New KW V2's installed!

[Dupie24]

I installed the KW V2's this Saturday. I also installed Hotchkis front and rear sway bars. I'm telling you, this system is freaking awesome!
The car handles like its on rails. It is absolutely the best performance upgrade we have done, the most expensive, but most definitely worth the money. I cannot describe how the car feels now, others have very eloquent posts of the KW's. I am now a believer.
Many thanks to all who advised me on the settings, Cam I think you nailed it, I need it to settle 1/2" or more in the rear to get where I want it. I'll adjust if necessary, it wont be as much work as I though it would be to adjust the rears.
Also thanks to lmbcfls for the teflon tape trick, I wrapped the sway bars with teflon tape where the bushings ride and grease the living daylights out of em, should solve any squeak problems.
Here are a few pics. The whole install took 5 hours, with 1/2 hour of "union breaks" and 45 min messing with the reinstall of the exhaust. Possible to do this job in 3.5 or 4 hours. I had one other person helping me, my employee at the shop who is real good with suspension work.
Before pic, sorry about the poor lighting, took this pic before putting on the lift, it was about 6:30 in the morning.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/bl75cc/Lowering%20Install%204-7/IMG_8617.jpg

Here is the exhaust system out. I would have took more pictures, but the camera was on the front seat, car was in the air, hands were very dirty, etc.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/bl75cc/Lowering%20Install%204-7/IMG_8625.jpg

This is the left rear installed.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/bl75cc/Lowering%20Install%204-7/IMG_8620.jpg

This is the left front installed
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/bl75cc/Lowering%20Install%204-7/IMG_8621.jpg

This is after the install, drove the car about 5 blocks and then pulled back to where the before pic was taken earlier in the morning.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/bl75cc/Lowering%20Install%204-7/IMG_8626.jpg

This is at the beach this morning, took a early morning drive before church. I could not believe the handling, fell in love with the car all over again.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/bl75cc/Lowering%20Install%204-7/IMG_8639.jpg

In the driveway
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/bl75cc/Lowering%20Install%204-7/IMG_8659.jpg

Just had to put one of the KW stickers that came with the kit on :wink:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/bl75cc/Lowering%20Install%204-7/IMG_8645.jpg

Thank you LXForums!! You're the greatest!! The people here have made our dreams come true!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v646/bl75cc/Lowering%20Install%204-7/IMG_8648.jpg

[CoolVanilla]

BEAUTIFUL! Aint they awesome?? Glad to say; welcome to the club Dup!!!

[fatchance]

Good job Dup, I've had that system for almost 2 years now, and it is awesome. The car looks great, say hi to Tina for me.

[blackmagnum06]

thats looks badas!! i wanted this setup but dont have the cash money

[Dupie24]

BEAUTIFUL! Aint they awesome?? Glad to say; welcome to the club Dup!!!
Thanks CV! This club is awesome!

Good job Dup, I've had that system for almost 2 years now, and it is awesome. The car looks great, say hi to Tina for me.
Thanks FC! Tina says hello!

thats looks badas!! i wanted this setup but dont have the cash money
Thanks! Go beg, borrow or steal the money dude!

[Bandit]

Looks fantastic! Mine are on the way and I can't wait to install them.

[blackmagnum06]

Thanks! Go beg, borrow or steal the money dude![/quote]

im begging you let me borrow some money!!! lol

how much were they?

[Dupie24]

Thanks! Go beg, borrow or steal the money dude!

im begging you let me borrow some money!!! lol

how much were they?[/QUOTE]

If I had any left I would let ya borrow it!
Got a really good deal from Jason at HHP. It was a group buy, I'll pm you the price

[blackmagnum06]

yeah sure you wood lol cool thanks

[x_HAWAII RT]

dupie,
I haven't installed my V2s yet but wondering why you took off the exhaust? was it for the hotchkis swaybars? Lookin' good BTW.

