Scuttle Shake - Best bang for buck NA6a ?

[kazjim]

G'day guys, well I've had my 5 for a few months now, so its probably time to start tinkering

its a totally stock 89 Na6a, and driving on any road with more than a hint of a bump ends in lots of shaking (I'm assuming this is scuttle shake!)

I know there are lots of fixes, shock tower braces, underbody braces, roll cages etc etc.. but which gives a good result for the best money ?

I'd rather not have a cage, i like the totally open cabin feel of the stock 5 ....

Quite handy, so can do just about anything myself .... save a few bucks on fitting anyway

Cheers Guys
J

[philz]

I would say underbody brace- flying miata butterfly brace

[StanTheMan]

^^^and a full wheel allignment & ballance just to be sure

[grump]

well the best I have felt is the difference to graemebc's na8 after fitting the mx5plus torque tube roll bar last saturday. you wouldn't think it was the same car.

[Steampunk]

apparently these, according to Boss Frog at least

[StanTheMan]

good chance if its an early NA6 both lower chasis braces are not there. They were satndard on the NA8

http://www.mx5mania.com.au/product649.htm

check if you have them fitted. If you don't fit them both. Then you also need to make sure the wheels are ballanced & aligned.

however as mentioned before the flying miata under body brace will sort it for sure. but its exxy....

[graemebc]

I have braces coming out the wazooo ( yes its painful) the best thing I have fitted and the thing that almost totally eliminated the shake was the torque box roll over bar from mx5plus. 2 hours to fit ( even with grump acting the goose) unobtrusive as far as bars go, if you can call a bar with cross brace behind you head unobtrusive by far and away the best money I have spent on the car. I can not stress enough how much better the car is to drive. Its transformed it. It no longer "rattles' over bumps its absorbs them, even with Teins on. Honestly its so much better its hard to believe.

You need to add bracing at the points of max flex to stop torsional twisting, that is under the car along the rails & between the front pillars and behind your head between the uprights. So two choices bar or frame rails

I would like the boss fig braces too but even those guys and emelio at 949 racing have said they do more to help turn in than stop alot of flex, Still every bit helps hey

[kazjim]

Thanks guys, the Flyin Miata braces look the goods, but i really cant justify that amount of $$$ !!!

I think I'll start off with the Mania chassis braces and see what that feels like, then maybe add an N8 seat-belt tower brace (Had a ride in LVD60'S n8 last night and it felt a lot stiffer than my N6 . . .)

thanks all

J

[Fatty]

I think I'll start off with the Mania chassis braces and see what that feels like, then maybe add an N8 seat-belt tower brace (Had a ride in LVD60'S n8 last night and it felt a lot stiffer than my N6 . . .)

that's exactly what i would do, that should get you a very good improvement, for minimal outlay.

[ampz]

a little bit of bent tube and you have your own underbody chassis braces, if you're handy ;)

[Moto]

apparently these, according to Boss Frog at least

lol @ the 'Straight Cat'

"The Boss Frog "Straight Cat" is a great alternative to knocking the center out of your stock catalytic converter, or buying an expensive high-flow model."


\off topic

[Cent]

You know you love flames!

[graemebc]

flames = but not in the long term if your like your valves

[Muzdaman]

Thanks guys, the Flyin Miata braces look the goods, but i really cant justify that amount of $$$ !!!

I think I'll start off with the Mania chassis braces and see what that feels like, then maybe add an N8 seat-belt tower brace (Had a ride in LVD60'S n8 last night and it felt a lot stiffer than my N6 . . .)

thanks all

J

I have the Mania braces and the NA8 seat belt brace and it stiffened things up nicely.

[Steampunk]

OH!
Actually....!
I completely forgot about my rear upper strut-tower brace (Beatrush).
This was my last suspension/chassis mod and I was pleasantly surprised it made a tangible difference (cause I didn't expect any, and bought it more for the *bling*), even after installing a front strut-brace, big anti-sway bars, and MX-5Plus Torque Box Roll Bar.

Forgot what I paid for it, but I wouldn't have bought it if it was exhorbitant.