FK Automotive Coilover System
The Search for Enhanced Handling
Suspension tuning is considered by many to be a “black art.” That is probably not far from the truth. There are quite a few variables that need to work in harmony to produce a performance-oriented, yet compliant, suspension system. The stock SVT Focus benefits from what is probably (literally) hundreds of hours of tuning by highly trained suspension engineers.
So, it was with a bit of trepidation that I decided that I would look into what alternatives were available. As a baseline, the stock car handles extremely well with the OEM springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. The chassis provides a well balanced and sporting dynamic yet is quite forgiving. This, in part of course, can be attributed to the fact that front wheel drive automobiles inherently have a fair amount of under steer dialed in. Yet, I’ve discovered that driving the car on switchbacks is very rewarding, and I’ve been amazed at how neutral the car feels with the factory tuning.
The Goals
One issue with the stock tuning—for a fast road set-up—is that the car does still exhibit a fair amount of body roll. With a chassis this well engineered, body roll is not necessarily a dirty word. The SVTF will “take a set” in any corner and is very stable and controlled. But, from the cockpit it may instill the feeling of tipping a bit more then some people are comfortable with, especially those on-ramp stormers out there among you.
While several steps stiffer then a stock ZX-3, there is still more roll then I was prepared to live with from a sport compact. I don’t mind the trade off of a slightly choppier ride in exchange for flatter cornering. There was no turning back. I would switch to something a tad more aggressive.
Having experienced both aftermarket lowering springs and adjustable coilover kits, I am sold on the advantages that the coilovers present. They (usually) do cost more then a comparable spring/damper solution, but the ability to change ride height is just one of the great features they provide (some models allow for rebound/damping/spring rate changes). This adjustability allows you to get the car’s ride height and stance set exactly where you want them. If you are really serious about performance, the minute adjustability of the coilovers will even allow you to corner weight your car using a set of wheel scales.
Why Focaljet Sponsors Rock!
With my mind set on coilovers, I started the search for the perfect set. Some—or I should say most—of the best aftermarket suspension equipment comes from Germany. Go figure. I looked at many of the well-known brands and hadn’t really come to any particular conclusion when I received a call from Shawn at ZX3Tuning in British Columbia, Canada. He informed me that they would be representing (and bringing to North America) the German brand FK. While not enjoying the instant name recognition of some other competing brands, I had heard good things about them from members of the VW crowd. Shawn assured me that the FK stuff was top quality and that I would be impressed. FK produces their components in-house, are TUV-Approved and come with a Lifetime Warranty.
With that recommendation, I placed my order for a set of their “Highsport” coilovers. There was a problem, though. FK was in the process of building a new warehouse to support the North American market, but they were a month or more from moving in. This meant that the only FK coilovers for the Focus were located in Germany. With Shawn’s help and a few phone calls to Germany, I was assured that they would be shipped over ASAP, not an easy feat in the world of import/export, especially after 9/11.
I want to thank Shawn at ZX3Tuning and FK for making the FJ Project Car a top priority and coming through with the coilovers so quickly.
What "Brown" Did For Me
A mere couple of weeks later, a nice full color box showed up at the FJ offices. I could hardly wait to rip the box open. Once I did I was extremely impressed with the quality of the units. They came packed extremely well and were bright, clean and scratch free. Also included were the necessary wrenches to adjust the height. To aid in breaking old parts free, FK also includes a can of spray lubricant, a very nice touch. You can also apply a thin coat to the new parts prior to installation.
Dial "T" for "Tuning"
Having helped our very own noresull install a set of coilovers on the first FJ project car, I knew it was within my skill level and would be doable with mostly standard tools (save for a spring compressor). However, the timing of this modification couldn’t have been worse. We were experiencing one of the coldest winters I could remember, and my garage was acting as extra storage.
I decided to let the guys at Dynotech Engineering do the install. I knew they would be able to do the job quick and get it dialed in so that I could start enjoying the car. I dropped the car off one day and picked it up the next. Dynotech said the install went off without a hitch, and they were very impressed with the quality of the FK units.
