Gravel Coilover Option for 08+ owners!

[Guero]

As I was stumbling through the internet, I found something quite intriguing! Decided it would be a good share for us Dirty 3G owners.

Check out the Vehicle Applications list! (http://www.ksportusa.com/asp/coilovers_detail.asp?product_id=cd03) I think I found one of the missing pieces to my WTB list! :headbang:

Here is a review from NASIOC! (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1211484) The K-Sport company isn't a big name in suspension components, but after researching for most of the morning I decided they are worth the $1,300 price tag. Make some DIY dust boots and they should be good to go. I bet you can lower about an inch, or lift two and a half inches with these. They have pillowball mounts front and rear too for camber adjustment.

[dunkinuts]

let me know when you find out about the lifting. Ksport is a good product but not the best. Thanks for the find. Last time I looked they didn't offer anything so it is good we are making progress.

[omahasubaru]

AST Suspension offers Rally coilovers in fitments for all subarus and many other makes/models. Guess it depends on your budget.

Retail pricing can be seen here : http://tarsust.com/docs/AST_Retail_Pricing_2010.pdf
- Look at AST_5100_RALLY and AST_5300_RALLY

I'm planning to give a set of rally 5100's a try or perhaps see about having them do rally 5200's to save me some $$, but give me at least one bump adjustment.

Thanks - Jon

[Guero]

Thanks, that's an awesome find man! I'll be looking over their site tonight at work.

I think I've pretty much decided against K-sport at this point. I really wanted Tein Type HGs, but I emailed Tein about it and they said the closest thing to expect is the Mono Flex Coilovers. These look pretty promising, expensive but the quality shows.

[MTM Motorsports]

D2 also makes rally coilovers.

http://www.d2racing.com/content/products/rally

[dunkinuts]

^^ D2 is apart of Ksport if i am not mistaken.

[Guero]

They're practically the same company, I think the difference is where they are assembled.

[kickniteasy]

anyone know of anyone with these? I'm interested to see the lowering/raising specs on an 08+

[Tarmac_GR_STI]

intrested too, looking for some good coilovers for my STI.

I know what street coilovers I want, but gravel not so sure; I also don't want to spend a ton for them. $2000 would be pretty reasonable for gravel coilovers.

[Moby45]

what would be a good coilover for your harder packed areas mixed with tarmac though?

[Pretendingtowork]

I probably can't have my cake and eat it too, but is there any set up that is good for a rally x weekend, that can be adjusted for the street and also used for a track day?

[CpuZapper]

A set of these was just delivered to my house earlier today. I do a lot of work in rally, as an organizer, volunteer, competitor, etc. While I have my own stage car (currently a jackstand racer) my '08 Wagon sees quite a bit of gravel at various events, and really needs new struts. I originally looked at Hotbits, but to get the level of features I wanted, the price quickly climbed into the $2-3k range (Big thanks to Doug at Davenport Racing who spent a lot of time answering all my questions!). I also looked at the new non-adjustable RS&SPs, but they were also a bit higher priced than I wanted to spend considering I don't actively compete with this car. I figured why not give these a try and see how they hold up.

The spring rate is fairly mellow, and about where I was planning on going if I ended up with a dedicated road coilover. They're still in the box, so it'll be a bit before I can post impressions, but I hope to put them on this weekend.

Initially I too was wary of their reputation - I used to have a set on my MK1 MR2 back around 2006. They were ok, but wore out quickly. I have been told by multiple people that since 2008, there has been a complete restructuring of the company, as well as a major change in manufacturing.

I was only able to track down one person actively competing with them - I asked Mark Jennings-Bates of Prescribed Burn Rally what he thought of the KSports and this was his reply:
Hi Dylan, I would highly recommend the KSports. In terms of a gravel rally suspension there has been no noticeable difference in my pace from 50mm DMS to the switch to KSports and the KSports have been durable.

The guys there are very keen to listen to suggestions for improvements and so far I have been impressed. They are not as adjustable as the DMS but the settings they have seem to work fine between soft for snow and hard for gravel. The adjustments do not allow for separate bump and rebound rather one graduated adjustment for both.

