Miata Turbo Forum - Boost cars, acquire cats. - Xida XL with Drop Spindles vs Xida Race with stock spindles?

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- - Xida XL with Drop Spindles vs Xida Race with stock spindles? (https://www.miataturbo.net/suspension-brakes-drivetrain-49/xida-xl-drop-spindles-vs-xida-race-stock-spindles-98109/)

Xida XL with Drop Spindles vs Xida Race with stock spindles?

I don't race in a sanctioned class but attend track days with a group of friends so I can follow my own rules. I am building a 1999 NB/LFX swap and running Hankook 245/40-15 RS4's. What route would you go? Keep close to the factory suspension geometry, Longer XL's with 550/350 springs and Keisler drop spindles for a pinch seam height of 4.5" or go with Xida Race with the stiffer springs and get about the same height. Its my understanding from reading related threads that the XL's and drop spindles should have better roll centers and important suspension jargon that I just don't understand yet. I found the 2017 thread from Emillio debuting the new Xida line up and there was someone in the process of trying Xida ACE with drop spindles but I can not find his conclusions and have a PM into him. Are there any up and running examples of the XL's and drop spindles out there? Any input on if this set up is going to perform the best and why?
thanks
Chip Smith

Well, lets give it a try!

Drop spindles will lower the car and keep roll centers at factory heights - despite reduced ride height. This allows you to get away with softer springs but still have reduced roll due to geometry. The main advantage though, is that you can run your coil overs with more height - increasing suspension travel. More bump travel is a great thing, though with a v8, I would keep an eye on droop to ensure you have good power down for corner exit. Drop spindles have been used in boss302s in 69/70 for trans am, and it worked amazingly on those ox cart chassis.

i should also add that drop spindles will maintain factory anti dive and anti squat. Lowering the car without them will impact these and generally reduce anti squat etc.