KW V3 questions

[ghodge]

I am mulling the possibility of picking up a set of KW V3 coilovers next year. Is anyone still running them currently? Are they as quiet as stock? Has anyone that has/had them also have driving experience with aftermarket springs on a Stinger enough to be able to compare them?

Thanks,

George

 

[Hawk853]

I am mulling the possibility of picking up a set of KW V3 coilovers next year. Is anyone still running them currently? Are they as quiet as stock? Has anyone that has/had them also have driving experience with aftermarket springs on a Stinger enough to be able to compare them?

Thanks,

George

To be clear I have no experience with them.

But, everyone (but one) that I spoke with who had them took them off and installed lowering springs for various reasons. The one who is still running them installed shorter coils because of oversized tire clearance issues.

What finally did it for me was when I realized that nice machined top mount wasn’t adjustable. I’m holding out for a better option and just bought H&Rs for now.

Megan may be producing a universal adjustable top mount when they determine there’s enough of a demand.

 

[ephone]

I swear someone on here had KW V3's and removed them because they caused a too much noise. I've never had coilovers, but it seems everyone complains about noise - I'm not sure what kind of noise they're talking about exactly. I do know my Eibach sways have some clunk to them and I just undid my end links and retightened them.

I'm probably going to go with new springs with a small drop. I just installed the Mando suspension controller, and am amazed at how much better it is. Now if only I could get Camber adjustment for the front. That's why I'm surprised that Megan Racing makes a really nice looking rear-camber kit, but doesn't make a front - maybe they're making them for coilover owners who want rear camber.

 

[turboAWD]

I know at least one person said they failed within a few weeks / months.

 

[narsnail]

Coilovers are great for the track but not good for daily driving, from what I understand from asking someone using the ark coilovers and reading a few threads. With the Mando and a lowering spring you can get almost the same adjustability for a lot less money.

 

[ghodge]

From what I have been reading, the KW variant 3 coilovers are a totally different animal regarding quietness and having separate compression and rebound adjustability. They are likely not to rust as well. I've been there never want to go through it again living in Central Salt OH. The only case of removal that I've seen on this forum is someone that got a defective set that got steadily worse over the course of a month or so.

Unfortunately the GTS did not get ECS otherwise I'd definitely have a Mando unit to adjust the suspension. I even toyed with the idea of retrofitting the hardware from a wrecked car but I don't think the harness in my car has the wiring for it.

Hopefully I can make contact with someone that has run them to get their impressions. I'm especially curious about the mention of having to swap coils to accommodate wheels.

 

[xot1]

I swear someone on here had KW V3's and removed them because they caused a too much noise. I've never had coilovers, but it seems everyone complains about noise - I'm not sure what kind of noise they're talking about exactly. I do know my Eibach sways have some clunk to them and I just undid my end links and retightened them.

I'm probably going to go with new springs with a small drop. I just installed the Mando suspension controller, and am amazed at how much better it is. Now if only I could get Camber adjustment for the front. That's why I'm surprised that Megan Racing makes a really nice looking rear-camber kit, but doesn't make a front - maybe they're making them for coilover owners who want rear camber.

It was me. I couldnt fix the noise in the rear so I got rid of them.

 

[ghodge]

Hi Xot1,

How loud was the noise? "Typical" coilover noise or something different? If something different, do you know what the cause was? What was your impression of the ride? My GTS without ECS feels ok to me driving around town but at highway speeds, it feels a little "floaty" on dips. It's still one-and-done but the rebound seems to be too high.

Thanks,

George

 

[xot1]

Hi Xot1,

How loud was the noise? "Typical" coilover noise or something different? If something different, do you know what the cause was? What was your impression of the ride? My GTS without ECS feels ok to me driving around town but at highway speeds, it feels a little "floaty" on dips. It's still one-and-done but the rebound seems to be too high.

Thanks,

George

I have a video of it. I just uploaded it for you.

The noise is at 0:05.

It was more noticeable in real life than in the video. Passengers would be surprised when they hear the noise. It would happen over speed bumps, irregularities on the roar, or just small changes of road height on the highway.

I spent almost 400 bucks going to different shops trying to fix that noise (adjusting settings, adding some rubber paddings, trying to fix the angle of the height adjuster etc.). I came to the conclusion that the way the rear piece for height adjustment doesn't match the Stinger. They probably reused a piece designed for another car that just seemed to fit.

Here is the email I wrote to KW and they never answered:

------------------------- Your Message --------------------------

Hello,
I drive a Kia Stinger and I am using your v3 coilovers.
I am experiencing a loud clunking sound in the rear right suspension. It seems to occur whenever I go over a hole/gap or after a bump, when the wheel comes back up after dropping. I had my mechanic have a look at the setup and his guess is that the part with the perch (height adjuster?) attached to the spring is coming loose when the wheel is dropping and then when it comes up, it does reattach but with a slight angle. So the noise comes from that part that keeps tilting between straight and angled everytime I run over a bump. I did not have this problem when my car was lower but I had to raise it for clearance reasons (by around 0.5cm). Do you have any tips for fixing this? or some advice in case this is due to an improper setup.

------------------------------------------------------------------

If it wasn't for that annoying noise, I would have kept them because they were otherwise perfect. (comfort, stability, handling etc.) Some other people experienced the same problem, so I do not believe in the faulty part possibility. The ride height adjuster is just not shaped as it should be.

 

[ghodge]

Wow! That's depressing. That clunk almost sounds like a loose end link. I had that sound after installing my ARK sway bars and had to loctite and retighten. I also had that sound on my previous Pontiac G8 and had to do the same. The fact that it didn't do that when you car was lower points to the coilovers. That's too bad. How much lower were you than stock initially? I called KW USA to see if I could run them at 0.75 inch lower and they told me that any higher than the minimum of 1" lower than stock would void the warranty.

