Notices
944 Turbo and Turbo-S Forum 1982-1991
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Clore Automotive

KW Variant 3 coilovers: A short review

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-14-2007, 10:09 PM
  #61  
DVC
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
DVC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

If you're really interested, Simon at www.Autotalent.com beat the autoanything price for me. He also got me uprated springs from Germany.

Simon@AutoTalent.com

Travis
Old 08-10-2008, 01:46 PM
  #62  
DVC
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
DVC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Ouch, here's an update on my KW V3. Appears to be a common issue:

Old 08-10-2008, 03:26 PM
  #63  
anders44
Three Wheelin'
 
anders44's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Norway
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

hmm gotto check mine, but dont think thats happend for me yet.
Old 08-10-2008, 04:06 PM
  #64  
DVC
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
DVC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yeah, check them out. I guess as long as one shoulder of the flange remains I can still align it. KW wants it back to inspect before they'll ship me a new one. Kind of a pain since I rely on the car to get to work.
Old 08-11-2008, 02:12 AM
  #65  
wjk_glynn
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
 
wjk_glynn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Jose, California
Posts: 2,992
Received 517 Likes on 331 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by DVC
Ouch, here's an update on my KW V3. Appears to be a common issue:
Apolgies for my ignorance... but what are we looking at in the photo?

Karl.
Old 08-11-2008, 02:19 AM
  #66  
333pg333
Rennlist Member
 
333pg333's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 18,926
Received 98 Likes on 81 Posts
Default

Looks to me like that bolt must have worked loose and shift to put pressure on that 'U' piece. It also looks like washer could be smaller just the same.
Old 08-11-2008, 02:45 AM
  #67  
Darwantae951

 
Darwantae951's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,034
Received 25 Likes on 21 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Karl Glynn
Apolgies for my ignorance... but what are we looking at in the photo?

Karl.
I believe you are looking at where the strut bolts to the front spindle. Am I correct?

-Darwin
Old 08-11-2008, 03:40 AM
  #68  
JET951
Drifting
 
JET951's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 2,650
Received 98 Likes on 49 Posts
Default

I would have to agree with Patrick,
there is really no sideways pressure on the broken piece. the bolt was probably not done up tight enough. or as we have seen before the bolt itself fatigues. because of the cut in the adjusting bolt it weakens the thread. We replace these bolts every so often.
Sean
Old 08-11-2008, 04:50 AM
  #69  
Rich Sandor
Nordschleife Master
 
Rich Sandor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 8,985
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 333pg333
Looks to me like that bolt must have worked loose and shift to put pressure on that 'U' piece. It also looks like washer could be smaller just the same.
That is not a washer - that's the camber eccentric bolt. The washer is part of the head and is offset to set the camber. You position the bolt head to set the desired camber, and then you torque down the nut on the other side.

The flaw is in the fraility of the eccentric guide.
Old 08-11-2008, 06:06 AM
  #70  
333pg333
Rennlist Member
 
333pg333's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 18,926
Received 98 Likes on 81 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Rich Sandor
That is not a washer - that's the camber eccentric bolt. The washer is part of the head and is offset to set the camber. You position the bolt head to set the desired camber, and then you torque down the nut on the other side.

The flaw is in the fraility of the eccentric guide.
Well it's definitely eccentric. Odd how there is that circular mark around the base of the bolt head on the 'not washer'?
Travis, can you see any signs of this bolt being loose?
Old 08-11-2008, 06:33 AM
  #71  
jlturpin
Rennlist Member
 
jlturpin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Mayflower, AR
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yes, I see the "not washer" imprint also on the right side of the guide. It also appears that the top of the "not washer" has been under the raised section of the camber guide .

I have been looking at this setup for a few months, and the reviews are great. This is not something that will keep me from buying the KW's. I will follow this post to see the outcome from KW.

Last edited by jlturpin; 08-11-2008 at 07:32 AM.
Old 08-11-2008, 06:41 AM
  #72  
333pg333
Rennlist Member
 
333pg333's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 18,926
Received 98 Likes on 81 Posts
Default

Well despite what's going on here, they are a very good product. I'm interested in what response Travis gets to his problem though.
When I said 'not washer' I wasn't trying to be a smart *** either. Just a term.
Sean, if you think of it, may as well check mine out for any signs of this. I doubt it based on the lack of miles but you never know.
Old 08-11-2008, 07:29 AM
  #73  
jlturpin
Rennlist Member
 
jlturpin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Mayflower, AR
Posts: 1,075
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

It was not my intention to bash the product or take away from your response or go off topic. I thought it was a good term so i went with the terminology and made my observations of the photo. I was kinda being a smart *** using your description, "not washer", but only because I thought the description was good, and keeping in line with the thread of it not being a washer, but an eccentric bolt.

From what I have read about this setup, they will still be what I go with, when it's time.

Have a good day.
Old 08-11-2008, 09:15 AM
  #74  
333pg333
Rennlist Member
 
333pg333's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 18,926
Received 98 Likes on 81 Posts
Default

I think we're all on the same page here. The product is very good and I'm sure there are others out there that are also excellent but I chose this brand based on a lot of recommendations mainly from guys in the UK. I'm very happy with the choice.
Old 08-11-2008, 09:47 AM
  #75  
DVC
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
DVC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

The bolt was still torqued down, and although it appears as though the cam rode the shoulder in the picture, it did not. I believe Rich's assessment to be the case.

I'm with Pat though, I love these things and don't regret buying them. The car is my daily driver and a street warrior, and thus far they have been flawless.

FWIW, I can still adjust and hold any degree of chamber I may wish to run. I will let you know the extent of KW USA's support. I cannot recommend Simon at Auto Talent enough. He has been tireless in working with KW, to not only rectify my issue, but in consulting the engineers on my desire to run the V3 without torsion bars.

Last edited by DVC; 08-11-2008 at 10:18 AM.


Quick Reply: KW Variant 3 coilovers: A short review



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 12:17 AM.