K-sport coilover ?
#17
02-25-2011, 10:40 AM
I did my own homework on these a couple years ago. At the time they had issues with seals, etc... They are SO adjustable that you can actually have them so low, you ruin them. Like Nick says, just google them...plenty of Honda and other JDM forums to get info about them. I gave up on them after not finding any other Porsche enthusiast using them and you can get a used set of popular coilovers for the same price or even way less. They might be better now, but I'm happy with my $1300 used
PSS-9's for what I do.
PSS-9's for what I do.
#20
02-25-2011, 05:29 PM
I did my own homework on these a couple years ago. At the time they had issues with seals, etc... They are SO adjustable that you can actually have them so low, you ruin them. Like Nick says, just google them...plenty of Honda and other JDM forums to get info about them. I gave up on them after not finding any other Porsche enthusiast using them and you can get a used set of popular coilovers for the same price or even way less. They might be better now, but I'm happy with my $1300 used
PSS-9's for what I do.
PSS-9's for what I do.
#21
02-25-2011, 05:42 PM
It is funny you mention them being too adjustable. Several years ago I was looking into H&R coilovers for my S4. Their were tons of people blowing front shocks on them. H&R was accusing the owners of running them too low. With gas/fluid shocks you can lower a shock outside of it's intended dampening range. This can cause the piston to contact the barrier that separates the nitrogen from the fluid and other bad things. H&Rs are a huge manufacturer in the euro market. They have some nice setups. I have seen countless people running Hondas soo slammed that the front bumper drags. This suggests the possibility of running the K-Sports outside the intended use. The issue is that K-sport is gonna blame the installation and use. The customers are gonna blame quality. The only way to tell is to run them and install them the way they are intended to be. If they suck they suck. They may have fixed their prior issues. It is impossible to tell without trying them.
#22
02-25-2011, 07:23 PM
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bloomingdale, IL
Posts: 507
Rep Power: 47 
Thanks VAGscum and ttboost, that makes sense. I am looking for a pair of coilover used or new if anyone wants to sell me a set for $1300. However, the K_sport seem to be as low at $975 shipped. Hard to beat that. I know I'm not a hardcore tracker so they may be fine for me.
#23
02-25-2011, 07:50 PM
Thanks VAGscum and ttboost, that makes sense. I am looking for a pair of coilover used or new if anyone wants to sell me a set for $1300. However, the K_sport seem to be as low at $975 shipped. Hard to beat that. I know I'm not a hardcore tracker so they may be fine for me.
#26
02-26-2011, 02:55 AM
Hehe i should have anticipated this, even that i included a large 
its called irony we have it alot up here in the dark parts of the world ..... and thats refering to the lack of sunligt nothing else so dont get any ideas .
I actually have a setup of D2 coils which is the same as K-sports but not on my P-car i have also had JRZ,JIC's,Öhlins,HKS, Bilsteins etc. on the different cars i owned during the years.
its called irony we have it alot up here in the dark parts of the world ..... and thats refering to the lack of sunligt nothing else so dont get any ideas
.I actually have a setup of D2 coils which is the same as K-sports but not on my P-car i have also had JRZ,JIC's,Öhlins,HKS, Bilsteins etc. on the different cars i owned during the years.
I figured why not try them out since I am doing all the work - just the cost of the parts. I purchased my set from a board member who got frustrated because it was going to cost around $1200 to install them. His shop was not sure how to install them, so he decided to let them go. I spoke with another board member that has this same setup that was installed by his shop, and he loves them. This particular setup is designed for the street, but I would imagine can hold up at the track. They have a different set of coilovers that are geared for the track. If I am happy with these, then I might try out the track version on the 996tt track car build I have planned.
I will give you guys some real world feed back in order to avoid any "theories" or "horror" stories that have no basis. K-sports have been used on the JDM scene for many years and are popular in the drifting scene. They did not just pop out of nowhere and claim to be the best. It is my understanding that one of the higher ups in the company is a Porsche fanatic and are starting to break into the Euro market. It is just a matter for tuning the components for the Euro cars - not quality control or manufacturing processes. K-sport had some issues early in their manufacturing many years ago, but not now. Their failure rate is no different than Bilstein, Koni, or other higher end units. Trust me, the Motons/Ohlins are not the most reliable and maintenance free units.
