Shock Boots

[Lou Girardin]

Hi Gary,
If you're running on the bump stops you're in trouble. Contact with these
should be minimal, otherwise the car will be uncontrollable on bumpy roads.
Suspension specialist recommend trimming the stops when an MX5 is lowered
more than 25mm.
If the stops are not perished or cracked they should be OK. Mine have
200,000 km on them!

[Gary Morrison]

Hi Lou,

There has been lots of documented investigation of this on the power list in
he USA (and maybe the forum as well). I'm sure I have archived some of it.
Basically what has been found is that a car with stock springs will run on
the bump stops when cornering enthusiastically, and a car with lowered
springs will run on them on pretty well any corner. The understanding I have
is that Mazda designed them to be progressive and to continue the suspension
action when the shock/spring travel ran out, the rate of the rubber seems
important. I'm also pretty sure that current practice is not to cut the bump
stops down when fitting lowered springs.

I'll see what I can dig out.

Gary