miatauser884

iTrader: (11)

No problem. Bernie is a cool guy. I'm glad he has created a really awesome affordable suspension opportunity for our community.

Redlined600

iTrader: (3)

Got to do my first autox(2 day event) on the new setup. I have nothing bad to say about it. The site we ran at is interesting, lots of broken pavement, dips, bumps, pavement changes (old to new, ect.) Basically it just stuck over everything. Can't wait to hit the track.

Thanks Bernie!

Bernie S.

Great! For the guys that have run the shocks, please give me a call or shoot me an email so I can get some feedback for my records.

Thank you.

crazzy

can we still get in on this? what's the procedure for buying new? just call him up and give him my info?

miatauser884

iTrader: (11)

yes, just call Bernie to set up your order. Have the info needed from the first post handy.

miatauser884

iTrader: (11)

Drove the car today. I am having some fender rub issues during tight turning, but I think it is due to my ride height and alignment choice.

Car feels amazing over the bumps. I couldn't believe how smooth it was today on the roads that normally are very jarring. I haven't pushed it because I am still setting up the car and breaking in the motor. I am very pleased. It really is amazing. This type of upgrade should be a top priority if ride quality is a concern. It also resulted in reduced rattles in the car.

AbeFM

iTrader: (3)

I still haven't gotten mine one. :-( Had a three+ week saga of airbag computers, surprised I still know how to drive a car.

I'm curious how it is getting OUT of turns, if anyone has an opinion. Bernie's mantra seems to be quick turn in - which I'm not arguing with, but now I wonder how it is recovering from a slide or in transitions... It'd seem like a slalom would have you pumping down. :-)

miatauser884

iTrader: (11)

I had a little experience yesterday driving the car down a hill that went into a tight "on" camber turn. I expected it to be a little interesting as I am still getting used to the depowered rack. To my suprise, the faster I go, the better/more stable it feels. It really stuck, and this is with my AST tires. The guy in the jetta behind me thought his car was the ****, until I blazed through that curve without slowing down.

Chapman

iTrader: (2)

mmmmm ****...

Keep the reviews coming. I'm either selling my car and buying a bad *** mountain bike, or keeping it and re-vamping my suspension (bilstein revalve, diff mounts, and possibly bushings). If the reviews are good enough I'll keep my car. Otherwise I'm getting rid of it, as it's no longer fun to drive. Damn ots hd's +15yr old bushings.

AbeFM

iTrader: (3)

You are on so much crack. Fix your car. Oh, and get a turbo.

barrbm

Hi all:

I finished my install of SD shocks yesterday, and am thus far delighted. I have a 2002 SE, FM springs, FM sways set to soft front, med. (middle) rear. I also installed FCM 36mm bumpstops while I was at it, and am running the stock Enkei 18# wheels.

Bernie was helpful throughout, and quick to reply to my e-mail. I had a last minute question Friday, and he called back immediately after (I'm guessing) his lunch break--greatly appreciated since I was in the middle of the install.

Now to handling-- I had what I am guessing were stock black shocks with 90K miles on them-- car was mooshy and bouncy over bumps, smooth on most other surfaces. Now the bounce is completely gone, the car feels almost stock on smooth to moderately rough surfaces. Definite potholes and bumps are felt more than before, but in no way objectionable. I took the car through a nice S curve or two here in town immediately after the install, and this car feels absolutely planted.

Another 50 miles in the Santa Cruz mountains with my wife-- took it easy to feel how it handles, and I am very happy with the set up. This is my first miata, so cannot give a comparison, other than to my WRX.

The WRX has alot more road noise/vibration from road surfaces, but less transmission of bumps. The "new" miata is smooth and comfortable on road surfaces, and a bit more transmission of bumps to my rear. I believe this meets just the driving I described to bernie-- mainly commute on fair-good roads, weekend mountain drives, with the very occasional AX or track day.

