How hard is it to change rebound/rideheight on KW v3's?

Lenaxia · 02-08-2011, 05:37 PM

Can I do it myself with just a jack or do I have to own a spring compressor and remount them every time I want to adjust something?

Also, does anyone know at what setting the KW v3's ride like the stock suspension? Just to give me an idea of what kind of setting I'd want.

PKumarM3 · 02-09-2011, 12:50 AM

you don't have to remove the shock.

rebound is easy - usually a dial on the top or the bottom of the shock. if its on the top of the shock, no need to jack up the car. if its on the bottom, ramps will work.

ride height ajdustment requires a jack and jack stands and removal of the wheel. ride height adjustment also requires an alignment due to the toe being altered each time you raise or lower the height.

IN54NITY · 02-09-2011, 11:20 AM

It's very easy to adjust compression (bottom) and rebound (top). The removal of any wheel is ~not~ even necessary. Jacking the car (use stands!) allows you to see what you're doing when you adjust compression. (To adjust front compression you will need turn the wheels to full lock, otherwise you would have to take the wheel off.) You use a 2mm allen key to make any adjustment. KW supplies you with one that is of ideal size. To adjust the rear compression, you won't turn an actual allen bolt, you slip the entire key into a bolt that has a drilled hole width-wise, and turn it, like a wrench, a 1/4 of a turn at a time. I can adjust all dampeners in about 30 minutes, and I do so when changing from winter to summer seasons and vice-versa. Also, changing ride height is pretty easy too, as PKumarM3 wrote.

IN54NITY · 02-09-2011, 11:31 AM

To answer your other question, to get stock like feel (you really won't ever truly get stock like feel because the spring rates are changed and that's not even mentioning you've changed the geometry of the suspension and Cg), I would go two "clicks" softer dampening on compression and rebound, than what KW suggests/comes with outta da box. I speculate that V3s come outta da box at the same rebound/compression settings as their V1s.

Lenaxia · 02-10-2011, 09:26 PM

Thanks guys. Sounds like I already have all the tools to do adjusting on my own.

I'm getting a pair of used V3's so dunno what KWs default is. I'm really just looking for a setting that will give me a firm but comfortable ride since roads in cali suck and I've already busted a couple rims on the road out here.

This is my DD so don't need something race aggressive.

02-08-2011, 05:37 PM	#1
Lenaxia Lieutenant 41 Rep 566 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi 6MT Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Santa Clara, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [0.00]	How hard is it to change rebound/rideheight on KW v3's? Can I do it myself with just a jack or do I have to own a spring compressor and remount them every time I want to adjust something? Also, does anyone know at what setting the KW v3's ride like the stock suspension? Just to give me an idea of what kind of setting I'd want. __________________
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02-09-2011, 12:50 AM	#2
PKumarM3 Air India 145 Rep 1,834 Posts Drives: 2018 Dodge Durango Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ iTrader: (8)	you don't have to remove the shock. rebound is easy - usually a dial on the top or the bottom of the shock. if its on the top of the shock, no need to jack up the car. if its on the bottom, ramps will work. ride height ajdustment requires a jack and jack stands and removal of the wheel. ride height adjustment also requires an alignment due to the toe being altered each time you raise or lower the height. __________________ PKumarM3
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02-09-2011, 11:20 AM	#3
IN54NITY Major nutz 86 Rep 1,488 Posts Drives: '09 n54 e92xi, 6mt, kw v3 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Colorado, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 335xi [8.89]	It's very easy to adjust compression (bottom) and rebound (top). The removal of any wheel is ~not~ even necessary. Jacking the car (use stands!) allows you to see what you're doing when you adjust compression. (To adjust front compression you will need turn the wheels to full lock, otherwise you would have to take the wheel off.) You use a 2mm allen key to make any adjustment. KW supplies you with one that is of ideal size. To adjust the rear compression, you won't turn an actual allen bolt, you slip the entire key into a bolt that has a drilled hole width-wise, and turn it, like a wrench, a 1/4 of a turn at a time. I can adjust all dampeners in about 30 minutes, and I do so when changing from winter to summer seasons and vice-versa. Also, changing ride height is pretty easy too, as PKumarM3 wrote. __________________ KWs - Vorshlags - APEX EC-7s - "My garage" has suspension install pictures. _____________________ Last edited by IN54NITY; 02-09-2011 at 11:34 AM..
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02-09-2011, 11:31 AM	#4
IN54NITY Major nutz 86 Rep 1,488 Posts Drives: '09 n54 e92xi, 6mt, kw v3 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Colorado, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 335xi [8.89]	To answer your other question, to get stock like feel (you really won't ever truly get stock like feel because the spring rates are changed and that's not even mentioning you've changed the geometry of the suspension and Cg), I would go two "clicks" softer dampening on compression and rebound, than what KW suggests/comes with outta da box. I speculate that V3s come outta da box at the same rebound/compression settings as their V1s. __________________ KWs - Vorshlags - APEX EC-7s - "My garage" has suspension install pictures. _____________________ Last edited by IN54NITY; 02-09-2011 at 11:44 AM..
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02-10-2011, 09:26 PM	#5
Lenaxia Lieutenant 41 Rep 566 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi 6MT Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Santa Clara, CA iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [0.00]	Thanks guys. Sounds like I already have all the tools to do adjusting on my own. I'm getting a pair of used V3's so dunno what KWs default is. I'm really just looking for a setting that will give me a firm but comfortable ride since roads in cali suck and I've already busted a couple rims on the road out here. This is my DD so don't need something race aggressive. __________________
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