Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres questions and answers

Moderators: timk, Stu, zombie, Andrew, -alex, miata

Ubik
Learner Driver
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:44 pm
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT

Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Postby Ubik » Wed Oct 29, 2014 12:54 am

Hola Señors,

I am looking at buying an mx5. On inspection everything about it seemed ideal for me, except it was way too low. I reasoned that it was fitted with yellowspeed coilovers, which are adjustable for ride height, so I paid a small cash deposit thinking I could raise it up.

However, I am now worried that I don't actually know if it can be raised, for all I know it is presently in the top position. I have read that the highest position on yellowspeeds is a fair bit lower than stock. I can accept a little bit of a drop, but I want to be able to drive over speed humps and up driveways without much greater care than normal. As it is, when I opened the passenger door I worried about smashing it on a normal low gutter.

This is the car in question:

Image

Image

I am wondering if anyone with experience with yellowspeed coilovers is able to tell from these pictures whether the car can be raised? And if so, any estimate by how much?

Thanks very much

kazama
Fast Driver
Posts: 235
Joined: Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:35 pm
Vehicle: NB8A

Re: Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Postby kazama » Wed Oct 29, 2014 8:58 am

It should be able to go higher than that. Worst case scenario you can sell them and buy others OR im sure you can get spacers

User avatar
Regie
Speed Racer
Posts: 4259
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 3:02 pm
Vehicle: NC - V8
Location: Sydney

Re: Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Postby Regie » Wed Oct 29, 2014 10:31 am

I had yellow speeds in my old nb. It sat a fair bit higher then that.

You should be able to raise it up a fair amount
MY07 NC, Mazdaspeed Body, Ohlins, Full GWR Exhaust, 17x9 RPF1's, 4.1FGR and lots lots more

emily_mx5
Racing Driver
Posts: 1720
Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2011 5:57 pm
Vehicle: NB SE
Location: Sydney

Re: Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Postby emily_mx5 » Wed Oct 29, 2014 2:35 pm

Perfect ride height!

But yes they can most definitely go higher than that.
Just remember you'll need a new alignment whenever you change the ride height.

User avatar
Lokiel
Forum legend
Posts: 4126
Joined: Thu May 28, 2009 2:39 pm
Vehicle: NB SE
Location: Brisbania

Re: Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Postby Lokiel » Wed Oct 29, 2014 5:43 pm

emily_mx5 wrote:Perfect ride height!

But yes they can most definitely go higher than that.
Just remember you'll need a new alignment whenever you change the ride height.


For optimal handling, NA/NBs were intended to have the rear about 0.5" higher at the rear - this car looks to be higher in the front.

Just a warning about going too low - it gets old real quick when you're dragging your arse over even small speed bumps and you spend a lot of effort driving around car parks trying to avoid them. Here in Brisbane where it's very hilly, going too low makes your car almost undriveable.

Find a ride height that you're happy with, then get the alignment as emily_mx5 recommended.
Don't worry about dying, worry about not living!
Garage Thread: http://www.mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=57&t=76716

User avatar
Beelzeboss
Fast Driver
Posts: 323
Joined: Tue May 03, 2011 3:59 pm
Vehicle: Non MX-5
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Re: Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Postby Beelzeboss » Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:41 pm

I had mine completely maxed out on the top end of the height adjustment, and 5mm more preload dialed in on the rear and it ended up with the frame rails about 120mm over the ground. I'd like them to go higher
Andrew
Image
NA-6 2.5 KL V6
http://barberprecision.com.au/

project.r.racing
Speed Racer
Posts: 3722
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:16 pm
Vehicle: Non MX-5
Location: Glasshouse Mountains, QLD

Re: Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Postby project.r.racing » Wed Oct 29, 2014 9:51 pm

Beelzeboss wrote:I had mine completely maxed out on the top end of the height adjustment, and 5mm more preload dialed in on the rear and it ended up with the frame rails about 120mm over the ground. I'd like them to go higher

120mm is more than stock.

markwid
Fast Driver
Posts: 151
Joined: Sat Jul 13, 2013 10:23 pm
Vehicle: NB8B
Location: Sydney

Re: Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Postby markwid » Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:16 am

project.r.racing wrote:120mm is more than stock.


Hmnn, seems too low for stock ground clearance because my NB looked SUV-like to me before changing to coilovers.

Checked wiki and stock NB is 135mm, NA is 140mm.

Nevyn72
Speed Racer
Posts: 2189
Joined: Fri Nov 29, 2013 8:51 am
Vehicle: ND - RF
Location: Sydney

Re: Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Postby Nevyn72 » Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:28 am

markwid wrote:
project.r.racing wrote:120mm is more than stock.


Hmnn, seems too low for stock ground clearance because my NB looked SUV-like to me before changing to coilovers.

Checked wiki and stock NB is 135mm, NA is 140mm.

For the frame rails?

Just measured my NB SE on stock suspension and the (front) frame rails are @ 110mm and pinch welds are @135mm.....
"A Convertible has a top you can put down when the weather's nice...... A Roadster has a top you can put up when the weather's bad."

Ubik
Learner Driver
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:44 pm
Vehicle: ND - 2 GT

Re: Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Postby Ubik » Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:42 am

Thank you for your replies, 15mm below stock sounds like I won't have any problems with ride height.

project.r.racing
Speed Racer
Posts: 3722
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:16 pm
Vehicle: Non MX-5
Location: Glasshouse Mountains, QLD

Re: Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Postby project.r.racing » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:52 am

markwid wrote:
project.r.racing wrote:120mm is more than stock.


Hmnn, seems too low for stock ground clearance because my NB looked SUV-like to me before changing to coilovers.

Checked wiki and stock NB is 135mm, NA is 140mm.
Cannot be. A BK Mazda 3 has 130mm clearence. Both NA and NB are lower.

project.r.racing
Speed Racer
Posts: 3722
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:16 pm
Vehicle: Non MX-5
Location: Glasshouse Mountains, QLD

Re: Are yellowspeed coilovers too low?

Postby project.r.racing » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:54 am

Nevyn72 wrote:
markwid wrote:
project.r.racing wrote:120mm is more than stock.


Hmnn, seems too low for stock ground clearance because my NB looked SUV-like to me before changing to coilovers.

Checked wiki and stock NB is 135mm, NA is 140mm.

For the frame rails?

Just measured my NB SE on stock suspension and the (front) frame rails are @ 110mm and pinch welds are @135mm.....
Yeah that seems right. Other poster must be measuring from pinch welds.


Return to “MX5 Wheels, Suspension, Brakes & Tyres”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 65 guests