Thanks for all the support and the great deal, Bernie!

webby459

iTrader: (8)

Bumping necro-thread.

I need my Billies revalved. I figured out that the 550/350 combo is not near strong enough for my new manly grip level. I think I'd like to go 750/450-500. Anyway, guys that had Bernie do the work, what was the turnaround time? Think I could get 'em back within 3-4 weeks or better?

Also, anyone use the ISC upper mounts, particularly in the rear? My issue is worst in the back, really hard bottoming with my FCM upper mounts and 350# springs. The ISC mounts move the upper mount way up. The only thing I'm leery about with that is what will contact next if not the shock?

Splitime

iTrader: (24)

Check with him for any backlog. That will dictate turn around time.

Was on track finally with mine last weekend. SOOOOOO much better than original. I have a bit of a skip mid turn, and suspect its some bumpstop action. Will be figuring that out this weekend I think, might need ISC tophats or similar in the rear.

miatauser884

iTrader: (11)

I received mine in about two weeks, but I think some others had it take longer. Just tell him you need it rushed, and he will do his best. I seems to get swamped sometimes, so I'd ask ahead of time.

I haven't bottomedd mine hard on 230# rear springs with FCM mounts and bumpstops. Then again, I haven't run it really hard. Probably won't until CHIN in October. Shocks seem to be valved to allow +/- 100 lbs from what they were valved. Keep in mind, I lost about a full inch of ride height switching to poly bushings, FCM mounts, with FM springs. If you plan on going poly, I'd do it before a spring change so you can compensate for ride height with the ne springs. I'm 11.5F and 11.75R. A little low, I need to have the fenders rolled. Rides like a BMW Z4 M

Redlined600

iTrader: (3)

He can shorten shock bodies as well. I went this route as opposed to the ISC top hats. I'm running 12"f/12.25r on a NB and purposely set up my shock bumpstops to hit first to prevent hitting anything else(the shock barely ever contacts them. Other points of contact are the A-arm to frame and tire to the top of the inner fender.

webby459

iTrader: (8)

Just the poly bushings alone shouldn't lower ride height, you are saying it was the new hats that changed your heights?

I'm doing poly fronts and delrin offsets within the next two weeks. I may just do the ISC rear hats also just to steal a little travel without having to do anything else yet. I'm hesitant to keep escalating spring rates, as local sites are a bit bumpy. But, I can tell you with the new 255/40-13 Hoosier A6s on the car this weekend at the Tour event, I wasn't on the pointy end of the field, but was still pulling 1.25G consistently.

I put cable ties on the shock shafts, and the rears in particular were buried in the stop to the extent that at this point I wouldn't be surprised if the cable ties were smashed to bits between the FCM tophats and the top of the shock cylinder. The loading and transitioning were brutal, I am not surprised that the top guys in CSP and SSM autocrossing are using 800/500 type spring splits.

I just don't want to rely on the tophats with shock cylinder clearance if, as someone else said, there may be clearance issues elsewhere, like the control arm hitting the chassis, or the tub hitting the ground, or something. BTW, I don't think these tires will hit the body or inner fenders, they are very short.

Cz.

Is there an email address that I can reach Bernie at? I wanted to ask some questions and PM'ing is disabled until you hit 15 posts...

Bernie S.

bernie@stewartdevelopment.com

Cz.

Wow, that was quick, I'll send you an email in a bit. Thanks

phatspud

With R-Package Bilsteins, ISC hats, and 36mm FCM bumpstops fully compressed, a 225/45 has clearance, but the upper control arm is a few mm away from contacting the frame. Will that ever happen with the spring actually in place? Doubtful. Coil bind probably. Will that ever happen with a proper bumpstop and 450lb springs? That's your problem.

Turnaround was on the geological timescale for me, unfortunately, but I seem to have caught Bernie at a bad time - full plate and a shop remodel in progress, apparently. Other folks seem to have gotten theirs back within a few weeks. YMMV etc