[LowGo]

That sure does look good! :rock: Next time we meet, we'll have to trade cars for a little jaunt. :wink: I've always been curious about the difference in handling between these and air suspension. Glad you're happy with them.

[COLORADOMAGNUM]

Glad you like them. I've had mine for over a year and still love them. Mine only settled about 1/16" after install, barely noticeable settling.

[MrHemi2U]

Nice job, I did my AWD a few weeks ago and love it.

[36 chambers]

Yep I Love Mine!!!!!!

[Cam]

Very cool Bob, looking good man. :thumbs_u:







BTW brother, when I said you need to drop the exhaust, I meant just take the rear hangers loose............damn brudder..........you funnny!!. :doh:


Tell that darling Ms. Tina I said hi! :mrgreen:

[Dupie24]

dupie,
I haven't installed my V2s yet but wondering why you took off the exhaust? was it for the hotchkis swaybars? Lookin' good BTW.
I took the exhaust off to lower the cradle enough to put the sway bars in. You can put the springs and shocks in without lowering the cradle, the article in the knowledge base shows removing the lower arm inner bolt and lowering the arm with a floor jack.
Lowering the cradle was not that much work, just gotta be careful not to overstretch anything. Service manual will have you taking the fill pipe, park brake cables out of the way. I found the gas fill pipe cleared no problem and the park brake cables moved enough without disconnecting.
I don't know how much difference the rear sway bar makes, its not a whole lot bigger than the stock one, but it is bigger. The springs just fall out when you lower the cradle. Haven't tried the lower arm method, but may have to to adjust the rears down a little. HTH

[Cam]

Give the springs a few hundred miles to settle first before you do that. You may be suprised.

[Dupie24]

That sure does look good! :rock: Next time we meet, we'll have to trade cars for a little jaunt. :wink: I've always been curious about the difference in handling between these and air suspension. Glad you're happy with them.
I'd like to drive an AWD, you got a deal! I love these!!:latchon:
Glad you like them. I've had mine for over a year and still love them. Mine only settled about 1/16" after install, barely noticeable settling.
Mine have settled 3/8" so far, would like them to go another 3/8, we'll see what happens.

Nice job, I did my AWD a few weeks ago and love it.
Thanks, it was fun

Very cool Bob, looking good man. :thumbs_u:







BTW brother, when I said you need to drop the exhaust, I meant just take the rear hangers loose............damn brudder..........you funnny!!. :doh:


Tell that darling Ms. Tina I said hi! :mrgreen:
Hey man, it was way to easy to remove the whole system and get it the f out of the way. Getting it back in was the biggest bitch of the whole job! Damn exhaust was low and too far to the front when we put it back in, turned out left side at manifold was not straight:blam: , all went perfect after that. I swear, this job can be done in 3 hours if you know what your doing. :wink:
Tina says "HI CAM", I think she wants to drive your car again. :racing:

[Dupie24]

Give the springs a few hundred miles to settle first before you do that. You may be suprised.
Plus I don't want it so low I can't put a load in it..... It is a station wagon!

[Tmagnum]

It is a station wagon!


:doh: No, No, No it's a Sport Wagon, don't ever say the other word again.

This is for fc :Na_Na_Na_Na: .

And glad you joined the KW club, I absolutley love mine also.

See you guys soon! :beerchug:

[hops23]

Good deal. I've had mine in for a week. Hoping the rears settle more too.

[Simans82]

Lookin' good! :thumbs_u:

[bskylerj]

I am glad youposted this. I bought the coil overs and hotchkis sways from Jason as well. I need to install mine now as they came in last week with all of the other items I ordered. Did you have to pull the exhaust off all the way up? I guess it would not matter as I have the high flow cats and headers to put on. Looks like it is going to be a long weekend...

