Best Bang for Buck handling mod ?

Old Dude · Postby **Old Dude** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 3:29 pm

Hi guys and girls,
I did the search thing and today, Search is not my friend :cry:

My NB8B has 54000km on it and is stock except for a MX5 plus twin hoop roll bar,, most of my driving is local weekend stuff and although I'm happy with the Handling of "the Girlfriend"
(its the only one my wife will let me have) I thought I would tap in to the wealth of knowledge that this forum brings and ask what is the best bang for buck handling mod.
I was thinking whiteline sway bars as a good place to flatten the cornering without stiffening up the ride to much, but you guys are the guru's

Over to you
Cheers
Dale

RawSouth · Postby **RawSouth** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 3:35 pm

+1 for the swaybars.

Also, how many kms do you have on your current shocks? From what I've heard, they are generally pretty much gone after about 100,000kms. So that might be a consideration too.

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 3:44 pm

1. Tyre pressures. (can't do much better than free).

2. Wheel alignment

3. Tyres.

4. Shocks.

5. Springs.

6. Sways.

Don't dismiss the first until you have done some serious back-to-back testing. Check around here and on the big board for alignment specs, they can make a tremendous difference to handling, though they don't have quite the same bragging rights... :roll:

That is just my 2c.

:mrgreen:

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 3:54 pm

Agree with the Whiteline anti-roll bars. Well worth it IMO.

Old Dude · Postby **Old Dude** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 4:12 pm

Sorry guys was a bit slack with some of the info, I have PP2 rubber with about 3oookm on it all round.

Cheers
Dale

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 5:47 pm

another vote for sway bars. i have flyin miata ones in mine and could not be more impressed in exactly what they do. the car feels very neutral through cornering with very nominal under/oversteer and body roll.

i know it really ain't a handling mod, but consider an LSD, if you already haven't. it's more of a mod for traction - just try taking a nice long bend (on a track) or a short sharp turn. the LSD makes the car exiting the corner feel a lot smoother. its arguably something that should have been factory.

16bit · Postby **16bit** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:18 pm

i have done coilovers, sway bars, tyres, lsd and all the rest at separate times and can say with absolute confidence that the best bang for buck handling mod on its own with out a doubt was a good agressive wheel alignment.

100 bucks you will never regret.

Steampunk · Postby **Steampunk** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:56 pm

My 2c is install the front anti-sway bar first, then if you feel it's too neutral or understeer-y, install rear one. Some people are content just installing a bigger/stiffer front one because they feel a little uncomfortable with standard oversteer and want to counter it.

There are many brands and sizes; Whiteline, Racing Beat, Flyin' Miata, Cusco, etc. do a bit of research, find out what you want out of the car, and buy a size/stiffness accordingly

16bit · Postby **16bit** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:08 pm

1red5 wrote:My 2c is install the front anti-sway bar first, then if you feel it's too neutral or understeer-y, install rear one. Some people are content just installing a bigger/stiffer front one because they feel a little uncomfortable with standard oversteer and want to counter it.

There are many brands and sizes; Whiteline, Racing Beat, Flyin' Miata, Cusco, etc. do a bit of research, find out what you want out of the car, and buy a size/stiffness accordingly

for additionaly adjustability consider some new end links to fine tune handling

bensale · Postby **bensale** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:27 pm

You'd be amazed how much you can tune the chassis through tyre pressures and particularly wheel alignment.

I agree 100% with green machine's list, that being said i'm yet to tinker with sway bars.

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:49 pm

A decent "performance oriented" wheel alignment is the first place to spend money, and will give a good noticeable improvement to most 5's which often have a fairly conservative, generic, alignment. Don't underestimate the improvement a good alignment can make, and at $100 or so is the best bang for buck handling mod that you can make.

MX5-SP · Postby **MX5-SP** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:54 pm

I had:

...all fitted at the same time. Unbelievable difference in handling, but not exactly sure which delivered the most effective improvement for the cost. If I had to do it again I would probably add the components incrementally in the order shown. However, I was pressed for time and don't regret the mods one little bit. Snow White had done about 57K kms and was (is still) running stock shocks & springs. I was planning to change these with performance replacements, but I don't see a need at this stage.
The chaps at MX5-Plus did the work - these guys know their stuff and I personally recommend them.

Postby **Okibi** » Sat Sep 04, 2010 9:47 am

I'd change the list slightly :
1. Tyre pressures
2. Wheel alignment
3. Tyres.
4. Sways.
5. Springs.
6. LSD.
7. Shocks.
8. Bracing

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Sat Sep 04, 2010 10:02 am

I'm no expert but Keith Tanner from Flyin' Miata is and here's a quote from his "Mazda Miata MX5 Performance Projects" book:

Project 35-Sway Bars:
"Upgraded sway bars (or more technically, anti-sway bars), in my opinion, give the best bang for buck of any Miata modification."

After correcting tyre pressure and a wheel alignment, it's the next cheapest handling modification.