I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres questions and answers

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revhead
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby revhead » Sun May 11, 2014 12:32 pm

Thanks for the info, I have never heard of ohlins before, I will look into them but they do sound out of my price range. I may consider them when I am more experienced in a couple of years and require more precise adjustability.

As is, I most likely will ne going with mca blue as it falls in my proce range, Australian support, and they have tonnes of info sheets and tutorials readily available on their website. I just need to confirm what spring rates they suppply them with. I have a suspicion they will be 7/6 seeing as they are an entry level system. Above, do you find 9/6 too harsh for the street? Does it make standard na mx5 rattles so bad stuff starts to fall off haha? I know there is the advantage on the track but I need to find a balance as I will be daily driving the car.

As for height adjustment, I am knew-ly informed about the incorrect method from the mca web site. I am still confused as to how to adjust it correctly. I assume it involves a combination of adjusting the lower spring seat and the lower collar of the coilover body. I will speak to mca about that though.

And yes, I obviously had a nissan before this mx5 haha. The s15 was fun and fast, but I am sure I will enjoy this mx5 much more!

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Magpie
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby Magpie » Sun May 11, 2014 12:48 pm

Davekmoore I disagree, correct installation of coil overs will keep ALL the travel (bump and droop). As in my case, correct set up, at my chosen ride height has the front springs uncaptive by 25mm at full droop.This will be fixed by some helper springs.

The fronts on my NA6 are 9kg , even with 12kg or 6 kg the 25mm uncaptive at full droop would still be there

Springs absorb the shock loads from the wheels and minimise the loads to the chassis. The springs absorb loads as potential energy and then releases it as kinetic energy. The damper controls the kinetic energy released by the spring. Understanding how the components of the coilover work together with the rest of car will help you make your decisions. What works me me may not work for others, however the logic in reaching the decisions are the same.

The setup method used by MCA's takes a lot of time but it is worth it and allows the bumpstops to do what there were designed for. I fail to see why anybody would not want to use ALL the available suspension travel.

Revhead I have done a thread on here setting BC's up using the MCA logic. I can link it if you want to read it?

revhead
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby revhead » Sun May 11, 2014 1:07 pm

A link would be fantastic, thank you. I will want to utilize full suspension travle for any hight setting (daily, track) and not smash stuff with the top of my wheels. In my s15 with the incorrect method used, on a hard dip mid corner the tops of the wheels would chew into the upper guard liners. Not good!

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sailaholic
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby sailaholic » Sun May 11, 2014 1:53 pm

Buy mca blues, springs will be 9/6 in a Na or 11/7 in nb it custom if you want. only replace the rubbers you need to. Stay with rubber over urethane, don't worry about sway bars.

My reds are about as comfortable as ohlins, maybe more. Car handles fantastic and I've gone back to stock sway bars on various peoples recommendation including MCA.


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Magpie
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby Magpie » Sun May 11, 2014 2:07 pm

If you go with the MCA's then they will be pre setup! Sailaholic has just purchased some MCA's so he is the best person to comment on what they are like from out of the box. Again Sailaholic up giving other good advice as well.

Unlike Sailaholic I'm running a stock rear sway bar but a stiffer front sway (with adjustable end links). I may even go back to stock front and see what it is like now.

Here is the link to the way I set mine up http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=63165

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Lokiel
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby Lokiel » Sun May 11, 2014 2:10 pm

The "3:2" Front:Rear ratio will give you the best handling performance in an MX5; closer ratios are better for comfort.

ie. "9kg:6kg" is great for performance.

Tein SS (Super-Streets) use 7kg:6kg springs so are more suited to the street/comfort than the track (the name should give you a hint that that's actually what they were designed for).

You should also look at HSD coilovers which have more rear travel than most.

HSD and BC coilovers generally come with 8kg:6kg springs but you can custom order them with 9kg front springs.
8kg:6kg is a nice compromise for street use and occasional track use (I intend to upgrade my BC fronts to 9kg eventually).

See http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=50530 for additional info on this topic.
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Garage Thread: http://www.mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=76716

revhead
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby revhead » Sun May 11, 2014 2:28 pm

Thanks for the info. I can already report that you are all much better at offering useful advise when compared to the numerous nissan s chassis forums!
If mca come with 9/6 out of the box then I won't mess with their formula and r n d. The Blues are looking like the ones for me.
I will be doing suspension upgrades progressively or as required. Coilovers will going in first, followed by a bushing refreshment (oem rubber over urethane aftermarket? ), I will then look at sway bars but the standard ones seem to do the trick from some research. And of course wheels and tyres. Looking at a set of buddy club p1 15x8+32 they seem to be at a reasonable price on mx5mania. And I have a manager friend at beaurepairs box hill that can get me some nice tyres at a grest price. The offset on the buddy clubs seem good for daily and track use, later down the track if I want to show off a bit I might get a second set of 15x8+20 in an old scholl Japanese wheel. But that is last on the priority list.

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revhead
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby revhead » Sun May 11, 2014 2:29 pm

P.s I have a loooot of study to do so I won't be back on here til later tonight.

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Magpie
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby Magpie » Sun May 11, 2014 3:09 pm

Suspension study I hope?

sailaholic
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby sailaholic » Sun May 11, 2014 4:14 pm

Yah I was surprised when MCA recommended sticking with rubber too. They said all too often the bush is not quite the correct size and causes suspension bind. They also require relubing either by removal or fitting grease nipples.





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Trackphotos
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby Trackphotos » Sun May 11, 2014 6:16 pm

I had the second ever set of MCA Blues for NB fitted in my car, first set ever installed by MCA themselves. Josh showed nothing but the best expertise and his knowledge of all things suspension was very impressive. Last weekend I ran a sprint day at Lakeside for the first time on the coilovers, previously I had only run on stock suspension. With the coilovers being the only change since last time, I improved my PB by a full 1.6 seconds.

The springs fitted to my car are 11/7, and I have found them extremely comfortable on the road, and still stiff enough for the track. At full soft on both ends, the car feels almost exactly like stock while driving on the road. At full stiff, the scuttle shake is massively increased, but the whole car feels much stiffer through corners. I don't run full stiff at either end on the track, I've been running 2 clicks from full hard on the front, and 5 from full hard on the rear to reduce oversteer. I hear (but have not experienced myself) that most other brands do not show anywhere near this much change from full stiff to full soft, and that you have no choice but to put up with the harsher ride. I would go so far as to say that if you can stand the stock ride without trouble, Blues will be no compromise for you.

You'll be looking at $1550 or so supply only for MCA Blues. Worth every cent.
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revhead
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby revhead » Sun May 11, 2014 8:23 pm

I wish suspension study, more like Radiations Physics study.
1550 is right in my price range, I have pretty much convinced myself to get a set as soon as mca reply to my enquiry, hopefully tomorrow. I will look at refreshing the bushes with oem ones too. Something I can do or should i get a shop like pedders to do it? Require a press?

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sailaholic
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby sailaholic » Sun May 11, 2014 9:55 pm

How olds the car? Mx5s aren't hard on bushes. I've still got factory ones on a 93 with 165k km.


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revhead
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby revhead » Sun May 11, 2014 11:36 pm

1993 with 157xxxks.

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sailaholic
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Re: I want handling performance, not slam-age.

Postby sailaholic » Mon May 12, 2014 5:53 am

Bushes could still be a-ok then. Yes will need a press or some ingenuity. Don't get pedders to do anything.

Where are you located that would help with recommendations.


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