Has anyone put Ground Controls on your SE-R? What is the ride like? My upcoming SE-R will be my daily driver so comfort is still a big factor. I do have to drive over several bumpy roads. What are the pros and cons of GC versus something like Eibach Proline/Sportline? What are the technical differences b/t the two setups?

Which ever you choose to go with you will need to change your factory struts to aftermaket, i.e. Tokico or KYB. The major difference is that GC allows you to lower and raise the height of the vehicle w/ a twist of a screw. That just causes one draw back though, depending on how much you raise/lower your car you may need to get your alignment done. GC also uses Eibach springs in their set-up, but you can choose the spring rate which will be ideal for what you are doing w/ the car.

Now on to Eibach pro-kit/sportline. I've had a set of sportlines on my 96 SE. The drop blew my factory struts about two months after I got them installed. Hint: when you get springs get struts and get them both installled at the same time. Saves money. Springs don't allow you to raise/lower your car at your wish like GC do.

I was in your same shoes trying to decide which ones I wanted for my current car (Altima) and opted for the springs, b/c I haven't yet wanted to raise my car back up since I've lowered it. That and I don't want to hassle getting an alignment each time I lower/raise my car 2".

Just my .02

Late.

OK, I'll be doing some research on the struts then. I won't be needing to alter the height any once I put on the new suspension. The only advantage I can think of for using the GC is that I can set the front to be lower than the rear.I've heard of people using the Sportline in front and Proline in rear, but wouldnt that give me two different spring rates? I'm thinking I'll eventually use the GC for that reason, unless someone knows of a better solution. Thanks dood!

Another thing to think about is what you want exactly.

If you just want to lower the car for looks and not for performance, go with the Eibachs and decide how much you want to lower.

If you want performance handling, get the GC's cause you can get more aggressive spring rates and can customize what rates you want front and back. I am running 300lb on the front and 200lb on the rears with my GC's. But I rode in a G20 with 275/200, and I really liked that. I believe the Eibachs are like 175/170 or something.

The height adjustability is nice, but it is not the only benefit of the GC's.

My GC equipped car, even with the more aggressive spring rates, is much more comfortable than the cars with Eibachs that I have been in. Of course, I lowered mine less than an inch too to retain my suspension travel.

What I am wanting to do is get performance style handling while maintaining some level of comfort. I am thinking I wont go down more than 1.5" front and 1" back. Mostly to lower the center of gravity, but also to close the tirewell gap.

Correct me if I am wrong, but am I to understand that I can freely adjust the spring rate? Or is that something I have to choose when I order the GC's?

What kind of struts would ya'll reccomend with the GC's? Those sound more like what will suit me. I don't mind paying more if I know I will be happy with it.

1.5" in front is pretty low. It will not be very comfortable with most springs.

As for the spring rates, you choose your rate when your order your coilovers. If you ever want to change, you have to buy a new set of springs only. This may sound like it is worthless and expensive, but at least you have a choice of a lot of spring rates. With the Eibachs, you only get one choice of rates. And if you want to lower the front more than the back, you should get GC's rather than mix sportlines and prokits.

The KYB AGX's are good struts.shocks for either spring you decide to go with. They are relatively cheap and offer some adjustability. I think most everyone is pretty happy with those.

If you have more cash, get the Motivational setup with the shortened struts. It is like $1400, but it is very very nice. It will give you a lower ride, more comfort, and better handling all!

I am still waiting to see how Shell's Shigspeed setup works. I think that could be my next suspension. Otherwise, I will save up for the Motivationals.

IMO, these are the way to go. if you car is mostly street use, get them in 300/200. I got mine in 350/300, and with the AGXs set on 1(the softest) the ride is a little rough. On the track is a different story though! :D

Also, when you do this, buy new strut mounts, bumpstops and read the write-up on i think sentra.net

good luck

How much is the GC/AGX setup? I will be using Motivational Eng. upper shock mounts and bumpstops. I figure if I am going to be spending around $1000 on the suspension, I might as well do it the right way. :D

Who are some good vendors of the GC's and AGX's? I'd like to know exactly how much I am going to have to save up so I can plan when I am going to buy them. I have several mods I want to do when I get my SE-R, and I want to have a sort of priority list going.

i have to agree with tommy. AGX's cost approx. $450 and G/C's cost approx. $400, total $850. for a few hundred more, you can get a full race threaded body coilover strut, purpose built for the track. try contacting JIC Magic, Truechoice or Motivational engineering.

