My 93 miata is lowered on H&R springs and blue tokico performance shocks that have been on the car since 1998, but have only seen about 15k miles of driving. The car rides terrible on a bumpy road and I was looking at the FM rear shock mounts. Would these greatly improve my ride quality or am I just doomed by these springs and shocks. I am pretty sure the car is bottoming out because it doesn't have enough suspension travel but I do not know alot about suspension. I was hoping someone could try and guide me in making a decision that would improve my ride and fit in my budget of about $350. I know that there is not much that can be done on such a tight budget but just looking for any other options or opinions.

 

yes you have utter garbage springs/shocks
for that budget the only worthwhile suspension would be used bilsteins on stock springs

 

buys the worst shock/spring combination. wonders why it drives like the worst shock/spring combination.

 

Swing by Home Depot Racing and pick up some 2x4s. They're adjustable, but you can only go lower.

 

You literally own what is considered to be the worst shock and spring combo possible to put on a miata. ANYTHING you replace those with would be better.

 

First and foremost I did not buy this shock and spring combination. I get so tired of people making assumptions about a persons setup and acting like they are an idiot. I thought this forum was to help people. This setup was on the car when I purchased it and have been on this car for over 17 years. Where I used to live the roads were very good and I didn't notice how terrible this setup was. I was pretty sure this setup is not very good but at the time my funds are pretty tight from being in dental school and having a child.

I guess it's time to start saving up and looking into different suspension options. I appreciate you guys keeping me from buying FM rear shock mounts and putting on this crappy suspension. Any suggestions for suspension options.

 

I have the tokiko blue shocks and red springs and I'm in the same boat. I didn't do it. But I hate whoever did.

Can we have a party and put real suspensions on our cars?

Really though, I rode in a buddies car with the bilstein shocks, they are the truth for a budget setup.

 

xida

/thread

 

Im NOT saying these are the best.... BUT, you being on a budget, and in school. These are pretty decent, inexpensive, high quality, adjustable, and will most definitely give you a better ride, and last you til you can afford something better.

MossMiata.com - Parts & Accessories for Your Mazda Miata

and these are even cheaper, and IN your stated budget. you can get springs pretty cheap.

http://www.mossmiata.com/Shop/ViewPr...eIndexID=75338

But, your best bet is to find some used bilstiens and ride them til you can get something awesome

 

Good, because they both suck.

Bilsteins. Get some from an NB and gain suspension travel. Win.

 

I have the KYB AGX, and they're pretty harsh.

 

AGX are better than the Tokico blues, but only because the Tokico blues are so amazingly, astoundingly terrible. By comparison the AGX are just mildly bad.

 

Whenever people ask me for budget suspension advice, I love telling them to use stock springs with upgraded shocks. The look on their face is priceless.

Its kind of like telling someone to paint their carbon fiber hood. It really exposes the hidden ricer.

 

"But bu but.. how do i slam it with stock springs? Cut them?"

 

My NB "Hard S " Bilsteins were great on stock springs, 400/275, and even pretty nice on 550/350. They sell new for about $115 apiece iirc. They might even work with your H&Rs if you had adjustable perches ($60 for 4 on ebay). Find Jake300zx's recent DIY Bilstein thread.

I can send you some stock springs for just the price of shipping if it will help you out.

 

Can't believe people try and say you guys aren't helpful.

 

Thanks everyone for all the help. I just bought some na bilsteins and fm rear shock mounts. I am planning to swap out the struts and use the fm top hats with my h and r springs for the time being. I don't feel like this will get me to the ride I'm looking for but I'm hoping for an improvement. The next step of the plan will be to get some eBay coilovers and different springs. To allow me to raise the car up a little and have a better spring rate.
Does anyone know the spring rates on the h&r springs? I could not find the rates online. Maybe I should contact h&r. Thanks again for all the help and I look forward to constructive criticism that will help me improve my car.

 

The rates on the H&R springs are something like 15-30% more than stock (forget the exact number, but every lowering spring appart from the FM ones are in that range). Stock for what year? Who knows. Stock for a 1990 are 164/97 (top of my head, may be off a few lbs, but not much).

The best improvement you can make for cheap will be MCU bumpstops if you still have the stock rubber ones. Rock auto has ones from a 2002 Mini (the non super charged one? I think) for about $5 each. Add those.

I am running 450/350 on ebay coils and Koni Yellow (gonna get flamed for that, the yellows were cheap and used) and NB top hats. the ride is acceptable for what I do with the car.

Summit has an assortment of 2.5" springs on sale for $26 last I saw. (They are what I got).