GC/Koni VS KW3 vs...

[D's GS-T]

well i was going to do up the GC/Koni set up DG style, but what else is out there for coilovers. How are the KW variant 3 coilovers. Does Penske have any kind of shocks for a 2g. I got a pretty descent budget for a good set up. im not looking to spend 10k or anything , but a few thousand is ok. I had a dif. car before that was fun before, but im building this car to be competitive so i don't mind laying down a good chunk of change for a good set up. Im not looking to dominate everyone, but looking to be able to hold my own at anytime.

 

[PatricksDSM]

I put K sport coil over on my 97 GST. They have 8 ride settings for Very Hard to Soft. They are great shocks and ran about $900

 

[Ludachris]

well i was going to do up the GC/Koni set up DG style, but what else is out there for coilovers. How are the KW variant 3 coilovers. Does Penske have any kind of shocks for a 2g. I got a pretty descent budget for a good set up. im not looking to spend 10k or anything , but a few thousand is ok. I had a dif. car before that was fun before, but im building this car to be competitive so i don't mind laying down a good chunk of change for a good set up. Im not looking to dominate everyone, but looking to be able to hold my own at anytime.

I think the KW's are going to be one of the better choices, and if you look around in other markets they're very popular. But the DG Koni/GC combo isn't a bad choice either and might save you a few bucks without much performance gap. Another one to consider in the KW price range would be HotBits.

 

[Ludachris]

I put K sport coil over on my 97 GST. They have 8 ride settings for Very Hard to Soft. They are great shocks and ran about $900

Hey Patrick, the Ksports are fine for a cheap street coilover but they're not really close to the same level of performance as the $2k coilovers in terms of grip. Most people buying those are not building competitive track cars. They just want something better than lowering springs that they can adjust for a sporty ride.

 

[TalonD27A]

KW makes a great product so if they have an application for the 2G's I would defiantly consider them. I'm fairly sure the 2G's have a few more lower cost coilover options. I know of the Tein Flex, JIC, and the BC 2way. I wouldn't run K-Sport and expect them to be anything better than the other low end stuff out there...I'm trying to be nice about it. I surely wouldn't use K-Sport for track use!
If KW has a single or two way kit they would be at the top of the list without question. You really won't get much better unless you consider Moton, Ohlins, JRZ, DMS, and I had seen you mentioned Penske. Penske is I great way to drop almost 10k on suspension.

 

[D's GS-T]

Ya im def. looking at a good kit to go with. I haven't heard much about hotbits so ill look into that as well. What are some of you running, and what would you run if you had the money to do so. Obviously 1g and 2gs are different, but just to get an idea of brands to look in to. I don't mind spending the money for a good set.

 

[Ludachris]

I'm running Koni/GC with RRE upper plates. I'd love to run some KW's and am working with a vendor to make them available for the 1G (adapted from the Evo). I'd also consider running Hotbits and Muellerized JIC coilovers. But that's about all that you'll find available for the 1G.

 

[D's GS-T]

ya, im looking at the kw variant three, the hotbits, or the dg set up for my car as of now. I haven't heard much about any other good set ups on a 2g yet as of now. I think i remember someone running a penske set up on their 2g in a dif. thread but i can't find it. That would be an option as well. Im pretty serious about this road racing stuff for these cars. I know they could be good if people were willing to spend money on them especially in the right places, and im looking to show people that.

 

[KiNg MaRtY]

I am running Muellerized JIC coilovers with a Mullerized alignment on my 2g and I feel they are fantastic, especially for within their price range. I have not been able to push JIC's past a point that I would feel I needed more but then again I have not tracked it. For canyon driving they are great. I have pushed compounds past their limit on corners before reaching any point to feel I need more

As mentioned, K-Sports are complete crap, even for the streets, they just don't feel right. They don't rebound the way you need them too. Kind of reminds me of the AGX's to some degree.

On my VR-4 I am currently just running Koni Yellows with some H&R springs. I am either going to add a GC kit or may just go with another JIC kit, but I am also thinking of trying a Hotbits kit on it sine I have only heard good things about it.

I have never ridden in a car with KW's or anything that upscale so I cannot give my .02 on that.

 

[Dallas J]

What spring rates do the KW's come with? Most coilover kits out there are all screwy for spring rates with our heavy front ends and low front motion ratios. You really need a much higher front spring than rear and for a quick car the valving should match the spring. Others get by with different setups but definitely have their quarks.

The Koni/GC set up is good, but the KW is interesting. Especially if we get a certain Evo/Subaru company to start revalving them. Does Hotbits make a setup for 2gs? Thought it was just Galants.

