KW V3 Coilover Suspension Released for Mach-E

[Electric Goat]

I mentioned this in the other thread;



What else would you like to know?

Very nice write-up. I didn't realized that you posted this in the 63 page thread that's been open for over a year now. I stopped checking it regularly since there hasn't been much progress. Your post has been the most helpful so far.

Other questions:

What's your clearance like? Are you riding at stock GT height now? I have a GT and I'm considering lowering the car another 0.5" inch to 1.0 inch.

How long did it take the installer to put these on from start to finish?

Did you go to an EV specific shop for the installation?

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[taikajim]

Very cool! Here are a few questions...

1. How much lower is the kit in the "default" settings you are using now?
2. Do you/kW have the sense that there is a lot of improvement to be made by adjusting the settings, or will those just be tiny tweaks?
3. Any installation challenges or difficulties that would be worth pointing out that might be different from a "normal" coilover install?
4. In your personal opinion - was it worth it?

1. It's lowered about 2 centimeters (25/20mm iirc) from AWD standard height, so about 10mm lower than GT now.

2. The defaults are about half way on the adjustments available for bump / rebound, so there should be considerable adjustment available. The V3s are by all intents "track-capable" at their harder side, altho I have no need to push a daily driver towards that on our quite poorly kept roads. On the tiny tweaks, I might stiffen the front end a bit, see how it changes. The adjustments are luckily quite accessible, and won't require wheel removal.

3. Standard op. The rear top mount needs to be drilled from 8mm to 10mm for the piston rod fixation tho, as KW doesn't make parts as flimsy as the Ford OEM.

4. Absolutely. Eventho I am very disappointed with Ford (and myself for not noticing during testdrive) about the pitching habit the car had, it was either this or use another vehicle. Now I think the car is closer to "the idea" of a Mustang Mach E than on OEMs. (edit: I wanted to emphasize that the car is much better now. Not just "fixed", but definitely better.)

@Electric Goat

Down about 20mm from standard, so about half an inch lower than your GT.

For mine, it took about an evening but it was more of a social event. I'd say an hour per corner for a routined professional. Installation is very straight-forward and didn't contain any surprises. (edit2: excluding realignment, which was done the following day with them fancy lasers and robots)

The work was done by a suspension guy, as there's really no EV-specific details to the job.

 

[Electric Goat]

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. ?

 

[RMoore]

The work was done by a suspension guy, as there's really no EV-specific details to the job.

Other than perhaps a bit of care in how to jack up the car? But glad to see that this is starting to be addressed by some of the suspension folks. I was aware of the potential issue when I test drove a Premium AWD but didn't notice excessive bounciness on the roads around here. Will be interesting to see what I think after my car arrives and I get some mileage on it.

 

[taikajim]

Other than perhaps a bit of care in how to jack up the car? But glad to see that this is starting to be addressed by some of the suspension folks. I was aware of the potential issue when I test drove a Premium AWD but didn't notice excessive bounciness on the roads around here. Will be interesting to see what I think after my car arrives and I get some mileage on it.

While it's a sad fact that a lot of cars do get lifted up wrong, EVs aren't really the only kind that should be lifted properly. And luckily there are professionals who work on cars with values measured in trailer-loads of Mach-Es. But yes, always mind your lift points.

I think "bounciness" is the wrong word for the symptoms, as the car doesn't so much bounce as kinda sits restlessly when the suspension isn't compressed under dynamic load. The nautical term "pitch" describes it better:

So there's this small pitching motion after the car rebounds, which the shocks aren't capable of absorbing. Literally like the car is sitting on too stiff springs. It was quite easy to demonstrate with a clear handsanitizer bottle on the dash, like it was very easy to show the "qualitative" change the coilovers had.

But I don't want to spoil the car for you, so let's hope it's an issue that won't arise for you! I'm just set up with just the wrong kind of sense of balance, in a way that exacerbated the tendencies of the car.

