Suspension in NZ for NA

Skilfil · Post by **Skilfil** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:06 pm

Hey guys,

Another thread...

Just wondering where we can get what lowering springs in NZ for NA 1.6 MX5? Trademe only shows Cobra.. Not too keen on those..

I'll also be replacing the shocks in my MX5 too, night and day difference in the ride when I did that in my VR6 so I'm a big believer in replacing those now..

siren676 · Post by **siren676** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:21 pm

Autolign, they'll sort you out

Snapfrozen · Post by **Snapfrozen** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:26 pm

Autolign are using cobra's at the moment, I run them and they're great. No different to Dobi's

Skilfil · Post by **Skilfil** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:36 pm

Snapfrozen wrote:Autolign are using cobra's at the moment, I run them and they're great. No different to Dobi's

Really? I assumed they were a low budget brand like Superlows. What kind of drop? I'm wanting a little lower but not sacked out, its still my daily driver.

siren676 · Post by **siren676** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:39 pm

Superlows are just a type of spring.

Most companies release low's(25-35mm drop) and superlows(45-55mm drop)

warrior · Post by **warrior** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:39 pm

I have dobis and love them.

Snapfrozen · Post by **Snapfrozen** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:47 pm

Couldn't tell you the springs on their own as they're on Bilsteins

Skilfil · Post by **Skilfil** » Sat Nov 24, 2012 11:31 am

siren676 wrote: Superlows are just a type of spring.

Most companies release low's(25-35mm drop) and superlows(45-55mm drop)

Argh I meant King Springs

Yeah I'd only be after a low sort of drop, don't think I could survive daily driving in the MX5 with superlows!

tomtikki · Post by **tomtikki** » Sat Nov 24, 2012 5:00 pm

I've been thinking about getting some Jamex springs as their progressive, same choice of drop as others - low & super low.
Dunno what the spring rates are though.

siren676 · Post by **siren676** » Sat Nov 24, 2012 8:41 pm

From experience with my other car, jamex springs (especially their super lows) are very soft, good ride for a daily but you would need to be either brave or stupid(like me) to throw it round a track.

Mad Kiwi · Post by **Mad Kiwi** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 11:29 am

I have a set of bilsteins that came out of our first car that I have been meaning to list for a while now.

They came out of a import 93 NA "R" model (we believe) .

The ride height is quite low. Not drag on the ground low but careful over judder bars low....

Can send you a picture of the car for reference if interested.....

Mark.

Skilfil · Post by **Skilfil** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 3:41 pm

Mad Kiwi wrote:I have a set of bilsteins that came out of our first car that I have been meaning to list for a while now.

They came out of a import 93 NA "R" model (we believe) .

The ride height is quite low. Not drag on the ground low but careful over judder bars low....

Can send you a picture of the car for reference if interested.....

Mark.

Hmm, picture? Hopefully not too low, i think my fat ass takes car of some of that already

Mad Kiwi · Post by **Mad Kiwi** » Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:24 pm

Can you pm me your email address and i'll send the picture.

It's not too low but on the lower side. Was my wifes daily driver for about 6 months and we used it as a fun weekend car without ever scraping once. Unlike "wee1" that scrapes too much.....

I think it was a perfect height but we all have different tastes!

Some of the youg guns here think too low isn't low enough!

Mark

chris · Post by **chris** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:52 am

Mad Kiwi wrote:Some of the youg guns here think too low isn't low enough!

Mark

You need to have the frame on the ground. Then you can call yourself low.

Mad Kiwi · Post by **Mad Kiwi** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:50 am

SEE!

Mr Revhead · Post by **Mr Revhead** » Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:32 pm

Autolign will sell Dobi's, or Cobra if there is no Dobi. They also do TEIN which I cannot recommend enough. They also do or used to do a Euro brand that the name of escapes me!
However I have had no MX5 experience with any of the those brands. TEIN however actually do test all their products. For example if they only do a 20mm drop, that is because you can't go any lower than that on stock parts without compromising things. SO pays to keep that in mind. After all the key thing about an MX5 is the handling!

Ants · Post by **Ants** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 3:47 pm

Hi guys

Continuing on from this thread, I've got a 96 VR-A Roadster which I would like to lower a bit so that it doesn't have the 4WD stance it has currently. I went to Autolign and they have suggested that I get Tein lowering springs. These can be either in Soft or Medium and both lower the same distance apparently (45mm front and 40mm back from memory). I was also thinking about refurbishing the Bilsteins so they are as new again.
Q1 - Does anyone have these springs in already and if they have, which are they (soft or medium) and would you recommend them? I use mine as a daily driver, but enjoy a bit of spirited driving every now and then.

Q2- What other alterations would I have to do to ensure the handling is not negatively affected by dropping the height? e.g. sway bars?
Many thanks in anticipation of you sharing your fabulous knowledge and experiences.

siren676 · Post by **siren676** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:05 pm

Both furai and myself have run the soft tein springs which are rated at a 40-45mm drop.
I found that they only lowered the car 20mm as the factory springs had sagged a bit.
Ive currently got mine back in as i had gone to coilovers but didnt want to get a cert yet.

Tein design their springs to make the car lower while still retaining handling.

Ants · Post by **Ants** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:30 pm

Excuse the ignorance, but I presume that lowering the car won't need certification will it? (assuming that the only change is the springs and possibly later the bars?

siren676 · Post by **siren676** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:35 pm

Yeah springs wont require a cert unless you go under 100mm to chassis rails which you shouldnt be able to achieve with standard lowering springs.
Swaybars dont require it either so long as they use the factory mounting points

Ants · Post by **Ants** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:43 pm

I forgot to ask what size bump stops you guys use too.

siren676 · Post by **siren676** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:49 pm

Im still running factory ones . Not sure if bilstein ones are any different

Post by **jif** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:05 pm

cheap option - if you just want to "lower it a bit from the '96 height" you could also try something like stock '89 or '90 springs. For whatever reason Mazda made the cars higher and higher as the years went on ...

My '96 was high enough at first that I could almost squeeze my head in the rear wheelwell gap.. and I have a big head

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Ants · Post by **Ants** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 11:48 am

Thanks for the advice guys. I've gone with the Tein springs (thanks Furai) but of course now I have to install them. Went to local Pitstop and they reckon on approx. 3hours work, $75/hour plus gst. Does this sound about right? Anyone know of someone cheaper and reliable? Cheers.

siren676 · Post by **siren676** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:08 pm

Diy it. Its free unless you invite a mate around to help out