Suspension options for NC MX5
Discussion
Hi guys
So I've got a 2007 MX5 sport on some very blown bilstein shocks and standard springs that I'm desperate to replace
The car is purely a toy for B road hoons and the occasional track day, I'd much rather it was too hard than too firm.
Budget is around £1000.
Options are:
Rebuilding bilsteins (think they are around £100 per shock) and some eibach springs, but i've heard the bilsteins are pretty poor damping wise even new?
B14 kit pss kit like this:
https://cp-performance.co.uk/product/bilstein-b14-...
Like the fact its height adjustable and made by a proper company, but ££££ without the fanciness of cheap coilovers
meisterr - zeta crd or clubsport - They seem to be the go to route for a lot of people having having heard so many bad stories about "cheap" coilovers over the years I'm worried that they might be a little bit... crap? I've seen more than a handful of people on mx5 fourms say that they have had issues, but they get shouted down and/or their posts deleted which is
HSDs/Teins/BR racing etc - I think i've read that a lot of these cheap coilovers are all coming out of the same factor with slightly different spring rates - Genuinely how do they stand up to the test of time? Even if my NC did die I'd be looking to use the suspension on another car, but I've seen some pictures of coilovers absolutely hanging after a few years of being used on the road
Thoughts applicated
So I've got a 2007 MX5 sport on some very blown bilstein shocks and standard springs that I'm desperate to replace
The car is purely a toy for B road hoons and the occasional track day, I'd much rather it was too hard than too firm.
Budget is around £1000.
Options are:
Rebuilding bilsteins (think they are around £100 per shock) and some eibach springs, but i've heard the bilsteins are pretty poor damping wise even new?
B14 kit pss kit like this:
https://cp-performance.co.uk/product/bilstein-b14-...
Like the fact its height adjustable and made by a proper company, but ££££ without the fanciness of cheap coilovers
meisterr - zeta crd or clubsport - They seem to be the go to route for a lot of people having having heard so many bad stories about "cheap" coilovers over the years I'm worried that they might be a little bit... crap? I've seen more than a handful of people on mx5 fourms say that they have had issues, but they get shouted down and/or their posts deleted which is
HSDs/Teins/BR racing etc - I think i've read that a lot of these cheap coilovers are all coming out of the same factor with slightly different spring rates - Genuinely how do they stand up to the test of time? Even if my NC did die I'd be looking to use the suspension on another car, but I've seen some pictures of coilovers absolutely hanging after a few years of being used on the road
Thoughts applicated
Hi
I fitted the MeisterR CRD to my NC, this was to do a handful of track days per year and road use.
They have only been fitted for a couple of months, but they are great. I recommend the adjustment extensions to make life easy.
I have done one track day since fitting and the handling was incredible.
Hope this helps in some way with the decision making
I fitted the MeisterR CRD to my NC, this was to do a handful of track days per year and road use.
They have only been fitted for a couple of months, but they are great. I recommend the adjustment extensions to make life easy.
I have done one track day since fitting and the handling was incredible.
Hope this helps in some way with the decision making
freedee said:
Hi
I fitted the MeisterR CRD to my NC, this was to do a handful of track days per year and road use.
They have only been fitted for a couple of months, but they are great. I recommend the adjustment extensions to make life easy.
I have done one track day since fitting and the handling was incredible.
Hope this helps in some way with the decision making
Hi thanks for the reply I fitted the MeisterR CRD to my NC, this was to do a handful of track days per year and road use.
They have only been fitted for a couple of months, but they are great. I recommend the adjustment extensions to make life easy.
I have done one track day since fitting and the handling was incredible.
Hope this helps in some way with the decision making
They do seem to have really great reviews at least in the short term, I'm very tempted. Again Thanks for the post!
I have the MeisterR on my 2009 NC2 Sport Tech and find that they are great on track but still pliant enough for road use, although my car may be dropped a little lower than is necessary.
Not sure which version they are as they were fitted by the previous owner, but they do work really well.
For example:
Not sure which version they are as they were fitted by the previous owner, but they do work really well.
For example:
I went straight to MeisterR CRD's and swerved new shock/springs varieties.
The price was right and they handle the ride right too.
The fact they are adjustable in both height and bump/rebound was an added bonus.
You might need to just up your budget with todays purchase prices to allow for fitting (if you're not doing DIY) and deffo a 4 wheel alignment after.
The price was right and they handle the ride right too.
The fact they are adjustable in both height and bump/rebound was an added bonus.
You might need to just up your budget with todays purchase prices to allow for fitting (if you're not doing DIY) and deffo a 4 wheel alignment after.
Hopefully they do you well,
I had BC's on my previous NB and found the sport bilstein shocks and lowering springs to be amazing on the NC with no plan to change. I daren't touch it for fear of making it worse.
