KW V3 Coilover Suspension Released for Mach-E

[markboris]

Hey guys. So I have the Steeda front and rear sway bars on hand. Should I wait until I get the KW (part of the group buy) before installing to save time/$? Or just get the sway bars done now? Expecting another 6 weeks until the KWs come in.

Don't know much about suspensions so curious if there's any pros/cons here.

I personally wouldn't wait around 6 weeks to install those bars. Might as well start enjoying them now. You won't be saving any time waiting for the KW's. Except for removing one end of the end link on the front which takes one minute, you don't have to touch anything else on either bar to install the KW's.

Sponsored

 

[mkhuffman]

Hey guys. So I have the Steeda front and rear sway bars on hand. Should I wait until I get the KW (part of the group buy) before installing to save time/$? Or just get the sway bars done now? Expecting another 6 weeks until the KWs come in.

Don't know much about suspensions so curious if there's any pros/cons here.

I personally wouldn't wait around 6 weeks to install those bars. Might as well start enjoying them now. You won't be saving any time waiting for the KW's. Except for removing one end of the end link on the front which takes one minute, you don't have to touch anything else on either bar to install the KW's.

I agree with Mark. And by putting them on prior to the KWs, you will be able to evaluate the impact of the bars independently from the coilovers. If you put them all on at once, it will be hard to tell which change is responsible for a specific improvement.

 

[edido]

I also have a question about Steeda sway bars and KW:
- I have a GT version
- I am waiting on KW to arrive and install them
- How much Steeda sway bars can improve the driving when installed with KW? (I understand that it might be personal preference, but curious to hear opinions).

 

[mkhuffman]

I also have a question about Steeda sway bars and KW:
- I have a GT version
- I am waiting on KW to arrive and install them
- How much Steeda sway bars can improve the driving when installed with KW? (I understand that it might be personal preference, but curious to hear opinions).

Personally I would install the KW coilovers first and see if you like the result before getting the sway bars.

I think the better shocks and springs will address a lot of the issues the sway bars also address, but in a different way. I love the Steeda sway bars, but they do not help with straight line bounce. They help with the wallowing, or back and forth motion that is also caused by poorly damped shocks. And they make taking corners fast a lot more smooth. They transform the car into what it should have been, IMO.

Put the KWs on and then see if you want flatter cornering. The bars ship quickly (when in stock) so you won't have to wait long if you decide to put them on as well.

 

[connoisseurr]

The combination of adjusted drop from KWs and these wheels fitment, is MINT

 

[connoisseurr]

Adding some comments here, will will duplicate this in other places as well.

After putting roughly 1000 miles on the KW suspension, I've altered the 'factory' compression and rebound settings on the shocks. The suspension has fully settled and definitely stiffened. I would not say it's back to a stock feel, but it was still comfortable. I did want something a bit softer, however.

Setting	Front Compression	Front Rebound	Rear Compression	Rear Rebound
KW 'Factory' Setting	9	7	8	6
Adjusted Setting	12	10	11	9

These settings would be most unique to the Premium ER RWD configuration. I'm hoping once more members receive their set and get them installed and settled, their final adjustment numbers combined with their Mach-E configuration can be shared amongst the forum to better track the best settings based upon SR/ER and RWD/AWD. Compression and Rebound adjustments are iterative.

 

[RP_GT]

The combination of adjusted drop from KWs and these wheels fitment, is MINT

That looks great! Please share your wheel details. I really like that your wheels don't stick out past the body panel (I believe that is an offset deal).

 

[connoisseurr]

That looks great! Please share your wheel details. I really like that your wheels don't stick out past the body panel (I believe that is an offset deal).

20x9 ET40 with a 265 45 20 tire. Front tire is 1-2mm past fender but hardly noticeable, rear is flush.

 

[Redundant]

Adding some comments here, will will duplicate this in other places as well.

After putting roughly 1000 miles on the KW suspension, I've altered the 'factory' compression and rebound settings on the shocks. The suspension has fully settled and definitely stiffened. I would not say it's back to a stock feel, but it was still comfortable. I did want something a bit softer, however.

Setting	Front Compression	Front Rebound	Rear Compression	Rear Rebound
KW 'Factory' Setting	9	7	8	6
Adjusted Setting	12	10	11	9

These settings would be most unique to the Premium ER RWD configuration. I'm hoping once more members receive their set and get them installed and settled, their final adjustment numbers combined with their Mach-E configuration can be shared amongst the forum to better track the best settings based upon SR/ER and RWD/AWD. Compression and Rebound adjustments are iterative.