Originally posted by slipper
i have to agree with tommy. AGX's cost approx. $450 and G/C's cost approx. $400, total $850. for a few hundred more, you can get a full race threaded body coilover strut, purpose built for the track. try contacting JIC Magic, Truechoice or Motivational engineering.

again, AGXs are $389 delivered from www.p-s-t.com

The GCs can be had for $350-400. I did my entire suspension with new bumpstops, strut mounts for like 1,000. the next step up is motivational, check out the page www.motivational.net, and that setup is $1440, and the shocks are NOT adjustable. then there is the truechoice setup, which is like $2600.

for the street, some auto-xing and road racing, the GC/agx combo cant be beat. if you are spending $1,000, get it!

I would also consider the Koni's. I know everyone says the AGX's but the koni's are significantly more comfortable on the street. I had someone with agx's and stock springs (b13) say that my b14 with Koni's and 300/200 GC was more comfortable then his car. Also, GET THE EIGHT INCH SPRING UP FRONT, if you dont plan on lowering your car very much 1-1.5 inch's or so. You don't want to coil bind the front spring.

I'll keep the Koni's in mind. Thankfully I have plenty of time to conisder exactly what I am going to do. After all, I have to have the car to modify it... :D

Does anyone know of a good shop in the Dallas, TX area that will install the suspension well and cheap? Most things I don't mind trying to do myself, but since I have a lack of experience with these, I think I'm just going to have a shop do the work. From reading the article on sentra.net, I don't want to have to bother with it.

I work for beer ;) (and have tools)

That reminds me. Brian, I probably owe you a beer or 12 for when you and james did my GC/AGX's. Wasn't that fun? :p

I'll help too. But brian can be in charge of grinding the lips on the AGX's! :D

Ok, assuming I ever get the money to do this setup, belive me I'll let you know. I would rather buy a couple people some beer as payment than pay a shop a couple hundred bux to do it. ;) beer... it's what's for dinner... :D

thats why SE-R guys are great! shit, we did my GC/AGxs in the RAIN! and, we still had a great time!

and, beer, yes, its always a good time for a beer! like now! :D

One word of warning, if you get the GCs with relativley high spring rates, your car will make noises. I run 325/325 and my car loves to talk to me. I don't mind, I like the conversation, but thats just me. Also big bumps will make it bottom out, you have to be used to driving such a creature. Get a ride or even better a test drive in a car with each if you can, its the best way to decide.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Calum
[B]One word of warning, if you get the GCs with relativley high spring rates, your car will make noises. I run 325/325

why would you run 325 F&R? very strange to run those kinds of rates. As for talking, my car is nice and quiet, thanks to duct tape and silicone! ;) And, whats with the "big" bump stops? I run the true choice ones, and they are not really big...

My bottom line is that for a street car 300/200 is fine, and if you go with a higher rate, make sure the front is 50lbs stiffer than the rear..., thats what i heard..............

Originally posted by Rob
why would you run 325 F&R? very strange to run those kinds of rates. As for talking, my car is nice and quiet, thanks to duct tape and silicone! ;) And, whats with the "big" bump stops? I run the true choice ones, and they are not really big...

Lol, not the bump stops, I mean the bumps on the road. You are right, duct tape and silicone do wonders. Its hard for me to pin-point exactly what causes each particular noise on my car, but I think the GCs get to answer for their fair share of the squeaks and groans. In all honesty my (stripped to the) bone stock crx beatermobile is every bit as noisy and has just as rough a ride; the GC/AGX is a good all around combo. Btw those springs are on there because they work on my car. :)