Ohlins DFV Review
#21
#24
Rob, I know you are a fan of the KWV3's, but you seem more than a bit pessimistic regarding the Ohlins DFV's. I'm trying myself to decide on which suspension to purchase and am having a tough time deciding between KWV3 or Clubsports, custom-valved non-adjustable Bilsteins from Guy Ankeny, Ohlins DFV, or AST 4150's. FWIW, I'm looking to run spring rates between 500-700#. The car will be both an SCCA STR autocross car and NASA TTC time trial car, as well as being mildly daily driven. Is there a reason you know of that I should cross off the Ohlins DFV from my list of choices? I'm a little worried about rear compression travel and the "combo" single adjustment. Will this type of adjusting be an advantage, or a disadvantage when running 100 lb higher spring rates than the damper was optimized for?
#25
Registered User
Tcjensen, Guy has a very good reputation for autocross set-up. I don’t have firsthand knowledge, but if I was doing an STR build and did not have shocks, that’s who I would go with. Having adjustable shocks can be very nice and that is what I would get from Guy if they are in your price range. Of course the down side to adjustable shocks is you can really mess up the handling, and they take some time to learn how to adjust them, but in the long run it’s nice to know how to adjust shocks.
I would just have Guy do the whole package, shocks, recommended spring rates, sway bars, and alignment specs.
I was thinking about doing this for next year, and Guy is the person I was going to go to, but I am going to try a C5Z06, in street (stock) class.
I also think you really can't go wrong with the AST's or Ohlins all of them are good options.
Robert Jones
I would just have Guy do the whole package, shocks, recommended spring rates, sway bars, and alignment specs.
I was thinking about doing this for next year, and Guy is the person I was going to go to, but I am going to try a C5Z06, in street (stock) class.
I also think you really can't go wrong with the AST's or Ohlins all of them are good options.
Robert Jones
#26
Thx Robert. The Guy option would be non-adjustable and would require me finding a cheap set of Bilstein PSS (which is harder than you might imagine! lol). The good news is they'd be custom valved to exactly match my chosen spring rates & I could just focus on driving instead of adjusting
The Ohlins worries me a little bit because I want higher spring rates, and I'm afraid I'd mess up their delicate valving balance with their "single dual" adjustments.
The Clubsports add more than I need to take for NASA TTC class. I don't think I'll get 6 extra points worth of performance out of them vs the AST or Bilstein option. (unless it's raining or something on a given track day )
So I guess I'm down to custom-valved non-adjustable monotube Bilstein's vs. OTS rebound-adjustable AST's.
What's up with all the DFW s2k drivers moving to C5Z06's. You will be #3, lol
The Ohlins worries me a little bit because I want higher spring rates, and I'm afraid I'd mess up their delicate valving balance with their "single dual" adjustments.
The Clubsports add more than I need to take for NASA TTC class. I don't think I'll get 6 extra points worth of performance out of them vs the AST or Bilstein option. (unless it's raining or something on a given track day )
So I guess I'm down to custom-valved non-adjustable monotube Bilstein's vs. OTS rebound-adjustable AST's.
What's up with all the DFW s2k drivers moving to C5Z06's. You will be #3, lol
#27
Another vote for Ankeny! This man knows shocks, is a grassroots competitor like most of us and has extensive experience with building championship winning setups. My bilsteins he setup were excellent, rode smooth and didn't require the annual rebuilds of the more delicate bling shocks. This year I sold the bilsteins and stepped up to his 8300 penske setup. Couldn't be happier with the purchase.
#28
Another vote for Ankeny! This man knows shocks, is a grassroots competitor like most of us and has extensive experience with building championship winning setups. My bilsteins he setup were excellent, rode smooth and didn't require the annual rebuilds of the more delicate bling shocks. This year I sold the bilsteins and stepped up to his 8300 penske setup. Couldn't be happier with the purchase.
#29
Registered User
With the CR getting put into the same Street class as the C5Z06, I just don’t see it begin able to keep up on most courses. So it was either go STR, or get a different car. I couldn’t bring myself to roll the fenders and lower the CR where it would be scraping all the time. The road to my house has a high center ridge. Also I have been driving an S2000 for a long time, so it will be nice to try something different with toque. I am keeping the CR I still really like it.
#30
Former Moderator
Rob, I know you are a fan of the KWV3's, but you seem more than a bit pessimistic regarding the Ohlins DFV's. I'm trying myself to decide on which suspension to purchase and am having a tough time deciding between KWV3 or Clubsports, custom-valved non-adjustable Bilsteins from Guy Ankeny, Ohlins DFV, or AST 4150's. FWIW, I'm looking to run spring rates between 500-700#. The car will be both an SCCA STR autocross car and NASA TTC time trial car, as well as being mildly daily driven. Is there a reason you know of that I should cross off the Ohlins DFV from my list of choices? I'm a little worried about rear compression travel and the "combo" single adjustment. Will this type of adjusting be an advantage, or a disadvantage when running 100 lb higher spring rates than the damper was optimized for?
If I was starting over I probably wouldn't go with KW V3's or ClubSports due to KW's no revalve policy. Any Ohlins product should be considered but personally I want to be able to adjust compression and rebound independently. I can't make any specific recommendations because I've only run the stock, PSS9 and KW V3 shocks. Two of the fastest S2000s in my area run custom valved non-adjustable yellow Bilsteins so I'd recommend taking a close look at that option.