mr.na

hesitating between Megan ez street and FM v-maxxII with NB upper mounts.

First, I drive the car 3500miles a year (we have winter in QC)
I track the car 4-5 times a summer (200whp greddy turbo kit)

I like the fact that Megan's can be damping adjusted quickly
I like the fact that FM is reputable and wouldn't build a shitty kit just to jump in the cheap coilover market (so I think, might mistake...). I read on the site and pretty confident about the kit. I just dont like the static non-adjustment on the damping.

Any light in my ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Moton 4-way.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

I'd almost lean towards the vmaxx if those were my only choices. But I never want to compromise on shocks again.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

What do you want the adjustment for?

Ask yourself if the damping adjustment **** is actually going to adjust anything, if the highspeed valving will ever be "right" enough to appreciate the valving, and if you can run enough spring rate to control the wheels and have decent valving to enjoy that control.

Last week when I was putting in my new shocks in my daily, my AST employee buddy told me, "I drove a Vmaxxxxx car once really low and was surprised how well it rode." I was a little shocked, but okay.

mr.na

ok, now you know my budget is around 800$ and I dont have any struts mounts on the car actually. So I just can't remove the struts and spring and only change the two parts seperately. That's why I was looking for a full coilover kit. Because we have shitty roads in Quebec, I need to adjust the damping to be comfortable when driving with my girlfriend onboard and adjust more rigid when going on the track with smoother surfaces.

FRT_Fun

iTrader: (19)

I'm pretty sure the EZ streets adjustment is going to be more like ON/OFF, then adjustable.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

?

You might want to do a bit of research into how the Miata's suspension system works.

First, someone is going to come along and inform you that the Miata does not use struts. That's a fun fact to know, but not really germain to the conversation.

The key point is that the Miata comes equipped, from the factory, with coilover shocks. Coilovers aren't some exotic aftermarket thing, it just means that the spring (coil) surrounds the damper (shock absorber.)

All coilover systems, including the stock system, can be taken apart and the individual parts replaced. To get the stock springs off the stock shocks you need a spring compressor, but that's about the only weird part.

Now, as for the aftermarket stuff, I almost feel like spending $800 on a whole suspension package is kind of a waste of money and that you'd be better off saving util you have another $800 on top of that, but if you really want something that's inexpensive to drive around on, and you won't be happy unless you have a little **** to turn, I suggest you consider something like the Tein Street Advance package: http://949racing.com/tein-advance-coilover-Miata.aspx (I also suggest that before you order, you call Emilio, the owner of 949 racing at 949-716-3111 for a brief consultation to discuss springrates relative to your car and driving style.)

mr.na

ok, I understand the part on renaming the suspension system on a miata, my misconception. its like calling mcpherson's struts...

for the suspension infos. that was what I was looking for, mr perez. I gonna have to say thanks twice for such good infos. Another better quality choice for me to consider.

After searching through a lot of possible coilovers for a miata, I pretty much like what I read in the link you provided. Tein are serviceable easily in the USA.

Good you suggested those. Im looking forward to those for sure.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Actually, the MacPherson design is precisely where struts are used. While not 100% accurate, it's sufficient to say that, in general, it's a strut if it plays a role in dictating the suspension geometry, and merely a coilover if all it does is bear load. IOW, you can remove a coilover assembly from the car completely, and the suspension will retain its geometry and still move up and down properly.

Anyway, that's irrelevant.



We tend to be a conservative bunch when it comes to suspension, sticking with parts we know and trust. The Tein brand is a known commodity, they have a real service department, and while the particular package I linked to is one of their cheapest offerings, it should be sufficient for your needs.

