Solution for KW Clubsport Inner Wheel Clearance Issues

[AriuSen]

Originally Posted by Hujan

For the E9x or F8x?

Link?

not sure for F8X. I called a kw rep and he said the new ones comes to perfectly ride without rubbing.

[slicer]

Originally Posted by m3SennA

not sure for F8X. I called a kw rep and he said the new ones comes to perfectly ride without rubbing.

I honestly doubt that this is the case. When I spoke with KW USA about this issue they were surprised and seemed to have no knowledge of the reduction in inner clearance. I highly doubt that within the past 6 months they went through TUV approval process for a shorter spring. I could be wrong, and maybe TUV approval wouldn't be required. I still highly doubt it. Also keep in mind that inner clearance is not an issue with OEM tire sizes. This only becomes a problem with wide wheels and tires. 275's in the front with 9.5" or 10" wheels.

[z3papa]

KW has always used proprietary springs and have discouraged folks from using Eibach, Swift or even Hyperco springs which posed less of a problem. This has not been a new issue. I did think though the CS came with different, smaller diameter springs which provided for less fitment issues.

[AriuSen]

Originally Posted by slicer

I honestly doubt that this is the case. When I spoke with KW USA about this issue they were surprised and seemed to have no knowledge of the reduction in inner clearance. I highly doubt that within the past 6 months they went through TUV approval process for a shorter spring. I could be wrong, and maybe TUV approval wouldn't be required. I still highly doubt it. Also keep in mind that inner clearance is not an issue with OEM tire sizes. This only becomes a problem with wide wheels and tires. 275's in the front with 9.5" pr 10" wheels.

Actually who told me that is the same person you installed them.

[slicer]

Originally Posted by m3SennA

Actually who told me that is the same person you installed them.

I'm sorry but I don't understand what you are saying. Are you saying that the person who installed my Eibach springs (MRF Engineering) told you this information?

[AriuSen]

Originally Posted by slicer

I'm sorry but I don't understand what you are saying. Are you saying that the person who installed my Eibach springs (MRF Engineering) told you this information?

yeap. just bought the kw from him.

[M3ANMACHINE]

I need to get this swap done.. I'm tired of running spacers up front

[E92cannon]

I have just bought Apex wheels and KW clubsports will i need a 5mm spacer to clear it?

[C2VNY]

Originally Posted by E92cannon

I have just bought Apex wheels and KW clubsports will i need a 5mm spacer to clear it?

5mm or the spring conversion man

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by m3SennA

yeap. just bought the kw from him.

Wait - we need verification on this.

Then I can just buy "stock" clubsport springs.

Man, I'm late to the party but definitely a good thread.

[M3ANMACHINE]

Originally Posted by m3SennA

yeap. just bought the kw from him.

So what's the verdict on this?

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by m3SennA

Actually who told me that is the same person you installed them.

Originally Posted by slicer

I'm sorry but I don't understand what you are saying. Are you saying that the person who installed my Eibach springs (MRF Engineering) told you this information?

A little confused here...

KW knows about the clearance issues with their coilovers now. When this thread was put up or before it, they weren't really aware of much, if at all. However, the KW springs in the front are no different in length. They simply increased the front spring rate from the 90 that it used to be.

New or old, KW clubsports will NOT work with a 18/19" wheel with a 10" width with an ET ranging in 20-25. The ideal size for KW Clubsport if a 10" wheel was needed up front would be an ET17. Even at ET19, you have the spacing of a thin feeler gauge.

m3Senna, your KW's don't rub for one simple reason: I advised you against a 10" wide wheel up front for a variety of reasons, I recommended to go 9.5 ET22 which gives decent clearance up front with Hankook RS3 tires and is lighter in comparison to a 10" wheel. RS3's do not have a rim protector and don't run wider than stated. A tire like the BFGoodrich Rival, in 275/35/18 configuration will still rub on an 18x9.5ET22 up front due to the sheer width and design of the tire. For clarification, the rub wouldn't be on the fender, it would be on the coilover itself.