[LowGo]

I'd like to drive an AWD, you got a deal! I love these!!:latchon:



Great! A deal it is. When ya coming up? :wink:

[x_HAWAII RT]

I took the exhaust off to lower the cradle enough to put the sway bars in. You can put the springs and shocks in without lowering the cradle, the article in the knowledge base shows removing the lower arm inner bolt and lowering the arm with a floor jack.
Lowering the cradle was not that much work, just gotta be careful not to overstretch anything. Service manual will have you taking the fill pipe, park brake cables out of the way. I found the gas fill pipe cleared no problem and the park brake cables moved enough without disconnecting.
I don't know how much difference the rear sway bar makes, its not a whole lot bigger than the stock one, but it is bigger. The springs just fall out when you lower the cradle. Haven't tried the lower arm method, but may have to to adjust the rears down a little. HTH

thanks, that was what i was thinking. I didn't buy the sway bars. I have lowered my Dakota RT with 3 different suspension systems,3 seperate times. so doing the magnum shouldn't be too bad, I just dont have the time or want to do it. I'll have it done by a shop.....thanks for your reply

[Dupie24]

Great! A deal it is. When ya coming up? :wink:
Possibly this summer again! Tina would like to drive back up there again, heck if it was up to her we would be living up there! We'll keep all ya Norwesters informed.:thumbs_u:

[Dupie24]

I am glad youposted this. I bought the coil overs and hotchkis sways from Jason as well. I need to install mine now as they came in last week with all of the other items I ordered. Did you have to pull the exhaust off all the way up? I guess it would not matter as I have the high flow cats and headers to put on. Looks like it is going to be a long weekend...
Man, that sounds like a loooong weekend. Although when doing the suspension I was looking at the exhaust manifolds, not to bad to remove. Hope all goes well with your install, let us know how it goes and how ya like it!

[Walt SRT8]

Dupie..........Just for the record: a few questions:

1. Who did your install?
2. What did they charge you?
3. How long did it take?
4. Did they quote you a price fisrt and stick to it?
5. Did you shop offer to ado final adjustments after spring settlement, and was this included in your estimate?
6. Are you happy with the installers?
7. Who was your installer?


I ask, as I just went thru this on a KWV2 / Hot Sway install with "My Old Installer" / Custom Shop. Needless to say, I was returned my car, unhappy.

[Dupie24]

Dupie..........Just for the record: a few questions:

1. Who did your install?
2. What did they charge you?
3. How long did it take?
4. Did they quote you a price fisrt and stick to it?
5. Did you shop offer to ado final adjustments after spring settlement, and was this included in your estimate?
6. Are you happy with the installers?
7. Who was your installer?


I ask, as I just went thru this on a KWV2 / Hot Sway install with "My Old Installer" / Custom Shop. Needless to say, I was returned my car, unhappy.
Walt,
to answer your questions:
#1 -- I did the install with the help of one of my suspension techs (I own an auto repair shop, makes installing things easy!)
#2 -- I gave my tech 200 bucks for helping me, he did most of the work, I was just a helper and instruction reader.
#3 -- We started at 7:00 am sharp and were done at 11:45. Would have been done 30 minutes earlier but we had problems aligning the exhaust system back to where it was.
#4-- No price quote, I told my tech I would give him 200 bucks for the help, he made out pretty good, 200 bucks for 4.5 hours work.
#5 -- Did not do an alignment yet, gonna give it 2 weeks before I send it out for alignment. It'll cost me 50/75 bucks to get it aligned.
#6 -- Yes!!!
#7 -- Me, myself and I and also Randy (my tech)
I know this information I just listed does not help you at all, sorry. Hotchkis did send a flier with the sway bar kit about their new installation center. Maybe they would be good? Anyways, the phone for the install center is 562-907-7757. Address is 12035 Burke St #13, Santa Fe Springs, Ca 90670. The flier says:

"Hotchkis Performance is now offering a profession installation service in Santa Fe Springs, Ca. WE offer an excellent aftermarket automotive installation, including Hotchkis Suspension as seen on TV, Performance Alignment, Brakes and much more! Order your parts from you favorite dealer now! Our shop features personal service, top quality workmanship, and great technical support"

Hope this helps,
Bob