Shock recommendation for a street driven car.

[Sean5294]

Just looking to see what everyone likes. I currently have Eibach springs on my car and am in need of new shocks. The oem finally took a dump. This is purely a street car and will never be raced. I was looking at these today. http://www.ebay.com/itm/KONI-STR-T-Street-Shocks-Set-Mazda-Miata-MX5-99-05-Fronts-Rears/300486254278?_trksid=p2050601.c100085.m2372&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1% 26asc%3D20140211132617%26meid%3D998a87ba4f214e729d 51d9d0bb925b24%26pid%3D100085%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D4%2 6sd%3D301607576872%26clkid%3D6906528998234756159&_qi=RTM2067270

[Stealth97]

I can't comment on the Konis, but I love my illuminas + FM springs combo. Feels great in the corners, and never too harsh on the bumps. The car rides and handles great.

[Sean5294]

I have been looking at Illuminas as well.

[kung fu jesus]

Price range?

[Sean5294]

I was hoping to keep it below $400.00

[kung fu jesus]

Bang for your buck, buy a set of used OE Bilsteins from an NB with the sport or hard S suspension. I haven't heard much encouraging results from those Koni ST-Rs

[Martin]

Bang for your buck, buy a set of used OE Bilsteins from an NB with the sport or hard S suspension. I haven't heard much encouraging results from those Koni ST-Rs
+1

I did that with my old 91BRG. Rode well and handled ok, too.

[kung fu jesus]

If you want adjustable shocks, I would take the Illuminas over the Koni Yellows, just a personal preference. My go-to,, aftermarket, off the shelf shock would be Bilsteins. Just more reliable and consistent, but a little more firm.

[Sean5294]

I may have to look into this.

[crispher]

I would also get the Bilstein's. They are durable and provide comfortable ride.

[Slampen]

What about a new oem setup?

[Hyper]

Bang for your buck, buy a set of used OE Bilsteins from an NB with the sport or hard S suspension. I haven't heard much encouraging results from those Koni ST-Rs
Completely .agree, go with Bilstein and never.look.back.

[Sean5294]

Bilstein most likely the way I am going to go.

[Johnnie]

I've autocrossed a 94 on Illuminas with stock springs and a racing beat bar. They work well. I have Koni yellows on my NC and they work well with the Flyin' Miata springs. Bilsteins are great, we have Bilstein sports on the wifey's S40. They've been on for a couple years now with no apparent degradation, though last time I looked the old bump stops are starting to turn to dust.

[Fishbulb]

Quick question on swapping the factory Bilstein set up from an NB into an NA

**I ask your patience, as I am sure this has been discussed, I am getting back in the NA game after 10 years! **

How is the ride height, etc. affected when the complete factory NB set up is installed into the NA? Ride higher? Lower?

I know that different NAs ran at different heights from the factory. Just talking on average, and using all stock parts. Goal would be for handling over looks, no need to scrape the frame rails!

So much of the discussion is around the budget coilover builds, hard to search and find the answers for the stock parts.

Thanks everyone!

[Martin]

Stock NB suspension will raise an NA a bit.

[BoBo]

I have been looking at Illuminas as well.

The GR-2's or Illuminas are fine even Koni sports, but stay away from Koni STR. The valving on the STR's are OK but the shock itself doesn't last. I bought a new set a while back and one of the shocks were blown upon delivery, leaking inside the box and the rest failed under 3000 miles. Keep in mind I was using stock springs under normal driving. I'm not here to offend anyone I'm just speaking out of experience. Maybe I had a bad batch but I received one new Koni STR shock to replace the blown one, that same shock failed after 3 months of driving.

I bought a set of Bilstein HD and paired it with stock springs. 20k miles later it was still in great shape under commute, track, and hard driving. Soon after that, I paired it with FM springs and never looked back. It's been about 10k miles now with the FM springs and the Billie's are still dependable.

[BoBo]

This one I believe was under 3k miles.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu129/MR2SW21/96%20miata/392778_10152697113080554_694655003_n_zpslremoqzy.j pg (http://s640.photobucket.com/user/MR2SW21/media/96%20miata/392778_10152697113080554_694655003_n_zpslremoqzy.j pg.html)

[Dandy]

Just from being around the Miata community, reading, and hearing about the experiences from others, here is a quick guide to proven Miata shock set ups:

with stock and mild aftermarket springs
Koni Sport
Tokico Illumina

for higher spring rates
Bilstein Heavy Duty

inexpensive coilovers
Flyin' Miata V-MAXX

Premium coilovers
949Racing SuperMiata XIDA
Fat Cat Motorsports Elite

This is certainly not a complete list but all of these set-ups listed have been used with satisfactory results on many, many NA's and NB's. They are all mentioned frequently in Miata discussions with positive feedback and very little negativity in the categories listed.

[Fishbulb]

Excellent, thank you!