Wrong Front Springs KW V3's (Please Help)
 

Hi,

I had purchased a set of KW V3's awhile ago and just got around to installing them. After installation i took it for a test drive and was hearing a lot of clunking in the front every time I went over bumps. When i got home I decided to take a look and see if i could adjust them so that I'm not as low as i thought that might be the problem. When I took off the wheel i noticed that the spring was free floating, there was a lot of play I could move it up and down and spin it as well. I asked one of my friends and he said that I might have gotten the wrong springs or my coils are set too low which is why I'm losing the preload. Can someone maybe take a picture or tell me what the SKU is for their springs on their set-up? Any help is much appreciated!

Pretty standard for 1 way height adjustable coilovers. In order to lower the car you need to remove the preload to let the springs sag so the car will settle lower. If you want to raise the car, just close the gap between the spring and the collar.

I don't think it should have the collar so low the spring can flop around like he is saying though. That doesn't really sound like a good idea.

I agree, but that's how 1 way height adjustable coilovers are... If you don't want the spring to move, you must add preload. Pre-load = higher ride height. In order to lower the car, you must lower the collar and potentially release all the pre-load. In some instances, the desired height will leave the spring free to move around.

My ST Coilovers (KW V1's) on my GLI were like that as well as the coilovers I have on my Civic are the same way. That's the problem with 1 way height adjustable coilovers.

This is why I always suggest customers to buy a 2 way adjustable height coilover. The lower bracket is threaded, so you can raise and lower the car without messing with any pre-load.

Maybe he is going lower than the max lowering? I just don't see a manufacture especially one with KW rep saying it's ok to let the spring flip around in full extension. I would think they would have the collar just touching the spring as the max lowering and then preloading the spring would be to raise it.

I may go the 2 way system myself as I research more on the rsr coilovers since they can retain near Oem ride height and retain a street able spring rate but I've also wondered oe the 2 way how do you balance out the drop vs the stroke length? Since the bump stops are on the shock shaft isn't there a risk bottoming on the body since you are lowering the whole strut and not reducing the travel?

So i raised the collar back up so that there is preload again on the spring and I tightened the top mount and it seems like the clunking noise is gone. I'm not sure which of the two fixed it but I'm happy that its gone. Im not too happy with the height that its stuck at, in which i might try and go a little lower. But I am happy with how the car rides.

We'll have you measured it vs stock and then compared to what KW list as the max lowering height? I could not foresee a suspension manufactur ok with letting the spring rattle around at full extension. Especially when using the oem top cap that has the spring keyed to the cap because if you go full extension now the spring could possibly rotate on the lower perch and not line up with the top anymore causeing it to kink.

How about you get a professional to set this up for you.

If the spring is flopping about like a d1ck in a bucket, then you are riding on the bump-stops and risk smacking the cr4p out of your brand new shocks ............

The KW3 lets you adjust pre-load and ride-height separately and it sounds to me tht you need some knowledgeable help ............ and the interweb can be strong on opinion and long on knowledge.

Lol

The KW V3 does NOT let you adjust preload and ride height separately

http://www.the370z.com/brakes-suspen...over-list.html

Brand: KW
P Model: V1 Coilover Kit
P/N: 10285007
Type: OEM
Body type: Twin tube
Upper mount: Rubber
Separate hgt adjust: No
Damping type:
Damping adjust (F/R): 0/0
Rate (F/R) kg/mm: Progressive
Front/rear ratio:
Spring diameter, mm:
Rebuildable:
Warranty (yr):
Note: Coupe only?

Brand: KW
P/N: 35285007
Model: V3 Coilover Kit
Type: OEM
Body type: Twin tube
Upper mount: Rubber
Separate hgt adjust: No
Damping type:
Damping adjust (F/R): Compression 12/Rebound 16 front & rear
Rate (F/R) kg/mm: Progressive
Front/rear ratio:
Spring diameter, mm:
Rebuildable:
Warranty (yr):
Note: Low-speed compression/rebound adjusters; Sedan requires KW rear spring spacer which voids warranty