[ibo]

Which dampers provide a more comfortable ride given the same swift springs? Does anyone have any experience with both types of setups? I started a thread in the XI (AWD) section here:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=606345

since my car is an XI, but I believe I'd probably get more suggestions/comments here, as both setups apply to the i and the xi. I'd appreciate any input on this matter, as I'm trying to make a decision soon.

[tibra1]

Both using Swifts..KW should ride more comfortably than AST..twin tube vs monotube design

[ibo]

Originally Posted by tibra1

Both using Swifts..KW should ride more comfortably than AST..twin tube vs monotube design

That was my guess, thanks for confirming this. I'm currently running the OEM progressive springs while using slightly softer than factory settings, so I'm very curious what a swift conversion would feel like.

[tibra1]

KWv3 with Swifts will be a great setup for the street with the adjustabilty to stiffen up for track use..just gotta find your sweet spot for spring rates

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by tibra1

Both using Swifts..KW should ride more comfortably than AST..twin tube vs monotube design

It's almost a toss-up with these two. The AST will generate damping force very quickly so there is less suspension movement, ride will be firm, but controlled. KW will allow the suspension to move around a bit more before damping forces are generated.

[pits200]

I can't speak for the kw but I have the 4100s on my car with 18s and 225/40/18 tires and the ride is reasonable. It actually is somewhat comfortable sitting in the backseat and the ride in front is a little stiff.

But overall, this is my dd and the wife says its not horrible so I take that as a triumph!

[tscdennab]

Originally Posted by pits200

I can't speak for the kw but I have the 4100s on my car with 18s and 225/40/18 tires and the ride is reasonable. It actually is somewhat comfortable sitting in the backseat and the ride in front is a little stiff.

But overall, this is my dd and the wife says its not horrible so I take that as a triumph!

What spring rates do you use ?

[neoduffer]

Originally Posted by HP Autowerks

The AST will generate damping force very quickly so there is less suspension movement, ride will be firm, but controlled.

This is exactly my impressions with the 4100s. The AST dampers definitely provide a firm and controlled ride. Initial drive off after installation had me concerned, but after a couple hundred miles on them, I am pretty pleased. The 400/672 spring rates should work out well at the track, although I am still curious what 336 in the front will feel like. The suspension is responsive and not overly busy.

[pits200]

Originally Posted by tscdennab

What spring rates do you use ?

I went with the 400 front and the 672 rear. I also upgraded the rear suspension with the m3 bushings and rear sway, so that added to the stiffness a little.

Here is how I'd rank the ride quality.

Unmodded car with stock 17 inch conti runflats - 7
Unmodded car with aftermarket 18 inch dws - 7.5
Modded suspension with no m3 parts and 18 inch dws - 6.0
Modded suspension with m3 parts and 18 inch dws - 5.5

So I guess the tradeoff in performance is well worth the small decrease in ride comfort.

[11N65]

Kw , with or without swift spring

[ibo]

Well, since I've decided that it'll be a while until my car sees any track days, I made the decision to explore my KW v3's a lot more. For the last two weeks, I've been GRADUALLY adjusting the compression from it's stock settings down to almost full soft, and then back up to 0.5 turns from full stiff. I use to think that I'm a set-it-and-forget-it kind of guy, but this exercise really opened my eyes regarding the capabilities of D/A dampers. The goal here was to FEEL what the compression settings are capable of by isolating it and eliminating the rebound variable. In short, the compression range that can be felt is DRASTIC. At almost full soft, the car is MUCH more comfortable than stock. While body roll is still eliminated, the steering response is fairly compromised. At 0.5 turns from full stiff, the car is significantly tighter, and thus stiffer and much less comfortable over uneven roads. The word harsh comes to mind, but I've experienced much harsher. The steering response is greatly improved and I felt much more connected to the road at this setting.

These are only the two extremes of all the settings I have tried. The gradual progression between soft and stiff is also quite the experience. During all of this, the rebound settings have not even been touched. All in all, I really appreciate the ability to adjust compression forces now and strongly encourage anyone interested in fine-tuning their V3's to do the same. I get the feeling that with enough time and effort, the V3's can be a great dual-application setup; a GREAT street setup and a decent track setup.

With that said, I still have the rebound settings to experiment on before settling on my preferred street settings. This definitely took a while and will undoubtedly take longer, but I feel that the progressive experimentation of the damper's settings will provide me with a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities. At the risk of sounding overly ambitious, I still really want to try Swift springs and perhaps even the AST setup, haha. More to come later .

[akotten]

Originally Posted by ibo

Well, since I've decided that it'll be a while until my car sees any track days, I made the decision to explore my KW v3's a lot more. For the last two weeks, I've been GRADUALLY adjusting the compression from it's stock settings down to almost full soft, and then back up to 0.5 turns from full stiff. I use to think that I'm a set-it-and-forget-it kind of guy, but this exercise really opened my eyes regarding the capabilities of D/A dampers. The goal here was to FEEL what the compression settings are capable of by isolating it and eliminating the rebound variable. In short, the compression range that can be felt is DRASTIC. At almost full soft, the car is MUCH more comfortable than stock. While body roll is still eliminated, the steering response is fairly compromised. At 0.5 turns from full stiff, the car is significantly tighter, and thus stiffer and much less comfortable over uneven roads. The word harsh comes to mind, but I've experienced much harsher. The steering response is greatly improved and I felt much more connected to the road at this setting.

These are only the two extremes of all the settings I have tried. The gradual progression between soft and stiff is also quite the experience. During all of this, the rebound settings have not even been touched. All in all, I really appreciate the ability to adjust compression forces now and strongly encourage anyone interested in fine-tuning their V3's to do the same. I get the feeling that with enough time and effort, the V3's can be a great dual-application setup; a GREAT street setup and a decent track setup.

With that said, I still have the rebound settings to experiment on before settling on my preferred street settings. This definitely took a while and will undoubtedly take longer, but I feel that the progressive experimentation of the damper's settings will provide me with a comprehensive understanding of its capabilities. At the risk of sounding overly ambitious, I still really want to try Swift springs and perhaps even the AST setup, haha. More to come later .

Don't mean to thread jack, but is there a special V3 from KW for the xi models? From what I understand the standard version bolts right up?