Yes, springs for their coilover sleeves are linear. Most manufacturer's that sell a lowering spring for vehicle specific shocks are progressive. I think Suspension Techniques was the only other linear, but when I talked to them on the phone the guy couldn't tell me spring rates. Tein S-Techs are progressive springs, plus the spring rates are barely higher than stock.

 

Would I need new bumpstops or perches with the tein coilovers?

The only stupid question is the one I don't ask and then have to pay for separate shipping.

 

I see a lot of post leaning toward the tein flex..... any comment on the tein basic??

 

Tein flex come with perches and stops. Tein basic isn't popular due to the lack of adjustability.

 

Late to the party here, but I'll just +1 a couple of things.

1- AGXs are, in fact, garbage. Adequate on stock springs, and nothing more.

2- FM Springs are pretty good, but if I had it to do over again, I'd have gone stiffer. I was worried about putting too much spring on the car since it's my DD, but until I actually tried it myself, I didn't appreciate how good shocks will tame a stiff spring. With FCM-valved Bilsteins and bump stops with FM springs, my car is actually softer (in terms of ride comfort) than it was on stock or AGX shocks and stock springs & bumpstops.

3- The Tein Flexes are supposed to be pretty badass. Emilio at 949 has some degree of experience with them. Call him and chat.

 

Seriously, just talk to Shaik at Fat Cat Motorsports. That guy is amazing. He talked to me for two hours about all the variables in my setup, and the man /knows what he is talking about./ Period.

I'm going FM springs (when I can find some) and R package Bilsteins (when I can find some) with my FCM tops, then eventually a revalve and possibly some FCM coilovers in the future.

Talk to FCM. /thread

 

im probably gonna get flamed for this.......but does anyone have experience or knowledge of 4 inch springs on a miata? i think im going the 6 inch Hyperco for my project build, but i was wondering about my daily driver....if i could fit 4 inch Hyperco's on it.

 

You are destined for failure. I'm not aware of any commonly available coilover with a perch that will go up high enough on typical Miata shocks to have a 4" long spring even be touching the upper mount assuming you run a ride height where your tires don't rub everywhere. The car will almost be sitting on the bumpstops even when parked. You might as well save yourself some money by not running springs at all. Furthermore, the max rate Hyperco makes in 4" springs is 600 lb/in, not nearly a high enough rate for that short length. You'd run into coil bind issues if you didn't run out of shock travel first.

And why are you obsessed with what length springs you're going to use? Decide on rates first, and that will determine how short a spring and how low a ride height you can get away with. I think even the guys running 700# and higher front springs and 11" ride heights still use 6" length springs.

 

Coil bind and insufficient travel would be huge issues.

The eGay 5.5" springs are pushing it, and insufficient in my experience. I just ordered a full set of QA1s yesterday...in proper rates, and 7" length. I'll still be able to adjust down to 12"/12.5" with the 2.5" ID collars and my custom perches.

You will want the extra travel of "real" springs. +1 on picking rates first...then calculate loaded length from free length...and this will give you an idea where you'll sit. Adjustable collars make it even better.

 

I have the FM springs + Illuminas. It's great in that it feels better than stock on the street, and from what I hear it performs well on the track.

 

im not worried about the rates because the DD is just gonna be for show and cruising around the beach, not for performance. im only gonna boost it up to about 180hp and put deep dish rims on it and lower it as much as possible......CR.net style if you would say

im putting all my performance thoughts into my project build. either 15x9 6UL or some Volk Racing wheels involved also.

edit......so long story short....if i can find the right height.......i'll use whatever rate i need to for it to work for the DD. not worried about long trips or my butt going numb.

 

Well, with all the advices, I'd hate to throw my two-pence in the ring, but, here are my impressions.

You have the need for speed, my friend.
While FM Stage 1 setup is great (I've run it both on track and autox), it is by no means a competitive one.
The trend (at least with me) is to get better, and, I'm glad that you're restraining yourself from doing something stupid.

But, a great suspension is a great suspension.

You COULD get FM kit, and be happy with it, as it'll give you wife-friendly ride on the street, and decent times (and response) on the track and autox, but, it won't be the cat's *** like Ohlins or FCM stuff.

Speaking of responsiveness.
You simply don't realize how communicative a good suspension is. (Btw, feel free to read up on my suspension experiences, linked in my sig).

But, again, remember the old adage.
You can pay a lot once, or you can pay a lot more many times over.

Instead of trying several setups, spend your cash once on something good, and that is Ohlins (old favorite), AFCO (new kid), Tein (people like 'em, but have no personal experience), and FCM, the only custom solution of all of them, competitively priced.

FCM Variant 1 (single adjustables) will give you all the suppleness on the street, with performance to outcorner most anything out there (in much higher classes, with bigger rubber).
Get Shaikh's (FCM) coliover sleeves, and you'll be allset in terms of height adjustment as well.


And, it's kinda funny, but, speaking from personal experience, you just don't realize how different a league a better suspension is, despite you liking your current setup.

Find someone with FCM stuff on it, and ask for a ride.

 

BIG HUGE +1



I'm about to bolt in my 6th different suspension setup in less than a year next weekend. Want to know what it is? Stock Bilstein setup because all of my cheap cobbled together "solutions" were too harsh and unpredictable at the limit.

I'm only going to put in one more suspension setup after this one, and let's just say I'm saving up for it. I've already talked to Shaikh a few times, and I'm sure he's just as tired as I am trying to chase down why this setup is still on the bumpstops, or this one jacks down and gets twitchy in bumpy corners.

Previous tries all used the lower priced OTS shocks (AGX, KONI yellow), and all had springs that were the right rate for the weight, but too stiff for the shock. The only bonus was they were all cheap.

At least I've got install times down to 2.5hrs...of course 3hr avg times 6 (or 7 for "final" setup) doesn't make it cheap anymore when I consider what my time is worth.


Do it right....do it once.

 

Another vote for calling Shaikh at FatCat... I have the Variant 1 coilovers (550/350) and they're freakin awesome in every way. As for Tein Basics, don't even consider them, they're what I took off of my car and about the worst coilovers I've ever driven on, Tein should be ashamed for charging money for them.

 

Plus the cost of alignment every time the ride height changes...

 

I'm still leaning towards the Tein flex ($1600), but does anyone know anything about the new APEXI N1 EXV coilovers ($1100) or the KW V3's ($1600)?

 

1600=FCM revalve. **** the adjusters, they confuse the feeble human mind. Anyway, you can upgrade the FCMs later to external adjusters if you really want it.

 

fatcatmotorsports custom bilsteins sounds like your flavor

 

Tein Flex is what I am going with down the road.

 

Im saving up for those