The easiest solution is just to get a shorter spring.

 

Easiest solution and 'fix' are not the same thing.

 

Is there any reason that the rotoclip SH-200 wouldn't work for the C clips? The intended shaft diameter of the SH196 is 1.9688", and the SH-200 is for 2.0000" shaft diameter. The intended groove diameter for the SH-200 is 1.886" and the intended groove diameter for the SH196 is 1.857" I don't see the .009" intended groove diameter making a huge difference, and maybe I am splitting hairs, but I just want to make sure.

https://www.grainger.com/product/ROTOR-CLIP-Retaining-Ring-5CA77?s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/5CA11_AS02?$smthumb$

The reason I ask is I can get a few locally for free. Worse that can happen is I try them and they don't work. Right? If someone has tried, I would like to know. I didn't see reference in the thread. Or if someone has far more expertise in shafts than me (very possible around here) and could make a recommendation either way. It looks like these are easier to find too, or at least they were for me. I just don't feel like tearing my suspension down more than once. I hate suspension work. /overthinkingshit

 

My guess is that the .009" will not make a significant difference. However the ears for snap ring pliers will not fit under the preferred sleeves in the preferred capture configuration. Probably be ok for a butted sleeve non-captured fit.

 

I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread and all their hard work figuring this stuff out.
I followed the MSM, Allstar recipe with extended top hats. I chose 7" 600 and 6" 400's. A full weight 2000 SE + turbo + roll bar (is portly Miata an oxymoron?)
I am really happy how this turned out. This is fun back roads occasional track day. Firm without beating you up. Road trip to Road America and back was comfortable.
Only thing left is to add another groove to lower the rear perch (who had those extra circlips ?)
cheers - JB

 

Is there a spring recommendation for the Hard-S bilstein? I've heard that because of the funky low-speed and high speed damping, it can be hard to choose the right spring rate.
I'm going to be running FCM bumpstops, 5xracing sleeves, stock NB tophats and am lost at springs.

 

I don't follow the nomenclature. Are those the NB Sports?

That said, i haven't felt 550/375s on oem miata bilsteins of any kind that felt bad.

 

Yep the NB Hard-sports. Yellows.

For springs, I'm a bit confused on length. The best matched spring length will allow me to have the most amount of suspension travel, yes?

 

~600/400 for slicks on smooth track only and 400/300ish for street and occasional track on street tires and somewhere in between for somewhere in between. 500/350 is in the middle. All of this is subject to what sway bars you run, of course.

 

I think the consensus, if using the stock clip groove + sleeves that go over the clip and no helpers, is 7".

That's what I went with anyway 2 years ago.

 

On the NB Sports, i like the 550/375 with big front bar, MSM rear bar.

 

I'm running 1000/450 on hard S shocks.......quite a few people just cringed at that statement. I feel the shocks adequately control those rates, are they ideal? Absolutely not but for a sub 500$ setup that can FTD at my local auto x and place in the top 10 overall in a region with some nationally competitive folks tells me they don't suck.

If you can be sure the bump stops are not in play the rates are acceptable up to my 1000/450 rates. I'll work on cleaning up my spreadsheet to share that explains my math. Keep in mind, acceptable is far from optimized.

 

My Springs are 7-inch Summit Racing front and rear, by the way.

 

I'm running 450/300 on a mostly street car. RB front bar and MSM rear.

I think I should have gone a bit higher tbh. It's really nice, but I think it could have been a bit stiffer. I'd like to try a setup that was set up like that.

 

If you are looking to unload that set up that is what I am looking to run (fun street only). Hit me up if you swap out.

 

It gets a bit more bouncy when you get to 550/350 and less controlled over rough pavement, but is good on track or smooth surfaces.

 

Woiyld 2.25 springs diameter work as well?

 

Allstar sleeve thread OD = 2.350" so NO. I doubt other sleeves would be any smaller.

 

i think 450/300 is just fine. "spirited" street driving.

 

I had 450/325 and it was OK on the street, not terrible, but also not super comfy on bad roads. On smooth roads they are as good as any other suspension and on track it was great if not a little soft. I wished i had more spring on the front at Laguna as they would compress to a point where 15x9 would rub in turn 6 and bottom of corkscrew.