo is about $800
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$800 (http://graemlins/wow.gif) (http://graemlins/wow.gif)
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Meh, in the not quite 2 years I've owned my piece I've accumulated about 9.5k worth of receipts. Capris run on smoke, you open them up, the smoke escapes and they never quite work right again. Oh well not too much longer.
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Hey D22A, I bought my stuff awhile ago when tokico was having that clearance sale on the struts. For everything I payed about $500 I think.
I've already got them installed on my capri, but its been down for awhile and I'm starting to work on getting it back on the road again. I was wanting to try something like Phillip was talking about. Not cutting two sides off the perch but around the whole thing so that there was like 1/2"-1" left for the coilover part to rest on...
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it's realy funy becouse I payed 400 for the car
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Hey D! What is your point?
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Yeah, it seems like these cars end up costing more to upgrade than what they were bought for...
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i spent AU$1550 on my suspension
if i knew i could get coilovers and struts for U$800 then I would've bought them without hesitation.
I sent Tokico an email about the coilovers but no one bothered to reply. I thought it was poor business ethics so I went and paid retail somewhere else.
If only i had a contact in the states.
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I'm pretty sure you can find the Tokico struts on ebay pretty often for not too much...
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how does the car ride with the coilovers ??? i am want to change mine but not sure yet ??
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Yen,Would u be able to tell me where u got ur Coil Overs from,i can't seem to find anyone in Australia that can help me find them for a Capri,I'm reading on this forum that the 323 86-89 2WD will fit,are they a staight change over? Is it a complete Coil Over Kit?
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i have not bought them i was asking anyone that has put them on if the ride was ok
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The spring rates are user-selectable so the ride can be anything from stock to track only depending on the spring rates chosen. The Ground controls are the spring and perch ONLY! you still need performance struts, which also contribute to the ride quality as much as the sprinmg rates.
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I have about 5K on the Ground Control set up now and they work great! This thing use to just wallow into corners and sqeal and jump around. Now its' real firm and very predictable. I have a very hard spring rate on it, 7"-400lbs/in. in front and 9"-220lbs/ in in the back. I also bought the spacers and helper springs from Eibach to keep everything in place when it goes negitive (airborn). At the time I did the coil overs I also did all brake rotors, kevlar pads and braided stainless steel lines, seals, bearings, struts, strut mounts, bushings (on the front only couldn't find the rears at the time) tie rod ends everything complete. The one draw back that I have noticed is that you really need to observe torque settings on the hardware, I have had a few things loosen up because of the battering it takes with the heavier rate.
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im running the copper tokico HP struts for the 323gt and intrax purple lowering springs for the same..
i too, only paid 1800 for mine. in great condition. and im well over 5,000...
but i run 13s in the 1/4 and soon will break 12s with the 14b turbo. and still be under 6,000 with the price of the car ....
buy a civic, and build it to run 13s, and be reliable too. for under 6000...
and no, an e-bay ching chang chong turbo kit thrown on a d series will not last a summer, running the kind of boost it takes to run a 13..
and to do even a vitara/ eagle engine build,
or to port and polish and put high compression pistons in a d series will prolly put you over the budget.. and a b16 or b18 swap forget about it ..
so paying dirt, for a car with so much hidden potential, and underrated as they are.. sounds hella good to me
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh278/RCIfabrication/PICT0772.jpg)
heres the rear, and how much (or little ) clearance i have from the wheels..
and heres a better picture, of the fronts..
(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh278/RCIfabrication/DSC00037.jpg)
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any questions??
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what did u throw a lift kit on that thing, lookat that wheel gap!!!Just playin (http://graemlins/big-smile.gif)
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Hey Clubby,
Sorry for the really late reply, I didn't realise you had asked me a question until this thread was brought up again.
In short, there is no aftermarket support for the Capri in Australia.
Funny, huh?
I met a very knowledgeable person by the name of Graeme at Proven Performance who suspension components for the short lived Capri Cup racing event.
Coilovers weren't available for the car but he custom modded adjustable Koni shocks from a Ford TX5 to suit the Capri struts.
He also had a stack of pillow ball mount strut tops for the Capri. At the time I didn't think I needed them but in hindsight they would have been a nice investment.
My stock strut tops failed a few years ago and had to import parts from the States because parts here were so scarce and I had lost contact with Graeme.
