Let's Discuss Coil Overs

Okay, I need to get some for the Koni's on our autocross CRX. The natural choice is Ground Control, but are there any other options I should consider, especially cheaper options? Or is GC the way to go? If so, why?

Ebay sleeves and dirt track springs?

That said, i don't really know of any BETTER options than the Ground Controls. Just cheaper and/or equal performance.

For the price you won't really get much better than Ground Controls.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Ebay sleeves and dirt track springs? That said, i don't really know of any BETTER options than the Ground Controls. Just cheaper and/or equal performance.

Used Ground Controls?

Used ebay sleeves and used dirt track springs?

My understanding is that the ebay stuff generally degrades much faster than the GC stuff (i.e. adonizing falling off, seizing, etc.) That said, I don't have any personal experience with the cheap stuff and plenty of people seem to get away with it. If the car only sees fair weather and/or is an autocross only car you could probably get away with the cheapies for a while. Then again, I like to know my suspension items won't catastrophically fail on the way to autocross from hitting a nasty pothole. I'm probably just making that up in my head though.

If i were in this same situation, i'd just look for used GC sleeves only, then fill them with springs of my choice. Eibachs are not the cheapest thing out there.

I guess the question lingering in my head (until it finds it's way to a hole...) is if there is a kit that is just as good but cheaper. Are all the kits on Ebay the same? I haven't looked yet. If not, what should I be looking for? The car is driven a lot, but hopefully won't be driven in the winter. If it is, it's likely that I'll swap stock stuff back onto it until spring.
I do live in northeast Ohio, pothole capital of Ohio, so I don't want to run junk. I also need to figure out a spring rate that will work decently on the course and not break my back on the road. I think in ST the hot setup is way stiffer than I could deal with on the street. Anyone have any experience with this and have a suggested f-r spring rate?

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: If i were in this same situation, i'd just look for used GC sleeves only, then fill them with springs of my choice. Eibachs are not the cheapest thing out there.

I've been looking for a long time and have never found even one set for sale. Where might I find these elusive sleeves?

bravenrace wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: If i were in this same situation, i'd just look for used GC sleeves only, then fill them with springs of my choice. Eibachs are not the cheapest thing out there.

I've been looking for a long time and have never found even one set for sale. Where might I find these elusive sleeves?

I've seen 'em a couple times on Miata forums in particular.

I bet you could also order just the sleeves from Ground Control if you called them.

I got mine used from STS_ZX2 on these forums, but they did come with springs. One pair of Eibachs, and one pair of QA1s.

Anybody else have any ideas on brands or sources?

The collar on the GC's really is the cats meow IMO, provided you don't go all gorilla on the locking screw. I had mine on through several salty winters and never had a hint of seizing/sticking/galling etc. Really good design.

GC's design is very good. Had them on Stinky, my '79 RX7. Good quality stuff.

The flEbay sleeves will work but the spring quality is reportedly very bad. The sleeves themselves are sloppier than the GC's and use the double nut lock system, not my favorite. But they are a lot cheaper. You get what you pay for.

$600 Autox special: flea bay coil overs and springs for $200

Track Miata: GC coilovers and eibachs from Flyin' Miata with a set of their bump stops.

Different missions; different prices

The MotoIQ guys seemed to like the Skunk2 stuff, although I doubt it's cheap. Linky

Of course these guys also make exhausts out of Al-you-min-eum, so use at your own risk.

Just picked up 4 new wrx s from birthday boy

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: If i were in this same situation, i'd just look for used GC sleeves only, then fill them with springs of my choice. Eibachs are not the cheapest thing out there.

^ I bought a used set and bought Swift springs.