Help me pick shocks
 

I have an FM suspesion kit with the agx shocks (horable by the way). They have about 10k on them which includes 4 weekends at the track. This last track weekend was horable. I was sliding all over. The event prior was ok since this was my first event with the car and had never pushed it. On the way home any time I am hitting any kind of bumps I hear a knocking noise from the rear. Earlier this week I go over a speed bump (not fast) and the rear hits the bumpstops. Now thats all I hear.

So what do I do. Get a whole new setup or just add shocks?

I don't know spring rates of the fm kit and don't know if it is the older or newer one. This is my DD/TT car. I came from a Spec Miata so I know what it is like with stiff springs (700/325). I actually didn't mind it. A little rough on the streets but not insanley bad.

My research shows that the AGX and Iluminas are ok for the street and for a short time.

So it's either the Bilstines or Knoi's for shocks. If I go that route.

Was also thinking about the GC's and top hats on Bilstines or knoi's from Fat cat.

Then for even more money there is the FM kint, 949 kit, Fat Cat kit.

I don't know which way to go. I will be getting my taxes soon and will be putting some seats and harnesse, as well as a radiator in my car. So I won't have much to spend.

If you have any experiance with this let me know.

Have a great day,
Jared

I like the idea of valved bilsteins and the koni sports aren't valved for anything more than 500/300 or so.

I've been running 318/233 (FM) springs for years on koni sports and it's okay, comfortable on the street but with the extra torque output they just were up to the task. Went to 550/300 and really liked it. and now have gone down to 400/250, comfortable on the street but still wont expect much on the track but im on street rubber and do one HPDE a year.

Races or Bilsteins valved for 600/300 ~ 700/400 will probably be best in your situation.

First, I bet your AGX's are blown in the rear. If they are send them in for new ones, I believe they have a lifetime warranty. They will be worth more when you sell them.

Second, that group buy on the revalved SD Bilsteins is a steal for new Bilsteins at $700. Add that to a home brew ebay/qa1 setup or call ground control and get a set ready to go. Dont be afraid to run higher rates with a revalve. I bet 700lbs springs on revalved Bilsteins feel like 450's on stock Bilsteins. Make sure to match up your springs and bars with the links in the thread below.

https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/t45387/

Brain- Thank you. I am going assume that you are sugesting that I get the gc and valved shocks. This from Fat Cat?

What do people think of the TEIN coilovers for the track/street? I hear mixed reviews. Mostly people that don't use them on the track talking about the track.

Have a great day,
Jared

No personal experience, but, people say that Tein Mono is the only good starting point in that setup. Discard everything below it.

I ran FM kit (Illuminas, FM springs, 1" FM front sway, no rear), and was faster than many guys with more hp, both on the track and autox. On the street, it's fantastic.
The only problem I ever had was when the ride was lower than FM kit would allow (FCM mounts add another 0.5" drop). That ruined my shocks.

If I were you, I'd either swap the shocks for Illuminas (AGX were a bad combo, even FM admitted that), or go with full brand new setup (FCM is my favorite, but, Ohlins or AFCO will also do you right).

Alik- I think what happened is that I am running RA1's and with the amount of grip that comes from them allowed me to bottom out the shocks. When that happened I blew the internal seals. Thank you for the sugestions. I need to decide what spring rate I want to go with. Then I will most likely go with somesort of adjustable setup.

Have a great day,
Jared

Jared, it's not the tires, it's the shock mismatched to the spring.
AGX do not like any drop, or stiffer than stock rate (verified by emailing KYB).
Trust me, I blew out 2 sets of AGX, first ones were actually over stock springs.

For now with the setup that I have on my car do you think if I were to just get some ots Bilsteins would i be fine. I have had 2 different cars with them and they felt ok. I just dont know how the FM kit is for track use on them.

My first car was 00 with RB ft and rr sways with tein s-tech springs and the bilsteins sports.
My second 91 Spec Miata Eibach sways 700/325 springs and bilsteins hd. I loved how this car ran the best It was very predictable. I almost knew what it was going to do before it did it.

My car now is the very opposite of that. It sucks. Thank you all for the help.

Have a great day,
Jared

I have decided to just stick with the Fm suspension for now since I have it and my money can be better spent other places. So after more research I have come up with more questions and a decision to just go with bilstein or Knoi. I still don't know which one. The Knoi shocks are going to be quite a bit more as well.

In the link below it shows the shocks for my car. The sports look like the ones that I want. Correct?

http://www.bilsteinshocks.com/bilste...model='MX5 Miata'&year='2001'

However on my spec it had the hd's and had about twice the front spring. Granted there aren't any sports for the NA's. As shown in the link below.

http://www.bilsteinshocks.com/bilste...model='MX5 Miata'&year='1996'

What would be ideal for the FM kit?

Have a great day,
Jared

I am going to call FAIL on my part.

Have a great day,
JAred

Illumina :facepalm:

FM spent money and years on R&D just so you can come and question the design
:withstupid:

From what I have read and understand the Illuminas tend to to go bad as well. I may be wrong that is why I am asking questions. I woudl prefer to buy shocks once. I don't plan of having this set up for years and would like to sell them down th eline.

Have a great day,
Jared

a) All shock go bad.
b) FM warranties your shocks for lifetime.
c) End discussion

Alik- Do you not like your shock and spring combo?

Are there any other people who have experiances with this set up. I dont want to have to be swaping out my suspension every time the shocks go bad and have to send them in to get replaced.

Have a great day,
Jared

A. Yes, all shocks go bad. Some just last longer then others.

B. So they replace the shock but that intales me removing them and sending them in when they go bad. Then reinstall them when I get new ones.

C. Not the end of the desucssion.

I am not woried about having adjustable shocks so much. If I were I would go with a full coilover steup with rebound and compression adjustments. This is a DD/track car. Yes, my times would be lower but I am mainly going out to get better at driving and if I am in the top 3 great.

ALIK- I am not trying to be argumentative or dismisive of your sugestions. I am just trying to get a better idea of what to get with what I got and what I have to work with.

Have a great day,
Jared

FM can always cross-ship the shocks.
You're not under the impression that I'm on Bilsteins & FM springs, are ya?
My shocks alone are $1500.
If you wanna continue to re-invent the wheel, you're on your own

Yes, I do since your sig has the FCM revalves, mounts, and bumpstops listed as well as the FM 1" bar and springs.

I am not trying to invent the wheel by any means just trying to get my shocks working and save some money in the process. Your just the only person who has commented on this setup specifically.

Have a great day,
Jared

I ended up going with the Bilstein sports. I will be out at Button Willow next weekend and will report back on how they felt.

Have a great day,
Jared

I'm going with the New VMaxx set up from FM, seems like a good mix to fill my DD/autox needs, and I can corner weight :o)

https://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php...0%20%201990-97

I saw those when I was looking for my shocks. They look like a good option, and would have found the money for them. The only problem was they are not available till the end of this month.

On a side note let us know how that are when you get them. Will you be using them on track?

Have a great day,
Jared