Shop to Re-Valve KW V3?
03-20-2013, 02:04 PM
#183
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Those of you that follow this remember we are trying to make piece to bypass KW for rebuilds. I designed piece that will take different seals which are available from suppliers here in USA. I made one piece as prototype (all my machines are manual) and took to local cnc shop to price it. They just got back to me with cost. Basically we can have this piece made, add oil seal and wiper seal to it for around $30 per shock. This is one time cost, after that it is just seals if you rebuilding shock. This piece replaces one of the pieces, on picture it would be the one under the shock cap. It is also reversible, nothing else gets modified or changed so you could go back to KW way any time you want.
Here is the problem, I need to order at least 10 sets at the time (4 per set) to make it cost effective. We don't really have that much interest and it makes no sense for me to front money and sit on parts that may never be used.
Here is the problem, I need to order at least 10 sets at the time (4 per set) to make it cost effective. We don't really have that much interest and it makes no sense for me to front money and sit on parts that may never be used.
Be careful of forum sponsor Nazis about soliciting group buys
03-20-2013, 03:01 PM
#186
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Probably $5-7 for wiper and $1 for O-ring 
I don't have exact price, that is about price they sell for. when I researched I found few wipers so need to pick best and easiest one to buy. Would also send parts to hard anodizing, I would guess about $150-200 for all of them which comes to about $4-5 per piece if we make 10 sets (40 total). Aluminum piece is right at $20 each, so add wiper, o-ring and anodizing. About $30, maybe few bucks more.
That is about $1000 investment to start project. Or at least 10 people ready to buy to make it worth even looking at it. From business side it makes no sense to do it unless you get bunch of this shocks for rebuild on regular bases. Probably reason shops just say screw KW and drop them from list
I don't have exact price, that is about price they sell for. when I researched I found few wipers so need to pick best and easiest one to buy. Would also send parts to hard anodizing, I would guess about $150-200 for all of them which comes to about $4-5 per piece if we make 10 sets (40 total). Aluminum piece is right at $20 each, so add wiper, o-ring and anodizing. About $30, maybe few bucks more.
That is about $1000 investment to start project. Or at least 10 people ready to buy to make it worth even looking at it. From business side it makes no sense to do it unless you get bunch of this shocks for rebuild on regular bases. Probably reason shops just say screw KW and drop them from list
03-20-2013, 04:36 PM
#188
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Rob already paid for my down payment.
Seriously, did not get in to this to make money or expend my business. I don't even see potential. I just like to sometime do stuff that others don't, it can be interesting and fun. Break from everyday boring crap.
03-21-2013, 06:54 AM
#189
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Originally Posted by s2000ellier' timestamp='1363822278' post='22417203
well a business case for this is once you set a couple of us with rebuildable KWv3's we will be sending them to you.
Rob already paid for my down payment.
Seriously, did not get in to this to make money or expend my business. I don't even see potential. I just like to sometime do stuff that others don't, it can be interesting and fun. Break from everyday boring crap.
That's a refreshing comment. Tip of the hat to a small business owner that does favors for others and not just for profitablility, but for fun, a challenge and b/c it just might be the right thing to do.
The V3 and Clubsports have proven to take a beating on the S2K. Where the money is at is on the strut based cars that don't have proper upper spring perches. The shock and or shaft is asked to deflect under cornering/compression which wears out seals and o-rings quick. Lots of strut based cars out there running V3s. I know of a few locally that have needed rebuild and have had to go through the pain of sending them to KW and or that guy that does EVO and WRX rebuilds/revalves. Downtime sucks. I've kept my stock suspension in once pc as a backup but some people don't.. .
