New suspension is coming soon
 

So this time I'm going with this setup:
- Illuminas (ordered)
- FM springs (ordered)
- FCM 46mm bump stops and top hats (on backorder)
- RB 14/15" solid front sway (on car)

Now, I just need to get some wheels and tires for it and I should be all set.
I'm thinking about Sportmax 002s 15x7 w/ Azenis RT-615s @ 40psi front and 44psi rear to eliminate any understeer I will have with my suspension + Tomei 2-way differential.

How does that sound? I think this is a definite improvement over my previous setup (300/220 2.5" springs, AGX, FCM coilover setup + FCM 46mm bumpstops + FCM top hats) which was a little bit different from what I wanted.

Aren't the 002's on the heavy side?

If you have a real LSD, I think you're going to want a bigger rear bar. I'd leave tire pressure as a minor fine-tune; don't want to count on your only bandaid as a fix for a problem you know you're going to have going in.

FWIW, I have junk shocks, OEM springs, and FM sways (soft front, middle rear) and I love it. Loose is fast, right?

i had 002s 15x8 w/ 205 azenis rt-615 before and those were pretty light. 15x8 are around 13lbs so i would guess 15x7 would be around 12lbs? thats good enough for me.

i have stock 11mm rear bar right now and i might change it to something like 14mm later if i get too much understeer. also, shaikh told me that i can fine-tune everything with alignment and i guess ill give him a call when i will be getting my car aligned.

ps: with my previous setup i had slight understeer and i liked it like that.

Any idea how low car is going to be with this setup? 12-12.5"?

FWIW the sportmax 002s in 15x8 were almost 16lbs so that would probably put the 15x7 in the 15lbs range. They do look good, but they are a relatively "heavy" wheel for a miata. Not the biggest deal with FI power, but considering that there are ~10-12lbs 15x7 wheels out there, the extra 3-5lbs per corner would make a difference in handling. YMMV.

hm... they didnt feel like 15lbs at all
also, i de-turboed my car so i will be running n/a.

any suggestions on 15x7 wheels on cheaper side? im on a strict budget now :)

6ul's all the way.

i said im on a budget :)

that means like $80 per wheel tops

+1 I know you said your on a budget, but wait and save up for them.

Also, one note, the 15x7 6UL was built specifically for SM so you'd be better off getting the 15x7.5 or 15x8 as they are lighter than the 15x7 which was made a bit heavier specifically to conform to SM rules.

sportmax = gay

How about this failure mode:
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2.../Photo0013.jpg

Pretty sure there are two different 15x7's, one's 13#, the other is ??11#?? or whatever.

I have 15x6.5" Heliums, they're wide enough for 205/50, and around 11#, about $80 each. Offset is kinda wimpy looking though. (=40mm?)

yeah, +40 is not enough for me... i was thinking in +20-25 range. also, my car doesnt have ANY wheels at the moment and i just need to get something because manager at my apartment building is complaining about miata being there for so long on jack stands... my parking spot is right in front of water lines which would be used in case fire broke out...

what about rota rb 15x7 +25?

edit: never mind... 14.4lbs

how about these?
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/pts/507759379.html

Those aren't too bad. very similar to the Helium, a bit heavier. Are 6.5" going to be enough for you?

im not too sure... i had bbs 15x7 before with same azenis 205/50/15 and they were sticking out about 1/8"... shit... i think i have to go with 15x7 and forget all about 15x6.5

If you don't like the offset of the heliums run spacers.

If you're going to run 205's, get the 6.5", no need for the extra width and weight. If you're going to run 225/45, you'll want 8" anyway.

save for the 6ULs

dont get wheels that fail like the wheel in that pick. talk to spec miata guys in your area go to track days and races make some new friends and i'm sure you will quickly find a set of good used wheels cheap

Sounds like a decent street setup. I have something similar on my car, except i use KYB's (which really do suck), but it handles very nice! although with the tophats and the FM springs the car sits a bit low. about 12.25" all around.

i also vote for saving up for 6UL's. i have those with 205 RS2 rubber. i have no clearence issues, but i suspect with 225's it would be a tight fit with that setup. Ive thought about picking up a set of spaces but im too lazy to pull the suspension again just to add spacers...

That's a really good point - I went off at Thunderhill (spun inside between 10 and 11) and managed to bend one a bit. It still balances out, but ... a heavier stronger wheel would have likely fared better.

i guess 6ul that is...

or maybe http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...t/21-1046.html

are nippon wheels any good?

Nippons are okay (a step above Rotas), Heliums are better IMHO, lighter IIRC. I have the bronze ones... the color is ideal for a track car - they don't show brake dust; the look is kinda wearing on me on the street though.. I rotate back and forth between the OEM M Enkeis.

FWIW, my setup is very similar. FM springs, FCM 46mm bumps & tophats, Bilsteins, and a Moss 5/8" front bar. With this setup, I am running no rear bar (completely removed) and I'm actually very happy with the setup. This is with a '95 T1 Torsen, a turbo, and RE-01R rubber on 15x7 wheels.

For the most part it's pretty predictable, a slight predisposition towards understeer, shifting towards neutrality when cornering with steady throttle.

Camber is -1° front, -1.5° rear. Toe is zero front, 1/16" in rear. I probably could stand a bit more negative camber all 'round.

im gonna see about camber... if it understeers too much im going for -1 front and -2 rear. if it is more or less neutral, im gonna go with -1 front and -1.5 rear

I'd start with the rears to -2° the fronts at -1.5° or so. More negative camber up front will offset understeer, so if it understeers too much, put in more negative front camber, not less. Some folks even run equal camber front / rear.

I think your tire pressures are way too high... I start losing grip on my RS-2s above 35 psi...

how about Falken Hanabi 15x7 (11lbs) + RS2?

Update: ordered top hats and bump stops today. Shocks are on their way here.

so... what spacers to run on heliums?
15x6.5 +30 konig heliums...

i was thinking 15mm spacer to get +15mm offset and just roll my fenders + run 1.5 degrees front and 2 degrees rear camber

Um. I've seen that done to a variety of wheels...ranging from Rota to Volks to Desmonds...

Sportmax's = the fail.

Period.

+1 if you smack a curb, shit breaks

my friend just drove into a curb at about 80mph on his rx8 and his 20" sportmax wheels smashed into about 3,000 little pieces. lip from one of the rims was about 150ft from the car. i dont think anything like that should happen...

at 80mph and you dont think that should happen? not much out there that can withstand an 80mph curb hit....maybe a duck?

Quack



On a side note, I hit a duck going 80 in the van, it took out the sideview mirror, it coulda taken ME out.