andyb5 Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 In terms of performance, you would much rather have the D2 over the KW. Now, I'm not saying the D2 is better than the KW, but the most critical advantage would be the independently adjustable ride height (D2's have adjustable strut perch <- the part that mounts to spindle). The reason this is so nice is so you can adjust ride height independent of pre-load, and vice-versa. As far as adjust ability, I believe both have compression adjustment. Pretty sure the KWs have adjustable perches too. The main difference between the D2's and KWs is the strut mount. The nice thing about the D2s is that they include camber plates. The KWs re-use the failure-prone Volvo strut mounts, and are not camber adjustable. Plus, the KWs don't use a standard coilover spring, which means you can't easily change the springs to a different rate, whereas you can with the D2s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappo Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 For the guys thinking of different springs, FWIW, this looks to be a pretty standard design for coil-over setup. I'm sure that if you wanted different springs you could contact a number of companies and have some different springs made. I've gone this route when changing setups on various motorcycles (road racing) setup for track use only. It's been a few years, but I don't recall the asking price to be unreasonable. This is the reason I went with D2 over KW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappo Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 Pretty sure the KWs have adjustable perches too. The do for spring perches, but the D2 ride height isn't set in the front with the spring perches, it is set by adjusting the length of the coilover itself. The D2 spring perches in the front are only there to set pre-load or possible run a taller spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojojo Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 Pretty sure the KWs have adjustable perches too. I'm not being a dick here, but when I typed strut perch, I meant the part that mounts to the spindle, and not the spring perch that increases and decreases pre-load on the spring. Non-the-less, you bring up another obvious benefit of the D2s; the included camber plates for the front struts. These parts could easily be added to the KWs, but then you'd be spending even more, more money on the KWs. Anyone with the D2s having any noises (clunking, whining, chirping, etc...) while turning the steering wheel, say lock to lock, sitting still? Along with going through a number of camber plates, another horrible thing my KSports suffered from was a horrible noise while turning at low speeds or stopped. As the strut rotated through it's normal range of motion while turning, the springs would bind on their perch and create a duh-duh-duh clunking noise as they would release and bind again and again. KSport did, at least, admit to an issue here. I was shipped an 'update' kit (x2) for each car that consisted of one plastic shim for each spring to mount between the spring and perch, which meant complete dis-assembly... and made absolutely no difference. This is the reason I went with D2 over KW. And this is a very good reason... but, IMO, It should be the responsibility of the manufacturer to do the R&D required to sell this kind of product. They need to get out there and run these on various cars and circumstances. I don't think there's any reason a street driven car should ever have the need to change springs more than once. On paper, this looks like a great product. I'm curious to see how they will hold-up, so before I make any decision, I'll give it some time and listen to the feedback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyb5 Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 I'm not being a dick here, but when I typed strut perch, I meant the part that mounts to the spindle, and not the spring perch that increases and decreases pre-load on the spring. No worries. You know more about these than I do, I just thought I was smart for a minute :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Shadow Posted February 2, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 FWIW, the D2's present an incredible value for what it is. adjustable camber plates, shock tubes are much much smaller allowing me to run a 20mm spacer/adapter in the front with a 19x9.5 62mmET corrected down to a 42MM. before the D2's i needed a 29mm spacer adapter to fit the 9.5's in the front and the front sidewalls were rubbing like a mofo. for about $1k, you get almost a complete front and rear suspension overhaul. priced out for all new OEM/performance parts, you will be real close to $1k...$250 for springs $350 average for struts/shocks, $175 for new OEM front and rear strut mounts, $175 for new front strut bearings, plus new sway bar end links $50. i have 200 miles on them max even though i did them last OCT, 4 months ago...garage queen :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappo Posted February 2, 2012 Report Share Posted February 2, 2012 i have 200 miles on them max even though i did them last OCT, 4 months ago...garage queen Apparently. I have had mine on for only a few weeks and have over 600 on them. My first real test of them will be on the 11th, at least the stress I will put on them racing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappo Posted February 14, 2012 Report Share Posted February 14, 2012 Had first real test of these over the weekend, and it went well. I need to experiment a bit more with shock settings, but overall I am pleased and no failures. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swissb230ft Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 3rd post on VS. I got d2's about a month or two ago. I've probably put around 5,000 miles on them, daily driving. So far so good, my wagon feels totally different. I can corner noticeably faster and on the highway it feels like a dream, going 90-110 feels like I'm cruising at 50, no sweat. Overall the car feels planted and stable. My only concern; the rear is noisy. It sounds like only the springs are compressing. I couldn't get the rear piece that's used to adjust ride height to sit right in the seat. It looks like it's sitting at an awkward angle, I'll take pics and post them up here asap, maybe I can get a video too. Also I'm thinking about running the fronts without endlinks so I can go lower. Anyone else doing this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalvin Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Running without endlinks will not allow you to go lower. All it will do is make your front end feel sloppy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jardim Posted March 3, 2012 Report Share Posted March 3, 2012 Had first real test of these over the weekend, and it went well. I need to experiment a bit more with shock settings, but overall I am pleased and no failures. I might consider this then, since my only real fear was these coilovers breaking while im pushing the car....Im still very biased towards shocks/springs setup.......just for safety measures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappo Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 I might consider this then, since my only real fear was these coilovers breaking while im pushing the car.... Im still very biased towards shocks/springs setup.......just for safety measures. They survived my first autocross without any issues and I got quite a few runs in on the practice day. Next weekend I will be running both Saturday and Sunday. I don't anticipate any problems with them at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jardim Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 They survived my first autocross without any issues and I got quite a few runs in on the practice day. Next weekend I will be running both Saturday and Sunday. I don't anticipate any problems with them at this point. Let's hope for the best. If yours hold up till the summer then i might go with these D2 coils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s_moneh Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 i've been driving with them all winter so far, nothing to report here, they look dirty but thats easy to wash off.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdlimy Posted March 4, 2012 Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 Also I'm thinking about running the fronts without endlinks so I can go lower. Anyone else doing this? its not a vw leave the end links unless you wanna roll that pig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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