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Thread: Ideas for comfortable daily springs/shocks, please

  1. #1
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    Ideas for comfortable daily springs/shocks, please

    I noticed my car's ride quality isn't as good as it once was. Since my car is old and has 170k miles I decided to inspect my top hats.



    Well that's not good! All 4 have collapsed.

    These next pics are embarrassing!





    Yuck! Seriously, who tries to paint Koni shocks black?

    I want this car to be a comfy cruiser. I never autocross and I have no interest in track days, bro.

    I'm looking for suggestions for springs & shocks or coilovers.

    < $1000 would be best because my CFO is tight with our cash.

  2. #2
    Ninja Messiah kung fu jesus's Avatar
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    Martin, you may want to ditch the sleeves and coilovers, maybe just go to regular coils. If you can measure the ride height, it would give me a better idea of what to recommend.

    I have concerns about the condition of your shocks. The 'mud' may be oil leaking from them, dirt sticking to that.

    For a tight budget, consider take offs from an NB, including top hats and coils. Try Bryan on TP. I know he is going to remove NB stock Billies with H&R springs.

    If you go new, Billies with Tein springs and new top hats would be pretty cush but capable. Bring it up on TP for more info.

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    6,000 rpm - mere mortals would shift HarryB's Avatar
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    NB top mounts are supposedly heaps better than NA ones in terms of NVH. In addition I support KFJ in using bilsteins; however I would look at FM springs instead of HR or Teins, and the reason is spring rate. After quite some searching, it appears that the valving on the billies is better suited to higher spring rates (they are quite overdampened for OEM rates); therefore stiffer springs will feel comfier, plus they will not be that prone to hitting the bumpstops with the lower ride height. BTW, I would also suggest shorter bump stops or extended top mounts.

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  6. #4
    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! DarylSibcy's Avatar
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    NB top mounts are indeed better in terms of NVH, and comfort. I can vouch for this. FM Stage 1 or 1.5 Suspension would be the ballpark you need to look at. From what I've heard, the Koni's are worth the extra $50.

    Getting new shock mounts would throw the cost up to near your budget limit, but it's worth it, NB shock mounts are better.
    You want a good car. I want a good miata.

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    3,000 rpm - starting to feel the power Rogue's Avatar
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    I run NA Billies and FM springs with Fatcat bumps,…..they ride great and last damn near forever.
    That was the set up on the "Black Beater" at Hallett, with 250k+ miles on them.
    1992 BnT, 93LE #737, 94M, 95M, 96M, 97PEP, and a few 90s

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    4,000 rpm - entering the fun zone Slampen's Avatar
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    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! DarylSibcy's Avatar
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    MesiterR's are good, I owned a set of their Zeta S Coilovers; until Flyin' Miata brought us the FOX Suspension. The MeisterR's are very popular amongst UK owners, they cope with the disgustingly uneven roads we have over here
    You want a good car. I want a good miata.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rogue View Post
    I run NA Billies and FM springs with Fatcat bumps,…..they ride great and last damn near forever.
    That was the set up on the "Black Beater" at Hallett, with 250k+ miles on them.
    And I would have first-hand experience with them if you offered me a ride. Jackass.


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    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! 73Bacon's Avatar
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    Martin where is that 1st picture taken? It isn't even registering with me.

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    Oh, KFJ asked about ride height. Right now I'm at 5 1/4 at the bottom edge of the pinch weld. I don't want to give wheel center to fender because I don't have the stock fenders

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    Quote Originally Posted by 73Bacon View Post
    Martin where is that 1st picture taken? It isn't even registering with me.
    That's the front passenger side top hat. I had the phone near the intake manifold pointed out toward the fender. And tilted because I'm a poor photographer.

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    4,000 rpm - entering the fun zone TNRooster3's Avatar
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    73Bacon- your PM box is full and will not take any more messages.

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    Are my eyes bad or do I have no bump stops????

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    2,000 rpm - light wheelspin, no bog here! DarylSibcy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Martin View Post
    Are my eyes bad or do I have no bump stops????
    Possibly, can't see them either, with that kind of mileage they've probably been reduced to dust, somewhere...

    Definitely opt for a Shock and Spring set over coilovers, they're rebuildable then
    You want a good car. I want a good miata.

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    I've no idea how many miles are on the shocks. I've put 50,000 miles on them and they looked terrible when I bought the car.

    Good news is I've convinced my CFO that I need to order some new parts

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