How was the ride, handling, and bumps otherwise?

 

[xot1]

Wow! That's depressing. That clunk almost sounds like a loose end link. I had that sound after installing my ARK sway bars and had to loctite and retighten. I also had that sound on my previous Pontiac G8 and had to do the same. The fact that it didn't do that when you car was lower points to the coilovers. That's too bad. How much lower were you than stock initially? I called KW USA to see if I could run them at 0.75 inch lower and they told me that any higher than the minimum of 1" lower than stock would void the warranty.

How was the ride, handling, and bumps otherwise?

Very good otherwise.
I don't remember how much I lowered them.

 

[xot1]

I lowered them like this:

 

[ghodge]

Beautiful car by the way! That looks similar to the drop I've seen with other cars and lower springs that drop around 1". Your experience is very unfortunate especially since KW didn't respond to your email.

 

[masaidStinger]

I have a video of it. I just uploaded it for you.

The noise is at 0:05.

It was more noticeable in real life than in the video. Passengers would be surprised when they hear the noise. It would happen over speed bumps, irregularities on the roar, or just small changes of road height on the highway.

I spent almost 400 bucks going to different shops trying to fix that noise (adjusting settings, adding some rubber paddings, trying to fix the angle of the height adjuster etc.). I came to the conclusion that the way the rear piece for height adjustment doesn't match the Stinger. They probably reused a piece designed for another car that just seemed to fit.

Here is the email I wrote to KW and they never answered:

------------------------- Your Message --------------------------

Hello,
I drive a Kia Stinger and I am using your v3 coilovers.
I am experiencing a loud clunking sound in the rear right suspension. It seems to occur whenever I go over a hole/gap or after a bump, when the wheel comes back up after dropping. I had my mechanic have a look at the setup and his guess is that the part with the perch (height adjuster?) attached to the spring is coming loose when the wheel is dropping and then when it comes up, it does reattach but with a slight angle. So the noise comes from that part that keeps tilting between straight and angled everytime I run over a bump. I did not have this problem when my car was lower but I had to raise it for clearance reasons (by around 0.5cm). Do you have any tips for fixing this? or some advice in case this is due to an improper setup.

------------------------------------------------------------------

If it wasn't for that annoying noise, I would have kept them because they were otherwise perfect. (comfort, stability, handling etc.) Some other people experienced the same problem, so I do not believe in the faulty part possibility. The ride height adjuster is just not shaped as it should be.

So when your car was lower there was no issue with the noise? I am about to put the KW's on my car, stock wheels (with spacers), if this clunk is not something that can be eliminated, then I definitely will not proceed. Do you think I would be ok at a certain ride height? were your clearance issues related to your wheel set up or just ground clearance? thanks !

 

[andybob]

I have a video of it. I just uploaded it for you.

The noise is at 0:05.

It was more noticeable in real life than in the video. Passengers would be surprised when they hear the noise. It would happen over speed bumps, irregularities on the roar, or just small changes of road height on the highway.

I spent almost 400 bucks going to different shops trying to fix that noise (adjusting settings, adding some rubber paddings, trying to fix the angle of the height adjuster etc.). I came to the conclusion that the way the rear piece for height adjustment doesn't match the Stinger. They probably reused a piece designed for another car that just seemed to fit.

Here is the email I wrote to KW and they never answered:

------------------------- Your Message --------------------------

Hello,
I drive a Kia Stinger and I am using your v3 coilovers.
I am experiencing a loud clunking sound in the rear right suspension. It seems to occur whenever I go over a hole/gap or after a bump, when the wheel comes back up after dropping. I had my mechanic have a look at the setup and his guess is that the part with the perch (height adjuster?) attached to the spring is coming loose when the wheel is dropping and then when it comes up, it does reattach but with a slight angle. So the noise comes from that part that keeps tilting between straight and angled everytime I run over a bump. I did not have this problem when my car was lower but I had to raise it for clearance reasons (by around 0.5cm). Do you have any tips for fixing this? or some advice in case this is due to an improper setup.

------------------------------------------------------------------

If it wasn't for that annoying noise, I would have kept them because they were otherwise perfect. (comfort, stability, handling etc.) Some other people experienced the same problem, so I do not believe in the faulty part possibility. The ride height adjuster is just not shaped as it should be.

I just found the instructions for the V3 coils online. It shows the adjustment barrel for the rear springs should be on top of the coil and not on the bottom. If your adjustment sleeve is on the bottom (against the control arm) that is incorrect and I could see how it would become “bound” in the control arm mount and create noise.

 

[22bjh22]

I just found the instructions for the V3 coils online. It shows the adjustment barrel for the rear springs should be on top of the coil and not on the bottom. If your adjustment sleeve is on the bottom (against the control arm) that is incorrect and I could see how it would become “bound” in the control arm mount and create noise.

Could you send me the link please? Just got mine installed and having a bit of the same problem. Will be going back to mechanic next week. Thanks!

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Could you send me the link please? Just got mine installed and having a bit of the same problem. Will be going back to mechanic next week. Thanks!

Looks like you already have that adjustment piece on top of the spring. That is depressing. I was really looking at installing these coilovers in the near future. I guess i'll just keep my ark springs.

 

[ghodge]

I was initially looking at the KW B3s shortly after I got the car but too many people were having trouble with noise so I went the Ark route. Too bad because I read that the ride was very nice otherwise.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Could you send me the link please? Just got mine installed and having a bit of the same problem. Will be going back to mechanic next week. Thanks!

Any updates? Were you able to get it fixed?

 

[22bjh22]

Any updates? Were you able to get it fixed?

KW is sending me a new rear spring. It’s ‘collapsing’ or something to that effect.