KW V3 autocross set-up thread

[BlaineWasHere]

Originally Posted by -max-

Seem to me you need a bunch more front camber and maybe a little less rear. Im running 2.7/2.2 fr/rr. I'm still dialing in, but 1.5 is not nearly enough IMO.

I have to put a ton of miles on my car, I can't run tons and tons of camber in or so I can get the most out of my tires. I'm at -1.5F as well.

[neurokinetik]

Originally Posted by Mitch

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]

OK, I had the same problem, but I figured out where we went wrong. In very small print, on the installation sheet that comes with the Whiteline mounts it says: "Please ensure the OEM conical washer is installed between the top spring hat and the strut mount, otherwise possible bearing binding and failure may occur."

This "conical washer" they refer to is actually the top spring perch off of the OEM strut. Once I installed this, everything started working as it should.

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by neurokinetik

OK, I had the same problem, but I figured out where we went wrong. In very small print, on the installation sheet that comes with the Whiteline mounts it says: "Please ensure the OEM conical washer is installed between the top spring hat and the strut mount, otherwise possible bearing binding and failure may occur."

This "conical washer" they refer to is actually the top spring perch off of the OEM strut. Once I installed this, everything started working as it should.

Awesome. I'll pull those off of the struts and throw them on sometime soon. I had suspected that was it, but it just didn't make sense moving an entire spring perch over. I really appreciate the clarification.

[-max-]

I can understand only wanting to run 1.5 degrees camber to save tires, but having 2.5 in the rear really defeats this. Not to mention probably creates quite a bit of understeer. I would probably at least even the rear out to the front.

[BRZranger]

Originally Posted by -max-

I can understand only wanting to run 1.5 degrees camber to save tires, but having 2.5 in the rear really defeats this. Not to mention probably creates quite a bit of understeer. I would probably at least even the rear out to the front.

Yeah, I'm running only stock top hats, do not camber adjustment in the rear. Either get rear camber plates or raise the ride height is what I'm thinking.

[-max-]

You will have to get some adjustable upper control arm bushings, which I have and are a major PITA, or an adjustable lower control arm. The LCA is more expensive, but much easier to instal and use.

[BRZranger]

Originally Posted by -max-

You will have to get some adjustable upper control arm bushings, which I have and are a major PITA, or an adjustable lower control arm. The LCA is more expensive, but much easier to instal and use.

Yeah, I considered those, but I really want to limit any further spending for now. Any cheap LCA that aren't crap?

Does LCA Have roll center adjustment built in?

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by neurokinetik

OK, I had the same problem, but I figured out where we went wrong. In very small print, on the installation sheet that comes with the Whiteline mounts it says: "Please ensure the OEM conical washer is installed between the top spring hat and the strut mount, otherwise possible bearing binding and failure may occur."

This "conical washer" they refer to is actually the top spring perch off of the OEM strut. Once I installed this, everything started working as it should.

This is NOT the best way to do it with coilovers. The conical washer that they are referring is an OEM part that exists for the GD chassis impreza (2002-2007). For the BRZ/FRS it is incorporated onto the spring perch. Much much better idea to simply get the OEM conical washer from the old car rather than throwing the whole spring perch on there. Your vendor should know this stuff!

- Andrew

[VCMC-STC]

Hello everyone!

I've been an avid reader of this thread as my team and I have a set of KW V3's installed on our FR-S. We have been pooling a lot of data by testing, testing and testing some more and are currently documenting everything we've done to share with you guys.

Until then, we thought you'd all like to see your suspension in action!!

Left rear suspension! Check out the subframe movement and tire flex!!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjx8WFXHNLA&hd=1"]Team VCMC FR-S - AutoX Video 3: Rear Suspension, Subframe, Tire (HD) - YouTube[/ame]

Front left suspension!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3sbVXkiQd8&hd=1"]Team VCMC FR-S - AutoX Video 2: Left Front Suspension (HD) - YouTube[/ame]



More coming soon as we have installed Whiteline front and rear swaybars and bushings since these videos were taken.

Thank you all for your help!!

Richard

[-max-]

Can y'all give out your ride heights, fender to hub? I think people are running a bit lower than I am. I plan on going through my set-up next week and might go a bit lower.

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by -max-

Can y'all give out your ride heights, fender to hub? I think people are running a bit lower than I am. I plan on going through my set-up next week and might go a bit lower.

I'm at minimum recommended settings with no rubbing issues. I'll see how it behaves on Oct 14th and adjust from there. I'll blame slow times on a bad setup.

[-max-]

I'm scared to go that low. It looks good, but don't know how good it is for geometry. We will see on the 14th!

[Nardi330]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

This is NOT the best way to do it with coilovers. The conical washer that they are referring is an OEM part that exists for the GD chassis impreza (2002-2007). For the BRZ/FRS it is incorporated onto the spring perch. Much much better idea to simply get the OEM conical washer from the old car rather than throwing the whole spring perch on there. Your vendor should know this stuff!

- Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Would you mind sharing the part number for this OEM washer from the GD Impreza?

Thanks in advance.

[Nardi330]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

This is NOT the best way to do it with coilovers. The conical washer that they are referring is an OEM part that exists for the GD chassis impreza (2002-2007). For the BRZ/FRS it is incorporated onto the spring perch. Much much better idea to simply get the OEM conical washer from the old car rather than throwing the whole spring perch on there. Your vendor should know this stuff!

- Andrew

is this the OEM conical washer Andrew was referring:



they are only for the fronts, correct?

thanks in advance.