I was told by someone it's the same setup they use on the MX5 cup cars but not sure if that is true.
I had BC's on my previous NB and found the sport bilstein shocks and lowering springs to be amazing on the NC with no plan to change. I daren't touch it for fear of making it worse.
I was told by someone it's the same setup they use on the MX5 cup cars but not sure if that is true.
Hey all, I thought I'd give some closure to this.
I had a slightly delayed but much welcome delivery
Fitted them - Really easy, about 45-60 mins a corner, only a few bolts. Rears where a bit interesting getting out due to the top hats, but I ended up standing on the Hub to get clearance, and hey, it worked
Alignment was a bit of a failure. A few adjustments bolt were seized, but It's a 160k £800 mx5 that would have likely ended in a scrappy, so I can't complain.
Done as close to the "fast road" WIM settings as we could get. Is said to promote understeer which is very welcome, as on the standard suspension I have had the back end step out at speed on hoons when I didn't really expect it
Then time to test!
I'm surprised at the amount of body roll in photos, the car felt wonderful to me and my friend, car could be balanced lovely on the throttle.
We were the slowest thing there, EVERYTHING on this track day had cages and semi slicks, while we had a £800 160k mx5 on road going hanhooks that cost £50, including the wheels
, but I think the car gave a good account of itself.
Car iz on IL Motorsport roll bars as well, I clearly need thicker ones, as well as a roll over bar and some semi slicks, but my word, what a difference the coilovers made. The blisteins were so worn it was like driving a boat before, I'd be gripping onto the sides of the steering wheel trying to keep myself in place, now it's amazing!
The adjustable damping made a huge difference, going from 12 clicks from hard to 6 clicks made a mega, mega difference in itself.
I do have slight regrets not going for the harder club races as I'm running the dampers quite stiff, but, given its a daily and I'm planning a European tour in it, I suppose the softer rates of the zeta crds are much better for daily usage.
For anyone on the fence, just bite the bullet and do it! Absolutely transformative, I am so, so, SO very pleased with the difference they have made
Thanks for the help everyone!
I had a slightly delayed but much welcome delivery
Fitted them - Really easy, about 45-60 mins a corner, only a few bolts. Rears where a bit interesting getting out due to the top hats, but I ended up standing on the Hub to get clearance, and hey, it worked
Alignment was a bit of a failure. A few adjustments bolt were seized, but It's a 160k £800 mx5 that would have likely ended in a scrappy, so I can't complain.
Done as close to the "fast road" WIM settings as we could get. Is said to promote understeer which is very welcome, as on the standard suspension I have had the back end step out at speed on hoons when I didn't really expect it
Then time to test!
I'm surprised at the amount of body roll in photos, the car felt wonderful to me and my friend, car could be balanced lovely on the throttle.
We were the slowest thing there, EVERYTHING on this track day had cages and semi slicks, while we had a £800 160k mx5 on road going hanhooks that cost £50, including the wheels
, but I think the car gave a good account of itself.Car iz on IL Motorsport roll bars as well, I clearly need thicker ones, as well as a roll over bar and some semi slicks, but my word, what a difference the coilovers made. The blisteins were so worn it was like driving a boat before, I'd be gripping onto the sides of the steering wheel trying to keep myself in place, now it's amazing!
The adjustable damping made a huge difference, going from 12 clicks from hard to 6 clicks made a mega, mega difference in itself.
I do have slight regrets not going for the harder club races as I'm running the dampers quite stiff, but, given its a daily and I'm planning a European tour in it, I suppose the softer rates of the zeta crds are much better for daily usage.
For anyone on the fence, just bite the bullet and do it! Absolutely transformative, I am so, so, SO very pleased with the difference they have made
Thanks for the help everyone!
I have Meister GT1's fitted on my Mk1 and can't speak highly enough of them, especially being able to adjust them without having to get down and dirty!
A few general points:-
Yours does seem to have quite a lot of body roll in the pics, especially as you're down to 6 clicks off fully hard.
I've found that two clicks harder on the front than on the rear reduces the likelihood of the car porpoising over undulating surfaces.
It could be partly passenger weight - he/she looks pretty big from the pics.
More likely are the anti-roll bar bushes needing replacing.
Nothing wrong with standard ones but poly bushes worth looking at for track days.
Have you checked the ride height when laden?
Easy to do with a few bags of sand on the seats (you can measure unladen but weighted is best).
Measure from the underside of the wheel-arch to the centre of the hubs and adjust the shocks accordingly (there will be info on other forums for your particular model). Adjust the ride height after a few hundred miles as the springs will settle.
Happy motoring
A few general points:-
Yours does seem to have quite a lot of body roll in the pics, especially as you're down to 6 clicks off fully hard.