Craig at www.Xrossmotorsports.ca (http://www.xrossmotorsports.ca/) is doing a great job selling the units too.

Kind regards

Mark JBI then got in touch with Craig and asked his opinion of them.

I have being involved with Mark the past 2 years with his KSport Dampers and can also attest to the durability I've seen him put them through. With that being said these are not exactly $10K comparable PRO dampers, but a very good example of value for what you can get now days in an off road damper. Mark is a very competitive driver in the Western Canadian Championship and is in the top of the field for stage times at each event. They have never seized up or really given any problems. and have plenty of adjustment.

Ksport has come a long ways in the past few years, and have had to compensate for the past poor performing offerings. Heavier gauge steel mounting points used and larger pistons (50mm same as DMS) and better anodizing to protect against rust. All of these have lead to a damper of better quality than the pricing would suggest. KSport wants to be a major choice for motor sports enthusiasts.The biggest complaint I had heard about was the struts themselves blowing out or leaking, as well as the single strut dyno chart that has been making its rounds of the internet since 2006. When I asked KSport about it directly, this was an excerpt of their reply:

The dyno charts on the web are all wrong and all old so you are correct that reading into old charts does no good. Also there was a line change in late 2008. All valving, seals, shock bodies, and most parts were changed or modified to deal with some bad shocks we got in late 2007-early 2008 that were chrome and single seals on top. All the new shocks are black, and double sealed and we have less than 1% fail rate for our coilovers. They also mentioned that while the struts are not rebuildable, the inserts are replaceable and can be had for around $200 each.

Specs:
Shock length- F:310mm, R:220mm (threaded part)
travel length (stroke)-F:170mm, R:125mm
Spring rate: F: 5.1kg/mm, R:6.1kg/mm
Spring length: F: 250mm, R:235mm
Helper Springs (Y/N)- Front: Yes, Rear: Yes
Inverted (y/n)-Front: Yes, Rear: No
Shock diameter (50/55mm)?- F:M55 R:M50

I'll post more, when I actually have some useful insight on them, rather than my reasoning for purchasing. :thumbsup:

[Thresham]

Any new insight? I too am interested in these coilovers right now.

[Pretendingtowork]

Thresham, check these out...the back have threaded collars and in the near future he will offer a kit for the fronts to be height adjustable too. I have these on my car and love them. They are mated to King Springs and Odi at Feal custom valved them for me for the dirt.

http://www.rallyracingsuspension.com/

[Thresham]

Cool! A local company too, I'll definitely be keeping them in mind! Thanks!

[Vaughn Performance]

Cool! A local company too, I'll definitely be keeping them in mind! Thanks!

The set up Thomas is running is going to be sweet for 08+ WRX folks looking for a good RallyX set up.

Thresham are you still in a STi or are you in a 08+ WRX? If you're still in the STi a good set up for RallyX for you would be rebuilding/revalving your STi struts for gravel running King springs and group N tops.

I'm running 04 STi take off's and the same set up on my wagon: http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24649 Shoot me a PM if you want, I can help you get something sorted.

-Anthony

[Pretendingtowork]

Anthony at VP is the man btw. Like he said he got me all sorted and set. Talk to him for any suspension needs.

[lonely-sushi]

^^ D2 is apart of Ksport if i am not mistaken.

Technically Ksport is apart of D2 :)
D2's factory is a few blocks down where I live and was regularly involved in the local (Taiwan) rallies until this year when they switched their focus to circuit racing (since Taiwan just had their first real race track built). Indeed they have come a long way to improve to where they are today.

I can try to find out more info when I am at the track with those guys too if needed ;)

Our driver really likes the coilover from Racing Logic when he races in China (same series as David Higgin before he switched to Subaru USA). Not sure their availability in USA though...but the owner of RL lives close to me too (Taiwan is really not that big hah), I know they sell pretty well in Aus, but ill find out what their distribution channel is like in the US too and get more info on their coilovers (plan on using theirs for my own build too). http://racing-logic.com/product.php