Hey lads
Don't think I'm a hoon, but I have 16" wheel - low
profiles, and have just acquired a "MOMO" steering
wheel - it's quite small and makes a hell of
difference in the steering/handling of the vehicle.
There now exist an ugly gap between top of the guard
and the top of the wheel due to install low profiles.
I have been toying with the idea of lowering the car
only 1 or 2 inches to compensate with better handling
... to further improve handling...
The shocks and springs are all factory and no work
done so far. MX5 done 113,500.
ANy hypothesis guys on this idea? Your advice/opinons
would be appreciate lads...
Cheers
Andy
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Lowering the MX5
-
Fletcher Blades
Lowering the MX5
MX-5's are already pretty low compared to most other cars. Ground
clearance is at a premium. I'd suggest 1 to 1.5 inches is the lowest
you'd want to go for a car that has to go over speed bumps, and other
everyday obstacles.
Lowering springs are stiffer than stock springs. Your stock shock
absorbers are probably already worn out, but even if they weren't,
stiffer springs would overpower them, and they'd soon wear out if they
already weren't. So, unless you like the feel of riding around on a
pogo stick, you need to get stiffer shocks with lowering springs.
This all adds to the cost.
If you accept that you're going to need new shocks to lower the car,
you can save the price of the lowering springs by going for Koni shock
absorbers which as well as having adjustable stiffness (for stiffer
springs) also have adjustable height (by moving the spring perch up or
down the body of the shock). They can lower your car about an inch.
Lower than this will require springs (which usually lower about 1.5
inches, but other heights are available too).
So, you CAN lower it with just springs, which is the cheapest option,
but the ride will SUCK. Or you can get lowering springs and any
performance shock, for a real low ride and a good (but firm) ride, or
Koni shocks with the standard springs for an intermediate height and a
good ride.
Fletch.
clearance is at a premium. I'd suggest 1 to 1.5 inches is the lowest
you'd want to go for a car that has to go over speed bumps, and other
everyday obstacles.
Lowering springs are stiffer than stock springs. Your stock shock
absorbers are probably already worn out, but even if they weren't,
stiffer springs would overpower them, and they'd soon wear out if they
already weren't. So, unless you like the feel of riding around on a
pogo stick, you need to get stiffer shocks with lowering springs.
This all adds to the cost.
If you accept that you're going to need new shocks to lower the car,
you can save the price of the lowering springs by going for Koni shock
absorbers which as well as having adjustable stiffness (for stiffer
springs) also have adjustable height (by moving the spring perch up or
down the body of the shock). They can lower your car about an inch.
Lower than this will require springs (which usually lower about 1.5
inches, but other heights are available too).
So, you CAN lower it with just springs, which is the cheapest option,
but the ride will SUCK. Or you can get lowering springs and any
performance shock, for a real low ride and a good (but firm) ride, or
Koni shocks with the standard springs for an intermediate height and a
good ride.
Fletch.
-
Gary Morrison
- Need, more, 5-ing, time....
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:24 pm
- Location: Wellington
Lowering the MX5
Hi Andy,
Firstly, just to be sure, the gap between top of wheel and guard isn't any
greater than it was before the 16" wheels is it? If so then you may have the
wrong profile tyre. It should have maintained the same rolling radius,
therefore the same clearance.
Second, re lowering. There are good aftermarket options available, mostly US
sourced springs from the likes of Racing Beat. Some now hold that lowering
is not a good way to "improve" the handling of the car. It may throw the
nicely tuned suspension design out, and it may also leave you with too
little suspension travel, meaning you ride on the bump stops alot more than
you would want. For what its worth I'm changing back to the standard Mazda
springs to see what the standard ride height does for my car.
Oh, if you do change your springs, be sure to put in some appropriate new
shocks as well, at 113,500kms your originals will be well and truly worn
out.
Gary.
