Quote:
Originally Posted by M3ANMACHINE
Thanks for the info. The lack of warranty on the CS leads me to think that they probably don't have the longevity of the other KW's with warranties...
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The ClubSport dampers are sold with the expectation that they will be used on a race track, and so a warranty is not offered due to the potentially unpredictable conditions of racing. The internal materials and construction between ClubSport and V3 are the same, and their potential for durability is similar. The intended use is simply drastically different, and so the approach on warranty coverage is different.
Failure rate really does depend on use, whether the damper is a Koni, KW, Ohlins, Moton, etc... Difficult conditions can damage a damper more quickly than a clean and low stress operating environment.
With that said, many of IND's Portfolio projects have had ClubSports installed since 2009, and have not rebuilt with many miles of mixed street/track use.
Our Gold Rush Portfolio car is one of the earlier applications of the KW ClubSport kit that I can recall. This car still has the original suspension kit installed with no drop in performance:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=278609
Additionally, not all failed dampers behave the same way. While some will leak fluid and show visible signs of failure, other dampers in need of a rebuild will exhibit only subtle differences in behavior, that are most easily detected on a shock dyno. Unfortunately most street/track enthusiasts will not remove their suspension yearly for an inspection and dyno, so typically the "needs a rebuild" qualifier refers to an essentially catastrophic failure.
I know none of the above is a clear, easy to understand numerical answer, but unfortunately when it comes to damper wear on street cars that do not see regular damper service intervals there is a bit of a grey area.