KW variant 1 basic coilovers

[Double-6s]

Hi

Anyone got KW V1? Especially on an LCR.

What are they like ride wise? Bounciness?

I'm sick of bouncing around on carp Jamex things!

Thanks

 

[Leon2012]

They would be amazing compared to Jamex, and are excellent coilovers, but you know you'll have to regularly grease them to prevent corrosion if you get the Basic version; better to get the stainless steel Inox version.

 

[rsmith]

I've had both, Jamex ride wasn't too bad, the KW V1(eibach) did have better ride quality but at the end of the day both were nothing to write home about.

Also if you are after comfort don't get coilovers, get lowering springs, most coilovers have 30% more damping then people wind them all the way down and expect to them to be comfortable and not bounce around.

 

[DamianPM]

As mentioned springs and shocks will give you a better ride quality but the Jamex and KW are worlds apart, you'll notice a massive improvement with the KW.

Damian @ DPM Performance

 

[drka-drka]

Have a look at weitec coilovers, think theyr made in same factory as KW or use the internals. Cheaper too, KW are pretty pricey

 

[DamianPM]

At the moment the KW V1 Basic aren't that much different in price over the Weitec Hicon GT, less than £40.00 in it.

http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/leon-1m-99-05-coilovers-c-1932_1937_2031.html

Damian @ DPM Performance

 

[Double-6s]

I've had both, Jamex ride wasn't too bad, the KW V1(eibach) did have better ride quality but at the end of the day both were nothing to write home about.

Also if you are after comfort don't get coilovers, get lowering springs, most coilovers have 30% more damping then people wind them all the way down and expect to them to be comfortable and not bounce around.

Don't worry dude Ive had many many sets of coilies on many different cars over the years. I know what to expect.

I'm not getting coilies for comfort! I'm getting them because I want adjustable height to enable me to get the car exactly as I want it. Springs don't really have sufficient drop for me, unless I get some made up for me. Which is a possibility.

As for Jamex, they are carp. I've had everything from weitech to H&R clubsport coilies on corrados and golfs, and in my experience you get what you pay for. The ones currently on my car feel awful. On certain roads they really flow well, but show them a hole of any sort and you can't even accelerate evenly because you're bouncing off the bloody accelerator! They also feel flexible if you know what I mean! Perhaps under-engineered pistons?

All this nonsense about how they're all the same as they're made in the same factory is utter pants! Yes, some may share springs with different colour powder coat, but the dampers are not the same trust me! There are some pretty major differences, such as lack of helper springs on the kw's which appeals to me.

Also the 30% updated damping is a real misnomer. It means nothing on its own. The real key to comfort and performance is how the springs and dampers work together. The H&R clubsports I had were unbelievably hard. But once up to a decent speed they were actually very comfortable. Total mare around town though, and used to stick a wheel in the air whilst reversing off a dropped kerb! Lol

Really, what I want to know, is how do kw v1 ride compared to weitechs and ap's?

Many thanks

Will

 

[Double-6s]

So do you think the weitechs ride better than kw v1?

I had weitechs on my rado years ago, and I remember it being pretty comfortable. But I'm much older now!

 

[Dan1720v]

My ex had V2's on her fabia and it rode really well. Im running V3's and its better than stock.

 

[ReDBull]

If only I could justify paying to price for V3. I'd love a them.

 

[Dan1720v]

The ride is phenomenal, nice and soft when driving gently, but seem to stiffen up when 'pressing on' Got a few sessions at combe on saturday to see how they really cope.

 

[Double-6s]

Yeah unfortunately 1000 quid or so is not what I want to spend! Way too much. My days of throwing loads of money at cars are pretty much over now.

Just want a reasonable replacement for the shagged crappos I've got on there now.

Can I just run a theory past you guys please?.....

Basically, the more your lower on coilies the harder and more bouncy the ride is gonna get.

So would I be better off going for some that have a bigger range of lowering? So say you've got two sets of coilies, one which lowers to max 60mm and one set goes to 100mm max. At 50mm reduction in height the first coilovers are nearly 80% of their max, whereas the second set is only at 50% of its max lowering.

So does the second set produce a better ride due to more damper travel etc, all else being equal?

For instance, FK konigsports go down to roughly 90mm reduction. So at 50mm you've still got plenty in hand. Well that's in my head anyway! thoughts please?

What about the konigsports? Big drop possible. Koni dampers. Height and dampening adjustable. All for 650 quid.

And what about the ones where the damper retains maximum travel at any height, like apex rdx and bc racing? Would you get loads of arch/tyre contact if all the suspension travel is retained?

Sorry for all the questions!

Will

 

[Dan1720v]

Generally they are valved so that the bump stiffness is harder the lower it gets.

 

[Double-6s]

What about Fk konigsports? Anybody got them?

 

[Double-6s]

Spax rsx?

And can anyone answer my previous question about the coilovers where the damper moves down in the body when you lower them, and therefore you still get full damper travel. Does that mean you'd get lots of contact between arch and tyre if you're running the car fairly low?

I see it that the lack of travel when conventional coilies are slammed, helps to prevent rubbing etc?

Anybody tried bc racing coilies or similar design?

http://www.dcperformance.co.uk/cheap/583939/seat/bc-racing-br-series-coilovers/h-02-br-rn.html

 

[Brettyboy]

Your theory does make sense,i was thinking the exact same thing

 

[Dan1720v]

And can anyone answer my previous question about the coilovers where the damper moves down in the body when you lower them, and therefore you still get full damper travel. Does that mean you'd get lots of contact between arch and tyre if you're running the car fairly low?

I see it that the lack of travel when conventional coilies are slammed, helps to prevent rubbing etc?

They do not have as much travel as a conventional damper. But they are inturn shorter in length anyway, for instance they when at full droop is where the car would be sat at normal ride height. they will still travel up into the arch as much as before, and onless your running Silly camber or spacers they are designed to cater for full travel up into the arch.

You may get slight rubbing on lock, due to the fact they work out the arch clearance with the wheels pointing ahead, as if you bottomed out the suspension whilst on lock, wheel-body contact is the least of your worries

 

[Double-6s]

Thanks.

Someone mentioned kw v1 are eibachs? Springs?

 

[Double-6s]

Wheel/body contact is definitely one of my worries. I went through enough tyres on previous cars that were very low.

 

[aaronipswich]

I'm getting weitec gts alot of people run them on here