How high should my MX5 Roadster 1998 model be?

Cherry · Postby **Cherry** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 7:12 pm

Hi all,

I am pretty new to all this so bear with me please... I have a beautiful black MX5 Roadster Soft top Convertible which I love. The problem is that in the past the people that owned it prior to me had the car lowered - which I can understand as it looks great. But...when I last had the car serviced, the mechanic made mention that I may well want to have it raised now, as it is ruining the bottom of my car and at some point I will end up with a hold through the floor, as it scrapes on A LOT of things A LOT of the time. So, I took her down to Pedders, and they have quoted me $800 to put in new raised suspension etc which I'm ok to pay, but, my concern is that they also said that this would only raise the height of it by 1 inch! I'm worried that I'm going to go and have this done and still be left with almost the same problem with all the scraping as 1" doesn't sound like a whole lot different to me! Has anyone else had this problem with their car scraping, and can anyone suggest where else may be a more suitable place to look at fixing this up for me with new suspension where I won't have this problem anymore?

Any advice would be much appreciated (sorry, I'm not very good with car stuff yet!!).

Thanks, Cherry :-)

tescoking · Postby **tescoking** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 7:35 pm

Well, let me answer you this before you get frustrated because of other negative commmets.

First of all, my answer might not be the best or perfect answer for you.

So here is the first thing.
You need to know that you must have at least 100mm ground clearence from the lower point of your car.
It is the law, so that mean your car is at least 100mm from the ground now.
And here is the second thing.
Are you using this car for daily drive? I assume that will be "yes".
Which mean you will pass through speed bump a lot, and when you drive pass a speed bump, will you slow down or just go over it? When I mean slow down I mean like really slow and people behind you will F at you.
If you don't want to be F, then just add on another inch from where you at now. I suppose you are at the legal height at the moment.
And if you think lower the car is not something that you like. Then even easier, no need to ask, just look for a set of stock springs. Then your problem should be solve.

Cherry · Postby **Cherry** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 7:48 pm

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, you're right, the car is for my every day general use driving. I am quite happy to go over speed humps very slowly (and do), I still find that there are plenty that just can't be helped scraping no matter how slow I go or at what angle, and in addition, it scrapes (only a bit) every time I drive it into my garage as we are on a slight hill and where it flattens out coming into the garage is where it scrapes. Yes, the car is at legal height at the moment. I did initially ask for just a pair of stock standard new springs, and two mechanics (including pedders) have told me that they are no longer available and cannot be sourced. Their solution was the new springs to fit my car (they had only one option for this) which was the ones that would make it an inch higher. Do you think that the inch will make much difference?

Thanks again, any help is appreciated!
Cherry

Red Dragon · Postby **Red Dragon** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 7:59 pm

If you post in the cars & parts wanted section you will probably have plenty of offers for standard springs.

davekmoore · Postby **davekmoore** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 8:01 pm

Cherry wrote:it is ruining the bottom of my car and at some point I will end up with a hold through the floor

It would need to be very low to be creating a hole through the floor.

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 8:40 pm

When you say lowered, are we talking this kind of lowered.

If not, just drive carefully and you'll be fine.

To give everyone here more information though, what the distance from the centre of the hub to the top of the guard?

tescoking · Postby **tescoking** » Sun Dec 22, 2013 9:24 pm

Thats right, go to Want to Buy WTB section or used part sale section and look for standard springs for your model

Postby **Okibi** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 12:24 am

I also suggest taking it to a local MX-5 specialist or chat to the motorsport girls/guys at your local MX-5 club and ask which shop they recommend for suspension.

Some suspension chains are too use to dealing with family cars, falcodores and commercial vehicles, they'll try and sell you their own brand of suspension rather than offering recommendations based on quality and performance.

You own a fantastic handling car, don't spoil it by skimping on suspension and alignment.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 10:03 am

Do you know what shock absorbers are currently on the car? Standard springs will be fine with standard shocks, but may not be suitable for non-standard shocks. In which case your WTB should be for NB8A standard shocks & springs, which are frequently advertised in our MX5 parts for sale section. Alternatively as Okibi says go to one of the MX5 specialists or someone else that forumites have previously recommended, depending on which state you're in. Also worth checking with Boyracer (Lou) who's selling a whole bunch of stuff at the moment:
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=60950

Red Dragon · Postby **Red Dragon** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 10:36 am

Your location might help for fellow members who have the parts

Which state / area

OurCognitiveSurplus · Postby **OurCognitiveSurplus** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 11:00 am

My 1998 MX5 has height adjustable coilovers. I'm no expert, but my mechanic is. His view is that 'slamming' the car makes the handling worse, not better. Lower than stock is an improvement, but not a lot lower. You need some height for the suspension design to do its thing. If your wheels are disappearing into your guards, you've gone too far.

My car only scrapes on the most crazy of speed bumps when dríven carefully.

For the money above, I would get some yellowspeed coilovers from the forum sponsor. There's a big thread with experienced owners discussing heights. Have a read.

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 11:17 am

Get some new oem replacement shocks like Koni, and some 2nd hand stock springs.
Shocks should only cost you $500 or so, and 2nd hand springs nothing, $50 at most.
Then a couple of hundred dollars in labour to put them together and install them in your car, and then a decent alignment.
Should be around $800 I guess, but your getting a lot more for that money.

However if someone says you need to change something, and they sell the part they are recommending, assume they are biased and seek out other information/oppinions.

You ain't gonna put holes in the floor lol.

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Cherry · Postby **Cherry** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 12:13 pm

Thanks everyone. I will put an ad in the WTB section. Just FYI as asked in previous posts, I'm on the Gold Coast. Also, I measured and the its 30cm from the centre of the hub to the bottom of the wheel guard. Is 30cm considered low or regular height from the ground?

Jeo · Postby **Jeo** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 12:56 pm

300mm is lower than stock but generally about right for handling set up. Certainly not low enough that you'll be breaking the sump through normal driving.

Are you noticing that you're scraping on things or is this just the shop's assessment?

Cherry · Postby **Cherry** » Mon Dec 23, 2013 1:06 pm

Hi,

Yes, I am noticing that I'm scraping on things myself, just with normal driving - I do really love my little car, so I would never usually be rough with her. I just didn't think the damage would be bad until the guy at the mechanic shop mentioned it as something that may require attention.