Do I know how they will perform? I will soon find out. I am just trying to be open-minded because Taiwanese manufacturing is very close to the level of the Japanese, if not the same now.
I will give you guys some real world feed back in order to avoid any "theories" or "horror" stories that have no basis. K-sports have been used on the JDM scene for many years and are popular in the drifting scene. They did not just pop out of nowhere and claim to be the best. It is my understanding that one of the higher ups in the company is a Porsche fanatic and are starting to break into the Euro market. It is just a matter for tuning the components for the Euro cars - not quality control or manufacturing processes. K-sport had some issues early in their manufacturing many years ago, but not now. Their failure rate is no different than Bilstein, Koni, or other higher end units. Trust me, the Motons/Ohlins are not the most reliable and maintenance free units.
Do I know how they will perform? I will soon find out. I am just trying to be open-minded because Taiwanese manufacturing is very close to the level of the Japanese, if not the same now.
#27
02-26-2011, 06:08 AM
It is funny you mention them being too adjustable. Several years ago I was looking into H&R coilovers for my S4. Their were tons of people blowing front shocks on them. H&R was accusing the owners of running them too low. With gas/fluid shocks you can lower a shock outside of it's intended dampening range. This can cause the piston to contact the barrier that separates the nitrogen from the fluid and other bad things. H&Rs are a huge manufacturer in the euro market. They have some nice setups. I have seen countless people running Hondas soo slammed that the front bumper drags. This suggests the possibility of running the K-Sports outside the intended use. The issue is that K-sport is gonna blame the installation and use. The customers are gonna blame quality. The only way to tell is to run them and install them the way they are intended to be. If they suck they suck. They may have fixed their prior issues. It is impossible to tell without trying them.
#28
02-26-2011, 06:12 AM
That is true for coilovers that have height adjustment which interferes with the dampening abilities. The K-sport, at least for the 996, has height adjustment independent of the travel of the piston in the shock. Height adjustment is set by lengthening the strut/shock via the sleeve which fits into the knuckle. The spring has a different perch which is actually stationary, regardless of the height adjustment.
#29
02-26-2011, 06:41 AM
So, the K-sport shock is in a state of zero compression when height is manipulated. The two rings which support the spring perch are only tightened enough to make sure it does not move. I did this by hand and then locked in the two orange rings wit the supplied wrenches. You can see the threads for adjustment along the whole body of the strut/shock which allows for separate adjustment for each. Also, the sway bar link attachments points are fully adjustable. They are height adjustable on the the rear, as well as able to be locked in within 360 degrees on both front and rear. This is nice because I was able to precisely line up the link with the sway bar mounting point. I am using Eibach adjustable bars in the stiffest setting, so I was able to line it up perfectly with that hole. This allows the link to perform in the normal range of motion on the Y-axis, instead of at an angle like some aftermarket shocks which force the end link to perform on two axes. This will certainly help increase the life expectancy of the end link, as well as maintain the proper geometry.
Last edited by mmm635; 02-26-2011 at 06:45 AM.
#30
02-26-2011, 07:33 AM
That is true for coilovers that have height adjustment which interferes with the dampening abilities. The K-sport, at least for the 996, has height adjustment independent of the travel of the piston in the shock. Height adjustment is set by lengthening the strut/shock via the sleeve which fits into the knuckle. The spring has a different perch which is actually stationary, regardless of the height adjustment.
FWIW, I had a few friends with the B5 S4 Koni racing coilovers double adjustable setups that had blown shocks from street use. The same with KWs and H&Rs. You rarely hear people trash those manufacturers, but it can happen to any manufacturer. My suggestion is to run them exactly within the parameters that K-sport suggests so that the test of this setup is not following by the questions I mentioned above.