now that we've badgered Braineack on his math, that may or may not be correct, can someone get back to the post i made last within this thread? lol

 

Well, kinda sorta.

The long-repeated story is that the Miata suspension was designed to use the bumpstops as the stiffer component of a half-assed "dual rate" spring to limit body roll. But no, in general, the bumpstops are there to protect the shock from bottoming out and being damaged internally and/or to stop the suspension components or tires from contacting the frame or body of the car. Using a squishable material makes the transition from motion to no-motion more gradual.

 

What If I picked up racelands for the 380$ shipped or whichever they were, and simply customized the bumpstops? possible?

 

Sure, it's possible. You'll still be dealing with shitty dampers and questionable spring rates, however.

mcarp22's post on page 1 is really the better solution, if you are willing to do the work.

 

I couldn't do that even If I wanted to.. I'm amateur at best, and trying my best to learn, although building my own is not really a road I wanted to go down..

 

Then get Bilstein HDs and used FM springs or ground controls. You will regret getting the racelands.

 

The prices are similar?

 

You are probably looking at $500-550 for that setup, but it is well worth it over the racelands. In fact I have some FM springs that are pretty new that I could sell you if you are interested. I bought them for a car and the project was scrapped. Let me know.

 

I dont know.. that is abit pricey, if I'm going as far as 500-550, i'll save another 200-300 and get some legit *** coilovers.. though I feel like for the price I can't beat racelands, I'm running into financial trouble and holding off on coilovers for a few more paychecks, though at the moment im leaning towards raceland's.

 

What coil overs are you looking at? Are you saying you will buy racelands now and in a few months buy better ones? If that's the case, just keep what you have until you can afford what you want to get as you will be just wasting money on the racelands.

You are asking people who know a fair amount about suspension and they are telling you to stay away from raceland. I know the price is attactive, but I think you will be dissapointed.

To find the increase in spring rate you divide the new rate by the old rate. IE 400/164 = 2.4x as stiff. You were almost there! Don't hate me

 

I just drove 4-hours each way to and from the track, with my gf, on 700/400 springs, and she never bitched about the ride once.

 

Do this, it's **** (mc-carp basically nailed it, but I'm going into more detail):

Cheap ebay coilovers $60-80
^throw away everything but the sleeves and adjusters. The springs are too short. they will make your life difficult. Do not use raceland dampers, don't even pay for them, they suck.

Get some OEM bilsteins and have SD revalve them (you can skip this if you want and cut your money in half, but it won't ride half as good, this is where the gains are to be had)

QA1 450F 300R springs 7 or 8" long (do a search, can't remember what I used)

NB tops and washers.

Look for the DIY FCM mounts thread where you cut down a sway bar bushing from autozone. It's on miata.net

Get extender nuts to match your shock threads here: http://www.toughnutz.com/refills.mgi...30B03286CB74D8

then go **** models. ^that path is the only good way to use ebay ****, but the results kick ***. All your money in suspension goes into dampers. So long as your springs are stiff enough and long enough it doesn't matter how much you pay/brand, same with coil sleeves. Thus using cheap ebay sleeves isnt an issue, they only set height. I would have used their springs but they were like 6" which is too short.

IIRC I set the sleeves on top of the stock spring perch and had to wrap some duct tape around the shock body to snug the collar up.

 

240% as stiff = 140% stiffer

 

450/300 springs on OTS Bilstein HD's made me naseated in the passenger seat. I feel this combo is in-daily-able.

 

Why not? You're just taking a bilstein from a '99-05 miata, hitting it with a hammer a few times to get the spring perch off, then handing it to a guy at a machine shop.

If you can't do that, you won't be able to get the shocks off the ******* car anyhow. Man up.

 

You're one lucky man Hustler, toss a ring on that finger....

/nohomo

 

I mustn't have read carefully enough, sorry I was running on 30 hours no sleep when I posted this lol, but anyways, yeah I hadn't realized I would be paying a shop for it. anyways, after some financial crisis, I'm selling my winterbeater and paying off all debts, suspension will be done sometime this summer and not anytime soon so I have some time to think it threw. thank you guys though it's all appreciated!

 

Read my damn writeup already and quit your whining. Suspension is easy as ****...you do need some kind of power to get the rusty bolts off though so dont go in all wimpy with cheese fingers and a 1 foot ratchet and expect to get the bolts off.

 

Blindsay, since your not in a rush anymore. Take your time and keep researching and figuring out what you need. Don't take the easy way out, there is no time like the present to learn how to do stuff. No sense in paying some chump to do what you can simply learn to do yourself.

 

Thanks dstn2bdoa, and yeah I plan on taking more time for research, as of now I'm leaning towards the custom coilover setup, but I'm still looking at various reviews and such. money limit has been made more flexible, it is no longer an object, and I am looking for simply the best without spending extra unneccessary money... don't get me wrong, money will play a role when it comes to comparisions of similar specs, but not like before.


As for triple88a, I don't believe I was whining? I'd like to know who the hell died and made you king? Did you come out of your mother with a wrench and hammer? Hey douchebag, being an internet-tough guy doesn't make you any more educated than those giving useful information in a polite and respectful way.