KW 1 or KW3 or H&R for an S2 Avant ?

[macspring]

Just wanted to hear some advices on the choices above.

I'm concerned that people who have upgraded to new coilover suspension system think they're great because their previous suspension systems were so shot / worn out, that anything new would be perceived as fantastic.

Are there any say FK or AP, or other brands that do less expensive coilover systems for an S2 Avant ?

No track time, just daily driving on regular roads, and all the road repairs, speed ramps that one encounters everyday. 18" S8s, with 225/40/18 tyres.

Thanks for any advices.

[andyg plym]

I had kw1s,my god I tell you what my guts used to ache! Could never get the back end out,just hung on !
The problem I had was that they were shocking on a day to day basis,way too hard and my exhaust would catch everywhere

[macspring]

Andy,

Did you replace the KW1's with something that you felt was more suited to what you wanted ?

[RustyNut]

I've got V1's on the Sedan and in my opinion KW have done a brilliant job with this system. Over the standard system the car now handles amazingly well (whiteline ARB fitted too along with powerflex bushes all round) and copes with our wonderful roads better than I had expected. I wouldn't like to use a car with this set up on a daily basis though as it is definitely focused towards keeping the car on the road during hard driving but if my route to work was via the Stelvio Pass or the Transfagarasan Highway then it would be perfect! If you're near Bristol at any point in the near future i'll gladly take you for a drive. I bought the system here by the way - http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/ - really good service and as cheap as anywhere else.

[Mcstiff]

Interesting, I've heard that V1s were very good. Guess I need to test drive a car with them.

[Avantus]

I'm happy with my H&R monotube. Even with powerflex bushes the girlfriend isn't complaining so that means it isn't too hard

[A80Avant]

Just wanted to hear some advices on the choices above.

I'm concerned that people who have upgraded to new coilover suspension system think they're great because their previous suspension systems were so shot / worn out, that anything new would be perceived as fantastic.

Are there any say FK or AP, or other brands that do less expensive coilover systems for an S2 Avant ?

No track time, just daily driving on regular roads, and all the road repairs, speed ramps that one encounters everyday. 18" S8s, with 225/40/18 tyres.

Thanks for any advices.

my experience has been a few drives in an rs2 with KW and FK. I have to say the KW were much too harsh for my liking and the FK were ok.

However, i went to the route of the DIY coilovers with Bambridge for the reason being that i liked the spring rate of the original RS2 springs as well as the shock absorbing feel of the Bilsteins. All i wanted was the ability to lower the car at any time.

Asking a few spring shops, all suggested the same that for any drop between 10-30mm i need to go anything 10-25% stiffer with the springs in order to compensate for the drop and not allow the springs to bottom out.

After that it was only a matter of seeing how much leverage i could get with the adjusting sleeves and how long springs i would need.

Being the guinea pig on this one ended up having to get a few springs sets to get to the ones that i liked, but eventually my experience hopefully will help others.

So to get a slightly stiffer but very close to original feel, i ended up with the following:

Front 9inch and 225lb
Rear either 9inch 300lb or 10inch 315lbs will do.

Setup requires Bilstein shocks all around and bambridge to provide the parts to convert to coilovers. There is a bit of welding to do at the rear, but that is not too difficult. Brian Tonks has written and documented the procedure.

This setup now has droped the car about 10mm, its perfect in corners and personally i can drive it everyday without any increased harsness. Even better, my wife who sits at the back with our little one has noticed no difference whatsoever, and i use that as a guide! If the car becomes much harsher, i would have been told off by now!!!

Good things about this setup:
1) Bilsteins are servicable and off the shelf to renew, no need to send to KW/FK for service.
2) Bambridge can provide parts and replacement items if required, all anodised and adequate against corrosion
3) Springs are relatively cheap, i have used Faulkner springs and they seem very good. A complete set is around 85GBP.

Downsides:
1) one off rear avant modification for the springs to fit as they are flat
2) one off front modification for the same above reason.
3) A bit of a faf to get the height adjusted, but then again, all coilovers are!

hope it helps!

