Kings on stock shocks

[crzymx]

Correct me if i am wrong, but i have searched for appropriate information but what i found didnt help much. I found one post that stated the stock shocks were gone after 4 weeks with kings, but nothing else really helpful.

Could someone please give me some insight into kings on stock shocks. Now keep in mind this is a road car, im not very pedantic about handling ra ra ra. For now i just want to lower the car by about 30 mm because my new rims have increased the gap between guards and tyres.

If i do decide to buy kings and put them on my stock shocks, what will/has happened?

[feel_ixx]

A friend of mine has on his NB stock shocks, had no problems so far. I'm also putting them on stock NB shocks, they should be ok if you dont go too hard too much

[crzymx]

Yeah seems to me like a good idea, i was gonna go all out with shocks, but im starting to not want to do it anymore after having a word with my mech.

[feel_ixx]

yeah i say if you want performance go coilovers. But you just want to lower it, you'll be fine with stock shocks.

[crzymx]

Thankyou, someone that understands. But it def needs the lower with the new wheels. Even my uncle (mechanic) who is a mad ford fan saw it and said sh*t it needs to be dropped.

I just dont want the shocks going on me.

[mhj]

my nba has lower springs (brand unknown)and stock shocks
documentation indicates they are from new....now done 26k....they feel heaps better than the standard set up on my previous nba ( 86k)....i say go for it
enjoy

[crzymx]

Thanks mate. Im all about neccessity in my eyes, and only mildly interested in performance/handling for now. Im more interested with asthetics as im happy with the stock setup. However if you see the pics in my other thread you will understand my lowering query.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=34034&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=30

[stevesports]

I would be careful that the spring is matched to your shock.

it, tyres and brakes are the things i believe you shouldn't scrimp on because they are the ones responsible for the only things that are touching the ground, and the things that stop you!

re: suspension, i suspect that if you put on stiffer springs to your original shocks, it will mean that the shocks is too soft to the spring. In such case, it is likely that you will hit the bump stops many times and then eventually wear them out. Of course, what this means initially is that the ride will be bouncy and every now and again, you will hit the rubber bump stops and feel a crash. onnce the bump stops wear out, essentially you are hitting metal. This could adversely affect the car and could possibly upset the car mid corner or similar.

in any case, just some food for thought. Your car, your decisions.

[philz]

I just dont want the shocks going on me.

If you are worried, then get Koni's or KYB shocks, do it once do it right.

What's the point spending $200 for installing the springs, later on they may leak, then spend an extra $200 on removing and installing the shocks+springs.

I guess it just depends, on whether that $200 is important to you.

[crzymx]

Installation is irrelevant, so if the shocks start leaking i can just buy new ones.

[Charlie Brown]

I’ll just drop in here and say a couple of things.

1. If your car is on its standard original shocks and you have 120,000+ kilometres up on the clock then your shocks are gone and need replacing.
2. Using Kings with standard (working) shocks is fine. The King spring rate is only 30% firmer than standard.
3. Using Kings doesn’t mean you’ll hit the bump stops more, it’s actually the opposite. Logic will tell you that if you need more force to compress the stiffer spring then it is harder to compress it enough to reach the bump stop.
4. Bump stops are a very important part of the MX-5 suspension and act as a firm, controllable, compressible “spring”. There are plenty of sites to read up on this.
5. Many, myself included in the past, have found that the standard universal KYB (non adjustable) shock absorber is too firm, overpowering the standard springs on an NA making the ride unpleasant.

Hope that helps some.

[Matty]

3. Using Kings doesn’t mean you’ll hit the bump stops more, it’s actually the opposite. Logic will tell you that if you need more force to compress the stiffer spring then it is harder to compress it enough to reach the bump stop.

If the Kings lower say by an inch, and you only had 1.5 inches of clearance to the bumpstops to begin with, then you would have to TRIPLE the spring rate to avoid the bumpstops... 30% stiffer isn't going to cut it.

However, I've never seen a definitive answer on what the Kings rate is - I would love to know. They say 30% is typical, but then they also say they are progressive. So by the time they are in their effective range, the rate may be much higher. As far as I can tell the 'progressive' part is only to stop the spring coming free at full droop.

http://www.kingsprings.com/progressive_rate_info.htm

Example:

Original Spring Rate 120lb/"
Heavy Duty Linear Spring Rate 160lb/"
King Performance Progressive Spring Rate 130lb/" to 200lb/"

[crzymx]

Is there a possibility that shocks can remain working after 120.000 k's?

This is all very confusing to me, i think i will go for the springs for now and decide whether or not i need shocks.

[StanTheMan]

I'll give your shocks 4-6 weeks. Once the Kings are installed
they will be gone to heaven via hell.

The shocks will not be able to handle the extra pressure on them from the harder spring rate.

mine were gone within 4 weeks. with about 100k km on them.

[Charlie Brown]

Is there a possibility that shocks can remain working after 120.000 k's?

Highly unlikely. Remember these shocks cost Mazda $13ea originally.

This is all very confusing to me, i think i will go for the springs for now and decide whether or not i need shocks.

If it's money that's the problem, you would be better off getting the shocks and not the springs. They will improve the handling, braking and safety of the car.

No use having an accident and then saying, "Gee the lowered car looked great, shame about the telegraph pole getting intimate with my door. Maybe I should have fitted new shocks"

Check the used parts section. Normally there’re a few sets of springs going cheap at around $100 – 150 or even a set of low Klm SE shocks.