I've found that two clicks harder on the front than on the rear reduces the likelihood of the car porpoising over undulating surfaces.
It could be partly passenger weight - he/she looks pretty big from the pics.
More likely are the anti-roll bar bushes needing replacing.
Nothing wrong with standard ones but poly bushes worth looking at for track days.
Have you checked the ride height when laden?
Easy to do with a few bags of sand on the seats (you can measure unladen but weighted is best).
Measure from the underside of the wheel-arch to the centre of the hubs and adjust the shocks accordingly (there will be info on other forums for your particular model). Adjust the ride height after a few hundred miles as the springs will settle.
Happy motoring
pewe said:
I have Meister GT1's fitted on my Mk1 and can't speak highly enough of them, especially being able to adjust them without having to get down and dirty!
A few general points:-
Yours does seem to have quite a lot of body roll in the pics, especially as you're down to 6 clicks off fully hard.
I've found that two clicks harder on the front than on the rear reduces the likelihood of the car porpoising over undulating surfaces.
It could be partly passenger weight - he/she looks pretty big from the pics.
More likely are the anti-roll bar bushes needing replacing.
Nothing wrong with standard ones but poly bushes worth looking at for track days.
Have you checked the ride height when laden?
Easy to do with a few bags of sand on the seats (you can measure unladen but weighted is best).
Measure from the underside of the wheel-arch to the centre of the hubs and adjust the shocks accordingly (there will be info on other forums for your particular model). Adjust the ride height after a few hundred miles as the springs will settle.
Happy motoring
Hi, thanks for the reply!A few general points:-
Yours does seem to have quite a lot of body roll in the pics, especially as you're down to 6 clicks off fully hard.
I've found that two clicks harder on the front than on the rear reduces the likelihood of the car porpoising over undulating surfaces.
It could be partly passenger weight - he/she looks pretty big from the pics.
More likely are the anti-roll bar bushes needing replacing.
Nothing wrong with standard ones but poly bushes worth looking at for track days.
Have you checked the ride height when laden?
Easy to do with a few bags of sand on the seats (you can measure unladen but weighted is best).
Measure from the underside of the wheel-arch to the centre of the hubs and adjust the shocks accordingly (there will be info on other forums for your particular model). Adjust the ride height after a few hundred miles as the springs will settle.
Happy motoring
Thank you for the advice - The passenger was me and yes, I am quite wide and tall so yet more that the suspension has to deal with!
From a quick look it sounds that the GT1s run a 12.5KG Front spring and 7kg rear for the NA/NB set - The zetas crds for the NC are just 6KG front and 5kg rear and the clubsports are 10kg front and 5kg rear, your GT1s are TWICE as firm as these zetas!
The bodyroll is a bit disappointing the pictures - The Anti roll bar bushes were changed along with whatever was bundled with the IL motorsport ali anti roll bars I fitted a while ago with brand new drop links, believe it or not :-\
I'm hoping that the IL bars, while an improvement over stock, aren't quite beefy enough for the body control I want, especially with the softer springs. 22mm dimeter front and 15mm rear if I recall correctly, while some options go as thick as 27mm front and 17mm rear, so I think that will be the next step. If not, there will be some "lightly" used CRDS for sale soon
The debate between Zetas and the clubsports are a hot topic, it was in fact a youtuber with the clubsports and a very well sorted NC that advised that they thought the clubsports were arguably a bit too much for even semi slick tyres on track and that the zeta would be ok which convinced me, as I'm not track day expert and the car is primarily a hoon car, secondary a daily and only for track use third. I am a bit disappointed right now, but I'm sure when I'm doing my europe road trip and in the car for 10 hours a day later this year I'll be thankful I went for the softer springs
Good tip on the damper settings and measuring the ride height when loaded up - I shall get a baby hippo in the driver's seat to simulate my weight and try and adjust from there. I'll be honest I set the ride height way too low to begin with and then raised it to the current height very quick and dirty style to make it to the alignment appointment so some tweaking may be required, especially looking at the pictures.
Thanks again, safe driving
WorldBoss said:
The debate between Zetas and the clubsports are a hot topic, it was in fact a youtuber with the clubsports and a very well sorted NC that advised that they thought the clubsports were arguably a bit too much for even semi slick tyres on track and that the zeta would be ok which convinced me, as I'm not track day expert and the car is primarily a hoon car, secondary a daily and only for track use third. I am a bit disappointed right now, but I'm sure when I'm doing my europe road trip and in the car for 10 hours a day later this year I'll be thankful I went for the softer springs
Until few weeks ago, I had ClubSports on my NC2, with no other suspension mods. I used them with semi slicks for the occasional track day and they were excellent. Certainly not "a "bit too much".However, on road, they were a bit to much, and I've swapped them for some ZetaCRDs which are much better.
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