Cutting stock springs...bad idea or not?
 

I recently put a set of Racing beat springs on my car with Koni Str-T shocks. I still have to get my alignment corrected as all 4 of my wheels lean in. I feel that the racing beat springs are bouncier than my stock springs. I even noticed when I laid a stock spring next to the racing beat one on my garage floor; I pressed down on both of them and the stock spring seemed a lot stiffer than my racing beat spring.

The racing beat springs are as follows:
1999-05 Front Rate: 195 lb/in
and
1999-00 rear Rate: 145 lb/in.

Does anybody know the rates on the stock springs?

And now to my idea...
If I ditch my racing beat springs and cut down my stock springs to achieve my desired ride height; would this be a stupid thing to do?
Please explain to me the Pro's / Con's of doing this.

Fm is somewhere around 3x stock rates at 318f, 233r. Sounds like rb springs are only about 100lbs higher than stock. I do not believe cutting stock springs is worth it. By the time you get to desirable rates, you're too low.

Doesn't Fcm have some hard data on stock springs?

It's more likely the shocks causing the issues over the springs. the KONI STR-t aren't exactly well regarded.

stop riding the bumps and it wouldnt be so bouncy... :) (which means when you lower the car you need spring rates significantly higher than stock, not just a little bit.)

Perhaps I should just get off my cheap ass and order some V-Maxx's from FM. They're on backorder anyway, so it'll be a wait. I'll then have adjustability, support, and quality. I was all about not having to adjust anything, but I guess if you want a setup to be happy with, you need to tailor the ride to your liking. I read all the time about you guys and using your cars for the track. I don't track my car, so I wanted a street setup where I put it on and forget about it.
Should I go with v-maxx's? Or should I get better shocks and springs? I don't think I could match the value of FM's V-maxx kit.

how much are v-maxx?

$600 a set.

at that price Megan EZ street would be a consideration, but I'm sure the V-maxx would provide the best ride quality and are more set and forget.

Otherwise I'd be inclined to suggest the illumina/FM spring combo

Cutting springs is only allowed on old Volvo 240's.
If you're cutting the springs of your Miata, be sure to place your wrists in the way.

I'd get Racelands before I started cutting any springs. They're so cheap, you can buy them just to sell them as metal scraps and still make money.

save up 100 more dollars and you can get on bilsteins w/ QA1 springs and allstar performance sleeves. or just get ebay sleeves and QA1 springs and you can make it $650.

Can your str-t shocks handle FM springs?

Racing Beat springs are lowering springs, no? Now you have no springs and are effectively only on the bumpstops because within 1/2in of travel or less you are likely hitting the bumpstops.

For what it's worth my used 450/275 combo rides better than stock because it avoids the bumpstops.

Says here you are on 162/118 stock springs on your car.

http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/FRC...MSDS_1_8NB.htm

learn how to manipulate that calculator here:
http://www.fatcatmotorsports.com/FRC...S_TUTORIAL.htm

RB: 195/145

Keep in mind that the FM springs lower the car less, and are 318/233 rates.

You need an actual increase in rate if you are lowering the car in order to keep it off the bumpstops. Right now, you only need an extra 30 lb/in of force to move the spring the same amount...do you think that makes up for the loss of 2" of travel?

And one of the last things I'd ever want to do is ride konis near the end of the shaft travel

According to FCM's calculator (the most reliable source of data I know of on springrates) the stock springs on a non-sport NB are 162 front, 118 rear. (lbs/in.)




Pro: none

Con: loss of useful suspension travel, harsh ride, unpredictable handling.

I emailed FM and asked if their springs would work on my new shocks....I'm awaiting a reply.

Get some bilsteins from parts geek and ebay collars/springs. This is all you need to get a plusher/performance ride.

a friend from work cut his springs and the ride got a lot worse. its not worth it..

Here's what FM said when I emailed them...
"Our springs would work fine with your Konis, way better than what you
have. Might want to consider adding our bumpstops, too, though you will
certainly spend less time on the stops with more realistic spring rates."

Looks like I'll be buyin me some FM springs.

You know what would be morebettergood? This >
The spring rates you really need for a street car complete with adjustable height collars for ~$60. You could try them with the konis first if you really wanted but my off the shelf stock 2001 NB "Hard" Bilsteins are valved awesome for everything from up to 450lb+ springs. The ebay Miata coilover kits are generally only 400 front and 350 rear, which isn't really strong.

56 pages of all you want to know and more:
forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=289656

Spending $200 on FM springs is easier than finding Bilsteins and sourcing the springs and collars.

Unless Hustler's stuff is still for sale.