I'd ask the guys on the forum where to get coilovers, they've got first first hand experience. No one in Aus is as enthusiastic with Capri's as these guys.
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Thanks for reply Yen ;) I've been checking out the Ground Control Coil Overs,they look great but i'm not sure if they are going to go low enough,the 2.5 drop is just enough from what i have now,the Clubsprint sat lower then the standard Capri.Does any one have pics of the Ground Control Coil Overs at their lowest point? Also which top mounts fit cause the 323 86 - 89 don't look the same. Thanks (http://smile.gif)
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Actually in Oz you can buy the White Line bushings that we have problems getting in the States. Might be an idea to source and send that here and we could send parts your way!
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Sounds like a proposition for trade. =)
Clubby, 2.5" is a massive drop. I'm occasionally bottoming out with 1.25" lowered springs. Should be OK with coilovers though since they're height adjustable.
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Yeah i hear u Dude,that why i want coil overs,but i want them to go as low as the tires,no gap on top.I bought the car low and it looked crazy but had to take care were i drove,so i had to go higher,but i miss the look,thats why i need adjustable ones.The 2.5 inch drop is just getting me there with lowered springs on it already.I see if i can send in pics of how the Capri looked when it was lower ;)
Phillip,i would of though White Line sent to the States,if i can help from here,let me know ;)
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=260433877303 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=260433877303)
140 delivered
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Thanks Gostlrs,I saw them on E-bay but didn't notice any one was useing them,are they as good as the Ground Control ones,cause the 4 inch drop would be better ;) especially for the people that like to scrap their cars on the road...LOL
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not sure but for the price...won't hurt to try them. once i get the engine where i want it i was gonna get them myself. i will get new struts to put in them when i do it
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The picture doesn't show the top hat's better make sure they are there or you will have to buy them somewhere else! What are the spring leingth's and rating? shouldn't be the same back and front. Not a lot of info?
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after checking these I found other units from the same person it seems.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/01-03-Mazda-Protege-5-Adjustable-Lowering-Coilovers_W0QQitemZ260433805470QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3ca310809e&_t rksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1171 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/01-03-Mazda-Protege-5-Adjustable-Lowering-Coilovers_W0QQitemZ260433805470QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3ca310809e&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1171)
The are advertising that these are specific to the vehicle but I have doubts about that.
These for all outward appearences look to be the same Chinese import that these are? Why pay more?
http://img.inkfrog.com/click_enlarge1.php?image=Coilover.jpg&username=xyzracing&aid=73094109 (http://img.inkfrog.com/click_enlarge1.php?image=Coilover.jpg&username=xyzracing&aid=73094109)
Highest quality, made by political prisoner in the great peoples republic of China commrade!
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Thanks for info Phillip,is any one useing the cheaper ones?
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I have bought them but havenot had them put on yet. I wanted to have them for the meet tommorro but my 25th anniversery is next week ,so the money will go else where.ROCKY
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http://img.inkfrog.com/click_enlarge1.php?image=Coilover.jpg&username=xyzracing&aid=73094109 (http://img.inkfrog.com/click_enlarge1.php?image=Coilover.jpg&username=xyzracing&aid=73094109)
Are these the ones that fit the Capri?
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Do the 90 - 94 Mazda Protege 323 Coilover Kit fit the Capri or is it only the 86 - 89 Model?
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Only the 86-89. Reason it is easy to find out, cause the parts for those years are interchangeable. you can look up the struts you have in question, and they will be completely different.
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Thanks STE_6000 ;)
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Hey Clubby! When looking for parts, try to rember that 323GT drive train is generally the same as a turbo capri and the standard 323 coincides with the N/A Capris. This includes driveshafts and front brakes. I believe the 323s had drum brakes unlike the discs on capris. I do believe the earlier capris that were not imported to the states had rear drums like the standard 323s. Correct me if needed but Good Luck! Gus
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Thanks Gus,I think I'm going to order the Ground Control ones,every one that uses them on this site are happy with them,is there a standard spring rating or what would you Ground Control lovers recommend?
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I have 450#/" X 7" long in the front and 220#/" X 9" long in the rear.
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I use ground control. there kit that works for the capri is the mazda 323 kit for the 89 year. its a direct bolt on for our cars. rides and handles great, i use a 2" drop with it.