Higher spring rate Stance, Spec Miata, or some other coilovers?
 

Hey guys, I'm getting my miata ready for the local winter road course racing series and I'm looking for a new suspension setup. It's pretty much a run-what-you-brung racing series for caged miatas, but it's mainly made of SM guys on Hoosiers, RA1's, r888's, and Azenis ... and on the local course (short straights, low speeds) I don't really want to be left behind by the guys on race tires, even though I've got almost 200hp vs their 60-70hp at this altitude =P I'll be using either NT01 or RA1 tires in either 205/50/15 or NT01 or R888's in 225/45/15 tires.

I used to have modified Spec Miata suspension and I liked the balance of the spring rates I had: 700lb/in front and 450lb/in rear with no rear sway bar, but the damping wasn't really what I like. I'm considering getting a brand new SM setup because it's hard to argue that the SM setup ISN'T fast ... it isn't the "best," but it's definitely not slow.

So, here are my current choices that I'm looking at:

- Stance GR+ coilovers with 12kg/mm springs front and 8kg/mm rear with Stance's revalving. This setup runs just under $1200 shipped, then I'll need a rear sway bar to "complete" the suspension upgrades for my car (I already have an Eibach front sway bar).

- Spec Miata suspension with 99 top hats ... I think I was quoted around $1400-1600 with sway bars and top hats.

Do you guys think that the custom GR+ coilovers will be more capable than the SM coilovers? I think the custom valving and adjustability should make the Stance's more versatile for varying track surfaces and different tires, but I'm not completely sold on the performance of the Stances on track, as I haven't really seen very many Miata's doing track driving or people actually having the car at a drivable height while on Stance coilovers.

Also, is there anything around the same price ~$1500 that will be "better" than the Stances or SM setups? Please actually have experience with your suggestions or track times with comparisons between SM's and your setup.

Thanks for the help and opinions!

If you are going to go with the SM kit you can get the whole kit with top hats FCM bumpstops from Dave aat advanced autosports for like 1400. Then you can send the shocks out to be shortened and valved for the spring rate. I loved my old SM. It was so predictabel adn fun to drive. Wish I could rationalize putting a cage in my DD.

Have a great day,
Jared

Cool, I definitely check out Advanced Autosports for the SM kit! Thanks for the heads up!

If I go the SM route and I'm running short on time, I'll run them as is and pull them off next year to get them rebuilt and revalved. Besides FCM, who else does that service? Also, is there a way to get them rebuilt to become adjustable?

As far as having a cage in a DD, I wouldn't recommend it because getting in and out of the car is quite a hassle for me (I'm 6'5"), but once in a while is fine =) Luckily, I sit far enough away from the bars and with the 5point harnesses, I'd have to get hit HARD to have my head or body hit the bars, but in any case, hitting the cage would be a really bad day.

There is a GB that happend a while back Stewert developement I think. You will want them to shorten the shock rod as well. Give them a call and talk to Dave. He is a good guy. They had an add on specmiata.com but I can't find it at this time. You may want to mention it when you talk to them. It was a great deal.

Their site:
http://advanced-autosports.com/SM_Store_and_More.htm

Have a great day,
Jared

Db84drteg, do you still live in albuquerque? Im interested in more info about this racing series you speak of.

Sorry im no real help here.

There's nothing really special with the spec kit. Its bilstein hd's, 700/325 springs, fm or nb top hats, eibach sways 27/16?, and awr collars.

I'd rather have stewart revalved bilsteins $700
ebay collars $50
rear isc top hats $100
front nb top hat $30
700/400 springs qa1 $120
rb tubular front bar $150
msm rear bar $75
949racing endlinks $160

Fire and Jacob, PM's sent.

In regards to the custom bilsteins, brand new stuff with GC coilovers and 99 top hats will be the same as the Stances, but without the spring-matched valving or adjustability. I'm still leaning toward the Stance coilovers because all of the varied surfaces between the different tracks that I race at: SMSP, Pueblo, PPIR, HPR, ASR, and Miller.

How do revalved Bilsteins and heavy springs do on undulating and rough surfaces? For those who have been to Pueblo, the final turn onto the main straight has a crazy bump as you pass over the drag racing lanes and the metal plate. Hitting that transition and bouncing towards the wall isn't fun, but it's how it's done. I would like to have suspension that can suck it up and stay somewhat planted through places like that, if possible.

embed fail

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YqpxpzJLoY

This is me driving my buddies car on Stance. It had 205NT01's, 7.5" wheel, higher front springs, 27mm solid front bar, no rear bar, stock na power. It felt pretty good, id say it felt like it was jacking down in a few corners. Look at the begining of the vid and min 7. This is PCA red group with one of the fastest guys at this track.

a lot of the off the shelf "suspension" pieces are not really matched well at all. a revalved bilstein matched to shocks would be better.

WTF are you smoking crack. GFO here with that crap.

Have a great day,
Jared

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The Ban Hammer has been applied. You may resume discussing the cheapest way to get a stiffy.