Ground Control Install Problem

[Beige4dr]

I'm in the process of installing my Ground Controls today. I started with the rears. I removed everything and dissassembled the AGX/stock springs. I ground the lip off the strut so I could slide the sleeve on and it doesn't seem to fit. I kept grinding until I was sure that it wasn't the lip but the sleeve seems to be a hair too small for the body of the strut. I looked inside the sleeve and the inside diameter is a little bigger on the top (based on the lettering on the pre-installed perch). I flipped it over and put the perch on facing the other way (now the lettering is still right side up). It slides on to where the sleeve inner diameter gets smaller. It feels like there is a little spring tension when I am tightening the top nut at the end of the strut, but not enough to prevent perch adjustment. I lower the car back down and....

It's raised about 2 inches over stock in back!

The sleeve must need to slide all the way down to where the old perch was. I re-checked the sleeves for the front -they are the same. I look at the side of the box and it says "For '91/Stock". I am wondering if the strut body for AGX's is different than stock and I need a different sleeve? I guess I am headed back out to take everything apart again.

Any suggestions appreciated - particularly answers:

Is the sleeve supposed to slide down to the old spring perch?

Do I need a different sleeve for AGXs versus stock?

Thanks,
Jim

[JustinP10]

I don't know if the agx's require a different sleeve or not, but i know on mine the sleeve is all the way at the bottom, or as far down as it can physically go. Hope this helps. If I had a garage I'd check the fitment of mine, but it's real tough to check in an apartment, especially when they don't want us working on cars in the parking lot (i've already pushed my luck :hehe: ).

[Beige4dr]

at least that confirms the sinking feeling I had when I first tried to slide the sleeve over the strut. By all the way to the bottom, I take it you mean all the way down to the old spring perch. It wouldn't take a garage to see mine is messed up - you can see the spring perch with the wheel on.

Jim

[Beige4dr]

After seeing what happened to George the last time he offered advice I can see how some of you might be reluctant. I promise nothing but gratitude so fire away with suggestions if you got them.

Thanks,
Jim

[Beige4dr]

So I must not be a complete idiot - or I don't know enough to notice that they are messed up ;-) I am still pretty sure that I must have the wrong sleeve for the rears.

[Beige4dr]

Finished up the install with my eyes closed :o after messing around with the wrong parts all of the previous weekend.

[Plat-num]

so did you solve the problem? did you have the right parts? because i have ground controls and thinking about buying some agx's....i don't want any probs

[Beige4dr]

The red threaded sleeve which slips over the strut body might need to be bigger to fit different struts. I finally got the right part on the third attempt and was able to finish up the install. Now I am working on tuning it to get a reasonable ride.

[JustinP10]

Originally posted by Beige4dr
Now I am working on tuning it to get a reasonable ride.

What spring rates do you have? If it's the 340/250 setup, start at like 2/2 or 2/3 and start testing from there. That's about where i've found the most streetable settings at. But, the roads are pretty smooth up in Phoenix (where i was doing all the tuning at) so i may have been able to get away with a lower setting than others would run. But i'd try and start around there, and then adjust as needed.

[Plat-num]

so how much did those larger sleeves cost you??? and exactly what did you have to grind down?

[Beige4dr]

I have 300f/225r and I am running at 1/1 now. I have only bottomed out on my torture test corner and speed bumps. I am almost wishing I had done 275f/200r. I would dial it up to full height and then play around with the AGXs.

As for grinding - I did a bad monkey thing and used the wrong tool. I had my brother-in-law's compressor sitting there and when my angle grinder and bench grinder both came up dead, I bought an air powered cut-off tool. It made REAL quick and ugly work of nibbling off the lip at the top of the strut body (sticks out a few millimeters from the strut body).

I am GUESSING that the front sleeves would fit on most struts. I think I originally got rear sleeves for stock struts and the AGXs are a few millimeters bigger. I think Ground Control charges $60 a pair for the sleeves.