Which Coilover Kit?

After I get my steering/suspension problems fixed, I'm hoping to get some double adjustable on the car. I also want to go with different spring rate, so I'm looking to going to coilovers at the same time (if money allows). Which kit should I go with; LG Motorsports which is a true coilover all the way around, or the Global West setup, which is coilovers up front, and a ride height adjustable kit in the rear (this is a stock-style setup up with adjustable perchaes for the rear springs). What are some opinions? Any other options?

What kind of classes will having coilovers in the rear exclude me from? I'm already forced to be be in Street Modified while running AutoX. Thanks!

Well, I would look at either the LG coil overs or the Ground Control version....have heard bad things about the Global West coil overs.

It is basically what you are looking for....the LG coil overs are "true" coil overs and made VERY WELL. They come with NON-adjustable shocks however so if you desire to tune your suspension yourself at the track/whereever you need to upgrade to much more expensive shocks. I would love to have this system with the adjustables.

I went, however, with Ground Control due to the cost issue at the time....bought the kit and Koni SA shocks all around for a few hundred less that LG's kit.....

The perfomance difference......I would think not a HUGE amount....LG's are better, but by how much? And how much are you willing to pay to get that little extra. I am using my Ground Controls on a car that is a fully preped SCCA ITE race car....is never going to see the street again and it works just fine.

I use the GC coilovers and adjustable rear spring perches. Unless you're going to do some serious road racing, stick with the GC's and save yourself the money.

Originally posted by bruecksteve
I use the GC coilovers and adjustable rear spring perches. Unless you're going to do some serious road racing, stick with the GC's and save yourself the money.

Thanks! It looks like that's what I'll be going with. I already have the Global West rear ride height adjustable kit, so I'll go with the GC coilovers up front.
Aother opinions?

LG's hands down, there isn't another set of coil overs on the market that can come close to them. Ride/drive a car that has them and trust me you won't ever think twice about it. Thats if you want the best thats out there....if your just going for looks or what not..then there are others out there.

Not sayin the others are worthless or not good...just sayin that LG's are a proven race winning design there isn't another one out there right now that I know of that can say that. ;) :D

Three things about the LG's though.

One, if you are trying to run in a particular class (such as ESP), they'll throw you up in class.

Two, you get what Lou thinks you need in terms of shocks and spring rates. It might or might not suit your driving style.

And three, since you already have adjustable rear perches, you're tossing them out or having to sell them.

I just think for the money and what you're going to be doing with them, the GC's in the front with a spring rate and shock setting that meets your driving needs, is the way to go.

They are completely rebuildable and revalveble as well...and springs are cheap since they are a standard set....problem solved.

Originally posted by 1LEThumper
Not sayin the others are worthless or not good...just sayin that LG's are a proven race winning design there isn't another one out there right now that I know of that can say that. ;) :D

Hmm, are you trying to say a Global West or Ground Control equipped car has never won a race? Come on now, refine that statement please. You know that's definitely not the truth.

Originally posted by 1LEThumper
They are completely rebuildable and revalveble as well...and springs are cheap since they are a standard set....problem solved.

Which is no different than either a GC or GW kit. You can rebuild a standard Koni or Bilstein, and they also use standard 2.5" springs.

The LG kit is nice and all, its just a matter if the extra money is worth it to you.

Well I personally I have never seen a GC or GW kit on a ROAD race car win a national championship so I can't say that I have. If ya show me one then yes I will change that statement...but I haven't so I can't.

Like I said I'm not saying that I don't think they other kits don't work but most of the time when I get aftermarket parts I'm usualy dissapointed in how they work compared to the hype that is usualy around them. These are one of the few items that I can honestly say far exceeded my expectations, it took me a long time to find anything that could all around beat the 1LE stuff. So yes I do believe in the product, if I didn't then I'd tell ya hey don't buy it its crap.

Originally posted by 1LEThumper
Well I personally I have never seen a GC or GW kit on a ROAD race car win a national championship so I can't say that I have. If ya show me one then yes I will change that statement...but I haven't so I can't.


Ah, you did as I requested. You refined your statement. You didn't say "championship" before. Anyway, yes, I feel very confident there are plenty of racers out there who have won championships in their racing group or organization with GC or GW coilovers. No, I don't have names, but if I really cared I'm sure I could find some. ;)

I believe that LG sells SOME good parts, however, not all of them are great (his sway bars are way too expensive for what you get, I bought and then sold them) and, for the most part, they are more expensive than comparable parts that perform in a similar manner.

Okay, I have another quuick question. As I stated before, I'm going to go with the GC coilovers upfront with DA Konis all around (possibly singles in the rear) since I already have the GW adjustable kit in the rear.
I'm wondering if there would be any reason why I couldn't add the LG coil overs just in the rear later? I can't imagine a reason why there front kit would be much better than the GC's.
Any comments?

Actually yes they are better, and here is why. They eliminate all rubber mounts on the shock, both ends are using rod ends so that you have a positive connection with the car and no slop or binding.

As far as getting the front and rear seperatly I think you would have to talk to lou on that, I've never seen him sell them apart.

Originally posted by bruecksteve
for the most part, they are more expensive than comparable parts that perform in a similar manner.

On the surface, and according to his 2 year old website, his parts are more expensive.

But what drew me to G2 parts and Lou was a simple pledge he makes all the time.

Price match ...

But, you have to call him to find out. Everytime I've needed a part, I call and he comes to within 10% of any competitor's price and many times beats it

The example I was thinking of are his sway bars (and I bought them 3 years ago), they are definitely not worth the price. They are simply 1LE bars...

I seem to recall reading somewhere about the LG bars being 1LE in diameter, however a thicker wall tubing and different metallurgy. And they are the 1LE OD because of bushing availability.

I know this powder coated 1LE "rumor" has floated around the internet for years.

I still use the rear bar... I'll try to get the size, I'll see if a 21mm wrench will slide over it. (if I have one!)

Well, that rumor is easy to put to rest. What's the wall thickness of an LG front bar? Wall thickness is easy to tell. Just look at the ends where the bar is crushed for the end-link to go through. You can measure wall thickness there. Look at a stock GM bar, you'll see what I'm talking about. I've also talked to a number of swaybar makers, ST, Addco, Saner etc. None of them have access to diameters like 32.5 and 21.5. And powdercoat does add some thickness (and .5 ain't much). If they are different, I'll be the first to say so, really :)

As for the bushing availability, they are very easy to get in a variety of diameters. 30, 32, 33, 34, 35 are all readily available for under $20. FWIW. And if they are truly 32.5 and 21.5 those are not readily available, which means they must be made with the bars. At which point any size bushing can be made. MHO of course, I'm *sure* opinions will vary. :D

That's what I was thinking.