KW V3 autocross set-up thread
 

Don't know if this should be in suspension forum or here, but I would like to keep it here as it pertains strictly to autox.

I know a lot of people have jumped on the kW bandwagon as they were the first big name to come out with coilovers for our car and have a history of good results. Wanted to start a thread to pool all our knowledge gained in set up for Autocross. I know some people people have bought from vendors that share their racing knowledge as part of the price of admission, and some people are just secretive. And that's all good. But most people like me are just starting out blind and could use all the help we can get.
So I would like to start this thread to discuss set up info pertaining to, but not limited to:
Ride height-please measure from hub center to fender, as this is the only measurement that does not change with tire size
Camber
Toe
Shock settings
Driving impressions
Results

I will be installing mine tomorrow so no real world results yet.
Also of note, is if you are running the spring 400fr/350rr or as they came.
One thing I am noticing is that some people are still struggling with oversteer with the 400/350 setup. And looking at the cars stock camber of 0ft/.5rr, I am wondering if this car is going to need more rear camber than what we are used to running normally? Can this be fixed with some rake in the car?

Subbed!

Good thread! I'll be ordering KWs late summer.

I built the top STR MX5 in the country, and I just bought a BRZ. I think the camber and alignment settings should be similar between the two cars, so I'll tell you what I have the MX5 at.

Front

-3.2 camber, zero toe

Rear

-2.5 camber, 3mm toe in.

Adjustable stiff front bar.
No rear bar, or stock rear bar.

Cusco 2 way diff.

If I were building the BRZ, that's what I would start with.

-Max.

Same!

Have a few friends that have done work with coilovers. Been doing some reading and was planning on just jumping in and seeing how it goes from there. Any info would help , of course, haha. Taking a break from auto-x for the remainder of the season so I will have plenty of time for some testing once I get it on.

Thanks, Max. My KWs came in today, and I was thinking about making this very thread. Just one note, the master suspension thread lists these in metric measurements that convert and round to 340 and 400. Not sure if that affects how you look at it, but the front spring (that everyone is moving to the back) is a hair softer than what we're calling it. My install is on Saturday. I'm dying for some first guess shock settings, if anybody is willing to divulge theirs!

The MX5 suffers from the same tail happy tendencies, so generally I run very little compression in the rear, and about a third from full soft on rebound. For the front, I go about the middle settings for compression and rebound.

YMMV :)

Edit - I'm running DA AST 5200's. For a SA shock, I would start off twice as stiff in the front as you are in the rear.

I'd take a look at Bill Cook's (scoobysouth)'s thread here:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5413

Might have to sort through some things but he is using KWs on a BRZ Limited. Sam Strano (who has KWs installed on his FR-S) helped him out a bit with his setup. I think ride heights and damper settings are in the thread. He is using the stock swaybars.

I've only seen the Cusco 16mm (79% stiffer than stock) and 20mm (179% stiffer than stock) bars as front options thus far but I know others are developing them.

I would suggest starting with the recommended settings to begin with... and adjust from there.. they really are close..
Max's suggested alignment is pretty close too.:)..Right now...Sway bars are stock...and unless something major happens...bigger bars are Unnecessary IMO. the car's attitude is about perfect for my liking..

Bill

What are the suggested settings? mine just came set at the middle settings.

there should be a card/instructions in the box...along with the tool kit.. it explains how to adjust the suspension along with Recommended settings..

Install clearance questions...
 

First of all, please let me know if I missed something along the way, but here's the situation I crossed when installing the fronts.

The purple conical tops on the KW v3s touch the outer metal (only on the very top) of the Whitline strut mounts, creating resistance. The struts wouldn't freely spin on the mounts, instead binding up. Since aluminum is soft, it would have worn away eventually, but it didn't seem right. Friend I was working with suggested a washer to give it clearance. Ended up with a 1 1/8" washer with the inner section filed ever so slightly to make it fit. Works great, but makes me wonder if what went wrong.

Is it just the combination of these two parts, or was there a spacer somewhere that I missed or wasn't included? If the spring top had been machined down just a hair except for where it touches the bearing in the mount, it would have fit perfectly. Really, just a half a millimeter would have been wonderful.

Input?

Parts:
KW Variant 3 coilovers (front for this problem)
Whiteline off-set strut mounts [KCA335]

Here's a question, to which there may be no answer.

How HIGH can you go with the KW's? My driveway approach won't let me drop the car a ton, and I don't want $2K of paper weights.

Scott

Roughly 20mm lower than stock.