Coilover suspension options: QA1 -vs- KW

[FABombjoy]

Two full coilover options for our cars. What a time to be alive!

I figure it's a long shot as there's been almost no discussion on the KW system, but does anyone have experience with both? Price is within a few hundred of each other. The QA1 looks like it might be more street driving friendly and easier to adjust.

[Josh]

Clint was researching the KWs

I can't wait to try out the QA1s (drivestainless kit) on 2022

[vwdmc16]

I wasn't able to find that much about the KWs, would have to just pony up and buy a kit. Maybe next year, I've been happy with my custom Koni set up but it has its limits.

One thing bad I've heard about them is they use plastic collars for the spring height, it has its pluses and minuses, I have only experience with aluminum on aluminum coil over collars. Got to keep it all clean regardless.


What sort of ride are you after?

[FABombjoy]

I'm after something with more height adjustment than Spax. Higher spring rate than stock but not a track suspension. Quality is a must. The full on pipe dream would include remote damper adjustment.

[vwdmc16]

Can't speak from experience but I'd bet the KWs are the ticket.

[Chris 16409]

At DCS this year Wolfgang (from the DeLorean World Tour) talked about what they used on their world tour cars. He used KW coil overs on their tour cars and he said he has a variant for regular stock cars.

[FABombjoy]

I talked with him briefly about them. I couldn't get a positive read on how the KW would be on rougher Michigan roads.

[powerline84]

I cant get the Qa1s dialled quite where I want them. When I drove the car on the factory Qa1 neutral settings front end was way to bounsy . Then I adjusted the rebound to what drive stainless recommended and it's to stiff. I have to keep messing with it but I wouldn't describe the qa1s as a nice ride if your looking for comfort. Getting the car aligned again this weekend but I am not happy with the way the car drives currently . Always on the hunt for greatness in Delorean suspension Engineeringlol.

I have nos uppers, delorean go aluminum lowers. Toby's poly sway bushings, regular new bushings on the rest of the car, and Ed's suspension brackets, plus midwest front sway bar.

I'll report how she drives after an alignment on Saturday as I measured the alignment the last shop did and its shit
That in itself will make a car drive like crap.

[FABombjoy]

Let me know what you think for sure.

I still feel like the real missing piece is a rear anti roll bar. I’m willing to install even the crappy addco bar but they’re NLA.

[mark w]

Grady is running the KWs on his green car as a trial.

I am running QA1's Proma Star adjustable shocks but I have all custom suspension using shorter shocks and different spring rates due to the position of the shock mounts on my car. Mine is setup stiff but comfortable.

[steve]

+1 for the QA1 transformed 20069 now drivable at speed.

[powerline84]

updated my results. see my build thread for my opinion when considering coilovers for the car.

[alker]

I have a KW from Wolfgang and I know several D owners in Germany that have KW suspension too. I recently drove a stock D and I felt like in stone age. You can adjust the KW how "hard" it is and I use the most "soft" option possible and it drives excellent even on not so good roads. I drove 125mph on german highways without issues or with 88mph in a curve you'd not do with stock suspension. Wolfgang has adjusted the "normal" KW to the needs of a D and he did a great job.

[BABIS]

I have just bought a KW kit. I have seen spax avo and protech shocks before and all I can say is that these KW shocks are really well made.
I thought that the purple cups were stoppers for the springs, but I discovered that the springs will seat on the shock tower as the factory setup. So to my best knowledge the only "true coilover" kit for the delorean car is the one sold by DPI..

https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1280x1024q90/921/ugWGKd.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1280x1024q90/921/V7Tii7.jpg
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/1280x1024q90/923/e1A5oS.jpg

[eight8toy]

Good thing those purple rings are removable, they would never fit in the front upper mounts. That kit looks nice though, great to see other options available for our cars.

I have DPI's setup with their LCAs, it's excellent.

[Riley88]

Bumping an old thread. I just installed dpi's front and rear kit with QA1's. I am used to coilovers in my miata. So i set up the rear with 15 of 18 and the front 12 of 18 for stiffness and its almost undriveable because its so stiff on these shit VA roads. Anyone with this kit live in an area with shit roads? What ya running your qa1's at?

[82DMC12]

Bumping an old thread. I just installed dpi's front and rear kit with QA1's. I am used to coilovers in my miata. So i set up the rear with 15 of 18 and the front 12 of 18 for stiffness and its almost undriveable because its so stiff on these shit VA roads. Anyone with this kit live in an area with shit roads? What ya running your qa1's at?

Much lower than that, I'm at like 4 in the front and 6 in the rear. Also DPI full front and rear kit.

[Riley88]

Much lower than that, I'm at like 4 in the front and 6 in the rear. Also DPI full front and rear kit.
Looks like i need to adjust mine, thank you

[Josh]

The QA1s are used on other applications, most of them heavier than our cars. You have to have them at the bottom end of their adjustment to have a somewhat "comfortable" driving experience.
The KW's are designed specifically for our cars so the entire range is usable.

I have run both of these setups and by far the KWs are the winner, however either coilover is much better than a shock/spring setup.