Suspension/Handling - Sway Bars...

[JSE]

I just put some new springs on my Miata and lowered it 1 1/4 inches. The ride is pretty sweet with the Bilstein Shocks and I have noticed slighty better handling when cornering.
Being the rev-head I am and wanting to blow every cent I earn on my little blue baby, I am considering putting Front and Rear Adjustable Sway Bars on it (89 Miata/Roadster).
Who has put sway bars on this NA model and noticed considerable handling improvements or not much? Any comments?

Cheers, JSE

[Craig]

You'll get a million different conflicting replies what to do re sways. My 94 NA was and still is perfectly neutral with 3mm larger front and rear bars supplied by Eastcoast Suspension in Sydney. Others will say only to do the front and leave the rear standard, or even remove the rear bar but I can only offer the experience of what worked for me. Have fun!

[StanTheMan]

for a start.......its an MX5

whats best for you....we'll argue all day.

I put a NB8a Sway in the front. I believe it is a 22mm sway bar.This made it understeer like a pig. after mucking around with damping adjustments & air pressure. Its quite good now. but without the adjusment possebileties. I would have put the old one back in. or get the NB8A rear one to compliment the front..

didn't seem as though it made me any quicker. Certainly more compfortable.

In my opinion.....see if you can drive someones car whose set up you think you like. Try it out. take it from there.

[smiles]

for a start.......its an MX5

whats best for you....we'll argue all day.

I put a NB8a Sway in the front. I believe it is a 22mm sway bar.This made it understeer like a pig. after mucking around with damping adjustments & air pressure. Its quite good now. but without the adjusment possebileties. I would have put the old one back in. or get the NB8A rear one to compliment the front..

didn't seem as though it made me any quicker. Certainly more compfortable.

In my opinion.....see if you can drive someones car whose set up you think you like. Try it out. take it from there.

What, no mention of COW ...

[Okibi]

.. and the best way to do that is join your local MX-5 club.

For more details you could look online at http://www.mx5.com.au but the site is down.

[StanTheMan]

ohhh yes........OMFG ......COW.


let the entertainment begin

[Garry]

Do you really need sways AND stiffer springs? To much roll stiffness isn't a good thing, especially in the rain.

[sab]

I have Whiteline adjustables front and rear. Very happy with them.

Car rides very flat in corners and doesn't feel like a boat.

My NA is also very low and helps keep the tyres from touching the guards and inner linings.

See...Nice and flat!

[Rob E]

Do you really need sways AND stiffer springs? To much roll stiffness isn't a good thing, especially in the rain.

Good point Garry - many people overlook that stiffer springs provide added roll resistance. I went from heavy flying miata sways back to stock as the heavy bars really robbed the car of its trademark handling.

[CT]

Do you really need sways AND stiffer springs? To much roll stiffness isn't a good thing, especially in the rain.

Good point Garry - many people overlook that stiffer springs provide added roll resistance. I went from heavy flying miata sways back to stock as the heavy bars really robbed the car of its trademark handling.

It's an interesting argument but I think the evidence of them working together is available. I logged lap times with each modification and there's not doubt both sways and stiffer springs seperately and independently gave improvements. I think the point is that tuning of each car specifically to the owner is probably the key. Fixing what is actually the problem is the trick. Does the car pitch forward and radward too much, then fix it with springs. If it's body roll is out of control, fix it with sways. A well matched setup is always the preference as some weight transfer and some roll is good.