I've have three different adjustable damping shocks installed since 2005, I've touched them like 2 times ever.

The come with shock plots look at the fuckin website. I give up with you one sided ass holes. I gave an explanation you can read more about them on their website. The are slightly cheaper than vmaxx due to shipping and they have more adjustability and run an 8/6 ratio. That's why I like them more I had vmaxx they were ok. DONE! IM unsubscribing

honestly, I'd probably buy megans before vmaxx.

New to site, have been spending several hours searching for info on STREET shocks to replace expensive Racing struct/lowered spring/ 2" ground clearance HARD ride that came with car.... another hour and will go back to Googling.. not worth ABUSE from INSIDERS who know everything. davzway Flame away.. nothing new to a General Contractor for 40+ years

What's wrong with you, Dave? I'm here to help.

Do you want a smooth ride? What is the intended use of the car?

Nothing (there are those that would argue the point). Seriously, I appreciate the few who have sincerely taken pitty on the newbie who did spend 3-hours+ looking at the old stuff in order to not ask a question asked and answered a dozen times over the past few years- and then get flamed for asking a question directly related to a member's experience with what was stated on the thread due to it's being three years old. That was the point- interested in gas used and mileage experience with the Greddy turbo on the 1.6. I will read and keep my trap shut. I do appreciate your consideration and thank you for your time. Davzway

Just let me know if I can help.

I been researching suspension as well. I was leaning towards the Tein Basis, can anyone with basis chime in on what they're like?

They are shit.

Really, don't waste any money on it. I'm a cheap cynical bastard, I wanted to hate it, but the 949 suspension is simply outstanding. Just do it right and buy the 949 stuff.

The suspension that 949 has put together is better than anything on the market in any way you can measure or feel. Unless you are confined by a race class regulation fuck anything by anyone else, get the 949 stuff.

On a serious note, do you guy get BC coilovers in the US? They seem pretty good bang-for-buck being monotube, proper height adjustment (lowering the shock body not just the spring, so you don't give up travel) and fairly light. They certainly shit all over my old Tein Super Streets.

I'm trying to figure out what is more annoying: these braindead lazy noobs asking us the same question for the trillionth time while absolutely refusing to search.

or

People that imply there is literally nothing under the sun that anyone would ever be satisfied with aside from $1800+ race coilovers.



Probably the n00bz

I paid like $680 for my Megans and I'm pretty happy with them. I set them to full hard :giggle: at first but then backed down to med/hard. I can only compare to stock suspension and a few laid out VWs I've driven in. Definitely a better ride than those.

I would buy 'em again. The fully soft setting probably isn't far off from stock damping if that's what you're into.

p.s. I love how the thread that started full of flaming turned into somewhat legitimate suspension discussion.

I should of stated that my car is only for daily driving. Never going to go tracking/autox my miata is at 103,000 miles and I think the stock suspension is still intact. Was just wondering when the shocks do blow, seeing what my options were.

Your shocks were blown at some point somewhere about 60,000 miles ago.

+1. Mine were completely blown and useless at 90k.

ANYTHING you put on the car will be better than 103k stockers. Hell, you could put a set of Koni Str.T shocks on there with your stock springs and maybe a new set of bumpstops (I wouldn't hesitate to get Fatcat 36/46 or 36/36 stops) and it will ride like a completely different car. The difference will be dramatic.

Like 18psi said earlier, you do not have to spend $1800-$2000 on race coilover suspension for a daily driver.

I only had the car for about 2 months now. Seems to drive fine to me. In that case, I'll look to change them soon at the end of year.

Sorry, but i'm just a real genuine noob. What is the purpose of bump stops?

To stop your shocks from destroying themselves when you run out of spring travel.

I'm really leaning towards the Tein Basis, and looking at the description of what comes with it, they already provide the bump stops or are Fat cat bumpstops a better upgrade?

I'm debating between Megan or Tein, keep in mind not autocrossing or tracking, simply daily driving from point a and point b nothing crazy. With the ability to occasionally lower and raising my car, i could care less about damping or whatever just as long as it's not too stiff of a ride.

STOP posting

START reading

Seriously. There is so much info on miata suspension that if you just shut up for a bit and actually take the time to read and digest it, you will know so well what you want and need that you wouldn't ask mind numbingly idiotic questions like "what is a bump stop".

Please. Do yourself a favor. Don't even look at suspension setups for your car until you know what it is, what it does, and what the differences are between the various ones, and how those differences might be more suitable or less suitable for your particular setup.

For $450 you can buy a set of brand new '99 "Hard S" Bilsteins that will work fine with your stock springs and be upgradeable to higher rate springs in the future. They will be compliant over rough roads and still control your car in a comforting fashion. You will likely not receive better advice than this.

Meh, buy shit.

As a Noobie to the site,, I DID READ, spending an easy 3 hours initially before asking a question which included one to a member who installed the hated Raceland's, on "what was his opinion after two years" or another who had the Greddy turbo for "what gas and mileage he was experiencing". Questions I believe were appropriate and not to waste time.

Then the responses come in: getting total Abuse for asking a question on a two year old thread,,, or for even DARING to ask about the Racelands when it was supposedly 'KNOWN' if you bothered to read on how bad they were (when there are many posts saying they do just fine). The profanity and ugly responses are a good way to ensure that only the original members continue to use this site.

For my part I grew up in a family of seven and moved every year, beginning work in my fathers construction business by age 13, and developed a thick skin early in life. As a Certified Roofing Contractor and General Contractor since the mid-70's, you cannot use language I haven't heard, and remember some who if you weren't swearing at them- would not take you seriously. My Point in bringing this up?

