Anyone tried the OptionsAustralia MX5 Coilover Kit on ebay?

[Scoota]

Hi Folks.

Has anyone out there tried this kit on ebay?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?viewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=370092496611

Alternatively, item # 370092496611

This seems ludicrously cheap for a lowering kit. They are very vague about the kit in the listing, and they haven't answered any of my questions, so I'm fishing for more details and maybe some feedback from someone that has tried this kit. I'm not about to rush into it, but I am tempted.

Cheers,
Trav.

[philz]

Those are sleeves. Stay away.

Either stick with replacement springs, spring & shock combo or Coilovers.

[Scoota]

I'm confused. Why are sleeves no good? They are basically an adjustable lower spring perch, aren't they? My Koni's have an adjustable lower spring - three slots for the circlip. Surely an infinitely adjustable threaded sleeve would be a more flexible arrangement in terms of tuning potential.

... or am I missing something??

[philz]

Read:
Ground Control, the pioneer in sleeve design technology' utilizes aluminum body sleeve with Eibach race springs. The base of the spring is supported with a single rotational plate with an Allen screw-locking device. What's wrong with this design you ask?
Like all 'sleeve type' coilovers, there is good chance for the sleeve to rotate and thus make the spring slip. This can happen to the enthusiast drivers who like to push the car to the limit. The other thing that worries me is the Allen screw-locking device. A screw that small is given the duties to hold the tension and twist that are generated by the car when an enthusiast drives it.

[Steampunk]

If you think that is cheap, go to eBay US/eBay Motors and see how much they are flogging them off over there for.
I would also question the spring rate. I won't be surprised if the springs are as soft as bed springs.
One word: Dodgy

[solo22]

for every decent mechanism there is a cheap, shitty knockoff.




.... which you can sell to the yankees for a bomb, but don't even think about puttin it on your car...

[Scoota]

Yeah, I agree 1red5, I won't get these until I know what the spring rates are. And I also agree that these are definitely cheap and dodgy, but that doesn't mean they can't be made to work well.

I understand that if the sleeve is not securely anchored to the damper body then it could spin, which would be bad. But I reckon it wouldn't be too hard to get it anchored securely.

Are there any other potential issues that I should know about?

[Mactype]

Read:
Ground Control, the pioneer in sleeve design technology' utilizes aluminum body sleeve with Eibach race springs. The base of the spring is supported with a single rotational plate with an Allen screw-locking device. What's wrong with this design you ask?
Like all 'sleeve type' coilovers, there is good chance for the sleeve to rotate and thus make the spring slip. This can happen to the enthusiast drivers who like to push the car to the limit. The other thing that worries me is the Allen screw-locking device. A screw that small is given the duties to hold the tension and twist that are generated by the car when an enthusiast drives it.

So I'm presuming you have empirical data to back up this sweeping statement?

I'm running a Ground Control/Eibach/Koni Race setup and the car sees a bit of track time. I can see, nor have had any problem with the setup. Their actually a very well made piece of kit.

I'd be more concerned over what valving, spring rate and open and closed lengths of a custom shock setup are. and then what sort of adjustability you have.

[philz]

This was taken from a site, obviously there will be some people for and against.

I havn't never heard many good things from Coilover sleeves.

However I have heard a fair few miata owners using ground control sleeves.

But the OP asked about those Ebay coilover sleeves which I say stay away.

[Mactype]

This was taken from a site, obviously there will be some people for and against.

I havn't never heard many good things from Coilover sleeves.

However I have heard a fair few miata owners using ground control sleeves.

But the OP asked about those Ebay coilover sleeves which I say stay away.

So from this we can take your posts as cut and past opinions with no real evidence to back up your claims good advice!

[meanmx]

From what my little research has shown up these springs are apparently incredibly harsh. The ground controls on the other hand I've heard nothing but good things about. If you really want this type of setup then I would go the extra with ground control. And yes they are alot cheaper in the US of A but the shipping kills it

Ben

[Steampunk]

And yes they are alot cheaper in the US of A but the shipping kills it

Ben

That's not what I meant about being cheaper, I'm alluding to the good ol' saying "you get what you pay for"

[Scoota]

Hey, thanks for the feedback meanmx. Do you know someone that has tried these springs? What makes you say they are harsh?

Keep the comments coming folks. At this stage I am still considering these as a way to give me a way to corner-weight the car, but I won't be getting them if the spring rates aren't in the ball park. I still haven't got an answer from the seller, so I'm totally in the dark about details at the moment.

[nfs13b]

I was just going to put a post up asking about these.... I wanted 2 for the front of my car. I have also emailed them asking about spring rates but not got an answer back yet. as far as securing them, the workshop I use can weld them onto the shock, they do it often with over brand ones.

I guess I will probably be the guinea pig in a couple of weeks...

[OVERDRAWN]

Hi A friend used them on his NA 1.6 with no problems,the springs are quite hard and he had the rate measured,he is away on holiday's so I will post the rates when he returns