mazda/nissan

iTrader: (2)

Anybody have any experience with this? Or more precisely the FM shocks with the Illuminas? I'm considering buying this and coupling it with some fresh bushings and RB hollow bar. Should I also plan on getting the NB mounts for more travel?

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

If I ever do suspension, those are the parts I'll be buying. And add bump stops too. The Illuminas are supposed to be a very good shock and ride well.

mazda/nissan

iTrader: (2)

yeah I forgot about the bump stops, I'll be getting those as well. I figured no point not buying the NB mounts for $15

Finish Line / Rosenthal Mazda Parts & Accessories*::*Miata / MX-5*::*Suspension*::*Shocks/Mounts*::*Shock Mount 99-05

Joe Perez

iTrader: (8)

Shaikh of FatCat (who is not known for generously lavishing praise upon things FM sells) speaks rather well of the FM Springs / Illuminas package. I have the springs on my car, and coupled with a set of Shaikh's Bilsteins, NB mounts, and 36mm bumpstops, they are phenomenaly comfortable on the road and yet also handle quite well.


Those mounts will be useless to you as-is. They're just the housings, without any of the mounting and rubber bits.

Some folks have done their own DIY NB mount conversions. Search around and you'll find examples. If you don't want to go that route, you can buy a complete set of ready-to-install NB mounts from FCM: Fat Cat Motorsports - Tokico products - Miata - 90-97

These are nice in that they free up some suspension travel, though on my '92, the combination of the NB mounts and the FM springs lowered the car just a tad too much for my taste. It would have been fine but for a couple of particularly nasty speedbumps in the apartment complex where I lived at the time- I dragged the framerails across each one. I lathed some aluminum collars to raise the spring perch on my shocks, but you can also buy some plastic risers from FCM that go between the spring and the mount- they give you back some ride height, and yet more suspension travel too.

If you do go this route, be sure to call Shaihk and talk to him. After the Bilstein sales pitch, he'll get into specific recommendations about which bump stops to use with your specific suspension combo.

One other thing- after this is all in, disconnect your rear sway bar. Trust me, just give it a shot and see how you like it.