S1 ride quality
Discussion
Having spent a few hours in the car today, then getting a lift in my pal's MX5, the one thing that for me lets the S down is the ride quality. I didnt expect the chassis to be as sturdy as the Griffith I had last year, but it seems really pretty weak.. flexing all over the place.
Any budget friendly solutions available (other than by a cheap Chimaera!) ??
Any budget friendly solutions available (other than by a cheap Chimaera!) ??
The S4 has the V8S chassis which is much stiffer that the S1-S3 versions and has a wider track.
I think the S is quite sensitive to suspension setup - and I think Ray's old car that you have is still running the original shocks & springs - do you think 20 years on they could maybe be a little bit tired?
I think the S is quite sensitive to suspension setup - and I think Ray's old car that you have is still running the original shocks & springs - do you think 20 years on they could maybe be a little bit tired?
Edited by Barkychoc on Monday 11th May 09:09
Ride quality is largly due to springrate, damping force, and tyre type. When you say body stiffness, do you mean body roll?
Mazda has the advantage of a huge amount of developement testing due to its mass production profile, but thats its weakness aswel, because they are everwhere. Still excellent cars though, even if they are a little weak (lacking in butchness!).
Theres lots you can do to improve an S...it just depends when you want to achieve.
Mazda has the advantage of a huge amount of developement testing due to its mass production profile, but thats its weakness aswel, because they are everwhere. Still excellent cars though, even if they are a little weak (lacking in butchness!).
Theres lots you can do to improve an S...it just depends when you want to achieve.
EdT said:
What are the wallet friendly options?
There aren't any! 
Gaz shocks and springs £500 odd a set without fitting costs (which isn't a huge amount).
You do need springs as well as the shocks as the new springs are shorter than the existing ones.
The best ones are Nitrons but these are circa £1000.
Thats them - go look on their website company is called absolutely shocks www.absolutelyshocks.com - I fitted them a couple of years back - big improvement - Derreck is a top bloke.
Graham
Graham
Harry1972M said:
Thats them - go look on their website company is called absolutely shocks www.absolutelyshocks.com - I fitted them a couple of years back - big improvement - Derreck is a top bloke.
Graham
Absolutely Shocks will be at S Club - so now you need to come you see! Graham
Barkychoc said:
Harry1972M said:
Thats them - go look on their website company is called absolutely shocks www.absolutelyshocks.com - I fitted them a couple of years back - big improvement - Derreck is a top bloke.
Graham
Absolutely Shocks will be at S Club - so now you need to come you see! Graham
Ed
EdT said:
mep12345 said:
I changed mine incrementally and IMHO I'd now do the rears first - they made the biggest difference to the roll and cornering of the car. Doing the bushes on the front had more effect than the shocks and springs.
What bushes did you use?When you first posted this observation where you referring to scuttle shake? If so i would tend to agree, the rigidity isn't as good as I thought it would be and does not compare to an Elise (I accept the aluminium extruded chassis was exceptionally rigid compared to a 21 year old tubular chassis)
When i first drove the car the steering wheel moved all over the place, having read this forum I checked the bulk head bearing and found it to be completely worn out, I replaced it asap but still find an amount of movement that I would like to reduce
If the shocks / springs were to be replaced with the Gaz offering would the ride be firmer inducing yet more scuttle shake?
Is there a brace that can be bolted across the bulkhead (or across the front suspension assembly)?
When i first drove the car the steering wheel moved all over the place, having read this forum I checked the bulk head bearing and found it to be completely worn out, I replaced it asap but still find an amount of movement that I would like to reduce
If the shocks / springs were to be replaced with the Gaz offering would the ride be firmer inducing yet more scuttle shake?
Is there a brace that can be bolted across the bulkhead (or across the front suspension assembly)?
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