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KW v.3's on an S.2........

If one is going to drive the car hard enough to benefit from 300+ lb spring rates and semi-race quality damping then it must be madness to leave the car with rusty fuel lines, rusty brake lines and knackered torsion bar carrier mounts. In fact you may find that the back of the car feels really unstable on knackered mounts. My own car felt amazingly tight with all new bushes compared to the passive RWS it had on knackered mounts. I can't believe any garage is giving out duff advice like this, spend £1500 on suspension but leave your car with the other components all knackered, possibly even a year or two from an MOT failure, this is madness.
 
Is it possible to get some before and after pics showing the ride height. If I'm not mistaken, when installing the KWs not only does it not lower the rear, it actually raises it? I might have that wrong but some pics would put this matter to bed.
Sounds like a good idea everyone, yes?[;)]
 
The reason that 968 CS MO30 cars were re-indexed at the factory was because with the 'helper' coil springs raised the ride height of the car. Fitting KW will have exacly the same effect, the ride height will be raised.
(Still it will be easier to crawl underneath to see the coroded fuel and brake pipes[&:][&:][&:][&:])
 

ORIGINAL: 944 man

Neil, did you ever manage to get in touch with Fen about that bonnet?
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Nope. I don't know what has happened to Fen, If you are reading this Fen I miss you mate.

I have already bought a FG kit from Kevin Eacock anyway now as it will be fitted on the car after next week. The rebuild is moving at a pace, my brother has put in all the fuel lines, brake lines, wiring loom including battery cutoff, pedal assembly, heater and dashboard all done this week. I am supposed to be helping him with the torsion bar carrier this weekend, car will be on its wheels in a few days time but we spotted a crack on the sump so he will be fitting a replacement sump before putting the engine in. I am hoping to keep the pressure up and get the car ready to do final paint finish and windscreen bond in, in 2 weeks time.
 
ORIGINAL: lali

Ron,

I have to ask... if you're not going to track the car why go for the V3's?? KW do other "road bias" kits, as do other suspension manufacturers.
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Which other kits are available that are not so full on as the KW V3? I have an S2 cab on all original stuff and it needs a bit of a "birthday!" But as its a cab, 20 years old too, I dont want to go too stiff etc?
 
The v3's aren't 'full on'. The spring rates are far too soft for a dedicated track or race car. For a dedicated race or track car you'd be looking as spring rates at least double what they are on the v3's. They are a fast road kit just like most other aftermarket kits out there. KW do a specific race series range for those who do want the full on track specific setup. KW don't do v1's and v2's for the 944 and in any case as far as I can tell is the main difference between the different variants are the amount of adjustability on offer.
 
You are spending alot of money on your car, it makes sense to do it right, first time. I have an S2 with KW I would not have dreamed of trying to skip the re-indexing process. All people on here are doing is trying to save you time and money, as well as getting the best out of your suspension.
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As you ALL well know. My vote is for a PROPER job.. NOT a half arsed job....Re-indexing all the way...[;)][;)][;)]
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If one is going to drive the car hard enough to benefit from 300+ lb spring rates and semi-race quality damping then it must be madness to leave the car with rusty fuel lines, rusty brake lines and knackered torsion bar carrier mounts.
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Says it all really,

Which other kits are available that are not so full on as the KW V3? I have an S2 cab on all original stuff and it needs a bit of a "birthday!" But as its a cab, 20 years old too, I dont want to go too stiff etc?
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Its not `full on` [&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][:mad:][:mad:][:mad:][:mad:][:mad:][:mad:][:mad:]

Its adjustable MODERN (repeat MODERN) suspension [8|] it`ll bring your 944 out of the dark ages. What you have on your car now is probably 20 years old not just in design but in wear!

[:(][:(]
 
Personally i wouldnt fit the KW or any other "stiff" suspension to a 944 cab, as itl only give it more "shake"..
The cabrio isnt made as a all out road racer. its more a grand tourer...
I fitted a set of 968 Club Sport front springs to my 968 cabrio + lowered the rear on the excentrics, aswell as fitting a new set of dampers + some 968 M030 anti roll bars. It made a great deal of difference to the drivability...
Now if you "doing" a coupe, then thats a whole different matter...[;)][:D][;)][:D]
 
ORIGINAL: Big Dave

Personally i wouldnt fit the KW or any other "stiff" suspension to a 944 cab, as itl only give it more "shake"..
The cabrio isnt made as a all out road racer. its more a grand tourer...
I fitted a set of 968 Club Sport front springs to my 968 cabrio + lowered the rear on the excentrics, aswell as fitting a new set of dampers + some 968 M030 anti roll bars. It made a great deal of difference to the drivability...
Now if you "doing" a coupe, then thats a whole different matter...[;)][:D][;)][:D]
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That's what I was thinking. I saw the Koni and Bilstein inserts, that need the front leg "modifying". Mine is an ABS 89 cab, non m030 of course. I can see the Konis fit, (and are top adjustable) but the Bilstein info was less clear, it said somethign about "bolt on Struts" and Boge dampers......?

I treat the S2 Cab as a GT car, exactly as you say, many jaunts round Europe and actually, it's pretty good fun with its light back end and the roof down! But it's definately under damped at present! Quite happy with the springing I dont want to uprate the front too much and make it understeery, and I think it has pretty beefy rear torsion bars, (26mm??) Some uprated roll bars and new dampers is what i was thinking too..

TBH, I have never been a fan of coilover kits on road cars, they seem overkill in most situatiions and a compromise in all the others! My track audi S3 runs non adj Bilstein and H and R springs, neuspeed ARBs, 350hp and is a total beast on road and track! The adjustable stuff on 90% of the fast road and track cars out there never gets tweaked from fitting time onwards! And I pretty much trust Bilstein's/H and R's ability to improve the suspension more than my own!

