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Forum nameHandling/Suspension
Topic subjectCheap EBAY Coilovers cause DANGEROUS result (help!)
Topic URLhttps://forums.2gnt.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=i6&topic_id=5419
5419, Cheap EBAY Coilovers cause DANGEROUS result (help!)
Posted by mrlocalpimp, Jan-05-02 04:26 PM
Ugh this makes me sick.

I got $70 coilovers off ebay by DROPZONE. $70, I knew these must be a piece of shit. But I figured piece of shit meant not that great handling or taking bumps, like the ride would be bumpy. I didnt know it was much deeper like THE ENTIRE PERCH FALLING OFF THE STRUT WHILING IM DRIVING.

Ugh the whole left rear collapsed needless to say. I could BARELY drive it home. Makes me sick. Cheap shit should PERFORM cheap, not be cheap in safety!!!!!! Like a kia, its cheap so its ugly and slow. Doesnt mean its not safe!

Ugh.

So anyways, now the coilover metal collar and the o-rings and metal rings that hold it are BELOW the perch. And I cant get them back up past the perch. Ive beat them with a hammer, tugged, everything. NOthing works. Ack.
5420, RE: NEED HELP PLEASE, so dangerous
Posted by EvuLFleA, Jan-05-02 04:39 PM
Ummmm well first thing is the coilovers arent supposed to be installed with our spring perch still on. You are supposed to knock it off and have it sit on some welding and than an O-ring.

Why are you mad at the coilovers if your struts are the ones that failed you.
5421, RE: NEED HELP PLEASE, so dangerous
Posted by TragikTSi, Jan-05-02 05:13 PM
Should of just bought name brand quality units.
5422, RE: NEED HELP PLEASE, so dangerous
Posted by eclipse804, Jan-05-02 05:36 PM
His struts didn't fail. I think what happened is the collar slipped down, and went lower than the perches. Usually, some coilovers rest on the welds, or others rest on the actual spring perch (like GC from konis). It dropped lower, below where the perch was, so he is probably really low right now. It doesn't necessarily have to do with name brand product or not. Ian had skunks and with the tokikos, his also fell down below the perch. Certain coilovers can only be used with certain shocks properly. I know skunk2's will work with KYB GR-2 shocks, since I have them. But I heard some people have problems with the skunk2 and agx shocks. Good luck. I would take out the coilovers, and try to just get some springs, or if you want good coilvers, ground control are the best, and then skunk2.
5423, RE: NEED HELP PLEASE, so dangerous
Posted by flossinpnoyracer, Jan-06-02 01:27 AM
why would you go CHEAP in suspension modding

its the most delicate part in upgrading and suspension upgrades can mean your life.

luckily u werent racing when the happened KNOCK on wood.... KNOCK KNOCK!!!:-)

wanna buy my eibach sportlines hehehe
5424, Why use coilovers in the first place...?
Posted by JasonESi_T, Jan-06-02 01:40 AM
To be quite honest with you, I'm really confused why anyone (except for people that strictly show at car competitions) goes with coilovers as their choice in springs.

Why?

That very level of adjustability, you paid for, throws off your camber and toe every time you change the height thereby whittling away at your tires. I say just buy some lowering springs that are going to provide a more stable ride, with a lowered height that you need only aligh once (per maintenance).

It's one thing to have those $1000 coilovers that autocrossers use, but any coilovers we can afford, especially the cheapest kinds, are probably more gimmick than useful.
5425, RE: Why use coilovers in the first place...?
Posted by mrlocalpimp, Jan-06-02 04:52 AM
yes i agree. I got coilovers because I thought id adjust it. what the hell was i thinking?? when would i ever adjust the height??


anyways yes I took the perch off, I meant the metal bumps the perch used to sit on.

So anyone know how to get the collar back up past the metal bumps that werent supposed to let it pass in the first place?
5426, RE: Why use coilovers in the first place...?
Posted by EvuLFleA, Jan-06-02 05:07 AM
Hammer and a piece of wood? Im serious. I dont know how I would get it back up...
5427, RE: Why use coilovers in the first place...?
Posted by EvuLFleA, Jan-06-02 05:12 AM
Jason - Its people like me that would really like coilovers just due to the fact that here in North Dakota we USUALLY have snow on the ground all winter and if I had coilovers I would just raise twice a year instead of either changing out my springs or paying someone to do it. I can do my own springs but Im sure not everyone that lives in a snowy climate can.

Also this summer after I get some of my other parts on and painted Im going to try to compete in a few shows just for fun and Im going to have to put some 4" drop springs in my car and if I had coilovers I would just lower all the way and save me the trouble of putting in the new springs.


5428, RE: Why use coilovers in the first place...?
Posted by eclipse804, Jan-06-02 12:17 PM
>To be quite honest with you, I'm really confused why anyone
>(except for people that strictly show at car competitions)
>goes with coilovers as their choice in springs.

Hey Jason, another factor you might consider is the stiffness of the springs. Most lowering springs are under 400 ft-lbs, typically 350. With Ground Control coilovers, you can pick whatever front and rear spring rate you want for the best handling. The Skunk2's I have are 550 up front, 450 in the rear, which is really stiff (standard GC kit is 400 front, 300 rear). With skunk2's I have a real stiff and bumpy ride (not bouncy), but on smooth roads or tracks, the car is really flat and just feels like it has really tight handling. Such stiff spring rates might not be ideal for daily driving, but for people that auto-x (I don't), coilovers are perfect.

Also, what you can do is set your car at the perfect height and get it aligned - and mark it with a marker on the collar. Then lower it a lot at shows or when you just want it to look better. Of course you won't end up at the perfect exact height when you try to switch it back, but it should be close enough.
5429, RE: Why use coilovers in the first place...?
Posted by Mannyyy, Jan-06-02 01:38 PM
What I do is count the number of threads on the sleeve, that way I can always set them back equally everytime around. Also, each thread is about 1/16th of an inch.
5430, RE: Cheap EBAY Coilovers cause DANGEROUS result (help!)
Posted by icjeclipse, Jan-06-02 07:49 AM
This happened with my Skunks. DOn't try agian caus eit will happen again(i know ny experience)You need new shocks. Get the KYB's.
5431, RE: Cheap EBAY Coilovers cause DANGEROUS result (help!)
Posted by daved, Jan-06-02 08:30 AM
You get what you pay for!! I have Skunks and I have had no problem and I have had mine for +2 years now, haven't even blew any struts out yet and I have them set all the way down.
5432, RE: Cheap EBAY Coilovers cause DANGEROUS result (help!)
Posted by jZa, Jan-06-02 11:44 AM
should have listened to the springmaster(Cyan) and bought Maxspeed, they only like 100-150. Cyan has had like all the coilovers ever made on his car.
5433, RE: Cheap EBAY Coilovers cause DANGEROUS result (help!)
Posted by koolade9, Jan-06-02 05:48 PM
Loudeclipse has my maxspeed set, but he's goin air so I'm sure they're for sale....
5434, RE: Cheap EBAY Coilovers cause DANGEROUS result (help!)
Posted by PowerEclipses, Jan-07-02 02:33 AM
shit... just bought some off of ebay lol by zippy scooters maybe they are better i payed 110 i think?