A polite: This question has been asked and answered a hundred times in the past three years. Members will be glad to help after you've done some research and post an appropriate question. May offend some; however, it's unlikely they wanted to learn anything and may enjoy getting a reaction.

Personally, I did get enough decent responses to remain, learning enough to avoid the 'Ricelands' and purchasing FM VMaxx XXtreme coilovers to replace MY $2k Racing Shocks since I need a better street ride vs Racing for my particular situation.
J.A.H.O.W.M.N. because everyone has one. davzway

If you haven't already decided, I would definitely look at Flyin Miata's FM VMaxx coilovers a close look. I went with the VMaxx XXtreme which is the exact same shock only it has adjustable dampening (the standard VMaxx are currently being held in customs and likely out before end of the month. Since FM is selling these as fast as they come in; if interested I would get my order placed).

In my case I had Koni Racing shocks with springs that had lowered the car more than 3" from OEM and were way too HARD for daily driving. The FM VMaxx raised the Miata back to near OEM height, with a ride quality that is fantastic- comfortable ride with great handling (did not given up anything of consequence in the handling department, going from the Koni Racing for the FM VMaxx coilovers. Just another opinion. davzway

Yeah, Koni race shocks have a bad reputation for harshness and the VMaxx are quite popular.

They don't get much love - but I have a set of KSports and have really liked them the last year or so.

They ride better than the Tein Basics I had last, and have not changed the handling characteristics of the car. You can pick them up fairly cheap.

Holy hell man... If you just even read THIS WHOLE THREAD, you'll have your answer. You don't even have to read other threads (but it would be a good idea) but just friggin' read this entire thread and you would have at least two recommendations that fit your needs.

Look, I know some gave you crap about gravedigging. But you don't need to mention it repeatedly. People give crap about gravedigging. You now know not to gravedig. If it's an old post by a current, active member, then gravedigging is not a problem. Before posting in an old thread, check the member's profile who you're looking for feedback from. If it's been more than a few months since they last logged in, you're wasting your time and will receive fire.

I hvae the original..aka street vmaxx and on bumps it rides a tiny harsher than my stock "sport" package. On turns though or at more compression its definitely harder though. One thing i do not like about it is that its a bit soft in the front so it tends to oversteer too much at the initial turn in.

I only have a 150miles or so on the VMaxx XXtreme coilovers with the 'street' or 'sport' springs (you can order with the 'Track' springs for the same money at time of ordering); however, the ride height returned to near OEM and the handling is almost as good as the Koni Racing coilovers. There are some twisting, curving roads here near the Ocala National forest and I had no signs of oversteer whatsoever- very close to the Koni's in the way they handled. The Koni's had springs that were so low, there was less than 2" below the shock bottom mount to the ground. No travel in the shocks left a really HARD ride. The FM VMaxx coilovers corrected all of that and I couldn't be more pleased with both the shocks and their company's service. JMHO davzway

I have a set of regular Vmaxx on my 95. I don't like them .

I have had them on the car for maybe 10,000 miles. I have the car sitting at 4.74" & 5.25 to the pinch welds. Thats not slammed or even low for that matter. I have been fighting coil bind issues in the front since about 300 miles in. I've talked with Keith and he sent me a new spring for shipping cost once. After that he has kinda ignored my questions and emails. At one point he told me that the car was too low and they were notdesigned to used like that. Ive asked what I should swap the china coils for, no responce . They are not, "in my opinion", worth the money for the regular series.

I measured the height from the center of the wheel to the bottom edge of the rim/lip for the wheel well. 12-1/2" Front and 13-1/2" Rear, having only the rear outside where FM recommended the Miata's height should be with their VMaxx XXtreme coilovers (per Keith the ONLY difference between these coilovers and the standard VMaxx is the ability to adjust the dampening; something I am unlikely to do but despite the difference in cost I went with the XXtreme's as the others were waiting for US Customs to clear FM's shipment. Could have gone at least 3" lower as the height adjustment does not affect the main springs (have 'Street' instead of 'Racing' springs for my intended use, and cost is the same when ordering). I do have the 'B' conversion kit with new top hats/rubber grommets which we assembled to the coilovers in a vise prior to installation.

Have had NO coil binding issues. Do your FM VMaxx have the smaller springs (112# spring which is only part that compresses when adjusting the height which we also did in the vise prior to installing, i .e. when moving the two locking rings. Unless lower than design parameters, I cannot see where the springs would bind.

Not being flip, but I do have a set of Koni Racing coilovers which were/can be adjusted as low as you'd ever want a Miata lowered,,, great for track and carefully driving on street (ride is HARD). Can make a real deal. Send PM for the facts/product numbers etc on the Koni's which have 26-28k mileage on them per original owner. davzway

For street use the either Vmaxx would be fine but the Koni race at a moderate ride height would be a better choice for a track car.

Coil bind eh? You sure its not the bump stops or the helper springs clanking when compressing on bumps? I've had that issue too so ordered 4 pieces of 3/4" tall 1/4" wall pipe (dont remember the diameter) that i have there instead of the helpers.. clunking is gone.


https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1385100649

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1385100649

I cannot see from the picture,, do you have the 112# 'lighter springs above the blue locking collar? I used the 'B' conversion parts two rubber bushings and new top hat, etc. over the 112# spring. My setup works as I've described. dave

Agree on both the VMaxx and the Koni.. the Koni Race coilovers I removed were stone cold fantastic in handling.. and PO could have had ride height a little higher,, but the car was setup for the Track,,, not street use. davzway