suspension setups

[TotalControl]

Although my MX is off the road, I can help thinking 23 years of road use has knackered them.

What is everyone's setup like? My budget isn't big so was looking at the TA Technix hobbies to just lower the car a bit and get some better handling. The car will be used on weekends so I'm not too fussed on comfort. I just can't justify spending £500 on a car that costs the same.

What is recommended then?

[feef]

I've gone for Tein springs, and stock shocks over cheap coilovers. I think the stock shocks are of a better quality than what you'd get on cheap, budget coilovers.

That being said, I've not fitted them yet, I'm finishing the supercharger install first.

[RT Phil]

TotalControl said:

Although my MX is off the road, I can help thinking 23 years of road use has knackered them.


I just can't justify spending £500 on a car that costs the same.

What is recommended then?

Do it right do it once, my MX owed me about £150 and I have spent over a grand on a set of HSD monopro coilovers and a pair of ultra racing ARBs and a geo set up, the difference is unbelievable, if and when it's time to part with the car I will take the nice bits off and either put them on the next one or sell them on

[vrsmxtb]

Heard decent things about the VMaxx coilovers that Mx5parts are now stocking if you literally just want lowering, or they do a damping adjust version too.

However, I would highly recommend saving pennies a bit longer and going the next step-up to MeisterR, Gaz, HSD etc. MeisterR's were the best thing I ever got my car, as compliant as OEM on soft setting all the way to race-car hard for track days etc. All fully height adjustable without losing travel and damping adjust is from inside the bonnet and boot so no crawling around dirty wheelarches!

[beeblebrox]

vrsmxtb said:

MeisterR's were the best thing I ever got my car, as compliant as OEM on soft setting all the way to race-car hard for track days etc. All fully height adjustable without losing travel and damping adjust is from inside the bonnet and boot so no crawling around dirty wheelarches!

Agreed. Just fitted the same to mine and it's transformed the car completely. Along with a decent 4-wheel alignment its the best money I've spent on it.

[skinny]

on a limited budget i think the best you can get is the bilstein suspension from a low miles mk2 RS.
£120-£150 will get you a very clean set, which i'd much rather run over the ebay specials at the same price point. in fact, i do

[TotalControl]

I'm after something which can lower the car with about 10-15mm arch gap. Don't get me wrong, I'm not after a yolo swag stance machine as I'd want to raise it a bit for when I do go for nice drives. It would be nice to have something I can lower for when I take the car to meets such as Japfest.

[pewe]

I reckon a decent set of second-hand Billies will do the job.
However improving the handling can become compulsive so start saving for a set of Meisters, frame rails, chassis bars and engine compartment brace.
I understand your comment on shelling out similar amounts to your purchase price on suspension.
However investing in suspension releases the full potential of Mr Mazda's chassis and overall package and can prove cost effective providing a)you intend keeping it for some time and b)the car is sound in other directions.
My view is that Mk1's will start to appreciate as the dogs start to disappear and the survivors are now heading to classic status.
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe.

[J-Tuner]

I would definitely recommend saving up for Meister R's. Bizarrely they ride better than a standard setup on full soft. Switching to max damping and its very noticeable on the track. Best of both worlds.

[Digby]

Driven on knackered old shocks, cut springs, a reasonably decent KYB / Eibach setup and standard shocks with lowered springs.

Honestly, for chucking something cheap down the lanes and enjoying yourself, none of the above made any difference to my smiles, or any massive difference to my spirited progress.The biggest difference was the cost.

I'm sticking approx 40mm lowered springs on my standard shocks again on my recently purchased turbo.

[TotalControl]

I've been doing a bit of reading and it appears as though the MeisterR, HSD and Gaz are favoured. Very minimal mention on BC Racing though.

I'm surprised as it appears lots of these manufacturers are from the same company(s) in Taiwan.

I'm liking the Meisters but they are properly expensive. HSDs have apparently been known to squeak/go faulty (that may just have been a bad batch though, can't remember where I read that) and Gaz Golds are the only ones that need looking into from Gaz as they're newer.

I'm not even sure where to go from here. Patience is not my strongest virtue.

[aka_kerrly]

I can't offer any advice on mx5 specific but i can assure you TA technics and other budget coilovers that have fixed dampening are dreadful. Tried some TA technics for 3 weeks as a experiment and promptly got rid and returned to shocks and springs.

My favourites are Koni & bilstein for shocks and eibach & Avo for springs and never go beyond -60mm.

[MegaMinion]

TotalControl said:

I'm surprised as it appears lots of these manufacturers are from the same company(s) in Taiwan.

Just because they are manufactured in the same place doesn't mean they are the same, the manufacturers make them they don't design them. Therefore it is logical that there would be one or two manufacturers in Taiwan that manufacture all the coilovers for different Engineering companies that design them. Think of it like the Vauxhall VX220 was manufactured on an assembly line that ran parallel to the Lotus Elise production line. Two similar cars manufactured in the same place but they are still very different.

[Kozy]

I just replaced my blown dampers with a free set from a car with half the mileage.

SO much better. Not sure I could justify £750 that Meisters are now.

[aka_kerrly]

Kozy said:

I just replaced my blown dampers with a free set from a car with half the mileage.

SO much better. Not sure I could justify £750 that Meisters are now.

To be honest I'd rather lower mileage original shocks than brand new TA Technic coil overs.

[BIG DUNC]

I went for brand new standard shocks and springs from mx5 parts.

I didnt want it lowered, but did want it to handle like new and not like it was on 20 year components.

Made a huge difference.

[TotalControl]

I'd really prefer the Meister's/HSD/Gaz but has anyone run those Vmaxx kits from mx5parts? They look like a good package and must be if mx5parts are selling them.