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Over the past few months, I've had Ksports installed in my 01 EX Coupe. There have been ups and downs, but I wanted to share my general experience both with the product itself and the company.

Edit: I recently contacted JLB, who also contacted Ksport, according to them, this is how the product is designed because it only happens at sharp extremes of the wheel being turned. His explanation made sense, in that OEM top mounts have bearings, but these do not, so it makes sense that the spring would have to turn under pressure.

I guess it is the norm, and part of having coilovers. Oh well, at least I know now.

Zach

 
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Thank you for this right up Zach. The product seemed great quality but apparently some issues need to be worked out. Do these have have pillowball mounts by any chance?

 
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Yeah they do, all aluminum. The front has camber adjustment mounts also.

 
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The K-Sport coilovers are meant to be more of a "track" suspension than street, like the Tein SS. So, having a rougher ride is not unusual.

However, in reguards to the issue you have with your suspension popping, i think the problem is yor top mounts. i'm not sure if K-Sports come with any, but you may have to use the stock top mounts off a '01 civic. this is a common issue amongst many people who have had coilovers, and this seems to be the remedy.

 
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They do come with them, and I've carefully inspected them and greased them also. Point is, I followed the directions, and they aren't working. I'm just at the point where I can't keep trying things.

 
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I would dispute that. They may try and promote it as a "track suspension" but given that their dampers adjust bump and rebound with one **** and the spring rates offered... I would say that they are just building a part that satisfies what most tuners think that a performance suspension should feel like. Just like 90% of the other "coilover" manufactures out there.

 
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I think its a common issue with all coilovers to be honest. Mine are like that. The front drivers coilover basically unscrewed itself 2.5 inches out the bottom part of the coilover. I'm down at college, and broke, so its rather inconvienent to drive 110 miles back home to fix anything. I had to the other day- got everything torqued down really good and used some lock tight. Hopefully it holds. I compressed the spring a little more by using the collars, and it eliminated most of the popping and some creeking at low speeds. Everytime I adjust them they start popping again. Coilovers are a PITA, but it comes with the purchase. I wouldnt hold it aginst Ksport. Pick up some lock tight, get everything perfect, drive around for two weeks. double check everything. Then get an alignment. I got my first one, and was very unsatisfied with it. I readjusted things that came loose after a few days of the alignment- that they failed to mention to me when I went for my allignments. Point is, coilovers take a while to get broken in.

 
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Yeah, I don't know, maybe it was just a bad experience, but either way, I want people to know. I've never heard it described as "the norm" for coilovers before or after I bought them, and I still don't think it's acceptable. Even if it is the norm, at the least companies should be making this known.

Thanks for your input Triz.

 
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I don't think it's the norm at all.

I've been running the Tein SS setup for three years now. I did have some spring "Tong!" for a little while after adjusting them once, but after I took them off, degreased, cleaned, and re-greased them I haven't had the problem since. That was in spring of 2006.

 
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Good to know, thanks man.

 
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I kind of have to disagree with your opinions on ksport coilovers. I have had mine on my 04 ex coupe for 5 months now, and can only rave about this suspension. I had the popping noise within the 1st week and rather than taking the struts apart to replace the washers I simply put lithium grease between both metal washers and its was gone and has been gone, as far as ride quality if its too stiff then order custom spring rates which ksport offers at a decent price.also if you tires went bald that quick your toe was way out which happens when you install any suspension with pillowball camber plates, and needs to be adjusted immediately after install. All in all I paid under a grand CDN with the exchange rate at the time and couldn't be happier

 
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oh ya forgot to mention just added front and rear upper strut bars and rear lower tie bar, lowered with about a half finger gap all the way around on 215/35/18, these are a must with full coilovers i swear its a night and day difference.

 
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I've been having trouble with mine too, and i cant get them to return my calls. They said they would call me in 15 minutes, i called them back two hours later and they would call me back in 30 minutes and once again never called me back. I want to see if i could get my money back from them.

 
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very helpful insight +1 for you!

 
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so i have tein basic...and i have these for a good year. everytime i drive on the freeway, i would hear clickin sounds everytime i hit a small bump or what not. i'm pretty sure the sound is coming from the front. so can anyone go into detail where to use lithium grease? or solve the problem w/o taking the coilover out.

T.I.A. sry for thread jackin

 
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yep! thanks for the insight!

 
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I have these coilovers and LCA's on my 03 civic sdn now for about 8 months. I have had the coilovers make noise and then stop several times. Before you completely blame the product there are several things that you must take into consideration.
Since these have pillow mounts you must find an experienced shop that can properly align your car. This is the primary reason for noise. I had took mine to 4 different shops before I found a shop that really knew what they were doing.
Camber kits-yes all civic need them. I know you can do the washer method and its supposed to help, but stop being naive and buy camber kits for the front and rear.
How old are your wheel bearings? If your around 100k miles they are probably going to break when you lower it because you have changed the weight transfer of the car.
Now if all of the above have been taken care of its time to blame the product. I have felt a few defects of these coilovers. They should have nylon inserts which would keep the springs from binding when turning from one extreme to the other. Fortunately these are easy to make and cost little to nothing and are only needed for the front. Next the rear spring rates are way too soft. If I load up the trunk it sags and if i have 2 or 3 people the rear drops about 1.5-2"s which is unacceptable. I did call ksport and the reason they send the soft spring rates is because people complain about the back end being stiff with the harsher spring rates. Stock comes with an 8, they recommended an 11 or 12. Every time I have called they have been very willing to help. They exchanged my rear springs for free. I hope this helps all future buyers. I still highly recommend this product. I have owned the gc and teins in the past on other cars and feel that this product is comparable to both.

 
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I've had ksport on since Jan, and never had any problems other than the fact they are way to soft.
IMO its a good product....just need stiffer springs.

 
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if you want stiffer springs call them and theyll ship them to you for free.

 
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really never knew that..
I'll have to call and find out

 
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i highly recommend the lca's too they look sexy. also they have a non greaseable ball mount similiar to the pillow ball mount of the shocks that allow for all ride heights.