Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain discuss the wondrous effects of boost and your miata...
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Riding High with a second hand set of Bilstein?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-06-2018, 04:17 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
csdilligaf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: San Diego
Posts: 46
Total Cats: 1
Default Riding High with a second hand set of Bilstein?

I am helping a friend with his 1993 NA on a budget and we are on the way to building a set of adjustable Bilstein's then we decided to put them on for now while the other parts come in. It is riding at 14.5" front and rear. Actually gained about an inch from the old stock ones we took off. The springs were under some pretty good compression to start with so if we were to shorten the springs until they were not loose but would lower the car a little would this be a bad thing? We will finish the Bilstein kit when money permits but this might get by for now and is free. Cant seem to find that anyone went this route. Is there a reason?
csdilligaf is offline  
Old 10-06-2018, 06:29 PM
  #2  
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
borka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 1,552
Total Cats: 196
Default

cut springs? what is this 1995?

people have been cutting springs for ages, its a shitty way of doing things.
borka is offline  
Old 10-06-2018, 07:20 PM
  #3  
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Leafy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: NH
Posts: 9,479
Total Cats: 104
Default

You didnt tighten bolts that go through rubber bushings when the car was in the air right? You will gain some height on stock springs going from twin tubes or blown monotubes to not blown monotubes because of the gas charge.
Leafy is offline  
Old 10-06-2018, 07:47 PM
  #4  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
csdilligaf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: San Diego
Posts: 46
Total Cats: 1
Default

Dorka, give him a break. My nephew is a 17 yr old kid and I financed his car so now he wants to work on it himself. At least he read up the thread on building Bilsteins and is tackling it on his own. The threaded body's and springs are next. At least he didn't go buy a set of used Megans and scrape over speed bumps thinking he's achieved something cool. He see's me doing a NB/LFX swap with Xida's and knows he cant do that but is going to have fun. But your probably right, I should just tell him to not drive or work on his car until he can afford to do it like you.
csdilligaf is offline  
Reply
Leave a poscat -1 Leave a negcat
Old 10-06-2018, 08:15 PM
  #5  
Moderator
iTrader: (12)
 
sixshooter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 20,652
Total Cats: 3,011
Default

Pics of assembled shocks, please. Let's see if anything jumps out.
sixshooter is offline  
Old 10-06-2018, 10:47 PM
  #6  
Elite Member
iTrader: (1)
 
borka's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 1,552
Total Cats: 196
Default

Originally Posted by csdilligaf
Dorka, give him a break. My nephew is a 17 yr old kid and I financed his car so now he wants to work on it himself. At least he read up the thread on building Bilsteins and is tackling it on his own. The threaded body's and springs are next. At least he didn't go buy a set of used Megans and scrape over speed bumps thinking he's achieved something cool. He see's me doing a NB/LFX swap with Xida's and knows he cant do that but is going to have fun. But your probably right, I should just tell him to not drive or work on his car until he can afford to do it like you.
it's all good.

what I mostly meant is that cut springs work, they won't make the car undriveable, it might ride and handle like crap. But if its temporary, it's all good.

I personally would just rock the SUV stance until better suspension can be afforded.
borka is offline  
Old 10-07-2018, 08:11 AM
  #7  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
csdilligaf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: San Diego
Posts: 46
Total Cats: 1
Default

Yeah maybe just ride with the lifted look until he gets the other parts. Another couple pay checks and he will have the money for the rest of the DIY Bilstein parts. I am pretty sure the ebay ad said they were JDM shocks. It does ride much better though. I will try to get some pics of them. He put them on in my shop so he could use the lift and nice tools but I can tell he is enjoying the things he has done with it so far. Encouraging someone young and getting them involved in working on their own car is a great feeling.
csdilligaf is offline  
Old 10-07-2018, 02:51 PM
  #8  
Moderator
iTrader: (12)
 
sixshooter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 20,652
Total Cats: 3,011
Default

There's no harm in cutting a coil or two for a few months.
sixshooter is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
IHI
Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain
41
01-17-2014 01:34 PM
dwood11
Miata parts for sale/trade
22
10-22-2012 11:24 AM
drifter2be
Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain
26
02-04-2010 02:32 PM
s10383
General Miata Chat
9
05-06-2007 11:54 AM
miatamania
General Miata Chat
5
09-12-2006 11:45 PM



Quick Reply: Riding High with a second hand set of Bilstein?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:35 AM.