[macspring]

it does, thanks for taking the time.

[andyg plym]

I think a lot like me are happy with h and r with stock dampers cheap but effective. That said I will be going back to stock springs just for the winter

[Rusty]

I've come to the conclusion that an S2 will never ride properly therefore you might as well go as stiff as you dare and just put up with the bad for the improved handling when you're playing about...

[A80Avant]

I think a lot like me are happy with h and r with stock dampers cheap but effective. That said I will be going back to stock springs just for the winter

funny you say that as i forgot to mention that i did actually go to just lower springs to try them out, i had a set of OEM springs especially treated to sit 15mm lower.

looks: brilliant.

ride: horrible! was much too soft and made the car wobble

Low stance: meant i had to be careful on every aspect of the road to make sure i dont touch anything, and that was not as low as the HR springs take the car(ie -30mm)

As i mentioned before, if track was the main purpose, then id do more elaborate work and match shocks with springs(still do it DIY though). But since i have merely matched the OEM spring rates and went just a tad stiffer, the car feels more planted without having to insure the spinal cord for injuries!

[Error404]

David, what do you use the car for? How many miles a year to you drive in it and what do you want to achieve?

If you just want to go slightly lower with daily drive comfort then I would follow the route Vas has done and choose some similar rate springs to stock and run with off the shelf Konis or Bilsteins. If you want to upgrade for performance reasons I would go with KW. If money is no object get in touch with Ohlins and go bespoke.

I went from fitting brand new H&Rs & Konis to KW V1s and the difference is night and day. Ride is slightly firmer but better if that makes sense, the car is more controlled and doesn't wallow but the ride is not harsh and crashy like it was on the H&Rs & Konis. The spring rates are getting on for twice what the H&Rs are so the handling is in another league.

HTH

[rynaqui]

KW V1 is a good choice, as long as you have a couple of smooth roads around it's actually quite comfortable but obviously stiff.

[recall]

I am running KW V1's on my every day avant,

brilliant, best coilover i have ever used,

[macspring]

David, what do you use the car for? How many miles a year to you drive in it and what do you want to achieve?

If you just want to go slightly lower with daily drive comfort then I would follow the route Vas has done and choose some similar rate springs to stock and run with off the shelf Konis or Bilsteins. If you want to upgrade for performance reasons I would go with KW. If money is no object get in touch with Ohlins and go bespoke.

I went from fitting brand new H&Rs & Konis to KW V1s and the difference is night and day. Ride is slightly firmer but better if that makes sense, the car is more controlled and doesn't wallow but the ride is not harsh and crashy like it was on the H&Rs & Konis. The spring rates are getting on for twice what the H&Rs are so the handling is in another league.

HTH

Thought you knew what I use the Avant for with my threads regarding what turbo to pick !

Daily driver around the city, and all the roads that that entails, ideally want lowered for the look / stance, but standard spring rates as never driven on the track, and value comfort especially with S8 rims, with 225/40/18. Factory bushes.

Does sound odd that the KW1 are better than the Koni H&R combo.

Couple of questions;

Are H&R springs linear ?, meaning that if they were progressive they would be more forgiving with sunken potholes or proud bits of tarmac road repairs, and no one has them set up properly / matched to the Konis on a suspension dyno rig, and rarely when on the car with their desperately annoying to adjust, where one has to take them off the car to make any adjustment. (Really loved the Koni front top adjustable facility on my Golf Mk 1).

Are the springs of the KW1 kit progressive or linear ?

I read conflicting reports that KW kits are available with different spring rates to suit preferences ? Does anyone have the definitive answer ?

Has anyone driven both KW kits ( 1 & 2 ), ? in similar spec'd B4 cars ?

and what wheels were they using, as the car is very comfortable on 16", good compromise on looks / performance / comfort with 17", and great looks / performance, but no comfort with 18".

Ohlins are unfortunately are not within budget.



Hope someone can follow some of the above ramblings.

Thanks for any comments.