KW suspension

[BIG UN]

Your thoughts please guys on KW's for a daily driven road car?
Too stiff? Do they adjust enough to make the ride more compliant for the road?

Best price you've found?

Alternatives?

Thanks.

Andy.

 

[Steve Brookes]

I think mine is great on the road. Yes it is stiff but that's more to do with how I've got it set up because my car is very much track biased. If you're having it set up for the road you should get the ride height set to about 10 mm above RS spec. You can then finely tune the bump and rebound so that it's nice and comfortable. Some might say why pay the extra for KWV3 when bilsteins and H&R greens will give you the ride you want at a lower cost. I would counter that by saying that the KWV3 is there if you ever decide to track it and will also be seen as a selling point if you ever want to move the car on.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Andy,

I'd agree with everything that Steve says - but I would ask myself if you would consider getting twice the value from a KW setup considering it's pretty much twice the cost of a Bilstein/H&R setup. Undoubtedly the KW setup has distinct advantages for track use, but for road/everyday use the chances are that you'll set the bump and rebound settings once and never touch them again.

There are advantages both ways - it's just a matter of deciding where your priorities are.

If you hadn't guessed already, I'm quite happy with the Bilstein/H&R setup on my car - and mine is solely road use too.

Regards

Dave

 

[Steve Brookes]

Forgot to say something about price for KWV3. Expect to pay somewhere around £1750 fully fitted (including geo) from the likes of Unit 11 or Centre Gravity. That goes up to just over £2,000 if you have new wishbone bushes fitted at the same time (well worth doing 'while they're in there').

 

[BIG UN]

Thanks guys, both great points of view which is exactly what I was hoping for.

Steve, that is a good price on the KW's and if I get the right deal that I'm after then should come in
around that figure. They do seem to be the favoured suspension set-up at the moment and as you
say a good selling point. Although after this and an engine rebuild I should think I'll be buried in it!

Dave, equally good point although price-wise I would say there seems to be only £300 or so in it,
unless I'm missing something? Are we talking about the B6's? As you say I'm likely to set it once and forget it, but as far as I can tell the Bilsteins are more fit and adapt to it if that makes sense?

So far between yourselves and Sundeep on 911UK I think I'm being turned toward the KW's.....
.....unless Dave can pull it back.[]

Thanks again.

Andy.

 

[turbo jonny]

I was in a similar position last year after having bilstein hd on my previous 964. After shopping around it wasnt that much
more to get the KWs. so i did for the reasons given by steve. Glad i did ! Both cars were set up by the same garage
( red line racing ) for mainly road use and i am more than delighted with the KWs.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

ORIGINAL: BIG UN

So far between yourselves and Sundeep on 911UK I think I'm being turned toward the KW's.....
.....unless Dave can pull it back.[]

Given the current dollar and euro exchange rates it looks like the pricing tends to favour the KW solution. Back in late 2007 when I did mine I got the Bilstein HDs for under £450 landed from the USA. With the H&R Green springs that I already had, coupled with a good deal I got from RPM to fit them and from Center Gravity to set it all up it was really a no-brainer for me. If I were to make the decision now I may come to a different conclusion.

Regards

Dave

 

[appletonn]

Just out of interest, what bump & rebound settings are us KW owners running?

I've copied the settings promoted by 'Jackal' off PH - his site details the setting up of a KW V3 kit on his 993 for fast road use.

 

[Steve Brookes]

Will have to check my notes but IIRC I've left my bump at about a third away from full hard (according to Danny as it's still at where he set it). The rebound is 1 turn open (6 clicks) at the front and 1.5 turns open (9 clicks) at the rear. I softened the rear after I experienced the back skipping about under hard braking. Making the rear softer lets it rebound quicker which helps keep the tyres in contact with the road. It's now more stable under braking.

 

[patch]

Steve, guys,

Mine skips/hops in bends with uneven surfaces (not braking) - too hard at the back?

My suspension seems pretty harsh altogther for my needs (it is lowered quite a lot). 'Crashes' a bit at the back too over straight line bumps. How much might it cost to replace all four corners with mid-price kit. No racing, just brisk weekender stuff - nothing too sophisticated needed. I am taking it to Ray Northway on Saturday for him to have a look at too.

All the best
Des

 

[Steve Brookes]

Des, your symptoms could indeed be due to tired old shocks but get them to check the engine mounts....sloppy mounts give a very similar symptom to what you describe.

 

[demonfish]

KW are great units, but at this risk of sparking a fire, if you can stretch to it, go for Bilstein PSS (B16) units - lifetime warranty too...

I love mine!

 

[BIG UN]

Did consider those Matt, but combined with a full engine rebuild and all that may bring, i'll
have to settle for the poor man's alternative! []

Andy.

 

[demonfish]

from what i have seen and had thru the workshop, nowt wrong with the KW's !! unless you have a 968 but thats another story...

recently had some off a car whist doing some other suspension work, 20k miles and hard track use, stull great condition!

 

[Konstantin]

Hi there

I have KW V3 for a few years on my C4, there are set up quite hard, first I found the car skiding arround and not haddling very well, I finally found the tyre pressure being an issue, I now pressure them cold at 30/34, recheck hot road or motorway arround 32/34 and rear 36/38, I am on 18" 225/265, R888, geo is RS with almost 2 deg camber

Konstantin