We decided to set the car so that it was lower then stock but dropped an equal amount front and rear. This kept the slight rake that the SVTF exhibits in stock form. I think this slightly forward canted stance provides the car with a more aggressive look that complements the lines of the car. The car was lowered approximately one and a half inches from its factory height. We felt this provided the benefits of lowering (lower center of gravity) without going so low as to have to baby the car around parking curbs and potholes. Remember, our goal was to enhance the performance of the car, not take it to a style extreme that would actually lessen the overall performance. That being said, the lowered silhouette definitely looks cool.
Initial Observations
With the coilovers installed and set to the appropriate height, it was time to see just what we gained with this suspension surgery. The initial drive away from the install confirmed that the new set-up was quite a but stiffer than stock. But not in an “oops, this is too stiff” feeling. My first reaction as I drove down the road was that the set-up felt very solid yet without the normal hard edge jarring that loosens dental fillings that I’ve experienced in other lowered cars.
The damping is progressive. The dampers absorb normal road irregularities much like a stock damper albeit stiffer. Larger dips and square edge ledges are dealt with sharply but you never get the feeling that the damper is not reacting fast enough or with too much resistance. The feeling can sometimes be a firm impact, but it doesn’t make you think that the dampers have been swapped out for a solid piece of billet aluminum. NOTE: This can also be attributed to the fact that I’ve dropped from a 45 series tire down to a 40, which does not provide as much sidewall flex. This is the final bit of any suspension tuning.
The rebound qualities are almost as good as the dampening with just a hint of being slightly less compliant on off-camber turns with certain kinds of mid-corner bumps. You’ll only notice it when you are hammering an off-camber with quite a bit of throttle input in combination with a surface irregularity large enough to transfer the weight dramatically. This will be one instance where you’ll wish that the SVTF had a limited-slip differential. No harm though. You’ll just find that one of the front wheels may break loose. This isn’t the way to the fastest lap times, but we’re talking about real world roads that, more then likely, will be a lot rougher then your local road course.
How Do They Compare?
I can directly compare this coilover to others I’ve sampled and find that “Brand B” is a little more aggressive—maybe just a tad too aggressive for the street. The FKs seem to strike the perfect balance. They take the firm race feel about as far as most people would be willing to go on the street, without going over that very fine line.
The FK coilovers don’t exhibit any “porpoising” over rolling washboard surfaces, something I’ve experienced with other coilovers. It could be attributed to dampers whose damping/rebound is too far out of phase with each other. However, this also is something you may find if the car is too low and/or hitting the bumpstops too aggressively.
While being diligent about potholes in normal road and street driving, I have not encountered any real world situation where I felt like I was going to bend a wheel due to the stiffness of the suspension.
Real World Performance
Now, let’s get back to cornering. Taking an off-ramp, for example, the car is a lot flatter and confidence inspiring. This brings me once again to tires. The stock SVTF tire will probably be overworked with this stiffer set-up. The FJ project car is now shod with the very sticky Bridgestone S-03 in the aforementioned 215/40/17 size.
This suspension/tire combination has proved to be incredible, almost to the point of losing the fun factor. There is simply so much grip that it is difficult to explore the limits of the car in any safe circumstance. But, if you put cornering at the top of your list, you will be extremely happy at the increase in G pulling ability. Another handling point to add is that of accident avoidance maneuvers (or slaloms). You will simply be amazed at the increased ability for the car to change direction. This includes initial turn in to fast sweeper corners.
The Conclusion
The real question would be: After having driven many miles with the FK coilover kit, would I make the same decision? I can unequivocally say “yes,” in a heartbeat. If your taste leans toward a softer ride, you may want to keep the stock SVTF suspension. It is extremely capable, yet civil, right out of the box. However, if you are looking to take your SVTF to the next level in handling performance, I would take a closer look at the FK coilover kit. For those of you that crave handling performance, the FK kit might very well be the proverbial best of both worlds.
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