Another example... an 19x10 ET25 ZCP wheel with a 275/30/19 tire simply won't bolt up, the coilover perch and spring will actually bind against the wheel. Even with a 5mm spacer, the edge of the wheel will gently graze the spring/perch depending on where it's set.

The Eibach spring conversion to the 140mm spring poses no issues and works flawlessly both on the street and the track. Travel is maintained, wheel clearance is drastically increased and can virtually work with any wheel and tire setup and fits the KW perch correctly with no excessive play or bind.

[M3 Number 86]

Back from the dead!

Why is EAS milling the Swift springs? tom @ eas

Just had a friend say that they were plug and play. Is EAS milling because of the Swift no load spring?

[M3ANMACHINE]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

Back from the dead!

Why is EAS milling the Swift springs? tom @ eas

Just had a friend say that they were plug and play. Is EAS milling because of the Swift no load spring?

Swift spring inner diameter is not plug and play to the club sport perches. They are slightly smaller which requires the perches to be slightly milled.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by M3ANMACHINE

Swift spring inner diameter is not plug and play to the club sport perches. They are slightly smaller which requires the perches to be slightly milled.

platteforme did M3senna's car.

6" swift springs 130 nm no helper spring no milling. when we called to verify the shop started laughing his ass off.

he runs 285 square on 10.5et22 wheel. wonder how that compares to 10et25.

trying to go with some springs but my car sits pretty low and I think I need more than 1" higher to clear tire.

[computadude]

I also did the Eibach spring conversion (thanks to Malek @ MRF Engineering) and now I can use my Apex EC-7 10.5" ET27 wheels with Yokohama AD08R 285/30/18 square setup.

I still need 5mm spacers to clear (see pic). It may not be the most optimal setup, but it works and there's no rubbing.

[steven_s]

Very nice. What's camber up front? 3.5+?

And this is perfect for those running x10+25 and want to run 285 square with no spacer then.

[computadude]

Originally Posted by steven_s

Very nice. What's camber up front? 3.5+?

And this is perfect for those running x10+25 and want to run 285 square with no spacer then.

2 degrees of camber.

Surprisingly it did not rub with the original KW spring (using 15mm spacers) it just looked like a pickup truck with bubble tires

[steven_s]

hm. 2 degrees only with 285? You probably aren't too too low lol

[kaiv]

I don't understand why people keep buying these coilovers if they plan to run wide tires. This clearance issue has been known for years. Why not buy something else that works and fits straight out of the box

[slicer]

Originally Posted by kaiv

I don't understand why people keep buying these coilovers if they plan to run wide tires. This clearance issue has been known for years. Why not buy something else that works and fits straight out of the box

Like what? JRZ's? Motion Control? Both cost more than KW Cubsports, even after a spring swap. They also require piecing together the kit with spring perches and camber plates from other manufacturers. I have seen some common issues with mixing parts from manufacturers. Many have had noise issues with various camber plates. How about the issues with the GC articulating rear spring perches that you had on your e46? KW's are a plug and play solution that works. Their camber plates have been flawless for me. The only problem is the front clearance.

Don't get me wrong, there are other fantastic options out there. kW Clubsports are hard to beat from a value and function perspective.

[kaiv]

Originally Posted by slicer

Like what? JRZ's? Motion Control? Both cost more than KW Cubsports, even after a spring swap. They also require piecing together the kit with spring perches and camber plates from other manufacturers. I have seen some common issues with mixing parts from manufacturers. Many have had noise issues with various camber plates. How about the issues with the GC articulating rear spring perches that you had on your e46? KW's are a plug and play solution that works. Their camber plates have been flawless for me. The only problem is the front clearance.

Don't get me wrong, there are other fantastic options out there. kW Clubsports are hard to beat from a value and function perspective.

I didn't think of the "complete plug and play" package aspect but either way you can get complete kits from both Ground Control and TC Kline, both of which are quality kits at a reasonable price. Or what about the Ohlins R&T? I have no experience with those but they seem like a solid alternative.

Either way I'm a big KW fan, have owned V2s and V3s in the past and always recommend them. It just seems that too many people are having a PITA time with this specific issue on this specific chassis. I'd probably go with something else just for simplicity's sake.