[JMo]

Who out there is using the KW Variant 3's on the MKII? What do you like and dislike and how do you use them? Did you go with the standard spring rates (170 front, 400 rear) or custom? How about the competition valving option (not even sure if this an option on the MR2)?

I am driving a 93T mostly on country drives and 4 or 5 track events anually(roadcourse, not autoX). currently the car is stock except for brake pads and fluid. tires are BFG G-force sport.

 

[jeebert2]

Anybody have these yet ? Feedback ? Pics ?

John

 

[billj747]

Great dampers. Leave the spring rates alone.

Contact Bryan at Berk Technology as they have the V3 on their Time Attack MR2.

 

[jeebert2]

Interesting you say that about the spring rates. I see they are 170 and 400. They are more spread apart than the stock rates. Running a car set up for B Stock at autocross and the track, I would think that would be a setup for oversteer. I would guess you would want something like a 250 or 300 rate up front to go with the 400 rear to keep it balanced. By the time you put a much bigger front sway bar on with the stock springs, the lateral rates must be pretty close together. Perhaps the dampers make up the difference ? Thoughts ?

I do get the impression that these coilovers might be worthy of a track car. I keep hearing that the D2s, K2s, Megan, etc. are not good because of the dampers for real racing applications. I'm thinking of running my 88 SC at autocross from now on and changing the 93T to more of a track setup. I was thinking about going with a custom job on the stock housings to allow Ground Controls and use Konis until I saw these. I would just like to hear from some people who know racing that have them. It is certainly encouraging to hear that they have good dampers, since that seems to be the weakness of most of the coilovers I see for the MR2.

John

 

[driftingsw21]

Considering how new the KW's are to the MR2 market they seem to have a uphill battle to gain market share where tien, and other brands have a strong foothold. However, looking at the specs for these and considering the racing they are used for I think they are among the best on the market at the current time for our cars without buying Toda or something else that cost 3k

 

[Alex W]

Interesting you say that about the spring rates. I see they are 170 and 400. They are more spread apart than the stock rates. Running a car set up for B Stock at autocross and the track, I would think that would be a setup for oversteer. I would guess you would want something like a 250 or 300 rate up front to go with the 400 rear to keep it balanced. By the time you put a much bigger front sway bar on with the stock springs, the lateral rates must be pretty close together. Perhaps the dampers make up the difference ? Thoughts ?

I do get the impression that these coilovers might be worthy of a track car. I keep hearing that the D2s, K2s, Megan, etc. are not good because of the dampers for real racing applications. I'm thinking of running my 88 SC at autocross from now on and changing the 93T to more of a track setup. I was thinking about going with a custom job on the stock housings to allow Ground Controls and use Konis until I saw these. I would just like to hear from some people who know racing that have them. It is certainly encouraging to hear that they have good dampers, since that seems to be the weakness of most of the coilovers I see for the MR2.

John

I have done a fair ammount of ready and calculating on suspension, and there have been some good discussion threads in the Automotive Engineering suspension forum on it. As a rule of thumb, and this is backed up by people like Rand Noll who are racing (and winning) with the MKII, you want nearly equal front and rear spring rates. Maybe a touch higher in the rear, but not much. I seem to remember him saying he runs 400f, 450r, or something close to that anyway.

As for the dampers, I have heard the same. Basically, from what I have read, you are better off with a set of tokicos (or better yet konis) and a set of springs than with a cheap set of coilovers.

 

[RoadWarrior]

I have them on my car. I really like them, build is top notch stainless steel. When ever i have a wheel off i always give them a clean and they come up like new!
Ride is firm without being boucy or jarring. (I'm on 17" wheels). They take one bite out of bumps and really control the car well. I have the stock springs and currently have the dampers set to the default settings for rebound and compression. I'll see if i can dig out some pictures later.

 

[Tomg]

There is more to the suspension picture than spring rates.
Also, KW provides coils of different ratings, so you could get other springs with any rate you want.
When I talked to Tom Edge, they had tested these at the Ring in Germany to get the optimal rates right. But keep in mind that if you are building a track car, or autocross car, you might want something else than the rates the V3 comes with stock.

T

 

[ZachAttackDFW]

I was debating over the KWs or a set of TRD/Eibach and some Koni Yellows.....

I was under the impression that the KWs had adjustable spring rates, and adjustable damping force....

 

[Tomg]

KW's are rebound and compression adjustable, as well as height adj.

To change the actual spring rate, you need another set of springs, which you can optain from KW.

T

 

[RoadWarrior]

some pics as promised:

This picture shows TRD uprated topmounts fitted, i later changed these to tein pillow ball mounts to get more camber to clear my front wheels.

 

[jeebert2]

Cool. Any pics of the adjusters for compression and rebound ? Are both adjustments on the top ?

John

 

[Tomg]

one in either end.

T

 

[jeebert2]

Which is on which end ? I would guess rebound would need to be fine tuned more, so it should be on top. :dontknow: Any close up pics of the adjusters ?

John

 

[RoadWarrior]

You are correct in that the rebound adjustment is at the top. I dont have any pics of the adjusters at the mo, they're just allen bolt holes.

 

[not2fast]

Did you need to run spaces to run your wheels?

 

[Epic|]

The KWs are very nice.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Pics_2cpu/MR2/Project/KWV3-2.jpg

Way nicer than a couple of spot welds.

 

[not2fast]

This picture shows TRD uprated topmounts fitted, i later changed these to tein pillow ball mounts to get more camber to clear my front wheels.

What size wheels (width/offset) and tires are you running on front? Using any spacers?

 

[jeebert2]

Do they come with top mounts ?

John

 

[not2fast]

Do they come with top mounts ?

John

No. I bought Tein pillow mounts for mine.