I was wondering if have any of you guys in here bought any of the ebay top hats? link ---> http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/92-93...Q5fAccessories

let me know what you guys think of them ^_^

 

Why use cheap ebay knockoff stuff when you can get a quality top hat right from ground-control?

http://www.ground-control-store.com/...p/II=642/CA=71

 

Because your options are ...

• Make them yourself (Cut the top of the hat off, and extend it with the tubing. measure how much clearance you have from the hood, and welding it from the inside so it doesn't stick out of the hood, then reinstalling. )
  
• pay $120 + shipping for a pair from GC
  
• pay $55 + $15 shipping for a pair from an ebay seller
  
  

They look like a replica although I'm wondering what grade hardware they include, but you could always replace those studs that come with them to make sure they are atleast 8.8 like the GroundControl extended tophats have. OAH and you could reuse stock studs too most likely!

Those bushings might be cheap, but you can buy some energy suspension bushings also. In my skunk2 pro-s coilovers, the top hats looked like that ( obviously not extended ) but they had 2 bushings. One on top and one under with a hollow dowel that slid in between that kept them in place. This ebay kit should almost include the dowel too. I'm not sure if it makes a difference though, but it would be a more stiff mount.
There is one problem, their wording is off in the description. I would private message the seller about this to make sure.
4 bump stops are not going to do you anything. You want 4 bushings, 2 bumpstops. I checked the other auctions. The 2 sets of top hats ( for $134 ) come with 8 Bumpstops. What are you going to do with 8 bumpstops ?!?! it should be 8 bushings 4 bumpstops. Could be an error on the sellers part.


They didn't have these on ebay the last time I checked.

I'd leave it to someone else who knows what they are talking about though to chime in

 

according to ground control
"*Billet aluminum upper mounts for most Honda Civic and Acura Integra. Relocates shock upward 24mm to allow extra suspension travel.

* ONLY FITS Ground Control coil-over kits.
* Includes custom bump stops, urethane stem bushings and grade 8.8 hardware with new Metric nuts and washers.
* Sold in pairs.
* These Hondamounts can ONLY be used in conjunction with a Ground Control kit.
NOTE: These uppermounts require the reuse of some components that are included with your Ground Control coilover kit."

Those ebay ones say they can be used with any shock.

 

it would not help with other coilovers. just regular replacement shocks like tokico's or koni's.

and yeah its just a GC replica. up to you if you really need them and can use them. otherwise just shiny piece of metal, like most other rice crap.

 

i purchased and are using those ebay top hats...don't know if they work well or not but i would not waste money on them. i only installed them because i had already bought them and they works like any top hats. a friend has GC and they look the same but the GC will only work on GC coilover kits.

there is one thing you might need and that is a round piece of rubber that will sit between the coil and the top hat. it seems as though if the rubber is not there the coil will slide around...not to sure though but its just a suggestion. i went and bought some custom rubber ring from a rubber company in town for $45 for four rings. i just wanted to make sure my coils are not moving around since their seems to be no friction between the coil and top hat.

 

My friend has ebay top hats, they are fine.

Oh, and you dont have to have ground controls to run ground control top hats. I had them on my stock shocks with skunk2 coilovers. I would be willing to bet they are the same thing GC is selling, for double the money. It really comes down to what you want and how much you want to spend.

 

I just got the set of 4 on eBay. You are correct that it is a typo on the seller's part. I've emailed the guy selling them before and I'm pretty sure there is somewhat of a language barrier. They included 8 bushings and 4 bumpstops with the full kit. I'll try and post some pictures and dimensions later for anyone who is curious about these. I checked and they fit the koni shocks no problem.

 

do these top hats make the car lower ? or just same ride height but more excursion of the shock?

 

In theory they do because they translate the position of the shock upward.

 

no, it absolutely does NOT "make the car lower". it does reposition the shock piston relative to the body but the only benefit of that is preventing the shock from bottoming out internally.

these are to be used with GC or other sleeve over kits. thats all.

 

does these top hats only allow coilover springs or can they be used with lowering springs?

 

You can use them with either lowering springs or coilovers. You just see more people useing them on coilovers, then lowering springs.

 

NO, its not practical to use with regular lowering springs. it does not work the same. you will have to preload the spring to even fit it on and then it will just compress the spring more. not the same effect, nor a desired effect.

do not use with lowering springs.

 

What happens when I have koni's and them on the lower perch? Doesn't the extended top hats compensate for the additional inch dropped?

 

If you are using just lowering springs then no. We are taking about significantly shorter springs or slammed setups. A sporty drop doesn't come close to tucking tire under the fender and possibly bottoming the piston internally. Bump stops are needed no matter what. It is much cheaper to replace a damaged bump stop compared to replacing a new shock.

And you basically only need it in the front. There is much more travel in the rear compared to the front.

 

I have neuspeed sport spring, koni shocks on the lowest perch, and I feel like I'm riding on the bump stop. Bump stop was cut in half. I'm dropped about 2.5" and it has no gap from tire to fender.

Now do I need the extended top hats?

 

The extended top hats are made for 2.5" coilover type spring, if your on Neuspeeds then they won't fit right. If it feels like your riding on your bump stops you should cut them even more.

 

You need to raise the car back up. You're not supposed to use the lower Koni perch setting with lowering springs. You're really only supposed to use them with stock springs.

I used the lower perch setting in the REAR when I had H&R Sport springs, but I would never put the front on the lower setting with anything shorter than OEM springs.

 

but doesn't neuspeed sell koni shocks with neuspeed springs to be lowered on the lower perches? Thinking Neuspeed designed the shocks and springs work together...now I just have the yellows and not neuspeed koni's but just wanted the extended top hats to allow a little more shock travel.