And I was serious about calling 949 before you order, and subsequently ordering from them. Personally, I think the "stock" springrates on that package are a bit unbalanced (wrong front:rear ratio) so I'd advise customising the spring setup slightly to achieve a better F:R balance. That's where talking to Emilio, the owner, comes in. He is a very proficient track racer and knows his stuff when it comes to Miata suspension, both on the street and on the track.

silver92b

iTrader: (1)

I don't think that a full coilover system is going to give you a comfortable ride on the rough roads of Quebec (or anywhere else). I've only driven on a few full coilover equipped cars and they all were not as comfortable as a Miata on a new or good condition stock suspension except maybe the R type (like my '95 R).
I guess there might be a full coilover out there somewhere that will do the job, but I don't know of it. BTW, the Bilstein HDs and the Koni sports also give up comfort in trade for better track performance. The Bilstein HD gave a particularly harsh ride on the crappy roads in the Seattle/Tacoma area..

Adjusting the shock damping only affects the ride marginally in my experience. The spring rate will have a huge impact on the ride quality as will the amount of suspension travel....

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

shock damping has more to do with ride quality than anything else. A proper suspension running say 500/300 rates, could feel smoother than a ---- setup running 318/233 rates.

there are plenty "full" coilover "systems" that will provide a comfortable ride, even on the rough roads of Quebec, you just have to know what you're buying.

it honestly sounds like you've never been exposed to anything but koni and bilstiens which are pure ----.

mr.na

yeah, I mean, it all comes down to spring rate choice. I'll call emilio soon. thanks.
I dont mind the car being stiffer, but I want good compromise.

With the HSD's it was harsh 75% of the time on the street with 9front,6rear springs but brilliant on the track, thats for sure. no complaints. the car was too much lowered and hit the framerails 3 times last summer. Dont want to happen again this year.

So the car will be higher but I want a better ride quality overall with damping adjustability when going on the track.

To answer to Braineack, I tried bilsteins but not a miata. They were good no problem but they were PSS9's on a M3 E46 at mt-tremblant circuit, no comparison to make. Car was planted no matter what with pilot sport cup's.

Those tein's are lovely. If I had money to really put moneypit of cash load in a suspension, i'd try FCM or xida's.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

No, it all comes down to valving. My 700/400 track car was smoother than stock springs with Bilsteins...which was also very smooth.

I have 550/350 on my daily and those rates are probably going up today to 700/400 because when you're baller as ---- like me, that's how you floss. Xidas are the way, even if they're a bit more expensive than the rest. If I were building a car today and didn't have the money for Xidas, I'd roll on MSM Bilsteins with ~350/275lb springs until I could afford Xidas because they magical and defy logic.

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

I disagree.

If properly set up (springrate, ride-height, damping), a good aftermarket coilover system can actually be more comfortable than the stock configuration, especially in the case of an NA.

By using shorter shock bodies, more compliant bumpstops and higher springrates, you will have less of a tendancy to "bottom out" the suspension all the time. The stock springs are quite soft, and the stock bumpstops quite hard, so the car spends most of its time blowing through all of the "free" suspension travel and hitting the stops.


Then I would posit that they probably were too low (too little free travel) and/or used springs which were too soft.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Comfort is all in the highspeed bleed. If you run a heavy spring, you can run a lower bleed and let the spring do the work rather than the shock. This is what I gathered from Tito Ortiz of course, I don't know what I'm really talking about.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

wtf do you think damping is

hustler

iTrader: (6)

I quoted you because he ignored your post, bitch.

RyanLewo

iTrader: (1)

I don't really want to jack this tread, but I do have a quick question. I am currently running Tokico Illuminas, FM V2 NA springs, FCM bumps (possibly 36mm), and a complete ES poly bushing set. I know this setup isn't great by any means, but I mostly DD the car for now.

Do you think a setup such as the Tein Street Advance would offer much improvement? It would be nice to corner balance and have more control over ride height, which I suppose may be enough reason. Then again it may not even be worth corner balancing the car if I'm not running something like a Tein Monoflex or XIDA system I suppose...

-Ryan

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

I wouldn't bother, even for monoflex, XIDA on the other hand...

honestly, I only want to put a shock in my car that was designed around a miata...there's very few out there that you can say this for.

mr.na

After thinking about your advices, If I understand, the shock valving is like a seringue going and down, controlled by oil bypasses valves in the shock body. Combined with right springs for street or track use...
I will read the thread another time just to make sure I understand.

MSM bilsteins on a 93?? possible??