Last year I put FM springs - the old ones - over KYB AGX shocks on my car. I got the springs used (shocks were new), and they have either sagged, or were too short to begin with. The car sits very low, like 3" from the frame rails to the street. Slightly lower in the back, because I used ISC tophats. Slammed like CR.net stuff.

The ride is very tight, but I don't mind that. What I do mind, is scraping on the frame rails on occasion, like coming over driveways that are not level with the road. I'm not riding on the bumpstops; in fact I don't think I've even contacted them yet. It hits the pavement before the stops. Not good.

Now, I kinda like the feel of the springs, but I'd like more height. Coilovers ain't gonna happen, as I've poured a lot more money into this car than I had budgeted for. New ebay springs or other cheap-o ones are a possibility, but I'd rather not just throw money at it.

Can I make spacers to lift the thing up off the rails without seriously screwing things up? I have the ability and materials to make them myself (aluminum jig plate), and I could modify the spring perches to screw them in place.

Thoughts? Alternatives that are cheap? Just suck it up and buy Racing Beat springs?

 

buy a cheap plastic cutting board. cut out 4 donuts, place under spring...you just raised it a good 1/2"

 

Another option...

http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?...umber=13-59000

I'll be installing these in the rear tomorrow to level out my car.

 

I feel you, I'm on the same boat. Stock R package Bilsteins, FM springs and FCM mounts (additional 1/2'' lower). I shake in my boots when I see an entrance to a parking lot or something that is sharply raised, or a speed bump. I drag everything. Hard bumps on the interstate even make me bottom on the rails or whatever is first to touch. I may do those spacers until I can afford the Teins. I need to check out the suspension and do brakes anyway.

 

Not bad, but with Brains route you get to do all 4 for the price of 1 of FM's

 

True, but I don't have to disassemble anything to install the FM spacers.

 

You can do the same thing as the FM ones with the cutting board. Very tough, hard plastic.

 

Cutting boards are generally polypropylene. I work at a place that uses the stuff for chemical plating tanks, so I have access to loads of the stuff.

Rained like hell here today, or I'd have measured the front and back to determine exactly how much to raise it. I'm guessing the back needs to come up about an inch, and the front about 3/4-7/8".

So, seeing as how the mounting studs aren't that long, I'll have to disassemble the damn things to insert the spacers. I'll try to remember to take before and after pics. Thanks, guys.


Edit: Cutting boards and such are ususally polyethylene. We have mostly polypropylene. I thing the pfte is harder than the polypro, but I believe they both have creep. I need to do some research. Maybe I'll just get a damn cutting board.

 

remember there's motion ratio and all that ****.

you'll wanna add a .65" spacer in the rear, and a .50" or so in the front.

 

This.

Maybe you already knew that, but if you did a full 1'' spacer you would probably not be happy with the results. Just go to Dollar General/Dollar Tree/ whatever dollar or discount store you have local and pick up a cutting board. I have a purple one that would be perfect, since it's about 1/2'' thick and very hard plastic.

 

Yo toss sum 22"s on dat biach dawg.

 

You can usually find a set of Tein s-tech springs for cheap. They are what I run and only drop the front 1.1" and the rear 0.75". They feel great too. I found a used set about 4 years ago for $75, and they're still going strong.