Firstly, just to be sure, the gap between top of wheel and guard isn't any
greater than it was before the 16" wheels is it? If so then you may have the
wrong profile tyre. It should have maintained the same rolling radius,
therefore the same clearance.
Second, re lowering. There are good aftermarket options available, mostly US
sourced springs from the likes of Racing Beat. Some now hold that lowering
is not a good way to "improve" the handling of the car. It may throw the
nicely tuned suspension design out, and it may also leave you with too
little suspension travel, meaning you ride on the bump stops alot more than
you would want. For what its worth I'm changing back to the standard Mazda
springs to see what the standard ride height does for my car.
Oh, if you do change your springs, be sure to put in some appropriate new
shocks as well, at 113,500kms your originals will be well and truly worn
out.
Gary.
-
VIKING RACING
- See my 5 and raise you.
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:52 pm
- Location: South Auckland
Lowering the MX5
Hejsan
I saw a set of 2nd hand shocks and springs lowered and the brand was VHLINS
you know Swedish quality!! At the forsale section on the website.
If didn4t already have KONI and waiting for a set of springs, I would not
hesitate to buy them
JOHN JOHANSSON
I saw a set of 2nd hand shocks and springs lowered and the brand was VHLINS
you know Swedish quality!! At the forsale section on the website.
If didn4t already have KONI and waiting for a set of springs, I would not
hesitate to buy them
JOHN JOHANSSON
JOHN
Koni . Eibach , MazdaSpeed roll bar, Jackson Racing Chassi Braces, ENKEI blingwheels
, TURBO+go fast stripes
Koni . Eibach , MazdaSpeed roll bar, Jackson Racing Chassi Braces, ENKEI blingwheels
, TURBO+go fast stripes-
VIKING RACING
- See my 5 and raise you.
- Posts: 68
- Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:52 pm
- Location: South Auckland
Lowering the MX5
Hejsan
I saw a set of 2nd hand shocks and springs lowered and the brand was VHLINS
you know Swedish quality!! At the forsale section on the website.
If didn4t already have KONI and waiting for a set of springs, I would not
hesitate to buy them
JOHN JOHANSSON
[...]
I saw a set of 2nd hand shocks and springs lowered and the brand was VHLINS
you know Swedish quality!! At the forsale section on the website.
If didn4t already have KONI and waiting for a set of springs, I would not
hesitate to buy them
JOHN JOHANSSON
[...]
JOHN
Koni . Eibach , MazdaSpeed roll bar, Jackson Racing Chassi Braces, ENKEI blingwheels, TURBO+go fast stripes
Koni . Eibach , MazdaSpeed roll bar, Jackson Racing Chassi Braces, ENKEI blingwheels
, TURBO+go fast stripes-
zorruno
- Black is the new black.
- Posts: 601
- Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:20 pm
- Location: An Eastern Beach
Lowering the MX5
I have Konis and Aftermarket springs.
I'd go for the Konis on a low perch setting and leave the stock springs.
You can see if you like the ride (and can traverse speed humps OK!) then if
you want to go lower buy new springs. Although it would work out cheaper, I
certainly wouldn't buy stiffer springs without at least some adjustability
in the shock, whether it be height, compression etc - there is not a lot of
overall movement in MX5 suspension to begin with compared to most cars.
The best way to do it would be to buy a set of springs and shocks that are a
matched set for the MX5 from an aftermarket supplier - a lot more expensive
though.
H
I'd go for the Konis on a low perch setting and leave the stock springs.
You can see if you like the ride (and can traverse speed humps OK!) then if
you want to go lower buy new springs. Although it would work out cheaper, I
certainly wouldn't buy stiffer springs without at least some adjustability
in the shock, whether it be height, compression etc - there is not a lot of
overall movement in MX5 suspension to begin with compared to most cars.
The best way to do it would be to buy a set of springs and shocks that are a
matched set for the MX5 from an aftermarket supplier - a lot more expensive
though.
H
(z)
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