Anyone have experience with Ksport Kontrol Pro coilovers?

Hi everyone,

I'm in the market for coilovers right now for my 84 VW Rabbit GTI and I'm between a Ground Control/Koni Yellow Setup, ST Coilovers (rebranded KW V1s with lesser coating), or potentially the Ksport Kontrol Pro Coilovers.

If I had to describe my intended usage of the car it would be infrequent autocrossing and weekend driving. It won’t be a daily. I can handle a bit of a rough, somewhat noisy suspension but I’d rather not rattle out my teeth on a long drive to a car show. It still needs to be streetable. I want to stick to mods that I can reverse should I decide to as it is a generally clean, original car.

My general expectations for autocross are pretty low at this point. I don't see myself trying to be truly regionally or nationally competitive with the GTI and my real goal is just to have fun and enjoy driving the car. I want it to be built properly to handle well and be competitive in my local SCCA club in STS and I don’t see myself modifying it to the point where it’s a competitive full time track car either. It’s too clean and original to purpose it for that. I may at some point take it up to Gingerman raceway for a HPDE or 2 a year tops.

Here is a link to their specs:

Ksport Kontrol Pro Specs

So it sounds good in theory. 36 point adjustable dampening, Adjustable lower mount for height control and spring perch adjustment, and monotube shocks. For $1,200 that's a good deal.

What I'm worried about is I've read they're taking the parts bin branding approach and they're from Tiawain. Supposedly a few different components or different spring rates and the same coilovers = Ksport = BC Racing = DC2 = Megan Racing. They also only have a 1.5 yr. warranty vs. 5 like the STs. I've also read that early product (Circa 2006 launch and the few years after) had shock durability problems and lots of them ended up blown within a year.

So I'm looking to see if anyone in the motorsport community has ran these things for autocross or road racing. The specs sound good, but that doesn't matter if they are a poor quality product.

I have those on my car (they're also branded as D2 RS) and use them for pretty much the same purposes (weekend, autocross, some track and DD).

I'd recommend going with something higher quality. Factory support is spotty, shock valving is more "off/on" than "36-way" and values of "on" may vary, and they're a bit fragile. I broke the front camber plates on mine and my mechanic has seen broken coilover bodies with the same model on heavier cars.

If I could go back in time and tell myself to spend more on a good set of ISCs or KWs or something I'd do it. They'll pretty much get the job done in terms of performance but they'll become a PITA later and you'll spend the difference on repairs.

I had D2's on my Integra for a few yrs…. the ride was pretty harsh … my CRX has Koni yellows … much more livable ride (for the street)

the D2's did ok for a-x and on the track … I think the Koni's are better at both

and I second the thought that the D2's adjustability was more on/off than linear

You can often get the KSports for the $800-$900 range. They're worth that much.

They really aren't BAD, but they certainly aren't high end, and the price shows it. The Kontrol Pro is their entry level setup.

If the other two choices are similar in price, then i wouldn't bother with the KSports. If they're significantly more money, then maybe think on it more.

^ This. I have their upgraded ones. They're OK, considering my very limited options but if I had the option of Koni's/GC I would jump at that chance. The dampers themselves on the Ksports are mediocre at best. In fact, I am swapping out the rears for Koni Sports with the KSport spring/pockets.

From the evidence I've seen in the MR2 community, I'd gladly pay a few hundred dollars more for the Koni/GC or ST coilovers instead of the K-sport.

Koni/GC is your best entry level combo. Until you're willing to spend $2k+, nothing else will touch them.

Just stay away from ksport.

I got a set for my Dodge neon only because a friend of a friend bought them and then didn't need them so I took for about 40% the initial price. While they did ok for a short time, they quickly came apart with leaks. And during one race the damping started to fail and the car would bounce in uncontrolled ways.

They are not worth the money. Save up for something better or go Koni/GC.

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the feedback from the motorsport crowd instead of the "stance kids" or "mad tyte driftorz". I'm going to pass on these and probably end up with a GC/Koni setup instead.

We had KSport RRs on the ZX2 and sold them to get something that was double-adjustable. We got them custom valved and sprung and were still under $1000 direct from KSport. For what they were, they are good.

We are now using a full-custom remote reservoir set from CEIKA. They should be on the car soon...quality seems very good.

For reference, here is a shock dyno of a set of K-sports. Each shock is way different from the other.

http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?473721-K-Sport-Shock-Dyno-Results

You can't expect a $900/set of shocks to perform like a $4-6000/set. My guess is that even on basic OTS Konis and whatnot, that there will be some variation from shock to shock. I do also know that KSport had a big bump in QC/design around 2009-10. My experience was positive--they may not be great, but based on experience, they don't suck; YMMV.

FSP_ZX2 wrote: We had KSport RRs on the ZX2 and sold them to get something that was double-adjustable. We got them custom valved and sprung and were still under $1000 direct from KSport. For what they were, they are good. We are now using a full-custom remote reservoir set from CEIKA. They should be on the car soon...quality seems very good.

Do they build them for ANYTHING? If so.....

Another option is buying used KSports and sending them out to F.E.A.L. They do great work.

Bobzilla wrote:

FSP_ZX2 wrote: We had KSport RRs on the ZX2 and sold them to get something that was double-adjustable. We got them custom valved and sprung and were still under $1000 direct from KSport. For what they were, they are good. We are now using a full-custom remote reservoir set from CEIKA. They should be on the car soon...quality seems very good.

Do they build them for ANYTHING? If so.....

As far as I know...

Friends don't let friends roll on Chinese coilovers, just like how friends don't let friends roll on Rotas.

I did not have any problems with KSport, but that said, Ceika a Hong Kong Corporation run by a Frenchman (named Cedric Milharo), using Japanese and EU components which are assembled in Taiwan. The experience with them was truly custom and to this point I am 100% impressed. The parts look fabulous and the hardware is excellent.

In reply to Bobzilla:

http://ceikaperformance.com/Coilover-Applications.html

93gsxturbo wrote: Friends don't let friends roll on Chinese coilovers, just like how friends don't let friends roll on Rotas.

Sometimes that's all that's available, and in that instance, the terrorists win, but at least i get coilovers.