They look nice with spherical bearings and all, but they are taller than stock to accomidate for lowered cars....but I'm not interested in lowering my car....are typical struts long enougn to not cause any issues when using these mounts??

 

springs set ride height not the struts

 

Thanks - I know that already. Will a normal strut extend enough to make up for the extra height of the Founder's strut mount...the above response is a work- around on what I'm asking...does the taller-than-stock mount make any difference?someone has to know...

 

idk bout the founders ones but the UMI ones i got are higher

 

But is your car lowered???

 

when you jack up your car now does the wheel droop down a lot obviously the spring compresses more than the 1" strut height difference. All you're changing is how much droop you'll get, which is already 5" or something

 

OK - thanks then xpndbl3....I was just looking for a straight answer. Sorry if it sounded dumb, but it'd be even dumber to buy a set just to find out that I don't have the proper travel I need for everyday driving.

 

It's a valid question. I've been debating buying a set myself. And I have stock ride height.

 

I used the Spohn strut mounts, which are also 1" taller then stock ones, while my car was at stock height, and had no issues.

 

one of the sites explains it.If I remember correctly it allows for more strut travel using more of the shock increasing ride performance and on lowered vehicles it aloows the travel to keep shock from bottoming out .I think my BS is mostly right.

 

+2.

JamesC

 

anyone give these a shot yet? interested in a set myself, looking for more feedback, thanks!

 

I sure liked them

 

liked? as in past tense? just making sure i didn't miss something

 

liked as in they're on the car now Seems identical to anyone other offering on the market just much much cheaper. 2+ feet of snow on the ground so I haven't ran them, but a heck of a lot more adjustment than stock mounts for sure. I'm sure there will be no issue with my alignment guy and I can finally get both sides 100% spot on.

 

The only problem with using an extended height strut mount on a stock height car is you are extending the length of the strut which is actually a suspension link in geometry. Yes the strut will extend ok that extra 1" of travel (stock length strut on stock height car) but the geometry change causes you to loose positive caster adjustment. You may end up loosing about 0.5-1.0* of total max caster adjustment as well as a little negative camber adjustment too.

The shorter the strut length is from mount to mount the better the geometry is for favorable performance and race oriented alignment specs. The same goes for camber gains in the "camber curve" but this generally involves static and dynamic a-arm position choice based on parts purchases and ride height.

I posted a graph picture example on here a few years ago on this subject.

 

Vetruck, always happy to see you chime in on this kinda thing. I'm personally dropping things down an inch with springs for now (may do weight jacks in the future), but some of the others just looking to stick with stock height may want to heed your warning

 

The amount of movement on this strut mount is far longer than the stock one, so I can't imagine anyone would run into issues where they can't get a proper alignment setting. I know I maxed out the stock mounts and these have much longer slots

 

well, looks like i've got some more parts on the way that are going to anxiously be awaiting spring time

 

Yeah, I'm in the same boat....I still have to install the headliner and sail panels/sunvisors I got off you guys, along with a TQ arm relocation brackets, 3 gage A pillar pod, new 800 cfm carb, LCARB's and I'm looking into Lakewood 70/30 struts - then the Founder's strut mounts. Not to mention new wheels/tires....ugh.......and another chassis dyno to set my A/F ratio........

 

tax check's on its way, so shocks and struts are next on the list, along with the final (hopefully) wave of lsx parts to get the bird moving. and now you reminded me I too need wheels and tires.......

 

So do you still recommend the solid bearing design strut mounts for stock height cars? I know you're a fan of the J&M design. But for stock height cars, is it still worth it to upgrade from the stock rubber design?

Is the loss of adjustment with the solid bearing much of an issue for stock alignment cars? Or is it only an issue for stock height cars with aggressive racing alignment settings? (which is to say very few cars, as most people with aggressive settings would have already gone for lowering springs or dropped spindles)

Basically I've got Koni struts and stock height springs in the mail right now. I'm debating whether or not to go with the solid bearing design or keep the stock mounts. I'll be keeping the alignment settings stock or very close to stock (just enough to prevent the outer tire wear issue our cars tend to have).

 

@Reid- The solid bearing is not what looses adjustment, its the taller height strut mount from stock height. If you are keeping the stock alignment values like stated then you will still have adequate adjustment to easily keep them with extended height solid bearing mounts.

