Shockers.

shelleriffic · Postby **shelleriffic** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:07 pm

Hey,

I'm a bit of an amateur when it comes to cars, but I was just after some advice on some new shockers to get for my MX5. If anyone could offer some advice on what kind to get, maybe even approx. costs, that'd be a huge help. Thanks!

Matty · Postby **Matty** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:26 pm

Koni.

Bevan · Postby **Bevan** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:31 pm

What year MX5 do you have? There's been quite a few second hand setups lately due to people upgrading to coilover suspension.

I've got a Koni shock/Eibach spring setup and I couldn't be happier.

Slugoid · Postby **Slugoid** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:38 pm

I have Koni shocks/King springs and I'm really happy with it. It's a really good budget setup without going to coilovers.

I have also heard KYB AGX shocks to be alright too, but don't take my word for it. They are cheaper than the Koni's, but not height adjustable. People say it's easier to adjust on the KYB's but I reckon it's just as easy with the Koni's.

Postby **Okibi** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:50 pm

shelleriffic have you joined your local MX-5 club?

I seem to remember a great article in their club magazine about springs and shocks.

Perhaps someone here has it on pdf.

shelleriffic · Postby **shelleriffic** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:12 pm

Bevan wrote:What year MX5 do you have? There's been quite a few second hand setups lately due to people upgrading to coilover suspension.

I've got a Koni shock/Eibach spring setup and I couldn't be happier.

I've got an oldie, but great condition, 1989 MX5! The rides become very rough in the past months, and I'm going to do the back two first, then the front when my budget allows for it. So I'm not looking for anything terribly expensive, just enough to do the job well.

shelleriffic · Postby **shelleriffic** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:22 pm

Slugoid wrote:I have Koni shocks/King springs and I'm really happy with it. It's a really good budget setup without going to coilovers.

I have also heard KYB AGX shocks to be alright too, but don't take my word for it. They are cheaper than the Koni's, but not height adjustable. People say it's easier to adjust on the KYB's but I reckon it's just as easy with the Koni's.

Thank you! Can I ask a rough cost to give me an idea?

jules · Postby **jules** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:34 pm

I would not do just the front or the back!

That could be a recipe for disaster.
I would rather buy the back set first and sit them under the bed until I could afford to get the front set as well.

Jules

shelleriffic · Postby **shelleriffic** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:39 pm

jules wrote:I would not do just the front or the back!

That could be a recipe for disaster.
I would rather buy the back set first and sit them under the bed until I could afford to get the front set as well.

Jules

How come that'd be a bad move to make?

jules · Postby **jules** » Mon May 08, 2006 6:03 pm

Because I would rather have a balanced car (even bad on all four corners) than have the rear really grippy and the front all loose and unpredictable.

Jules

adamjp · Postby **adamjp** » Mon May 08, 2006 6:17 pm

I'm with Jules to some extent....

If I had to choose an end to do first, I would go the front...it is the end that stops you, steers you and carries most of the weight of the car. The other end just gets the power down - I will take loose power delivery over loose braking and steering any day.

I'm with Bevan

I've got a Koni shock/Eibach spring setup and I couldn't be happier.

Thanks to Steve Tinker in QLD I got them at a steal too!

Slugoid · Postby **Slugoid** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:04 pm

shelleriffic wrote:Thank you! Can I ask a rough cost to give me an idea?

Cheapest I've been quoted was around $900 for a set of 4's (front and rears). Mx5mania sells them for $995.

Best way is to hunt around for 2nd hand ones, then get them tested and rebuilt if needed. I found my set of Koni's here for a very reasonable price

.

rodent · Postby **rodent** » Tue May 09, 2006 2:32 pm

While at Straight-Talk the other day Louie was going on about how much better the Aus-spec KYB AGX's are over the Konis. Something about having both dampening and rebound adjustments, as opposed to just dampening on the Konis.

Also, even the softest settings on Jap-spec shocks (be it Konis, KYBs, Teins or whatever) are apparently still too hard for Australian conditions.

All news to me, and (potential COW issues aside) very enlightening.

jonno.

Matty · Postby **Matty** » Tue May 09, 2006 2:39 pm

Konis aren't Japanese :roll:

Many Jap shocks have had a reputation for being overly stiff. Fulcrum have Australian spec Teins that should be more suitable.

Compression damping adjustment is largely unnecessary as it is primarily a requirement of the vehicle weight, not of the springs. Not many people alter the weight in any significant way. Hence, rebound-only adjustment is usually fine.

rodent · Postby **rodent** » Tue May 09, 2006 3:42 pm

Matty wrote:Konis aren't Japanese

Haha I just realised that. He probably said "imported" or something...

Matty wrote:Compression damping adjustment is largely unnecessary as it is primarily a requirement of the vehicle weight, not of the springs. Not many people alter the weight in any significant way. Hence, rebound-only adjustment is usually fine.

Very interesting. I'm a suspension newb too so this is great info.

jonno.