No coilovers allowed: shocks/spring combo

[radmachine]

As the title states. Lets see some shock/spring combos. No adjustable coilovers allowed. I really like the simplicity of a shock/spring setup. This is probably the way I will be going for a decent daily setup. So lets see em'!

1-shocks(what perch)
2-springs
3- top hats

[Dandy]

A couple of the more popular setups are:

Koni adjustable sport shocks w/ stock springs
Tokico Illumina shocks w/ Flyin' Miata springs

OEM top hats
NB OEM top hats (with conversion kit for NA)
Flyin' Miata rear shock mounts (for more shock travel with no change in ride height)

[OBD1 kenobi]

I will be following this thread as I am considering this too.

[Phatmiata]

On my prior 1995 M-Edition. (Scotty @ Spinnywhoosh owns it now)

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1028/5181997254_5dfd19b154_z.jpg

*AGX 8-way Adjustable Shocks
*Racing Beat Springs
*Racing Beat Front & Rear Sway Bars

[wannafbody]

The only decent shock spring combo is Illuminas or Konis and FM springs for a NA. NB Bilsteins are decent off the shelf shocks paired with stock or MSN springs.

[BoBo]

I got Billies HD
Fat Cat Motorsports 36mm bump stops
FM2 Springs
Factory Top Hats.

It takes a while a for the Springs to settle and will drop another 1/4" in about a month after the initial install. Simplicity is another reason I why I got this setup. I tried various types of (springs/ shocks) combo throughout the years, FM is the best one by far.
http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu129/MR2SW21/96%20miata/DSC02777_zpszuuodisw.jpg (http://s640.photobucket.com/user/MR2SW21/media/96%20miata/DSC02777_zpszuuodisw.jpg.html)

http://i640.photobucket.com/albums/uu129/MR2SW21/96%20miata/DSC01563.jpg (http://s640.photobucket.com/user/MR2SW21/media/96%20miata/DSC01563.jpg.html)

[Dandy]

I should probably expand on my "popular setups" posting:

Koni adjustable sport shocks w/ stock springs - advantage for this setup is that it is an inexpensive solution for lowering your car about 3/4" due to Koni's adjustable perch settings. You can also keep your car at stock height if you chose a higher perch setting. When you are on the lower perch setting you lose some spring travel and therefore it's not the plushest ride but Koni's damping adjustment can help compensate. This is not going to be the best performing combo but many consider it an upgrade over stock for not a whole lot of money. Koni sport shocks are highly regarded and can be matched with stiffer spring rates in the future as an upgrade.

Tokico Illumina shocks w/ Flyin' Miata springs - This is a well matched combo of a heavy duty shock with a stiffer and lower spring. Performance handling will improve without a significant decrease in ride quality. Flyin' Miata is a well regarded vendor that specifically supports the Miata community with excellent technical support. No adjustability, just a no fuss, no muss performance upgrade.

OEM top hats - On the NA these come as one piece. On a 20 year old car the rubber is bound to be worn so a new set will be an improvement. These will not affect ride height but may improve ride quality and handling as you will most likely be replacing a worn out part.

NB OEM top hats - The design of these shock mounts is an improvement over the NA style as they reduce noise vibration and harshness. These may lower your car about 1/2" depending on the bushing and washer combo you use in combination with the mettle top hat.

Flyin' Miata rear shock mounts - Miatas don't have a lot of suspension travel even in stock form. On a lowered car there is even less. Flyin' Miata's rear shock mounts have an advantage over most other extended top hats in that they are engineered to not affect ride height while still allowing greater shock travel. The intended use for these is with lowering springs but they are pricey.

