Rob L Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 Ok so im in the market for some camber plates for my 74 260z....i like the techno toy tuning ones ....but stumbled across these ground control ones ...there almost double the price as T3s...but i read up on the silverminemotors website that weld in camber plates is a poor engineering pratice.....Anyone have any imput on this matter or is this just a way for ground control to sell there camber plates over anyone else.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1ghtymaxXx Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 Ok so im in the market for some camber plates for my 74 260z....i like the techno toy tuning ones ....but stumbled across these ground control ones ...there almost double the price as T3s...but i read up on the silverminemotors website that weld in camber plates is a poor engineering pratice.....Anyone have any imput on this matter or is this just a way for ground control to sell there camber plates over anyone else.... I can't yet speak from experience, but I don't think there's anything wrong with weld in camber plates if it's welded properly, this would include beveling the stock sheet metal to expose all layers of metal, and welding on the top and bottom. A friend runs the ground control camber plates and regrets not just going with the weld in plates right off the bat as they require you slot so much out of the strut towers that you may just as well replace them. Not knocking Ground Control, they make great products, and are fantastic to deal with (they sponsored and helped develop suspension for our Evo III rally car), it just seems in this application, the small area of the strut towers doesn't seem to lend it's self as well to the bolt on plates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluDestiny Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 The key is the welding. If done like crap, then you risk ripping out the strut tops. Changing the camber extremely will put different stress than designed for on the stock mounting areas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motomanmike Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 I haven't installed mine yet but am in the process of tearing one of my cars down for the same thing. I can say the T3 camber plates are very thick and the quality looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poundz9oh9 Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 I have the GC units, and plan on getting weld in ones instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
74_5.0L_Z Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 I have been using the Ground Control camber plates for more than ten years. I have been very happy with them. A feature that makes them very desirable is the spherical surface machined into the bottom of the camber plate between the camber plate and the upper spring perch. This spherical surface allows the spring to align with the strut. I have never had the T3 camber plates in my hands, so I do not know if they have a similar feature. But the pictures that I have seen lead me to believe that they do not. Therefore it appears that as the spring compresses and the strut changes angle relative to the top of the strut tower that the top spring perch will not rotate with the centerline of the strut shaft. If this is the case, the spring will be in bending. If the T3 camber plate does not have a feature that keeps the top of the spring square to the strut, you don't want it. If the T3 does not keep the spring properly aligned then spend the extra money on the Ground Control units. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob L Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share Posted November 21, 2013 (edited) ^^^^ that interesting ....I'm gonna take a closer look at the ground control units ...I did read that there's not much adjustable with the gc units ....is this the case ? Edited November 21, 2013 by theatriks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUNNY Z Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 T3 Plates here. Great product, but the key as stated is in the installation. You need to get them straight or you will be getting a camber and caster adjustment at the same time! They do include machined aluminum tops for the springs to keep them centered. Great pieces, even better service. Gabe is the man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I did read that there's not much adjustable with the gc units ....is this the case ? If you can get -3 camber you have all the adjustment you need for a S30. If you need anything more out of the top of the strut your car is bent. The answer is not, the GC plates have more then enough camber adjustment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob L Posted November 22, 2013 Author Share Posted November 22, 2013 Gabe is great guy ...i ordered my coilovers from him ....im just trying to get an explanation to why ground control says weld ins are not a good engineering practice but yet other companies make weld ins?.....so which is the smart way to do camber plates ....so many varying opinions out there ...its hard to get a straight answer?....im probably gonna go weld in its just the bolt ons eliminate the factor of a poor weld job or mistake...as i wouldnt be the one welding it in .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1ghtymaxXx Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 If you can get -3 camber you have all the adjustment you need for a S30. If you need anything more out of the top of the strut your car is bent. The answer is not, the GC plates have more then enough camber adjustment. I had heard mention that the GC plates offer little in the way of caster adjustment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Probably true. But you can weld or bolt them in place getting whatever caster number you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob L Posted November 23, 2013 Author Share Posted November 23, 2013 So the gc units bolt up underneath the tower and weld ins are mounted half an inch above the tower ....what takes up the extra space between different mounting points ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 You need to run around at an autocross and study your options in the flesh. It all becomes clear when you look at the actual item. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob L Posted November 24, 2013 Author Share Posted November 24, 2013 Anybody know if the EMI camber plates are still availible ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 The EMIs were not available a year ago. But, the DPs are virtually identical in form and function. I think the website for the DPs is dpperformance.com or something close to that. I have EMIs in front and DPs in back-Im pleased with both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob L Posted November 24, 2013 Author Share Posted November 24, 2013 Any noise from the dps in the rear? I think the dps for me are the way to go ...especially because I have read that these bolt in no problem where the gc you still need to grind the holes to get to fit right . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 Bolt right in. All camber plates sound like a coffee can full of rocks when driving over gravel. It is the solid mounting that makes them noisy. Not noisy at all on a smooth road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob L Posted November 25, 2013 Author Share Posted November 25, 2013 Can you adjust caster on the DP plates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 (edited) Only a bit by rotating them by one bolt hole. I don't see folks adjusting caster with any style camber plate-I think that aspect is a bunch of hype. Use the cyber plate for camber and an adjustable TC rod for caster. Adjusting caster sounds important but it creates more clearance headaches when you put larger wheels on. You start having rubbing on the airdam then next thing you know you gotta take a sawzall to all your sheet metal. Adjusting caster was probably the rage when guys put 13" wheels on their z cars but the-17s you need to clear big brakes makes caster increases a real headache. Before adding the camber and caster, the car was a pig-pushing thru all turns at autocross-I could only get thru turns by slowing WAY down prior to entry-now brakes are the limiting part because I can haul ass right up to the limit. Edited November 25, 2013 by RebekahsZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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