With all that said, the J & M Hotparts strut mounts are not that much higher than factory mounts. My custom production run HMS aluminum mounts I ordered from hunter were in fact an extended height design where he made 3 different height options. I took the largest at 2" extention since my car was extremely low- so with that said my strut angle was still aggressive even with extended strut mount due to the strut length from mount to mount still being shorter than factory. http://www.hotpart.com/shop/index.ph...uct_detail&p=8

You can see in the picture attached that the first pic showing my Koni angle (green line) compared to a stock height vehicle (red line). Note this is not only geometrically the caster, but the angle towards and away from the photographers veiw (camber) also.

THe next pic show a car the same ride height but with the extended strut mount height lessening the camber and caster angles. The strut mount needs to be moves back and inward to ge tthe same alignment value with the extended as does the original position with the factory height.

The shorter the distance between the spindle and the top sturt mount bolt the better the angle is for larger adjustment range and potentially a higher caster and camber figures for racing specs. (Note the a-arm angle being inverted will start to loss camber especially on the camber curve through suspension articulation. (THis is body roll resulting in camber loss of the tire footprint vs. camber increase in suspension compression= camber curve

 

I just started the tear down and replacement of the lower control arms with the BMR units with the stock spring pocket and built in bump stop, new 4 way adustable front struts, new Founders strut mounts, new inner tie rods with new UMI tie rod sleeves, and all new hardware from Spohn to put it back together. I have the drivers side apart and have the new control arms bolted to the stock k-member and I am cleaning and painting where the strut mount plates go since I took the old ones off. I already have the lowering springs that have been on the for the past nearly 10 years and lower the car 1 1/2". I will let you all know how the 17" wheels and tires I use fit after the rebuild. I learned a long time ago to do just one side at a time to keep things straight. I use the C-5 front brakes on this car which are a great upgrade for these cars. I already have the UMI adjustable chrome moly torque arm that is mounted to the cross member, nice fitting piece. I will have to some mods to my strut tower brace when I get the strut mounts on and front aligned so I can get it back in place. As you can see, I am using parts from all the manufacturers and so far so good. The warm weather of this past week here in northern Ohio has finally get me from the couch and into the garage to get things going. Spring is not far off!!!

 

Using Koni Reds with Spohn's version and Moog front springs. No issues.

JamesC

 

just got my pair in last night. look good to me - nice & clean welds, thick material, shiny hardware

when's spring again???

 

I was really getting the spring fever bug until today when we got another nearly 10" of snow and good size drifts. I am looking forward to seeing how the car handles with these strut plates and my STB and wonder bar. One good thing about this time year is that the snow doesn't stick aroun long, it's supposed to be 52* on Monday with rain, goodbye snow hello flooding!!

 

When it gets down to 52* around here I sit in the house like a little baby sipping coco with a warm blanket in front of the fireplace. I hate sneezing in the cold, and then your snot freezes to your upper lip... and when you try and chip it off your lip starts bleeding?.......I hate when that happens.

 

I'd kill for 50's here....been staring at snow falling from the office window today.....

 

i lol'ed, that made my day.

It was pretty warm here today, crappy all weekend and possible snow again monday tuesday... then cold again. when will it end

 

79° in Houston today. I need to get my front Konis on, before it gets too hot to do mods. I don't think my wife likes my idea of hanging them on the wall as art displays.

 

Those of you wishing you had 52* are ALMOST lucky. Yesterday I got off work and was red from being sunburnt, tired, and HOT. I drank at least 10 bottles of water to replenish my body water and cooled down after 3 coronas and the air conditioner being on 72*. I enjoy when it's cold(that would be in the 30's to the negatives for me.)

 

When they start repairing the potholes.

 

Wow...they actually repair the potholes up there??

 

JamesC

 

Question for you guys running the Founders Plates,

What does the underside look like? Would it be possible to run these racecraft coil-overs with the founders plates? Thanks.
http://www.racecraft.com/index.php?m...roducts_id=516

 

Heres a few pics of mine installed:

 

What kind of camber angles are you guys able to get at stock height?

 

Can someone tell me if the suspension is stiffer when replacing the stock struts?

 

All depends on what you put back in the car. Typically stiffness is associated with springs, but of course the speed in which the strut rebounds will affect feel too. Typically changes are made together, both spring and strut, unless you're simply replacing stock parts with stock parts.

 

If you put the adjustable Caster Camber Plates in do you need to also replace the strut?

 

Need? No. ....but the caster/camber plates are so you can tune the suspension angles for better performance. Not really worth it unless you change springs and struts too.