Has anyone used KYB shock absorbers?
Discussion
. I'll need new shocks soon I reckon, and just wondering if anybody has experience of these?Yes, I fitted them to my Mk 1. They were the fully adjustable ones, with lowered springs. Definitely worth having it set up properly by someone who knows what they're doing rather than just a tyre place.
MX-5 by binaryimage, on Flickr
MX-5 by binaryimage, on Flickr
true, I was told I would break my back with the new springs I've had fitted, but I reckon the rides smoother!?My Dad had them on his 5 complemented with FlyinMiata springs and FM ARB's.
The car rode wonderfully both on track and on the road, the only reason he replaced them was because the FM springs snapped at the rear and a replacement set was 1/2 way to a complete replacement of the suspension so it didn't make sense to keep the old KYB's on, (they may have blown 12 months later).
My mate also had them with TEIN S-Tech springs. Again rode wonderfuly on track and the road.
Dads
Mates
The car rode wonderfully both on track and on the road, the only reason he replaced them was because the FM springs snapped at the rear and a replacement set was 1/2 way to a complete replacement of the suspension so it didn't make sense to keep the old KYB's on, (they may have blown 12 months later).
My mate also had them with TEIN S-Tech springs. Again rode wonderfuly on track and the road.
Dads
Mates
I had KYB AGX on mine to start with, with some random lowering springs. They were bloody awful. Completely mis-matched, driving the car hard on less than absolutely smooth roads meant playing a game of buckeroo with the back of the car.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, buying dampers and springs that haven't been designed to work together in harmony, is a waste of money, and a case of pot-luck if they 'work' together or don't.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, buying dampers and springs that haven't been designed to work together in harmony, is a waste of money, and a case of pot-luck if they 'work' together or don't.
S Works said:
I had KYB AGX on mine to start with, with some random lowering springs. They were bloody awful. Completely mis-matched, driving the car hard on less than absolutely smooth roads meant playing a game of buckeroo with the back of the car.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, buying dampers and springs that haven't been designed to work together in harmony, is a waste of money, and a case of pot-luck if they 'work' together or don't.
FWIW the FM springs are designed to work with the KYB AGX.I've said it before, and I'll say it again, buying dampers and springs that haven't been designed to work together in harmony, is a waste of money, and a case of pot-luck if they 'work' together or don't.
They're rising rate springs, but at 'normal' positions they're roughly 300ft/lbs front and 250 rear, so it's relatively easy to get a set of eBay threaded collars and a set of 2.5" ID springs from Demon tweaks or the like.
Yep, as Richy says the FM springs are a perfect match for AGX shocks. I've heard that Eibach do springs that work well too but are a touch stiffer so not everyone is happy with them. I've yet to find anyone who didn't like the AGX/FM combination though, especially when matched to FM ARBs.
on the mk1 at least, eibachs are softer than the FM's. they aren't too bad on the AGX but yoou definitely need to upgrade at least the rear bump stops to the soft foam ones as you'll be hitting them fairly often. i also combined the AGX / Eibachs with FM ARB's too, was a pretty good combo.
skinny said:
on the mk1 at least, eibachs are softer than the FM's. they aren't too bad on the AGX but yoou definitely need to upgrade at least the rear bump stops to the soft foam ones as you'll be hitting them fairly often. i also combined the AGX / Eibachs with FM ARB's too, was a pretty good combo.
Maybe I got that the wrong way around then - either that or people were complaining about the ride on corners because they were riding on the bump-stops...Mojo Jojo said:
Digby said:
KYB's and Eibach springs on mine.Firm but fair! 
Sounds like I could be following your path, I've had the eibach springs fitted, seems like KYB shocks are the future 
Why can't the roads be smoother
skinny said:
on the mk1 at least, eibachs are softer than the FM's. they aren't too bad on the AGX but yoou definitely need to upgrade at least the rear bump stops to the soft foam ones as you'll be hitting them fairly often. i also combined the AGX / Eibachs with FM ARB's too, was a pretty good combo.
If you're hitting the bump stops on them all the time, then surely the combo isn't pretty good. Clearly they're not working optimally.skinny said:
fairly often, not all the time
the roads round here are very bumpy and speed bumps are not your friend!
on a normal mildly bumpy a-road, they're fine
Fairly often still implies they're not working together properly. Mine did exactly what you describe, which is why I ditched them.the roads round here are very bumpy and speed bumps are not your friend!
on a normal mildly bumpy a-road, they're fine
bumpstops are designed to be used - they are an integral part of any srping / damper, so the fact you are on them in extremes of suspension movement i don't think necessarily means the eibachs are a disaster, as long as you make the appropriate adjustments to your system. i spoke to a guy at powerflow and got some nice soft bumpstop with a rising rate to give a smooth transition onto them and they worked well.
i'll admit it was not nice on the stock mk1 hard bumpstops tho and i think the FM springs would be a more appropriate match.
i'll admit it was not nice on the stock mk1 hard bumpstops tho and i think the FM springs would be a more appropriate match.
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