KYB GR2 struts and ground control?

Suresperance · Post by **Suresperance** » April 30th, 2007, 5:43 pm

hey im looking into kyb gr2 struts just because i cant find the mazdaspeed ones but i was wondering if any one knows if the ground control coilovers will fit these. ive already got the coilovers on my stock struts so i would rather not have to buy new springs.

Red Rocket · Post by **Red Rocket** » April 30th, 2007, 5:59 pm

from what I've read in the past I'm pretty sure that our oem struts are the kyb's.

Suresperance · Post by **Suresperance** » April 30th, 2007, 9:41 pm

Steeb wrote:

what people may or may not know is that the kyb gr2 are valved 10-15% "firmer" than oem.

if i understand correctly that means that the KYB GR2 struts are an improvement over stock.

solo_ryder · Post by **solo_ryder** » May 1st, 2007, 10:33 am

Only slightly, I would not recommend that you use them with ground controls because they are not properly valved for that application even though they will fit the standard ground control coilover.

If you cannot find mazdaspeed struts (which you probably won't) then you may want to get ford escort zx2 struts, they are cheaper anyways and will be better suited for the GC's. Make sure to get the tokico version of the GC's if you order them.

The stock struts are tokico branded IIRC

Suresperance · Post by **Suresperance** » May 1st, 2007, 11:18 am

okay so the ZX2 struts are just the stock ones off a escort zx2? so i could get them any where practicly. how much modification is needed to fit the strut and im not sure which version GC ive got but i have them on the car already. will either or fit the ford struts?

sorry for all the questions

Suresperance · Post by **Suresperance** » May 1st, 2007, 11:24 am

http://www.fordracingparts.com/parts/pa ... Field=3793

are those the ones? and is that price for the whole kit.

solo_ryder · Post by **solo_ryder** » May 1st, 2007, 11:24 pm

Do a search please

The Tokico ZX2's are the ford racing version of the stock ZX2 strut, they are better, if you have ground controls on the stock struts or kybs in ur car they will not fit the tokicos. You may need to mod them, not to sure how.

hotsiit · Post by **hotsiit** » May 17th, 2007, 7:31 am

Hey...some more questions.

"if you have ground controls on the stock struts or kybs in ur car they will not fit the tokicos. You may need to mod them, not to sure how."

Has anyone tried fitting a "non-tokico" GC coil-over sleeve onto the zx2 s/r struts? or know what type (if any) modification is needed?

I already have GC coil-overs running on my stock struts for years now, and I plan on upgrading alot of things on my mx very soon. (BP-turbo engine and g-series tranny going in, srd bushings, sts, microtech standalone etc...) and figured I'd upgrade the suspension a little bit.

I am assuming my GC's are the normal mx3 ones, and not the tokico version...so I guess I'll have to see what can be done with making them work together

...otherwise I guess i'll have to get new tokico GC's and sell the ones I currently have

Well any help with the main question above (in red) would be great, thanks!

nope-mx3 · Post by **nope-mx3** » May 17th, 2007, 9:23 am

I`m guessing (and only guessing, mind), that the inner diameter of the sleeves are different for the Tokico and Oem style strut.

-n

PATDIESEL · Post by **PATDIESEL** » May 17th, 2007, 12:47 pm

Call GC and ask them. They have a customer support numer. You might need the part number for the ones you have and then tell them what you are changing to and ask them if they will fit or for the part number of the ones that will fit.

Steeb · Post by **Steeb** » May 18th, 2007, 2:50 pm

zx2 s/r's are designed for eibach springs which arent much firmer in spring rate than stock springs especially since eibachs are VERY progressive springs so im sure they will be close in performance with tokico blues and kyb gr2.

its not that the s/r, tokico blue, or gr2's cant handle ground controls, its that the spring rate that comes in the standard g/c kit will be a bit more than those 3 struts were designed for. you can request custom spring rates to match s/r, tokico blue, or gr2's.

another option is tokico illuminas. ive seen autox and track cars with tokico illumina's with upwards of 700+ lb springs on very smoot surfaces. these are available for the probe/mx6/626/millenia but will fit on mx3's and are in fact the best and most economical way for a tip top handling car if you choose to go with ground controls.

ive also heard of people using front illuminas on the rears because of bottoming out issues with the longer standard length rear illuminas. this does make sense for suspension tunability since the front of a fwd car is heavier, the damping on the front struts must be able to handle more spring rate and weight which would definately be beneficial to firm up the rear end of the car to improve steering response and reducing weight transfer during cornering.

therieldeal · Post by **therieldeal** » July 2nd, 2007, 9:01 am

on using zx2 s/r struts with the "stock type" ground controls... i am running this setup right now, with no problems. the stock struts are smaller in diameter so the o-rings they include in the kit are thicker. as far as i can tell that is the ONLY difference between the kits (i had a tokico kit a while ago, but never measured anything). i chose to wrap the struts in duct tape anyway as i feel you can get a more secure connection between the strut/sleeve that way.

nope-mx3 · Post by **nope-mx3** » July 2nd, 2007, 9:05 am

The best solution anyways is to get some rings grinded to fit.
As Luc (SRD) and myself have done.

-n

projectmx · Post by **projectmx** » July 4th, 2007, 11:11 am

can you buy these anywhere?

nope-mx3 · Post by **nope-mx3** » July 4th, 2007, 12:08 pm

No, totally custom.
Easy to get done at a machine shop though.

-n