I'm a super mega cheap-o, and want a better than stock street setup.
 

Right now my car has 155,xxx miles on it, and yes, still running the original stock suspension (with the exception of FM sways). I don't track my car, so I have no reason to buy coil overs or anything adjustable. I drive it back and forth to work and drive it all over the place on the nicest days of the year.
I found these racing beat lowering springs:
http://www.gomiata.com/racbeatstree.html
and these Tokico HP shocks:
http://www.gomiata.com/tohpshab99.html

The shocks are $218.85 for all 4, and I'm sure I could score a set of racing beat, or eibach, or some other kind of used lowering springs for cheap.
Lets say I have a max of $300 invested. Would this be a decent street daily driver setup, or is this a total waste of time and money?

I've heard bad things about racing beats, but I don't really know anything about suspension bits. M.net has reviews on this type of stuff that I would check out if I where you. What's your budget? I've always been interested in these FM V-Maxx coil overs, but I don't know what the difference is between the coil overs and a set of shocks and springs.

I thought about the FM shocks and springs, but $789 is more than I want to spend, unless they're totally awesome. Here is the package I looked at a while ago:
http://flyinmiata.com/index.php?dept...0%20%201990-97

Holy crap! I never knew the FM V-Maxx's were that inexpensive! $595? That's for everything??

I just read this on the FM website:
"they do offer excellent value and are a good choice for someone who wants an inexpensive coilover setup. Includes both sets of springs, four shocks, adjusting tools and bumpstops."

That's amazing.

I've got the FM springs/shocks on both my Miata's. Previous owner of my '99 did that one and ride is good. He autoX'd it and still the shocks do well for me. I did my '97 a few years back. FM used to have slightly shorter versions and after a little chat with them if you cut one "dead coil" off it's about a 1/2in lower. I cut half off and got about 1/4in lower. However the shocks in my '97 are at the end of their life span. I lived in Italy when I did it and handled great for my needs. Clovis NM on another note destroyed my shocks. I've been down off road trails in the Mojave smoother than that cities street. The shocks on both cars are about the same age so I think as long as you don't off road the car they'll last ya plenty.

Some body is going to hang me, but my FM spring/KYB AGX combo served me well for years, on and off the track. The KYBs can be found for sub $300 on ebay, although by the time you buy them and the springs you're in V-maxx territory.

I just can't believe that FM would sell a coil over package as the v-maxx for almost $200 less than their regular shocks / springs. I also can't believe I never looked at the v-maxx's and the pricing. I'd like to hear some thoughts about these from people who use them. Anyone care to share their experience?

search n00b :noob:

I've looked into them in the past and they seem to get mixed reviews, however the FM V-Maxx's and the non FM V-Maxx's are different. The spring rates are different and I believe there are some physical differences as well.
https://www.miataturbo.net/suspension-brakes-drivetrain-49/fm-v-maxx-coil-overs-what-do-you-guys-thinks-46100/

Why is the Tokico+FM spring setup more expensive?
Well, Tokico Illuminas are made in Japan (be aware the cheaper Tokico setups are not).

The v-maxx's are labeled as made in the Netherlands but I think it's pretty realistic and fair to say they are surely made in Taiwan and just get finishing touches in the Netherlands (if anything at all) with miata specific input from FM. Being made in Taiwan doesn't put them in bad company, just about every coilover for less than ~$1500 is made there (for any car, not just miatas).

Are Japanese/German shocks higher quality? Up to you to decide.

The problem with the V-MAXX for NB owners is they are so rarely in-stock. I've got some on backorder because the reviews were good enough at that price. I figure even if I don't like the ride I can resell them when they go out of stock again.

I will get nailed for this one, but if you have no track/autocross goals and want to maintain a comfortable ride, keep your factory springs. This will give you the most shock travel which === best ride quality since you are not on the bumpstops the whole time. Since you will be replacing the shocks, change to upgraded bumpstops. Check out FCM (fatcatmotorsports.com) and tell Shaik what you are lookig for.
For a cheap as possible swap I would say just go for the Tokico HP or KYB GR2's (almost 1/2 price of AGX's). If you do not need the adjustability, why pay for it.
Having had 4 different shock setups on my 91 I will tell you this, spend every dime you can the first time instead of doing it over and over again. Unless you want to run lower or stiffer, you don't need new springs. FYI RB are only about 30% stiffer than OEM.

I don't track mine, but I have the same setup, and they do okay by me. Yeah, the neighbor's FCM package is better, but it damn well should be at nearly 5 times the price. It ain't 5 times better, IMO.

I am not sure its origin dependent, but here is some good info:
http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets18.html

I have KYBs and they are beyond blown and they suck and I hate them. I want to hang myself when I bounce down the road.