Comments on other setups mentioned:

KYB AGX 8-way Adjustable Shocks w/ Racing Beat Springs - This may not be the best setup but it is probably a well matched combo. Racing Beat makes nice products but their springs are considered to be too soft to be a true upgrade. They will lower your car but since they are only slightly stiffer than stock, you are likely to be hitting your bumpstops more frequently. The KYB AGX shocks have kind of the same downside as the RB springs in that they are considered "soft." They don't have enough damping for a stiffer spring and they don't hold up well over time. I had them on my '92 with FM springs and I was always on my bumpstops over railroad tracks and surface bumps and I live in Florida where the roads are generally smooth. However, matched with RB springs they probably ride nice. You can still corner fast with a lowered spring even if you are on the bumpstops.

Bilsteins w/ MSM springs - this is a good lower cost solution as you can source these parts used. Bilsteins have several models available for Miatas so some research will be required as to the advantages/ disadvantages of each but they can all be rebuilt and revalved to match any spring rate you want to use. HD's in NA and NB form are (I think) the popular choice. MSM springs are lower than other stock springs and offer a stifness that is similar to FM springs. While this can be a lower cost option, I wouldn't call it a compromise.

[radmachine]

All good stuff. My b6 hds showed up today, and my FM springs a few days ago. Waiting on the bumps to show. I'll be using Ohlins 36/46mm bumps. They're pretty budget friendly. I'll post pictures of them assembled then on the car.

[fwdtamiya]

Koni yellows and Tein S-Techs (230lbs/170lbs = 4.2kg/3kg)
I think this is the highest perch, I want to drop the rear to get rid of the rake, but I'm afraid these are too soft to do that without cranking up the dampening and losing comfort/travel. The dampening adjustability is fantastic btw, far beyond the cheap coilovers I've used in the past (Stance/Omni Power).

http://i.imgur.com/qyWUxoQ.jpg

[RustRat]

Gorgeous car, by the way

[HarryB]

Second that. How's the ride with those spring stiffnesses?

[Corifto]

Mods are asleep. Post cars with coils.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/686/22718554772_c5c0d85075_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ABywQd)DSC_0711-01 (https://flic.kr/p/ABywQd) by Corifto (https://www.flickr.com/photos/42192096@N07/), on Flickr


BC Extreme Drop w/ 10k/6k

[fwdtamiya]

Second that. How's the ride with those spring stiffnesses?

They feel well matched to the shocks, just too soft overall for me.

[Martin]

Mods are asleep. Post cars with coils.

Ban?





:teehee:

[radmachine]

Installed my new setup tonight after work. Ended up with Bilstein hd, Fm gen 2, stock mounts for the time being and went with Ohlins 36mm front bumps and Ohlins 46mm rear bumps. I didn't feel the need to spend $100 on FCM bumps and with some digging the Ohlins 36/46 bumps seem almost identical to the FCM outside a slightly larger center hole assuming the FCM bumps fit tight on the shock shaft. They only cost $35 too so that was a plus. This so far may be the best suspension I've had on any of my Miata's. Including my old Bilstein/GC setup using 550#/400# springs. I can actually feel the shocks working with this setup. For sure better than any of the chinese coilover companies I've used.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1iVJzCCoqaI/VmpTW6w6McI/AAAAAAAAAt8/1BQJOuupfM4/s640/IMAG0150.jpg
The Ohlins bumps. I ordered them from resuspension.com
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JBisg7pLwOM/VmpUS6pFDxI/AAAAAAAAAuI/DA32lNJ_O_0/s640/IMAG0156.jpg

Forgot to take a picture after install. I'll post one later on.

[Miataman00]

Hmmm. Should I sell my tein street flex and do this. Would it be an upgrade?

[HarryB]

How do you find comfort with these? I plan similar rates with my DIY Bilstein coilovers and since car is a DD, comfort is something to keep in mind.

[radmachine]

The comfort with the fm springs is great. I ran a bilstein/gc combo with 550#/400# springs and could tell it was under valved even on the street. I have to honestly say that the bilstein and fm spring combo is the best all around suspension I've had(for my personal wants/needs) while staying low budget. Its great. I'm going to do some extended top hats and after that I think this is the combo for life.

