Help with suspension and brakes

Bewildered · Postby **Bewildered** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 8:32 am

I was hoping if any one is able to help. I want to replace the suspension on my car and possibly lower it. I thought of putting Blistien dampers and coils but would wecome any advise, buget is limited.

I would also like to replace brake pads all around but i have not had any experance. I have seen the artical " What,s stopping you" in Mxtra but i still had a bit some trouble working it out

Tool are liited but i do have jack and stands and i am more than happy to drive to work on the car

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:06 am

Look at this link for clues on doing the brakes http://www.miata.net/garage/garagehandling.html.

You may need a decent repair manual too - not Haynes.

I think Bilstein dampers etc. and a limited budget may be mutually exclusive terms. Try a search on the forums here on springs and shocks for clues. Don't use the American forum for this or you'll get completely confused. Many people here have Koni adjustable shocks and Kings springs which are probably the most affordable.

I'm just guessing here that you are in the Melbourne area and in the Victorian MX-5 club - it pays to belong

. If so, talk to your president and/or president of vice for more info on places to trust in your area.

Bewildered · Postby **Bewildered** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 12:26 pm

I have spoken to the prezz and he suggested posting on the chat site

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:00 pm

Well that as helpful :roll:

.

You'll be needing to answer these questions then:

1. What model, year, engine capacity and your location (amending your profile and/or signature will do that)
2. What modifications have been done to it?
3. Why do you need new brakes?
4. Do you need new discs and pads or just pads and disc machining?
5. Do you want to upgrade to bigger, slotted, drilled discs?
6. How long since the hydraulics were serviced?
7. Why do you need new suspension?
8. Why do you want to lower the car?
9. How far do want to lower it?
10. Are you in a secure job?

11. How much do you want to spend on brakes?
12. How much do you want to spend on shocks?
13. How much do you want to spend on springs?
14. How much do you want to compromise the ride and handling?
15. Can you do any of the work yourself?
16. Any other forms of income?

17. Total budget available?

Matty · Postby **Matty** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:19 pm

JBT wrote:Well that as helpful .

thanks John.

just trying to get him exposed to as much help as possible, given that he wanted to DIY (with some help from experienced people).

Depending on when and where I might be available to help. Just keep us posted.

On a limited budget I'd just do Konis and standard springs.

Bewildered · Postby **Bewildered** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:36 pm

Thanks for the help.

1/ 1996 LTD Neon Green
2/ No modifications done at all
3/ More specific i need to replace the pads
4/ Have no idea when the hydraulics where last done and one i think is required. Fluid was done a year a go
5/ I need suspension as the original is still on the car whic has 190K on the clock
6/ The car has a lean to the right. The left hand side is slightly higher than the right and i want the car to be leavel
7/ I was thinking to go with the common set up Koni dampers and King srings.
8/ Prefer handling over ride comfort

I am unable to do any work as my tool kit is limited and i would like to learn so in the future i could carry these repairs out my self as i enjoy working on the car. I do the minor repairs such as oil water plugs filters and bleed brake fluid but other than that no other experiance and need a guiding hand

Matty · Postby **Matty** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 2:55 pm

Start by choosing the pads, fluid, shocks and springs you want. (read forums, check with vendors etc)

then once you have them (or know when they're arriving), ask if anyone is available to help you out installing.

ps free pizzas will help drag some out of the woodwork...

you can of course do the brakes one day and the suspension another. Helps to build your familiarity.

Bewildered · Postby **Bewildered** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:13 pm

Thanks for that. Just needed a place to start

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 4:25 pm

Matty wrote:thanks John. just trying to get him exposed to as much help as possible, given that he wanted to DIY (with some help from experienced people).

Ha ha, I guess my sarcasm got the better of me. But I did get you to help him a bit :mrgreen:

.

Anyway what Matty said (crawl, crawl)

. My car was also sagged on the right side and shocks were 116,000km. I replaced my suspension with standard ride height Kings and adjustable Konis. All up, fitted, with 4 wheel alignment was just under $1,800 with club discount. Ride and handling are better than standard.

Pad wear limit is something like 1mm and they do have wear squealers. Are they worn or not working very well? Have a good look at them, they may be OK and you just may need a fluid flush. Should do a hydraulic fluid flush (clutch and brake) every 24 months at least. If the car is used mostly for street, I'd recommend OEM pads. About $100 front set and $140 rear set with club discount + labour (beer/pizza) to fit.

sabretooth · Postby **sabretooth** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:44 pm

http://forums.sabretooth.id.au/viewtopic.php?t=61 - Konis
http://forums.sabretooth.id.au/viewtopic.php?t=64 - Brake pads

I wrote both of those when doing my Konis and brake pads. I've tried to be as descriptive as possible, but any commentary on the articles is welcome. (that's my site, by the way)

Postby **Okibi** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:48 pm

Did someone say FREE PIZZA?

sabretooth · Postby **sabretooth** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:51 pm

JBT wrote:Well that as helpful .

You'll be needing to answer these questions then:

1. What model, year, engine capacity and your location (amending your profile and/or signature will do that)
2. What modifications have been done to it?
3. Why do you need new brakes?
4. Do you need new discs and pads or just pads and disc machining?
5. Do you want to upgrade to bigger, slotted, drilled discs?
6. How long since the hydraulics were serviced?
7. Why do you need new suspension?
8. Why do you want to lower the car?
9. How far do want to lower it?
10. Are you in a secure job?
11. How much do you want to spend on brakes?
12. How much do you want to spend on shocks?
13. How much do you want to spend on springs?
14. How much do you want to compromise the ride and handling?
15. Can you do any of the work yourself?
16. Any other forms of income?
17. Total budget available?

18. What are you wearing?

Fra66L · Postby **Fra66L** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:49 pm

sabretooth wrote:18. What are you wearing?

Oh cool - Brisbane's answer to Craig!

Nice one Sabre...

Bewildered · Postby **Bewildered** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 9:40 pm

Thanks for all the help guys. I,ve had a look at the links thanks Sabretooth
Have an other question for any one? On the Clubman Bilstien shocks were used in the suspension set up is it worth using the same set up? On a 96 1.8 as it would have the same weight for the sprung and un-sprung weight.
I've been going around in circles so much so that i'm just about to diapear up my own rectum.

And you bet there will be free pizza and beer :shock:

Matty · Postby **Matty** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 11:30 am

The Clubman Bilsteins have a pretty average rap for their ride quality. search enough on miataforum (same shocks fitted to their R-package model), but basically they have much higher bump damping than the standard OEM shocks - and I mean like 3-4 times stiffer!

Otherwise they would work pretty well, but any that you could get your hand on would have a few k's on them by now - better to get something new.

If you're on a budget, stick to the known quantities, eg Koni shocks, and don't go too low on the springs unless you increase the apring rate a decent amount and/or get some shorter bumpstops - talk to Shaikh_A on the big forum...