Suspension upgrade for daily driver needed
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,029
Total Cats: 304
From: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
I have owned my '99 for 4 years now and the only suspension upgrade I did was FM sways. I drive this car everyday, and I don't scrape anywhere, so I'm skeptical on lowering it. I only autocrossed it once, and don't really see it happening again anytime soon. I just want to replace my shocks and springs, but I want to replace them with something better than what I have now without breaking the bank. Like I said, it's not a track car in any way.
Any recommendations? Ebay?
Thanks guys.
Any recommendations? Ebay?
Thanks guys.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,029
Total Cats: 304
From: The coal ridden hills of Pennsylvania
I did look at this:
http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?...0%20%201990-97
$789.00 plus FM shipping, so easily over $820. Could be a nice Christmas present for me.
Any other recommendations that I need to know about?
http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?...0%20%201990-97
$789.00 plus FM shipping, so easily over $820. Could be a nice Christmas present for me.
Any other recommendations that I need to know about?
150 shipped and they're yours. They've definitely served me well.
I must admit though, you should consider revalved bilsteins on stock springs if you're not looking to change ride height.
Edit: Looks like there is a difference between NA and NB springs. Not sure what though. I bet NA springs are just shorter.
I must admit though, you should consider revalved bilsteins on stock springs if you're not looking to change ride height.
Edit: Looks like there is a difference between NA and NB springs. Not sure what though. I bet NA springs are just shorter.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
From: Republic of Dallas
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 34,402
Total Cats: 7,523
From: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
NA springs are formed and ground such that the bottom of the spring is more-or-less flat, and the lower spring perch itself is perfectly flat.
With NB springs, they leave the bottom end "jagged" and the lower spring perch has a sort of sloping, offset shape.
You can install a complete NB shock / spring / tophat combo into an NA (and vise-versa) but the individual components are not cleanly interchangeable.
Get the springs from FM (or used if you can find a set of the current spec ones - just make sure you get the 99-05 version), and get the Tokicos from Auto Anything.
Profit.
I like my FM/ Tokico setup for the street.
Edit:
Hmm...Looks like they don't have them on the site for the NBs. Give them a call to see if they can get them. There was a shortage for a bit because of the tsunami.
Profit.
I like my FM/ Tokico setup for the street.
Edit:
Hmm...Looks like they don't have them on the site for the NBs. Give them a call to see if they can get them. There was a shortage for a bit because of the tsunami.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
From: Republic of Dallas
Get the springs from FM (or used if you can find a set of the current spec ones - just make sure you get the 99-05 version), and get the Tokicos from Auto Anything.
Profit.
I like my FM/ Tokico setup for the street.
Edit:
Hmm...Looks like they don't have them on the site for the NBs. Give them a call to see if they can get them. There was a shortage for a bit because of the tsunami.
Profit.
I like my FM/ Tokico setup for the street.
Edit:
Hmm...Looks like they don't have them on the site for the NBs. Give them a call to see if they can get them. There was a shortage for a bit because of the tsunami.

Bilstein is the way to go because they last forever, they're monotubes, and if you get the right spring rate, they are super comfy.
Why do we not have a thread in which, by combining our collective intellect and experience, we pin down exactly what spring rates are appropriate for the various Bilstein shocks?
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
From: Republic of Dallas
Make it so while I leave work and go to the gym. I'll get up in thurr later and post-***** it up.
Apparently hustler and I see eye to eye on the suspension thing. I had tokicos and thought they were horrid, and I put MSM suspension on with a big front sway bar, and short of straight up track driving, it works wonderful.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
From: Republic of Dallas







