I want handling performance, not slam-age.

[revhead]

I want to be able to drive my car like it should be dríven. I don't want to be slammed to the ground on some crappy, cheap, firm coilovers, yet I don’t want to be at a fixed high on a set of springs and shocks. I am interested in getting into track days, I regularly go for twisty drives. The car is my daily. So, when it comes to handling, research is key for me. However, due to the HUGE popularity of the amazing mx5 there is just way to much online crap to filter out.

Pretty much I am asking those who are also into handling performance, "What adjustable coilover do you use? Why do you use them? Would you rather something else now after your experience with the current setup/new products?"

I am willing to spend anywhere from 1100 to 1800 for a decent set of adjustable coilovers (height adjustment front and rear, camber tops in the front minimum, some damping adjustment, and spring rates "suitable" for the street and track.)

I fully understand that suspension is a system so I plan to upgrade all bushings to some sort of urethane (suggestions are welcome) or firmer than stock rubber. Possibly an upgrade in sway bars if I find necessary, when funds permit an lsd diff or some sorts, and of course wider wheels and quality tyres. I would like to refrain from upgrading suspension arms at this current time. I want to sort out my coilovers first so that I have a starting point and can at least replace the saggy as hell springs currently in the car.

All help is greatly appreciated. This is not a "what coilover should I get" thread, it is an opportunity for me to gather knowledge from those that have experience with decent to high end coilovers so that I can focus my research.
Thank you very much.

[tescoking]

Not sure what are your preference, but I bought FM V-Maxx XXtreme Stage 2 Track Pack suspension kit. Should be landing by next week.

http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?dept=77

[cookie]

I had bc's and were good for street but too soft for decent track work in my fwd. Steer clear of yellowspeed. Research MCA. Newly available with some happy response back.

[davekmoore]

What adjustable coilover do you use?
Tein SS.

Why do you use them?
They were on the car when I bought it. They produced a more comfortable ride and more body control than the standard shocks and springs on my previous NBs and an NA. I like the ability to adjust them for rebound/compression for road/track and the adjustable ride height, which is left fairly low for both applications, and which especially helped get rid of what would otherwise be a stilt effect on the back of an SE.

Would you rather something else now after your experience with the current setup/new products?
Maybe higher spring rates but that probably means also uprating other stuff to match.

[revhead]

You guys really pulled through with the straight to the point info. Thank you very much.
I was getting frustrated and almost ordered the Yellow Speed out of desperation even though I had suspicions of below par performance.

I was looking at Tien but they are just out of my price range and being a Japanese Coilover (I have read fantastic things about them) I just know I will have issues with re building as I tend to have terrible luck with mechanical faults haha.

MCA. wow, very impressed just from the web site and the fact that they are Queensland based is even better. I have no idea why a Google search for "mx5 coilovers Australia" did not return any results that I could see. I think I will invest in a set of the entry level blue speed adjustable coilovers and have a chat to the guys at MCA about what spring rates they can do for me. Thank you very much for this pointer.

Now, any ideas as to spring rates? Like I said, I am keen to getting into some track work as a beginner so I don’t want overly soft springs. I had a 8/7 setup in my s15 which only saw street driving and was happy with that but wouldn’t have minded if that was a little firmer. Not sure how much an s15 spring rates translates to an mx5 but I thought it may be a good comparison point to begin with.

[beavis]

Erm, you wont find any MX5 coilover with camber tops.
For coilovers, MCA or KW would be my pics.
Get a set of poly bushes from 949racing

[revhead]

Why no camber tops for mx5's?

[beavis]

MX5's use double a-arm AKA double wishbone suspension.
Adjustment in the position of the top of the shock would not change camber.
Camber is adjusted using cam bolts in the lower a-arms.
Google for more.
Cambers tops are common on you jap ricers like silvias.... which use macpherson strut front suspension.

[revhead]

ah, thank you for that. did not know that the mx5 was of a double A arm suspension type. i hate camber tops anyway, i find them very fiddly to adjust and an overall pain in the ass when watching a wheel alignment performed.
+1 for informative info!

p.s, not all silvia's are ricers haha. mine "was" quite tasteful.

[emily_mx5]

Lol camber tops and adjustable arms. Clearly come from a Nissan.
We don't use those here.
Also on that note 12kg/10kg springs are not going to be a good idea.

Decent suspension brands to look at are Ohlins/Bilstein/MCA.

Also look at Fat Cat Motorsport online spreadsheet, you can plug in all your values and work out how the car will handle.


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[Magpie]

I have BC ER's and yes them on the track with no issues, they have separate bump/rebound adjustments! Your budget may not stretch to MCA's but look at these as well. Both allow custom spring rates and this is where you should be some attention, spring rates!

Spring rates not only effect ride quality but also oversteer and understeer characteristics of the car. BC's come stock 8/6 however I have now changed to 9/6 and a lot happier with its handling on the track.

I have found that it is all in the way that the coilovers MCA set up is the best method, others have the ride height set by changing the length of the shock, this is quick simple and a compromise. You run the risk of either having the coilover not using all its travel or using it too early. With my BC's, at 100mm ride height I found out that they were 25mm too short on the front and hence hitting the liner. After setting them up correctly i have the 25mm back for suspension travel and no rubbing, well worth the effort.

What sort of ride do you want? Is it road or track orientated?

If I had the funds I would go MCA Gold. However the BC's are going well plus the support from Just Jap (BC distributor) is very good.

[Regie]

Looking at your budget and not wanting cheap harsh coilovers it might be a bit hard to find something, I assume you would want a new set.

I'm running ohlins. They are pretty much the ducks guts in coilovers, but you pay for it!!

[project.r.racing]

Plenty of info out there. Just need to read between the lines and make a decission for yourself.

If someone has made a statement about a certain product, but nothing to back up their statement, then I'd just ignore it. It's info that isn't gonna help.

There is lots of brands out there. Some are good, some are bad. Some are cheap, some are expensive. Find where your wants fit within these.

[Nevyn72]

For your budget you'd be looking at -> BC, Yellowspeed, HSR or MCA blues, if you want new.

Of these I'd pick either BC (if you want cheaper) or MCA (support local industry). I personally am leaning towards the MCAs in the not too distant future.

However if you're willing to consider second hand then Teins, Ohlins, Bilstein, etc. occasionally crop up within your price range, you'll just lose the ability to specify spring rates and they may need servicing (I think this is recommended at around the 20K km mark).

[davekmoore]

The Teins on mine are 7kg front, 6kg rear, 2.5 times and 3 times stiffer than standard. They allow the car to be lowered without using the bump stops as quasi springs and because the smaller travel is all taken up by a stiffer spring, they are more comfortable than a longer spring that allow the bump stop to be hit regularly. The better dampers along with the stiffer springs also give more body control. You can have them with stiffer springs again but you wouldn't want that for road work - and you'd need to get the dampers revalved to match.