Adjustable shocks with OEM-like ride quality and comfort
 

Did a search in here and with Google but nothing useful came up. Lots of informational noise and no signal...
I am looking to replace stock shocks with something that has some degree of adjust-ability.
NB with stock power and a few minor mods here and there, used as a daily driver with some autocross and HPDE in mind.
I don't want to change springs, I don't want to go lower nor to sacrifice wheel travel.
What adjustable shocks are closer to the stock ones?

If you want stock like, then just get stock shocks.

You are asking for:
- performance
- adjustability
- stock feel and height
- keeping OEM springs

Some of these are just contradicting (OEM springs and performance or adjustability). Your best bet is to find a used Bilstein setup and roll with that.

get tokico illuminas. they will work perfect for what you need

2 out of 4.

- performance - subjective and did not ask for it
- adjustability - that's one
- stock feel and height - feel is subjective. Height is a given since springs remain stock
- keeping OEM springs - that's two

​​​​​​​Now do you have something to suggest for shocks that are adjustable? I would like to read your input.

Illuminas probably the only thing that satisfies your requirements. Don't know if AGX are still around, but they're trash anyways. Koni has something, but i don't think it's appropriate. 949 Racing has Xidas for stock use for ND i think... but i don't know if they have them for NA/NB.

Other than that, you're asking a question that nobody here has hands on experience with.

Xida ACE

You said you want to use it for some autocross and HPDE - doesn't that imply performance unless you're going to drive the courses...slowly? Lol.

Doing autocross/HPDE on stock springs with different shocks is something you can do, but not something anyone here would advise. The stock springs are just too soft for hard cornering and you'll blow through all the travel (and have a bunch of unnecessary sloppy body roll) at every cone/corner/braking point and bounce/bottom on the bump stops. There's no magic shock (well, actually there is Xida ACE's...but you can't keep OEM springs with those) that's gonna do a great job with stock springs for your intended usage. 18psi's suggestion of tokico's is prob your best bet, but they're still a compromised option for performance driving if you stick with stock springs.

Often on mt.net you get the answer to the question you should have asked, not the question you did ask - it doesn't pay to fight it :laugh:

HPDE: Highly Placid Driver Education

This, from experience. Well matched to OEM springs and single adjustable.

I've driven a set of Iluminas on stock springs. It felt like shit to me. Would not buy/drive/recommend.

You say performance is subjective and you did not ask for it. Pretty sure performance can be objective, not just subjective. A good set of shocks with stiffer springs will objectively perform better than Iluminas on stock springs. Fact.

What do you want adjustability for, if not performance?

Like others said, the stock springs are just too soft.

You could get the stock Bilstein setup off an NB or MSM including springs, that'd help a wee bit (especially the MSM setup).

The ultimate for ride comfort and performance is the Xida ACE, like Sixshooter said.

So, basically, the best answer to the question you asked is Tokico Iluminas. But it's a shitty answer, and a shitty question IMO.

Yes, my suggestion is stick to what you have right now. That's probably the best thing to do at the moment and will save you time and money. Until you have more time behind the wheel and understand what is it that you really need, there is little sense in buying shiny parts only to replace them later with the right parts. You can insist on going with adjustable shocks on oem springs for street and auto-x, but it will be your mistake to make. What you are asking and how you are asking is quite telling to the people who have spent the time educating themselves on suspension, spent time researching and matching different components to get a well handling car. You've already been given good advice and you should consider it. Nothing useful coming up in your search because what you are trying to do isn't worth doing. This forum, just like several others, has all the know-how on getting your Miata handling right, but one has to be willing to listen.

Thats why I like this place :rofl:

Good question I forgot to say something about it.
I want mainly to be able to have a preferred setup in autox and then go full soft on my way home.
I drove a NB with adjustable shocks and I was impressed how easy it was to dial in some oversteer for some courses and then go back to a street setup.
I don't want stiffer springs and I already have tried adjustable and larger rear sway bars

Just stay on stock shocks and springs and be ok with it.

You will never have decent body control in autox with stock springs.

If you're not aware, a high quality coilovers setup with reasonable spring rates will give you a buttoned down ride, good autox capability, and a very comfortable street ride. Xida Ace is the best in that regard, but the simple new Xida GS would give you phenomenal street ride but enough spring rate to do ok at autox. You can spend less and get somewhat similar performance but you'll give up ride quality.

While this is true, the right choice depends depends on what class you want to run it in. Stock springs with aftermarket shocks is E Street, changing the springs moves you to CSP or STsomething, where the list of required mods to have a fully prepped car gets a lot longer.

That said, if your goal is primarily to preserve wheel travel and ride height, consider that by using adjustable-height coilovers you can have your choice of ride height. I ran a setup like this at one point (KYB AGX with Ground Control coilovers) because my garage had a very steep entrance and lowering the car would not have been compatible with it.

For the original question -- I don't care for Illuminas myself, I'd probably go with Konis given the listed requirements.

--Ian

Ok now you’re getting downright unreasonable and I won’t allow it. Performance aside the regular xidas are NOT as comfy as stock showas/sprins or the illuminas. Maybe the ace are, haven’t tried yet, but the others are not. You can disagree till you’re blue in the face but I’ve done back to back drives so many times that I will always call BS on the street comfort claims

I never said they were as comfy as stock shocks/springs or iluminas. What I DID say is that they will give excellent performance AND excellent ride.

My 700/400 xidas ride better than my dad's 550/350 FCMs. I haven't ridden in a 550/350 Xida setup but it would ride significantly better than my 700/400 and would therefore be very comfortable.

I've driven my Xidas back to back with Iluminas on stock springs. The body control on the other setup was shit. Just too soft to do anything with. Yes it rode better but was super floppy.

Oh I agree its too floaty and has very little control. I also agree performance would suck. So basically I agree with everything y'all saying to him except the comfort part. If that's not what you meant then carry on. Just grinds my gears when people are like "XIDA XIDA XIDA more comfortable than lexus while handling like supercar". It handles amazing. It does not objectively ride more comfy. That part is highly subjective, like the people who daily without ps and ac on a fully gutted race car, and show up to work with pit stains and smelling like homeless people, while claiming their miata is super comfortable.

*edit:

STREET CAR BRO :D carry my newborn in it to the pediatrician

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...5207c300f2.jpg