And to "Hilux" , the poster with all the "hate smilies", by"full on" I dont mean stiff or harsh but it is a "full on" set up due to all the all the adjustability etc....and of course the price! .......And the merits of £2k worth of suspension on a £4k worth car which was once a coupe til someone chopped the roof off and bolted on an ill fitting fabric roof is, quite frankly stupid. Yes, spend the 2k, have it all geo'd to within a third of a "second" of accuracy, take it off th ramp, drive it up the road, and the bodyfelx introduced over 2 degrees of movement!
Oh and it is still 20 year old suspension, it just has more modern damping on it, and even as stoc, it's still bloody good.
But thanks for your input!:ROFLMAO:
 

ORIGINAL: simch1


And to "Hilux" , the poster with all the "hate smilies", by"full on" I dont mean stiff or harsh but it is a "full on" set up due to all the all the  adjustability etc....and of course the price! .......And the merits of £2k worth of suspension on a £4k worth car which was once a coupe til someone chopped the roof off and bolted on an ill fitting fabric roof is, quite frankly stupid. Yes, spend the 2k, have it all geo'd to within a third of a "second" of accuracy, take it off th ramp, drive it up the road, and the bodyfelx introduced over 2 degrees of movement! 
Oh and it is still 20 year old suspension, it just has more modern damping on it, and even as stoc, it's still bloody good.   
But thanks for your input!:ROFLMAO:
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Sounds like a set of Koni's, some new standard bushes and maybe uprated anti roll bars will fit the bill. I reckon £1500 not £2k is what KW's have cost me all in.
 
You've done well enough then at £1500. The quotes I have had have been over £1900 but also includes re indexeing the rear torsion bars, geo etc plus uprated front caster mounts.
I am hoping sticking with Konis or my prefered Bilstein would be able to get it all done for less than a grand.....?
 

ORIGINAL: simch1

You've done well enough then at £1500. The quotes I have had have been over £1900 but also includes re indexeing the rear torsion bars, geo etc plus uprated front caster mounts. 
I am hoping sticking with Konis or my prefered Bilstein would be able to get it all done for less than a grand.....?
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£1500 is including the geo and some bushes but doing the reindexing and fitting myself, when someone showed me a KW kit about a year ago I thought I'd never spend that much on my suspension but now I don't think there's another kit to match them at the price, as everone say's the bypass valves are what sets them apart from other coilover kits, whether that makes them compliant enough for a cab I don't know.
 
ORIGINAL: simch1

You've done well enough then at £1500. The quotes I have had have been over £1900 but also includes re indexeing the rear torsion bars, geo etc plus uprated front caster mounts.
I am hoping sticking with Konis or my prefered Bilstein would be able to get it all done for less than a grand.....?
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simch,
I would just replace the standard "old" kit, with standard "new" kit.. [BUT with the addition of the 968 Club Sport / Sport front springs.[ They are shorter.]]..
The Koni kit is a bit harsh , as its "old" technology.. Dont know about the Bilstien stuff..
Especially if you do jaunts around the continent. You will want it comfy for that...
Also a set of 968 castor mounts + 968 M030 arb,s...[These dont make it harsh, just a little stiffer]...
Im sure youl be more than happy then...
 
The literature that comes with the KW's doesn't suggest re indexing, just say's you should set the spring plates at the lowest setting, all set to re index my TB's but it's too blooming hot to roll around under the car at the moment.
 
Having started this particular KW thread some while back, I'm now in a position to make my own informed comments. Fitting them was considered as they seem to be 'de rigeur' at the moment, but only as part of a major investment in overhauling my suspension, steering and brakes. My suspension was stock and felt tired as you'd expect after 20 years and 144k miles. Due to the ever increasing price of OEM struts, I thought the KW's would be worth the extra to achieve a fast road car(no track use).

The work was undertaken in a couple of stages and comprised......

12k service
New steering shaft
New power steering pump
New front and rear discs, pads
All callipers overhauled with new shims and spring plates
968 castor mounts
KW v.3's
968 MO30 front and rear anti roll bars with Power Flex bushes
4 wheel geo(obviously)
Colour crested wheel centres
Numerous sundries I've forgotten

Total cost....................£4,543 ![:(]

But does it make a difference ?........[:D][:D][:D].......and here's what it looks like now......

IMG_2993.jpg



I can only say the ride has been totally transformed - no surprise since it was previously running on the springs alone at the front. I saw the units that came off and they had no damping left at all. Probably the most noticable difference is in the steering....it now feels so much sharper and precise, that familiar bends can be taken at higher speed with increased confidence. It also doesn't hop out of line when you hit uneven surface mid bend like it used to.

Lowering the car wasn't a major objective, but some lowering has been achieved, moreso at the front, but still looks pretty level at the sills.

Can't be sure what bits have improved what exactly, but the overall result is a car that probably drives better than when it left the factory.....cue retort from Scotty :ROFLMAO:
 
Looks just great 'sitting' down like that. I look at some older cars riding way too high and slightly cringe at how the car must roll about.
That's a decent chunk 'o' cash to outlay but it is all worth it. Well done.
 

ORIGINAL: pauly

ORIGINAL: wolfie308

Total cost....................£4,543 ![:(]
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Jeez.
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Don't forget the fitted price of the KW's was only £1321, it was the other stuff that bumped up Richards bill [:eek:]

Looking very nice Richard, I knew you wouldn't be disappointed
 
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