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What settings are you running on KW V3s?

appletonn

appletonn

New member
As I've finally got my 'new' C2 on the road (frantically trying to get the newly rebuilt engine run in asap!) i was wondering what settings any other KW V3 users have gone for on their cars.

Mine is a road car but will be used for track days too and has been set up to RS ride heights and alignments by Unit 11 when it finally got its engine back in!

I know Steve has KWs on his car, so that would be a good starting point? Just received the instructions and allen keys from the previous owner and I feel that the front is set slightly too stiff at present, hence wanted some comparisons.

Cheers
 
Good question [:D]

So far I've only just starting playing with the rebound on the top of the shocks and the adjustments make quite a difference. First off I've noticed that although the instructions talk about turns open, I can feel clicks as you turn the allen key but I'll use the turns open description for the moment.

Initially my front rebound was set at 1.5 turns open and I would say that is nice for the road. I then tried 2 turns open which is nice and comfortable over bumpy roads but the front feels a lot looser especially at motorway cruising speeds. At the weekend I went harder by putting it to 1 turn open for a trackday which provided much better stability when cornering at high speed.

At the rear my rebound was intially set very hard at only 0.75 turns open. Great for fast cornering but it got very squirrelly under hard braking (especially on track). Softening it up to about 1.25 turns open has made it a lot more stable under braking and made the rear feel a bit looser (more oversteery) which I like! Even with the air box cover and blower motor off it's a pain to adjust and you have to do it mostly by feel. Hence why I mentioned being able to feel the clicks (but be aware that there are about 6 clicks to a full turn).

As I say, I haven't messed with bump at the bottom yet but I believe Danny set them at a third from hard (I guess that's about one full turn open).
 
Thanks Steve - just to clarify, by turns do you mean 1 full 360 degree sweep of the 'key' ? For the bump adjustment, the manual refers to turns, but the key can only move from one end of the cut out in the damper to the other?
 
ORIGINAL: appletonn

Thanks Steve - just to clarify, by turns do you mean 1 full 360 degree sweep of the 'key' ? For the bump adjustment, the manual refers to turns, but the key can only move from one end of the cut out in the damper to the other?
Click to expand...

Yes for rebound I'm referring to a full turn as being 360 degrees.

I can see what you mean about the bump adjustment as you can't tell when you've done a full 360 degree turn because of the slot. What I would do is turn it to full hard (clockwise turns) and count the 'slot moves' until it gets to the stop. You'll then know what your current setting is. Then open it the same number of slot moves and do one or two more to make it softer.

Don't forget to do just one adjustment at a time e.g. just the bump on the two fronts and then have a good test drive so you can see the effect. I've been advised against doing more than one adjustment at a time as you lose where you're up to.
 
Found a great site where the guy fits KW V3s to his 993 (amongst lots of other things!) and then plays around with the bump/rebound settings until he gets the feel he is after. Some great analysis and detailed description of how the car responds to bump/rebound changes:

www.jackals-forge.com/lotus/


 
ORIGINAL: appletonn

Found a great site where the guy fits KW V3s to his 993 (amongst lots of other things!) and then plays around with the bump/rebound settings until he gets the feel he is after. Some great analysis and detailed description of how the car responds to bump/rebound changes:

www.jackals-forge.com/lotus/
Click to expand...

Some good info there and mirrors my own experiences of the effect of rebound adjustment. I also found this article on Rennlist great for understanding how bump and rebound affects the car on track:

Rennlist rebound article
 
Hi Nick,

can you tell me ow are you finding the KWs? Hows the ride?

Am thinking of buying some V3s, having talked myself out of the Clubsports, as I dont necessarily need them unless more driving on the track.

How much did you pay if you dont mind me asking? where and fitting?

Thanks
 
Right, have done some playing with settings this weekend and now getting somewhere!

Have softened off the bump on both front and rear, along with the front rebound slightly. From what I noted from the original settings when I moved them to full hard, it was set pretty close to full hard already!

Car now flows with the road better, whilst still retaining 'iron fist' damping when you hit undulations. There is now slightly more roll, but the car feels more natural and it is easier to sense what the grip levels are. It was far too skittish before.

Going to leave it as is whilst I learn how to drive it properly (!) and will play around with the settings once I am more familiar with the car.

Ref the KWs, I am very impressed - the car is just as well damped as the Bilstein Cup set up I had on my old 944 Turbo, but without the crashy ride. My car just feels superbly damped and also very responsive to the wheel, although the RS height and alignment must be a factor there too.

The KWs were already on the car when I bought it (12 months old) and look like new!

The only bugger with them is the access to the top of the rear struts to adjust rear rebound damping, as you have to remove the rear blower motor and the air cleaner housing to gain access and then need plasticine fingers and the sense of touch of a bomb disposal expert! That's why I've not touched that one yet!!!!

On the original settings, the steering felt a little artificial and odd, but now feels much better.

Perhaps we can build up a catalogue of settings that people have found to work?

I intend leaving my new settings to try at Curborough, although they may be a little softer than ideal for track work, I think that the balance of the car will be more enjoyable.



Btw, a 962 was my car before the engine rebuild, when it was only running on 4 cylinders.....[;)][:D]
 
ORIGINAL: appletonn

The only bugger with them is the access to the top of the rear struts to adjust rear rebound damping, as you have to remove the rear blower motor and the air cleaner housing to gain access and then need plasticine fingers and the sense of touch of a bomb disposal expert! That's why I've not touched that one yet!!!!
Click to expand...

Told you! :ROFLMAO:

For Norm - mine cost £1900 including fitting, full geo and VAT at Unit 11 Warrington
 
Thanks Nick!

Now I really want some!

As for price, doesnt sound too bad, but Steve I think I can get them cheaper, but I guess you got them fitted and Geod!
 
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