NA8 Suspension - what to buy?

[zz00me]

My five turns 20 next year and I have decided to do a mini resto/upgrade.

It is only dríven on the weekends and I would describe my driving style as legal spirited or close to it I do not track this car.

The car has 120,000 ks and the original shocks. The gas has leaked out of the shocks and I need to replace them.

I am toying with the idea of replacing them with tiens as per the clubman or should I just go with oem shocks?


Looking for your recomendations.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts

Peter

[M1474]

Used bilstein/kings combo should be under $500, that's what I would put on a street only NA.

(Flame suit - on)

[MattR]

Personally, I wouldn't go used unless you know the full history of the dampers and springs, and even then they may fail/leak very soon after.

For road only and depending on budget and what you want in terms of originality, a good damper replacement will be fine and retain the original springs if you are happy with the ride and height.

If originality isn't a concern and you want to have the ability of suspension adjustability then the coil over route is the way to go.

Once you work that out then you will be well on your way to getting what will suit best.

For standard strut replacement a quality brand such as Bilstein would be my choice, for coilovers, it depends on your budget with cheapies around the $1k up to how much do you want to spend for MCA's, Ohlins and other top line units.

[emily_mx5]

dont buy used suspension, its just as old as the ones your taking out.

That car looks very pristine so i doubt you want to modify, if so get some koni oem replacement shocks, mx5 mania have a really good price iirc, and reuse your springs. You might need to buy new dustboots aswell.

[sailaholic]

i would mostly agree with matt and emily.

However, i would say look at putting Bilstien dampers in on the stock springs (Bilstien were fitted to the clubmans not tiens). $439 for a set of 4 from USA (plus shipping which would be reasonable). The valving in the Bilstien units should be better giving you better body control and better ride comfort over stock.

http://www.shox.com/appguide/shoxshop/productsdisplay.php.

Well done on the car, looks showroom condition still.

[pcmx5]

Over the ownership of my two NA's I have had; standard springs and Koni adjustables ; koni and kings; koni and eibachs and Tein Super Street.

For your use I would go with the standard spring and Koni' adjustables every time, great ride and control set on the middle perch. Available from Shox for $619. I didn't like the Kings at all, loved the Eibachs but they were a bit low so the set up I had on my first mx NA6A was standard springs and Koni's and I feel that this was a great set up and really good value for money.

Another option may be Gaz Gold coilovers from MX5 parts UK at around $1050 delivered to Aus.I have done some limited research on these and they get good press, although the quality/durability of the Koni's is hard to beat.

lovely car you have there!

Peter

[zz00me]

lovely car you have there!

Peter

Thanks Peter

She turns 20 next year.

[pcmx5]

Mine is 18 this month, just having a freshen up at the moment replacing all the things that may deteriorate over 18 years using the opportunity while fixing an oil leak from the front of the head gasket.

Peter