I just ebay'd a set of 99-00 RB lowering springs for $66.00 shipped. I think I'm also goin to go with Tokico HP's. This setup might lower my car more than I really want to go, but at under $300 for everything, I'll take my chances.

Don't forget the bumpstops! With yours being a NB I can guarantee you the rear bumpstops are shot so you will not be able to reuse them in any case. If I remember correctly the RB springs has the lowest drop I could get for my 91 something like 1/2"-3/4" I would assume that it is not much worse for the 99's.
When you have it installed (at ride height), make sure you have at least 1" shock shaft travel before engaging the bumpstop and you will be fine

Racelands

I don't know much about shocks for a miata but I've had good luck with swift springs for my daily driver.

Here's someone on CR selling a set:

http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=51340

Interesting read from a fast auto-xer: http://www.jeffgoji.org/reviews/suspension.html

I have kyb+ground control and I really like them, nice ride in the streets, and great feel in the canyons. And i live down a mile long dirt road. Blown anything is going to suck.

I also have the FM springs / KYB AGX combo, but in addition to that I have the FM pillow mounts in the rear and FM front/rear sways.

This setup has served me well since I put it all in back in '05-'06. Still feels good enough to DD and handles like its on rails when I'm in a hurry on the back roads.

I had FM Ver.1s on Konis on my last daily, and they sucked. Lowering springs as a rule are a terrible compromise. Buy the V-MAXX's if you're budget limited. Don't do yourself a disservice by cheaping out on this one.

I have FM V-Maxxes on my '99 and love them. I think they're a great dual-purpose, entry level setup; they soak up bumps well, and the car isn't anything less than composed, predictable, and behaved when I hustle through the twisties or a-x. For the price (I got their full kit with sways), no complaints.

I've heard the Tokico HP's like to blow out quickly, but YMMV.

The main difference between going with a kit or making your own is its your own ass to match your shocks to your springs (and vice versa) for the best ride/performance. As said V-maxx is a great inexpensive kit. Cheap ebay springs will sag quickly and continuously and many are not the advertized force.

I don't know about ebay springs sagging, but I do know that you almost never know what spring rates you will get. Very few sellers will tell you what the spring rates are and in my case the rates they told me were completely off and instead of 350/450lb/in springs front and rear I got 550lb/in all the way around.

Ouch!!

Loving my FCM group buy.

My racing beat lowering springs came yesterday, so now I need to order shocks.
I was looking at the Tokico HP's:
http://www.gomiata.com/tohpshab99.html
but I also found these Koni street shocks on ebay brand new set of 4:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KONI-STR-T-S...item45f6605ec6

What would you guys go with?

I'd do Koni SRT.Ts before the Tokicos. The Tokicos are a stock replacement shock, and they mean 'stock' when they say it. The Konis likely aren't any better, but they're at least marketed as a 'performance' shock.

but Koni SRT.Ts are marketed as a stock replacment shock...

They both looked the same to me, similar pricing too. The description for the koni's said something like "great stock replacement, but works well with aftermarket springs". I have a feeling they're pretty much similar shocks, just a different color, and 1 says Koni while the other says Tokico. I just can't decide which one to choose.

get used shocks. at least you won't take as big of a hit when 2 years later you sell them.

i have a pair of ksports on my other car and love them. The best part about them is they are a true coil-over meaning you dont have to mess with spring preload to get the ride height adjusted for corner and cross balancing. Also the valves are fully adjustable and in most cars you can control camber and caster right from the shock tower. Also you can custom order spring rates.

The biggest issue i have with spring/shock combos is unless you get the valving redone, they are adjusted for OEM ride height. Who the hell is at OEM ride height any more. lol

just another option but i never really hear anyone in the miata community talking about them

EDIT: the price for some ksports is around $700 which i consider an amazing deal!!!

I went with the koni str-t shocks. I'm going to use them with my racing beat springs. I'm set on doing this swap on Saturday. Am I gonna regret this? Is it gonna ride / handle like shit?

I went to an autocross today and saw an NA with Megan EZ streets and it performed really well given the course had plenty of dust. I would say it's a good budget coilover. $600, monotube, and adjustable. It wouldn't be bad to start with

I just compared some spring rates as my newly installed racing beat springs are "ok" but they seem less tense as my stock springs did.
FM has the v-maxx's and the rates are as follows: "The primary rates are 391 lb/in in the front and 258 lb/in in the rear"
My cheap-o racing beat springs that I just put on my car are, 1999-05 Front
Rate: 195 lb/in, and 1999-00 rear Rate: 145 lb/in.
I do like the way my car sits though, and I went asshole fast over the speed bumps and work and didn't bottom out at all.
How do I like the racing beats? Stance and look? Yes. Ride? Not really, seems too bouncy. Handling? My alignment is all f'd up, so I can't really make a solid answer.
Will I keep em? Most likely not, but at least for now, they'll work.