D2 vs K-Sport Coilovers???

[Greensleeper]

My last set of coil-overs where the D2 and I loved them. They are now on my friend P5 and he raved about them too. Best coil-over in that price range!

I only switched because I wanted something tailored to my tastes.

 

[ratswagon]

My last set of coil-overs where the D2 and I loved them. They are now on my friend P5 and he raved about them too. Best coil-over in that price range!

I only switched because I wanted something tailored to my tastes.

I think I am going to go with the ksports as soon as my $$$ is there (hopefully in the next couple weeks).

 

[Run for Cover]

how do you soften up the ksport coilovers

 

[justanotheradikt]

you adjust them with the adjustment tool...

 

[nk2a]

i have ballas ksports
i LOVE them...its all in what your looking for. best thing is to ride with someone that has them.

youd be hard pressed to find somewhere with worse roads than new orleans but i still LOVE them.

I have K-Sports as well - Rough ride but that doesn't bother me much - Never been to New Orleans but Seattle roads are ridiculous.

I am pretty sure you can order K-Sports with different spring rates. Might help with the ride.

 

[Mr. Win]

This is true.

It's cool I didnt mean to get you riled up, you posted on the 2nd of January people may have been still recovering from drinking the past two days(NYE, NY) , but yes for price range the K-Sports they are the best bang for the buck.

 

[Pirana]

I have had the K-Sport for around a year now, and for the price they are the best out there. I wanted to purchase something a little more affordable and having the ability to adjust camber, which the TEIN SS doesnt offer. So it was either the D2 (which for some Sports) or the JIC which cost too much. The only problem I have had is the end-link tabs did move in the beginning. But have been very pleased with them.

 

[Rogue]

since you bring up autocrossing, I'd read =http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets.html]this before buying any suspension.

Where there's no Bilstein fitment and Penskes are too expensive, Konis are usually perfectly adaquate. They are, by far, the best budget shock and better than any of the crap coming out of Japan. JIC, GAB, Tokiko, Tein - synonyms for "crap".

FWIW, I went from stock to TEIN SS to K-sports back to the TEINs and added Delsing camber plates. I sold the K-sports because the ride was too bouncy for me. The spring rates on the K-sports (9kg/mm) are stiffer than the TEINs (7kg/mm) in the front. One of the K-sport struts that I sold to my friend busted on him, and is now leaking oil. I've seen this problem a few times with members on the board.

The "32-way" adjustability isn't really 32-way. It's more 2.5 turns from hard to soft; there's no way to know how many "clicks" you've gone. The TEINs have a definate "click" to know where you are on the scale.

I did like the camber plates on the K-sports, but the dashed lines meant nothing. There was no "0," and the dashes are probably the same for each suspension that they send out for all make/models. That means they mean nothing for measuring what camber you have.

Pirana mentioned the endlink tabs. The set I had came with the adjustable endlink collar for the front struts. One of mine worked itself loose, and bent the AWR adjustable endlink. That was probably due to user error, but still something to consider.

To sum it up:
1. I think you may be taking a risk buying the K-sports/D2s.
2. TEIN SS + camber plates will probably be out of your budget.
3. Bilstein or Konis from AWR are probably way out of your budget (I haven't check his prices lately, but it's all custom work).

So what option is left? Find a good set of struts, and put on your own set of collars (Ground Control, Skunk2), then get the spring rate and spring height you want. Also see if you can get your strut valved to your spring rates.

Come over to Racing / Motorsports section and check out STX Build Thread and Street Prepared build to see what racers have been putting on their cars.

 

[Pirana]

I totally agree with Rogue...when I purchased my Ksports it was because I didnt plan on having my car the way it is now...I just wanted to lower the car and be able to align it. And for the price of a set of adjustable Koni and some Ground Control springs, I could have bought the Ksports, so they seemed like a logical purchase. Now, looking at the way my car has turned out, I would go with TEIN and the Delsing plates. But that is just a thought now.

 

[ratswagon]

What about KW Variant 2's? Where is a good place to get these?

 

[LinuxRacr]

I totally agree with Rogue...when I purchased my Ksports it was because I didnt plan on having my car the way it is now...I just wanted to lower the car and be able to align it. And for the price of a set of adjustable Koni and some Ground Control springs, I could have bought the Ksports, so they seemed like a logical purchase. Now, looking at the way my car has turned out, I would go with TEIN and the Delsing plates. But that is just a thought now.

Totally agree. I have installed and rode on KSports, and what Rouge says is correct. Just this weekend, I installed Tein SS coilovers on my car, and I am loving it! I will be getting some camber plates soon, but as they sit now, the car rides smooth as stock, unless there is a lot of bumpage (potholes, etc), but that's coilovers for you. I am using the standard settings from the install manual as far as the height goes. For stiffness, I have it turned 3 clicks back from the stiffest setting in the front, and 6 back in the rear. The clicks of the Teins make them so easy to adjust. I was able to use the stock MSP end-links in the front! Soon my AXR clunkfix brackets will arrive, and then I will be putting my AWR swaybar up for sale, and putting my stock Racing Beat back on.