 

[RP_GT]

So grateful for you guys trying this out. Gives me hope for my future GT coming. I was very worried I made a horrible mistake suspension-wise not getting the magnaride. I am super sensitive to motion, can only be in drivers seat if I am going to be in a car, elevators give me lasting head-aches, and can't watch most TV due to shaky camera work. It sucks. At least now there is an option if the GT suspension is a problem which I know is stiffer from the Premium and Select. I also hate that in here in Austin no stinking dealers carry demo cars. They sell them before they ever arrive with a 10-15k markup. I have never even gotten to sit in a Mach E. I have only seen one in a grocery store parking lot. So sad. But good news. I found and old friend that recently got one, and I will get to ride in it this Sunday. I am super stoked! Finally!!

 

[taikajim]

I am super sensitive to motion, can only be in drivers seat if I am going to be in a car

This was my problem with my AWD. It isn't anymore. I can't say anything about the GT suspension, but KW is one of the better manufacturers out there, so the option is there. And I'll update this thread as I adjust the car, see if I can report even better results.

 

[coolshades]

you sir @taikajim deserve the Mustang Mach E Fan Award for Above and Beyond Service

 

[mkhuffman]

This was my problem with my AWD. It isn't anymore. I can't say anything about the GT suspension, but KW is one of the better manufacturers out there, so the option is there. And I'll update this thread as I adjust the car, see if I can report even better results.

Is it hard to adjust the ride height?

 

[GrumblesTheDog]

How would this impact your warranty? Google suggests that it may affect claims related to your suspension, but it shouldn't impact anything else (like the HVB, etc) right?

Also, what's the installation process like for someone who is not a wrencher, but otherwise pretty DIY-capable? YouTube videos of KW coilovers installs don't look terribly hard -- anything mechanically unique or challenging for the Mach-E?

 

[Joetz]

Now if you are looking for a true $1k solution, then keep an eye out for Bilstein (B6/B8s) or Koni FSDs (or Yellow if you some want adjustability). FSDs are the route I would take (and currently Koni offers them for everything up to an F450).

Is koni FSD available for the mustang mach-e? I wouldn't mind trying something like that

 

[Regularmache]

I test drove the GT before buying the GTPE so hope you are right......I really didn't feel/felt or noticed the bounciness of the GT.....But did notice the 5-second drop right away.....I thought it was just me after the ride.....

Ford is readying a 15 second full power version, software only subscription. It allows 15 seconds full power and your credit card is billed $150 each use.

 

[mkhuffman]

Is koni FSD available for the mustang mach-e? I wouldn't mind trying something like that

Doesn't look like it:

 

[taikajim]

Is it hard to adjust the ride height?

It doesn't require you to take the suspension apart, and adjusting the spring perch ring is itself pretty simple even with the tools provided. The harder task is making sure the adjustments done are made with sufficient accuracy on all corners.

@GrumblesTheDog

Other than the obvious suspension related warranty items, nothing else is affected. Mind you, this is for me under Finnish / EU consumer protection, so things might be different for you.

As for the installation, I wouldn't pick a new / newish Mach E as my first "exercise". While quite straight-forward, there's still various things you should be aware of in regards to the adjacent systems like brakes and structural elements.

 

[Redundant]

While it's a sad fact that a lot of cars do get lifted up wrong, EVs aren't really the only kind that should be lifted properly. And luckily there are professionals who work on cars with values measured in trailer-loads of Mach-Es. But yes, always mind your lift points.

I think "bounciness" is the wrong word for the symptoms, as the car doesn't so much bounce as kinda sits restlessly when the suspension isn't compressed under dynamic load. The nautical term "pitch" describes it better:

So there's this small pitching motion after the car rebounds, which the shocks aren't capable of absorbing. Literally like the car is sitting on too stiff springs. It was quite easy to demonstrate with a clear handsanitizer bottle on the dash, like it was very easy to show the "qualitative" change the coilovers had.

But I don't want to spoil the car for you, so let's hope it's an issue that won't arise for you! I'm just set up with just the wrong kind of sense of balance, in a way that exacerbated the tendencies of the car.

Or like in F1 this year, porpoising.

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