Springs/ride height

[Evangelion]

Whenever I see an advertisement for springs that claim to reduce the ride height by 30mm, 45mm, etc, the same thing always occurs to me - where are they starting from? Standard, I assume - but what is standard? And how do you know whether your particular car is standard, or whether something has been changed?

Here for instance is my RS which to my eyes looks a little high.



Ride height is 13.5 inches all round.

Car is to be used for fast road/occasional trackdays.

So how much lowering does it need, and how do I know which springs to use?

[MX-5 Lazza]

Simple answer - If you want to use it on track then don't use lowering springs. Fit some proper height-adjustable coil-overs. Lowering springs are a compromise for aesthetics and do nothing for handling.

[trooperiziz]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Simple answer - If you want to use it on track then don't use lowering springs. Fit some proper height-adjustable coil-overs. Lowering springs are a compromise for aesthetics and do nothing for handling.

What he said, lowering springs are a no-no, you'll destroy your ride and handling.

[Munter]

I think you are at the same point I was on this thread.

http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Evangelion]

MX-5 Lazza said:

... Fit some proper height-adjustable coil-overs ...

You mean something like this?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/89-02-Mazda-MX5-Miata-Eunos-...

Or this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/90-97-Mazda-MX5-Lowering-Spr...

Seem very cheap!

[trooperiziz]

Evangelion said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

... Fit some proper height-adjustable coil-overs ...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/90-97-Mazda-MX5-Lowering-Springs-Coilovers-Eunos_W0QQitemZ380150506586QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item5882bc645a&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Seem very cheap!

450 on the front and 350 on the rear if those pictures are to be believed, seems unbalanced and way too hard for me, but i'm not an expert

Your best bet would be to talk to the guys at Wheels in Motion, or someplace similar and see what they suggest, you have the capability of really screwing up your ride and handling if you just buy random stuff from ebay

[snotrag]

Nope, not those ropy pieces of crap.

More like these -

http://www.performance5.com/handling_suspension.as...

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

[Evangelion]

Sounds like I'm already more or less as low as I can go then - according to my calculations, Munter, you were only an inch lower than me when you were bouncing off the speed bumps. I think I'll save my money, leave it as it is for the time being and see how I get on.
What's your ride height now Munter?

[Munter]

I measured the car last night. It's running 33.5cm rear and 33cm front. Middle of the wheel to top of arch.

So far no problems. Yay.