NC trackday coilovers

Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, zombie, Andrew, -alex, miata

User avatar
Custardtart
Racing Driver
Posts: 700
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 1:48 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

NC trackday coilovers

Postby Custardtart » Wed Apr 18, 2018 1:00 pm

Any recommendations for trackday coilovers and anti roll bars for an NC?
Budget is under $2k (Ohlins are too exy) and would ideally like dyno sheets and ali construction.

Would also appreciate thoughts on spring and roll bar rates and camber set up for running R compound tyres.

Any help on where to buy from would be good. Don’t mind shipping in from abroad.

Thanks in advance.
NC1 - 2.5 opposite lock device
Lakeside 62.3

User avatar
JBT
Speed Racer
Posts: 7946
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 11:00 am
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby JBT » Wed Apr 18, 2018 4:38 pm

Tein Flex Z is probably all you need. Whiteline adjustable sway bars are OK but probably overkill with the Tein set-up. I kept the sway bars on mine but, had them on with the stock springs/shocks before getting the Teins.
Image

Snowmotion
Racing Driver
Posts: 750
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:47 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Sydney

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby Snowmotion » Wed Apr 18, 2018 4:43 pm

I know you said the budget was sub $2k but I recently fitted a set of MCA Race Prime (Red) to my 2006 NC and am very happy with the performance.
Only one outing so far at Wakefield and the Eastern Creek this weekend.
This is a track car only.
NB8A| WP 1:15.6 | SMP-S 1:08.56 | SMP-N 1:21.35
NC1| WP 1:09.42 | SMP-S 1:03.191 | SMP-N 1:16.1856 | SMP-GP 1:48.288

User avatar
NitroDann
Forum sponsor
Posts: 10280
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:10 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Newcastle NSW
Contact:

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby NitroDann » Wed Apr 18, 2018 5:05 pm

I don't have a lot of experience with NC's so when our shop was tasked with preparing Peter Barnwells NC for trackdays I asked everyone I trusted. The people I asked have owned dozens and dozens of race NC's between them and absolutely everyone said to get the Yellowspeed Comp coilovers with the race spring rates (which I cannot remember, might have been 14/11 or similar). Every single person said to use them along with OEM swaybars, the combo has proven to be quick and extremely easy to drive fast.

Dann
http://www.NitroDann.com

speed wrote:If I was to do it again, I wouldn't even consider the supercharger.

User avatar
Custardtart
Racing Driver
Posts: 700
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 1:48 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby Custardtart » Thu Apr 19, 2018 9:18 am

Thanks for the replies. I’m going to be doing some sprints and hillclimbs across qld and nsw, I’ll post a thread on progress in Garage Chat.

Hmmm MCA race is a tad over budget but I’ve heard they do a lot to help with set up?

Dann, YellowSpeed looks good, they recommend having a chat about spring rates but off the shelf track rates are around what you mentioned.

I had a look at the Teins but tbh they are a good price but don’t hit the spec I’ve got budget for.

There’s mountains of info in Na/nb set ups but the nc has probably only just come into a reasonable price point for modding so not so much info around. Appreciate your help.

Sway bars seem hugely expensive and I want to make sure I match them up with the spring rates. Can anyone recommend sizes? Is it the same as the NA where you leave the rear stock (generally speaking)?
NC1 - 2.5 opposite lock device
Lakeside 62.3

User avatar
NitroDann
Forum sponsor
Posts: 10280
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:10 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Newcastle NSW
Contact:

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby NitroDann » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:04 am

We bought adjustable whitelines, I cannot remember the size the owner requested, but again, we were repeatedly told to use the big rate coilovers and stock swaybars, afterall, the swaybars only help to tune the balance mid corner against the springs. With enough spring there is no issue with body roll.

So we ran the big rate yellowspeeds and stock swaybars and everyone who has dríven it thinks its a blast thats very confidence inspiring to drive.

Peter always talks about how the car just allows him to drive around a lot of people. he isn't being arrogant about how quick he/the car is, just that it's so unchallenging to drive quick and that it works really well.

Dann
http://www.NitroDann.com

speed wrote:If I was to do it again, I wouldn't even consider the supercharger.

User avatar
Custardtart
Racing Driver
Posts: 700
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 1:48 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby Custardtart » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:37 am

NitroDann wrote: it's so unchallenging to drive quick and that it works really well.

Dann

This sums up the difference between the NC and earlier models I think
NC1 - 2.5 opposite lock device
Lakeside 62.3

MrTurkey
Driver
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue May 29, 2018 4:03 pm
Vehicle: NC

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby MrTurkey » Fri Aug 03, 2018 5:20 pm

So, which ones were purchased Custardtart?

