Koni + 1st gen FM spring setup, opinions.
 

I have a set of Koni yellows, I just bought a set of first gen FM springs.

My car is way over budget, and I would like to only do rear upper mounts for now. The problem...FCM will only sell a set of 4.

What is my best option? I'm thinking NB mounts, but will they give me enough travel? Shaikh at FCM said I should just do the shorter bumpstops for the time being. I've read the ISC mounts are a bad idea for non coilovers because they don't have a spring catch.

I've been searching around for a bit. I did find a good thread on miata.net about the NB mounts, but all the pictures are gone. Anyone know of someone running a similar setup?

I just put on some first gen FM springs and some AGX's on my car with the FCM bumpstops - so far I can't say I've bottomed out. A ton smoother ride actually than the stock ones - which surprised me.

I was going to go the NB mounts as well but I'd heard reports on just how low those springs would go and the possibility of it being too low and having the control arms (?) parallel to the ground or point slightly up made me think I'd do the FCM's by themselves first.

So far I think it's a good choice.

Fm sells the rear mounts...thats about all I can think of. I would NOT just run the springs and shocks, you will bottom out.

I'm running Koni yellows, FCM, 24mm bumps and early FM springs. It is low. Here are a few different angles.

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I've only been running them for a few days so I may still bottom out. Train tracks and such so far have been a ton smoother though. That said, indeed, they are looooow. Much more than I expected. I like `em though.

The FM rear mounts are the same price as all 4 FCM mounts. I know it will bottom out and I want to do this right, I'm just $450 over budget already. Do the fronts really help alot?

What perch do you have your konis on? I'm just a front sway bar away from some good handling....I hope.

I'll rephrase, I meant do NOT run just springs and konis for bottoming out the shock. As far as bottoming at the car, only on uber high speed bumpers have I had problems.

It is on the highest perch, lol. I'm not sure if they help, but the do give it a nice stance I think, and the travel can't hurt.

I got a 99 sport bar cheap as crap and went with adjustable endlinks, I would however like to get a slightly larger one sooner or later.

dc2696 had a set of FM mounts forsale a while ago.

I sent him a PM. Thanks.

Damn it! Right off the FM page

Is coil bind when the springs coils actually touch? Would using the highest perch negate that? I'm emailing FM now. I have the konis and springs, but I didn't buy the mounts yet. What should I do? Ebay sleeves?

Save money for the FCM mounts...and just wait.

I have the money, I'd just like it to be cheaper (yeah, yeah I know). The more research I do the more I figure out the FCM are the only thing that will work.

I'm the same way, I came to those conclusions too, if I was right or not is a different story.

Miatamania, do you think I will rub with a 225/45/15 RS2 on 15x7 Kosei K1's with the FCM mounts and FM springs?

I seriously hope not. I'm tired of suspension already.

In the rear, I doubt it, especially if you have enough camber.

Fronts, maybe so. Mostly on the inner fender tabs is where I've had problems. Not a bad fix at all.

Ok good. Would you recomment the 36mm bump stop? I noticed you have a 24, did you cut it down? Would you recommend doing so?

I honestly wouldn't know what to tell you about bumpstops, I'm not sure I prefectly understand them. But here was my thinking:

He was offering 24mm linear and 46mm progressive IIRC, I chose the short bump because from what I understand is the shorter bump will allow for normal shock travel for a longer period and a rougher reaction from hitting the bumpstops rather than from hitting a slightly longer bumpstop which would hit sooner and be more of a progressive bottoming out?

IDK if I know what the fucking I'm talking about though. Call FCM, the guy is awesome and will be happy to answer questions...just a bit slow sometimes.

I'll be calling them soon, I'm sure they are closed now. I just wanted to check with someone running a similiar setup. Thanks for your help.

lol, hopefully thats all decent info, as I seem to be the only one posting x.X

I think the 1st gen FM springs are "rare" enough that not many people would post. Are they rare? I don't see them very often?

I'm really not sure, they seem to be somewhat hard to find. Unless people are upgrading to something stiffer they really don't get rid of them, its a good spring.

I called FCM and spoke with Shaikh. He recommended I put the Koni on the highest perch and run the 36mm bumpstop up front and the 46 in the rear. Now all I need is a front sway bar and I'm all set....but I think I said that before?

99 front bars are a decent upgrade, you have to run adjustable endlinks though...which isn't a bad idea anyway.

Now the task is finding a cheap sway bar and end links that don't cost as much as the FM bars. This car just doesn't stop.

Any reason not to get just an FM front bar for $120 shipped? Looks like a 99 bar + shipping and the end links + shiping will be pretty close. I won't have to source the bar, FM has em.

Then stop buying suspension bits and get some damned brakes!

Not that kind of stop. The kind where I thought a basic turbo kit would be enough, and now I don't think there are any stock parts left on the car. It just doesn't stop costing money. After the suspension is done I'm going to stop.

Double Post not being able to be deleted FTL

By cheap, I'm talking about like 20 bucks for the bar + 60 dollar endlinks + remove rear bar.


And I highly doubt you'll stop...its a stupid addiction.

Well I just placed my order at FCM. I went with the setup Shaikh suggested, I'm confident he knows his stuff. Really helpful over the phone too. I picked up the Koni slotted washers too, it will be my luck that I don't have them.

miatamania I just wanted to clarify that in this picture your on the top Koni perches? Are those 15" or 16"? It sits perfect.

He does know his shit.

FCM Mounts, Old FM Springs, Koni Yellows on the TOP perch. 16x7 somethings in 205/45r16

Ok good. Looks like I'm all set then. Now I need to pick out my alignment. We have a laser alignment machine at work that I can use, so I guess I will try the icehawk and lanny ones out and see which one I like more.

225 Hankooks, 15x7 K1's, Konis, FM springs with FCM mounts and stops. I'm watching a 99 front sway on ebay right now. I'm hoping to avoid this from now on, I skidded around like mad. That r/f tire is damn near off the ground, and they are only 195's to begin with.
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heh, call parts group if its not cheap enough on ebay, I got a front bar from them dirt cheap. Its not a huge bar at all, but I wasn't looking for anything massive. You HAVE to run adjustable endlinks to make it work, just FYI.

I've never aligned my car...I change things a bit to often...once I'm settled on suspension choice I'll have a custom alignment done...just...never got around to it...I've got more than -2.5 out back...stick decently lol.

I just won the auction for a 99 front bar. $34 shipped to my door. Looks like gomiata.com has the cheapest end links at $60 for a set.

I've had the first gen FM springs with stock bump stops(mistake) and I've traded up to the newer FM springs with FM bump stops. Both sets of springs were paired to Koni Yellows. I can't remember which of the three perch settings I'm at but haven't had issues with the new setup. The old setup was crap and would bottom out hard on bumps in high speed turns. Yes, I get rub in the front from my Kosei 15x7s with Star Specs. Take a wood block and hammer to bend the tabs in as far as possible. This has worked fairly well for me.