Hi SL-ers,

I installed my KW Variant 2's this past Thursday and have an appointment this Thursday with an independent shop. I wanted to see who's got recommendations for what I should spec my coilovers to.

Facts:

1. I want to keep the car at a 1.5-1.75" drop all around. It is sitting there now.

2. Have 225/45/zr17 ContiSportContact 3's for rubber

3. Stock wheels

4. I plan on autox-ing a few events, but this car is my dd and I'd rather have it friendlier on my tires.

5. The shop I'm taking it to can dial in whatever I want, which is why I need your help.

Thanks for any insight,
ChupacabraTX

...I will also be posting pics in a new thread after alignment...

 

nice i got my set of kws on order, so def going to be tuned into this thread

 

if you want it to remain primarily your dd, but dont want to chew up your tires on the autocross course, i would recommend this as a mild alignment:

front:

toe 0 degrees
camber 1-1.5 degrees

rear:

toe 0 degrees
camber .5-1 degree can also leave at zero

 

I run -1.75 up front and -1.25 in the rear for the daily drive. Does really well like that. When I go to an event, I increase the fronts to -2.75. Plants the front much better in the corners that way. But since you dont have camber plates and need to run the same settings all the time, I would just run -1.5 to -1.75 up front and about -1 to -1.25 in the rear.

Might hit up Jeff like I mentioned in the PM to see if he can get you in soon. His prices are pretty good.

 

personally i run almost 3 degrees up front and 1.5 degrees of camber in the back, but around here the roads suck so its pretty twitchy, sometimes it can even get pretty violent lol

 

engifineer, i pm'd you back homie

Thorium06, thanks for the advice and I can see how 3 degrees of camber can be unbearable sometimes.

Overall, I think I will stick to -1.75 camber front and -1.0 camber rear. Toe will be even at zero.

I noticed last night after a drive on I35-East in Saint Paul when I got home, my car was almost completely settled on the drivers' side, versus high on the passenger. Today when I left my house, everything settled evenly.

I realized the only person that has ridden in my car since installation was my neighbor who helped me put my KW's in. Is this normal or going to cause any major issues?

Also, my tire wear is totally even thus far and I still have no wiggle or shuddering at any speed (less than 70mph).

 

UPDATE------3/25

I got my car aligned and talked it over with the shop owner about what specs I should go to.

LOCKED AND LOADED

Front
-1.2

Rear
-1

Ride Height
1.8" drop all around

Damping adj.
Front
6 clicks from hardest

Rear
9 clicks from hardest

Overall, this makes my car handle smoothly without jarring my brain on rough roads. There is almost zero noise and body roll with these coilovers under these settings.