I've bought a set of KW v3. Haven't installed them yet but i have a few questions.

If i change the ride height, do i have to get a new alignment? I know i have to get an alignment after i install them, but will need any more alignments after that. I assume changing compression and rebound settings won't affect the alignment.


Also, will changing the ride height affect the stiffness of the springs?

 

Im almost positive every time you change the height you should get it done. I dont think ride height effects the stiffness of the springs but it effects the travel of the shock. Someone correct me if im wrong on either of these.

 

ride heights and cornerweighting are accomplished by adjusting ride height spring perches. there are some dampers with adj of ride height set sep from spring preload ala motorcycles but they seem either formula car oriented or Japanese made.

 

sorry, going on, it is truely best for autos with rubber still throughout their bushings to wait 200 miles/2 weeks before cornerweighting alignment. the vehicle settles over this time and usage NOT due to the dampers nor springs (unless well and truely rubbish) but these bushes taking a new set. sure one should try to set it in a desire ride height periodically during this time but alignments and cornerweighting are futile. if one has monoballs throughout the auto, simply shake the shit out the vehicle having removed all reinforcements and sways and cornerweight, then align. although one shouls always cornerweight with min damping in all phases, changing afterwards does nothing to alignment, statically, at least.

 

So if i understand you correctly the ride height will affect the stiffness of the springs because you adjust by compressing the spring.

And alignment should be done 200miles/2weeks after installing the coilovers to allow the bushings to settle. And changing the ride height should not change the alignment, at least statically.

But doing the alignment with min damping in all phases? You mean setting the comp and rebound settings to minimum?

I'm not sure what you mean by cornerweight. Tried to google it but nothing that came up made any sense. Could you explain?

Hope you forgive my noobness I'm pretty new to the whole suspension thing.

 

not really on compressing springs unless they are progressive rate

changing ride will chage alignment - changing damping settings will not (statically)

min damping settings during cornerweight, yes

balancing the vehicle diagonally

may i ask why you felt compelled to get coilovers? seems you haven't really performed much research and your vendor sure as hell just took your money and ran....

 

[QUOTE=DER MotorSports,May 7 2008, 10:05 AM] not really on compressing springs unless they are progressive rate

changing ride will chage alignment - changing damping settings will not (statically)

min damping settings during cornerweight, yes

balancing the vehicle diagonally

may i ask why you felt compelled to get coilovers?

 

I do not think you need new alignment after you adjust your ride height.. alignment usually is done after removing suspension components..

 

^^Sorry...but you're very mistaken.

OP: Ride height will not affect stiffness. But it will affect ride quality over all for other reasons.

None of those reasons have anything to do with an alignment.

Get an alignment any time any geometry changes in your suspension. Ride height changes MOST DEFINATELY warrant an alignment.

Here's some good practices to follow:

1.) Dont over lower it. You will over work the shocks or bottom them out too many times and blow them. You will also alter the geometry of your suspension to the point where you make it useless. In which case, you just wasted $2000 on coilovers because your car will handle worse than stock.

2.) Clock your bushings.

3.) GET AN ALIGNMENT. S2000s are very sensitive. The car is adjustable for camber caster and toe stock. The toe setting is critical. Make sure the alignment tech knows what he is doing. You do not nessecarily have to go back to stock camber angles. I would recommend sticking with stock toe, however unless you really know what you're doing in the adjusting and driving departments.

4.) Leave the shock settings alone for now. They're very very nice on the KWV3s. Adjust them if you need to only after getting the car on a real track and getting some real experience and finding out the car's deficiencies. If a deficiency is found, try to fix it with mild shock tuning. Dont go crazy on shock tuning. Try to hover around the stock settings.

 

Ok. Thanks. Wasn't planning on lowering very much. About 1 inch. Have a 1 inch drop on my lowering springs and thats enough for me.

Won't mess to much with the damper settings then.

Thanks again for the inputs