This thread makes me want the Yellowspeed Comps (if the price is right). What do they go for and where can I get some?

I have been watching the MCA's too, they look the goods as well.

Snowmotion
Racing Driver
Posts: 750
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:47 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Sydney

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby Snowmotion » Fri Aug 03, 2018 5:36 pm

The price difference between the Yellowspeed comps and the MCA Race Prime is not as far apart as you may think.

If I remember correctly I paid around $2600 for the MCA and the Yellowspeed were around the $2200 mark.
I am running the Race Prime with (12kg / 6kg) and am getting some good times and the car is nice and neutral on the stock sway bars.
Doing 1:10's at Wakefield and 1:04's at SMP-south.
NB8A| WP 1:15.6 | SMP-S 1:08.56 | SMP-N 1:21.35
NC1| WP 1:09.42 | SMP-S 1:03.191 | SMP-N 1:16.1856 | SMP-GP 1:48.288

User avatar
Custardtart
Racing Driver
Posts: 700
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 1:48 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby Custardtart » Fri Aug 03, 2018 6:49 pm

It’s been an interesting journey! What I’ve found backs up Dann’s posts and Snowmotions above in that to see any real time benefit on track the NC needs uber stiff springs.

My car is daily dríven by Mrs Tart so I can’t go to that extreme! :frown:

I will probably go with a softer coilover set up at some point to at least get some adjustability. It’s interesting to hear The stock sway bars give a neutral handling NC. I’ve just taken off the RX8 front sway bar and if that helps reduce the understeer I’ll be sticking with the Bilstein/Eibach set up for a bit longer.

It’s a great compromise set up - and I have a spare set of springs/shock for sale if anyone’s interested :lol:
NC1 - 2.5 opposite lock device
Lakeside 62.3

project.r.racing
Speed Racer
Posts: 3722
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:16 pm
Vehicle: Non MX-5
Location: Glasshouse Mountains, QLD

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby project.r.racing » Sat Aug 04, 2018 11:14 am

$2200 for YSR? wowzers. I paid $1300 for mine new. Where yours some high end race varient?

Snowmotion
Racing Driver
Posts: 750
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:47 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Sydney

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby Snowmotion » Sat Aug 04, 2018 11:22 am

project.r.racing wrote:$2200 for YSR? wowzers. I paid $1300 for mine new. Where yours some high end race varient?


Yes, that was the quoted price for the YSR Race coil overs.
The street versions are much cheaper but for a full time track car I saw little point going down that path.
NB8A| WP 1:15.6 | SMP-S 1:08.56 | SMP-N 1:21.35
NC1| WP 1:09.42 | SMP-S 1:03.191 | SMP-N 1:16.1856 | SMP-GP 1:48.288

Magpie
Speed Racer
Posts: 7468
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:49 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Purga, QLD

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby Magpie » Sat Aug 04, 2018 11:48 am

Custardtart wrote:It’s been an interesting journey! What I’ve found backs up Dann’s posts and Snowmotions above in that to see any real time benefit on track the NC needs uber stiff springs.

However, if the track is smooth then stiff yes, however on a bumpy track like Morgan Park too stiff will cause other handling issues as instead of absorbing bumps it will transmit the bump into the chassis. Sometimes stiff is not the best...

User avatar
Custardtart
Racing Driver
Posts: 700
Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2016 1:48 pm
Vehicle: NC
Location: Brisbane

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby Custardtart » Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:18 am

Magpie wrote:
Custardtart wrote:It’s been an interesting journey! What I’ve found backs up Dann’s posts and Snowmotions above in that to see any real time benefit on track the NC needs uber stiff springs.

However, if the track is smooth then stiff yes, however on a bumpy track like Morgan Park too stiff will cause other handling issues as instead of absorbing bumps it will transmit the bump into the chassis. Sometimes stiff is not the best...

Would the shock adjustment help deal with the bump issues or do you think you’d need a spring change?
If you changed springs, would you need to re-valve the shocks?!!!
Oh dear, I may have opened a can of expensive worms :D does that mean a different set of shocks/springs for a bumpy track?
NC1 - 2.5 opposite lock device
Lakeside 62.3

Magpie
Speed Racer
Posts: 7468
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:49 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Purga, QLD

Re: NC trackday coilovers

Postby Magpie » Sun Aug 05, 2018 6:29 pm

You could have a set of springs for each track but that is going too far. Pick a compromise and play with the settings on the damper :)

I have about 5 sets of springs at home :(


Return to “MX5 Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 39 guests