Im drawing a blank on the company that sells Penske's for DSMs but theyre 550/850/1150 for single/double/triple adjustable shocks if memory serves me. If you want to be fast, thats your best choice in a 2g right now.

 

[D's GS-T]

Looks like its front spring rate 515lbs/in and rear spring rate 230lbs/in

 

[snowborder714]

Looks like according to this site, the spring rates are:
Front: 515
Rear: 230

Dang, that's a lot lower than I would have expected.


Edit: Dang, he beat me to it

 

[Dallas J]

Well the ratios are pretty decent, and they would probably handle 600/300 ft/rr rates just fine which would get you into a fairly solid range.

Whos got $2k sitting around to try it

 

[D's GS-T]

I may get them if i can't find anything better, unfortunetly i have basic training and whatnot so i doubt I'll get to see much track time this year.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

Buy some Ksports and get custom springs and be done.

 

[Dallas J]

As has been discussed, Ksports can not support the spring rates needed for a 2g not to mentions the very questionable valving to begin and dubious adjusters.

At that price point Koni/GC WILL be faster.

 

[cantgo2fast]

Andrew brilliant runs the KW3's but if i remember he has basically all custom mounting for them (which is half the battle). Penske's are the best thing out there but a set of dampers and springs will quickly run you 10k. IIRC Penske double's with springs comes in around $2500 a corner for a 2G. Theres no use spending the money on the dampers and then get mismatched springs.

If I get the money to upgrade i'm going to KW's.

I also like my Tein's becasue I can get any spring rate I want from them, which ill be doing at some point. I do believe they have 550/300 springs in them from Tein but id have to check to make sure

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

Not to mention with Penske you have to get custom top hats with them. But they are THE BEST

 

[pagosa dsm]

I been thowing the idea of purchasing a shock for the rear of my 92 Talon. I have been looking at
Day Motor Sports ~ Circle Track Racing Parts
Speedway Motors - Street Rod Parts, Race Parts, Ford Flathead Parts, Sprint and Midget Racing Parts, Pedal Car Parts
They have many shocks that I can fabb to fit the rear of my car.There are 2 problems,how do I chose a rear shock and what will be equal to a front strut?They have shocks from
Afco,Pro,Bilstein,QA1
I am open to any suggestions of this idea.
Rick

 

[D's GS-T]

So Dallas, do you have the GC/Konic setup, and how do you like it compared to anything else you have had on the past.

 

[Dallas J]

So Dallas, do you have the GC/Konic setup, and how do you like it compared to anything else you have had on the past.

Yeah, Ive had the Koni/GC setup since 2004. They aren't the softest shocks around and wont give a plush ride but they can handle some beefy spring rates for years. I think mine are now starting to get a bit weak but still haven't started leaking. I made my DG style hats, not sure if they made me faster since I did it in the off season so never did back-back testing.

As far as spring rate, every time I went heavier in the front I got faster. I stopped at 700lb/in. Rear balanced based on MR, that's 350. Ive also driven 550/450 GC/Tokico and had terrible snap oversteer issues.

My biggest complaint for the 2g is its floppy chassis. I never got a non-sunroof version, but I cant imagine it will be nearly the difference than going to an Evo has been.

I have been very quick regionally though there's much room for improvement but I decided to work on an Evo instead of progress the DSM further.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

If someone would just build the top haps and standoffs for dsmtuners and assembled the shock, everyone would run the DG setup. That will never happen though. I would be more than glad to buy a set if it were available to me.

 

[ACM]

Yeah, Ive had the Koni/GC setup since 2004. They aren't the softest shocks around and wont give a plush ride but they can handle some beefy spring rates for years. I think mine are now starting to get a bit weak but still haven't started leaking. I made my DG style hats, not sure if they made me faster since I did it in the off season so never did back-back testing.

As far as spring rate, every time I went heavier in the front I got faster. I stopped at 700lb/in. Rear balanced based on MR, that's 350. Ive also driven 550/450 GC/Tokico and had terrible snap oversteer issues.

My biggest complaint for the 2g is its floppy chassis. I never got a non-sunroof version, but I cant imagine it will be nearly the difference than going to an Evo has been.

I have been very quick regionally though there's much room for improvement but I decided to work on an Evo instead of progress the DSM further.

The difference between a sunroofed and non-sunroof 2G really is night and day !

I've had both with identical setups - even on street tyres there's a noticeable difference, but on race tyres, it really is night and day, there's no comparison.

 

[Dallas J]

I almost picked up a non-sunroof GSX from a buddy for a steal but I really didnt want to switch to non-abs. We have a lot of wet events and it can really save your a$$ on those days.

Looking for a non-sunroof chassis, I ended deciding on moving to the Evo to run in BSP.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

You didnt have a 6 point cage or any strut bracing?