So, this is very helpful for me. I have a Premium ER 4WD and only have a couple of hundred on them so far. I have to ask my installer what they set the coilovers at, to confirm it was at KW recommended setting.

Your adjusted numbers moved the KWs to softer settings, right? Got a bit confused when you said the suspension settled and stiffened.

The rocking/swaying is gone but the hits on bumps are pretty hard/jarring. Did you experience that? Did the softer settings help? Did the softer rebound cause any excess movement, similar to the stock shocks?

Appreciate your feedback, as I am going to run with them stock for a while and then adjust them.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

 

[connoisseurr]

So, this is very helpful for me. I have a Premium ER 4WD and only have a couple of hundred on them so far. I have to ask my installer what they set the coilovers at, to confirm it was at KW recommended setting.

Your adjusted numbers moved the KWs to softer settings, right? Got a bit confused when you said the suspension settled and stiffened.

The rocking/swaying is gone but the hits on bumps are pretty hard/jarring. Did you experience that? Did the softer settings help? Did the softer rebound cause any excess movement, similar to the stock shocks?

Appreciate your feedback, as I am going to run with them stock for a while and then adjust them.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

TL;DR, yes softer settings. On the KW adjustments, when adjusting towards "-", this provides a softer, more dampened feel. When adjusting towards "+", this provides a stiffer, more rigid feel. All KW set points are # clicks from full stiff. The recommend way to adjust is to turn the knobs to full stiff, then count # clicks desired, towards softer settings.

Once installed the first few days the suspension felt very soft and comfortable, exactly what I wanted to feel. After the shocks and springs had settled, that soft feeling retracted but did NOT feel uncomfortable. The noticed jarring and bounciness exhibited by many was no longer present. It just felt like a stiff set of coilovers.

As soon as I made the noted adjustments, I found that familiar "fresh install" feeling to have returned. The Mach-E now feels more comfortable, yet controlled on most road conditions. My spouse knows cars and suspension feels and she also exhibited a very similar reaction to the adjustment, even after not telling her what I did. So it goes to show that any potential of bias and placebo is out the window, regarding my confirmations.

 

[kennethjk]

TL;DR, yes softer settings. On the KW adjustments, when adjusting towards "-", this provides a stiffer, more rigid feel. When adjusting towards "+", this provides a softer, more dampened feel. All KW set points are # clicks from full stiff. The recommend way to adjust is to turn the knobs to full stiff, then count # clicks desired, towards softer settings.

Once installed the first few days the suspension felt very soft and comfortable, exactly what I wanted to feel. After the shocks and springs had settled, that soft feeling retracted but did NOT feel uncomfortable. The noticed jarring and bounciness exhibited by many was no longer present. It just felt like a stiff set of coilovers.

As soon as I made the noted adjustments, I found that familiar "fresh install" feeling to have returned. The Mach-E now feels more comfortable, yet controlled on most road conditions. My spouse knows cars and suspension feels and she also exhibited a very similar reaction to the adjustment, even after not telling her what I did. So it goes to show that any potential of bias and placebo is out the window, regarding my confirmations.

So to be clear you setting, is for example 12 clicks from full stiff for the front compression?

thanks

 

[connoisseurr]

So to be clear you setting, is for example 12 clicks from full stiff for the front compression?

thanks

That's correct. 12 clicks away from stiff settings, or towards softer settings.

Adding that KW recommends keeping a value of 2 between compression and rebound, with compression being 2 clicks higher than rebound.

 

[Redundant]

That's correct. 12 clicks away from stiff settings, or towards softer settings.

Adding that KW recommends keeping a value of 2 between compression and rebound, with compression being 2 clicks higher than rebound.

Where do they say that? I didn’t see in the manual that came with the coilovers, their recommended starting settings, for example, or the 2 between compression and rebound.

Also, am I right to believe the compression is what takes the “hit” from road imperfections and the rebound is what controls the movement of the car body afterward?

 

[connoisseurr]

Where do they say that? I didn’t see in the manual that came with the coilovers, their recommended starting settings, for example, or the 2 between compression and rebound.

Also, am I right to believe the compression is what takes the “hit” from road imperfections and the rebound is what controls the movement of the car body afterward?

The 2 clicks between compression and rebound stated to me through email correspondence with KW.

Here is a video explaining compression and rebound. I can’t explain it any better than this.

 

[kennethjk]

That's correct. 12 clicks away from stiff settings, or towards softer settings.

Adding that KW recommends keeping a value of 2 between compression and rebound, with compression being 2 clicks higher than rebound.

did You have to lift the car to change the top settings?

Sponsored