[radmachine]

Moon Patrol
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-crJGUV5HrmY/Vm4m8tF48qI/AAAAAAAAAu0/59UMjgckg70/s640/DSCF2697.JPG

[Fishbulb]

Any follow up on this set up? I have a set of Hard-S billies I am thinking about doing the same set up.

Thank you!


I got Billies HD
Fat Cat Motorsports 36mm bump stops
FM2 Springs
Factory Top Hats.

It takes a while a for the Springs to settle and will drop another 1/4" in about a month after the initial install. Simplicity is another reason I why I got this setup. I tried various types of (springs/ shocks) combo throughout the years, FM is the best one by far.

[Rogue]

I have been running 93LE Billies, with FM springs and FCM shortbumps for over 10 years.
My other NA has AST coilovers and I still love how the Billie combo works for Street/AutoX.
I ran NB tophats for a while, but it was too slammed for my wife to drive daily.
http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o756/RogueRace/Miata%20Solutions/93LE737Gap08_zpsc4ec84f2.jpg (http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/RogueRace/media/Miata%20Solutions/93LE737Gap08_zpsc4ec84f2.jpg.html)

[RustRat]

What bumper is this? ^

[Fishbulb]

What bumper is this? ^

Looking at his Photobucket, seems to be a very cool blend of a NB2 into the bottom of an NA...damn!

http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/RogueRace/media/Miata%20Solutions/Hybrid%20NANB%20nose_zps3nw9s9h7.jpg.html

[Rogue]

Yes its a NA/NB hybrid I built about 10 years ago.
http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o756/RogueRace/Miata%20Solutions/Hybrid%20NANB%20nose_zps3nw9s9h7.jpg (http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/RogueRace/media/Miata%20Solutions/Hybrid%20NANB%20nose_zps3nw9s9h7.jpg.html)
at the Gap '08
http://i1341.photobucket.com/albums/o756/RogueRace/Miata%20Solutions/737%20at%20Gap%2008_zps8csx6s5i.jpg (http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/RogueRace/media/Miata%20Solutions/737%20at%20Gap%2008_zps8csx6s5i.jpg.html)

[Phatmiata]

they should have came that way from the factory

[Fishbulb]

That is fantastic...nice work!

[Fishbulb]

Installed my new setup tonight after work. Ended up with Bilstein hd, Fm gen 2, stock mounts for the time being and went with Ohlins 36mm front bumps and Ohlins 46mm rear bumps. I didn't feel the need to spend $100 on FCM bumps and with some digging the Ohlins 36/46 bumps seem almost identical to the FCM outside a slightly larger center hole assuming the FCM bumps fit tight on the shock shaft. They only cost $35 too so that was a plus.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1iVJzCCoqaI/VmpTW6w6McI/AAAAAAAAAt8/1BQJOuupfM4/s640/IMAG0150.jpg
The Ohlins bumps. I ordered them from resuspension.com


Can you give more info/part numbers on the Ohlins bumps? Maybe where you bought them? I see a lot of different options, I want to make sure I get the right stuff!

Thank you and thanks for all the detailed info!

Jac

[radmachine]

I got them from http://resuspension.com/.

Rear bump
http://store.resuspension.com/product.php?productid=18327&cat=331&page=1

Front bump
http://store.resuspension.com/product.php?productid=18329&cat=331&page=1

Works really well for me on the street as well as the occasional track day.

[Fishbulb]

Thank you!

[Adventiv]

Just received these today. Developed and proven by Ground Control and 2015 NASA PTE West Coast Champion, Justin Ross. Specially valved with adjustable rebound Koni 30 Series Race shocks, CNC'ed Ground Control extended tophats and Eibach Springs 700F/400R, and will use any 6" long 2.5"id coilover spring.

15878

[90blue]

I remember seeing the build when you were doing it.
Did you use that industrial panel adhesive to bond the sections ?