Looking to lower. Options?
Kind Miata people,
yet another noob question. It's somewhat unique and I wasn't able to find any specific answers. My 90NA came equiped with '05 MSM Bilstein suspension setup. I can't complain about performance characteristics, but since it's an NB setup, my car looks "raised" compared to other NA's. On the contrary, I would like to see my NA lowered and possibly see some handling improvement. What options do I have? 1. Complete suspension swap - NA KONI + Lowering springs or similar setup. 2. Lowering springs for Bilsteins. I am a bit confused about this approach, since I would probably need to get NB springs? And I doubt there will be any lowering effect as MSM setup already has shorter springs. This is what the car looks like right now (Paint is actually quite nice - just dirty :)): http://pub.gm-gs.com/2007-Winter1.JPG Obviously money is a big factor, so if it's a complete swap how much could I recover for the MSM setup? Thanks! |
if you got lowering springs for the MSM, then you should end up shorter than you are now.
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It looks like you autox it, so the best performance mod you could do is to cut your stock springs. I think there's a writeup on m.net...:gay:
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I do drive the car as well, so reliability is of concern. First SOLO on the Maita. Had a WRX before.
Plus would be a shame to cut springs from the MSM setup. I already have someone interested in the springs for their stock 1.8 setup. It sounds like swapping the setup is a lot easier and would wind up cheaper. Anyone got a street price for a used 05 MSM setup? Swapped in last April. About 3K since swap not sure how many miles on the donor. |
SamS was being tongue in cheek about cutting the springs. However, it would be a valid way to go despite what some people may think. :)
Send a PM to brgracer, I think he runs NB suspension on his NA. I personally would sell the setup you have now and purchase something else. Koni/GC or one of the entry level Tein coilovers. |
whats your budget? you can get a ton of different lowering springs, if you just want to be a little lower than stock height on a normal na, maybe thats the easier way to go. like FM or H&R on the high price end, and like eibachs or tein springs on the lower price scale.
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Originally Posted by SamS
(Post 83428)
It looks like you autox it, so the best performance mod you could do is to cut your stock springs. I think there's a writeup on m.net...:gay:
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aren't the msm bilsteins shorter than standard hd's? If so then get some 440/350GC's.
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Since you already have the shocks, I'd go with the GCs.... I've got 450/350 rates on mine.
Of course, the other option would be to go for something like the Tein's where you can shorten the body of the shock too..... Dave, |
Originally Posted by VRTSid
(Post 83445)
whats your budget? you can get a ton of different lowering springs, if you just want to be a little lower than stock height on a normal na, maybe thats the easier way to go. like FM or H&R on the high price end, and like eibachs or tein springs on the lower price scale.
I'd like to perform the whole operation in under $150 - considering the parts that could be resold. Be that a spring swap or a complete system swap. Complete Suspension swap sounds like a simpler choice. |
Talk to Shaikh (pronounced "shake") at FatCat Motorsports. He's an autocrosser, and recently opened his own business doing Miata suspension work. He does custom re-valve work on Bilstein shocks, manufactures some accessory parts including spacers, bumpstops, and a very cool NB shock mount conversion kit (which automatically drops the car a half inch), and is an absolute guru when it comes to suspension tuning.
Check out his website at: http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com He also hangs out in the Suspension forum over on M.net. No affiliation, other than that I spent last weekend hanging with him when he was down in So. Cal racing. BTW- I see you're SM2, that's a tough class. Are you running forced induction? |
yeah Shaikh is great. I am thinking abotu taking out the AGX on my 99 and geting the stock Bilstien's revalved and putting those back on.
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Originally Posted by Joe Perez
(Post 83482)
BTW- I see you're SM2, that's a tough class. Are you running forced induction?
Faulken Ziex 512 aint exactly a racing tire :-) and my intake hose flew off towards the last couple runs which caused the car to choke a 'lil. Only realized I had 0 boost when driving out of the parking lot. (at least that's my excuse for suckiness at driving). Solo 2 Results Yeah I was reading Shaikh's posts on M.net. Seems very knowledgable. I'll see what options he has for me. |
Seriously though, not bad. Nice improvement trend, and very competative with the two drivers running the WRX and the Integra in SM, and I don't see a single cone on there. Granted, still only mid-field compared to the ES Miatas, but running FI can be tough. I went for a ride in an Ubercharged NB last weekend on what was about a 55-60 second course, and we spent a whole lot of time driftin'. |
Shaikh is great, buy from him!
What's the difference between NA and NB suspension other than the tophat? Could my bilstein/GC/FCM setup be considered an NB suspension then? SM2, sigh. I remember when I ran SM2 with my 90 CRX, only n/a FWD there, got my ass handed to me by the turbo Miatas and the 330whp FD, but it was fun! |
JIC-Magic FLT-A2 for the win..
..On a more budget friendly note, GCs with revalved Konis would come in second from everyone elses words, but I have never ran the later on my car. |
Just a note, if you do put an NB suspension on the car, it'll work fine, but you have to do a complete swap with the shocks, springs, mounts all together. Here's a thought: get a bilstein NB suspension from a 99 sport on the cheap, use it for a year, and next winter send them out to Shaik for a custom revalve.
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I am confused now :crx: ... I pretty much heard all the options :)
Now let's try to sort out the best bang for the buck. This is all for a 90 NA with 05 MSM setup already on it: 1. 05 MSM Bilstein shocks with GC coilover kit. Here Is that doable? Will I see a performance increase along with a body drop? Can MSM Bilsteins handle a different spring rate? 2. MSM Lowering springs - Here Is that much different from a stock MSM suspension? 3. A full blown suspension swap. Some version of FM setup with GC coilovers. I was really excited about option 1. I could sell the MSM springs and save a bit. Option 2 is also doable only if there is considerable performance/height change. Option 3 easier to install, but will end up costing a lot more. Merci! |
call GC on fitment for the bilstein fitment, because I don't know if the msm bilstein perch comes right off. I talked to the bilstein people about the 4/350 rates, and they said it would be fine, though under damped.
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