NA Suspension Mods - coilovers, polybushes or what?

[AmiableChimp]

Actus Reus - I have stuck a thread up in Readers Rides showing everything I have done to the car so far if you are interested bud.

[CABC]

what's the use? daily, weekend, track etc

A well sorted NA is a very rewarding experience. general suggestions:
- Meisters are excellent. well built too.
- light wheels are essential imo. avoid heavy bling!
- good geo
- Dinitrol everywhere. lots of it.
- low seats really enhance the driving experience.
- bracing (not top struts)

[vrsmxtb]

They are pricey, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a set of meister r's. They really are great, so compliant towards the softer end but with less roll, then as stiff as you want on the other extreme for track and fully adjustable from the top mounts too, so no scrabbling about underneath to adjust them. I recommend the dial adjuster extensions for the rears though so you can adjust them straight from inside the boot.

Oh and a thumbs up for the Cobalt exhaust, just the right amount of noise without being obnoxious or irritating inside the cabin. The Mx5Parts one is also often recommended, although I think is a tiny bit noisier.

Also polybushes - bear in mind the MX5 was specifically designed with varying rubber bush densities to best serve the double wishbones. If anything a fresh set of factory standard rubber bushes would be better than polys for road use.

[Actus Reus]

Thanks all - gonna get Meister Rs and possibly some chassis bracing as well as some sort of roll-over protection, probably TR Lane. Finally I'll get some foam out of the seat. Beyond that it'll just be some cosmetic messing about and a geo. Oh, and maybe somr new headrest speakers. I have the 14" BBS rims which are pretty light already, I think?

Car will probably stay SORN'd until April whilst I get the work done; can't wait for April and hopefully some sunny days. Thanks again, chaps. Oh, and good thread Chimp - will keep an eye on that.

[AmiableChimp]

For rollbars, also have a look at GC Fabrications - he gets good feedback from folk who have bought from him.

http://www.gcfabrications.co.uk/

Quite often does a group buy discount on MX5 Nutz.

[Actus Reus]

That's exactly who I've been looking at - that tubing that's been heat-treated (I think) to get that kind of oil in water look is great. However I want to get the work done in one hit, and I suspect TR Lane will be able to do me something immediately for 'my man' to fit at the same time as the coilies go on.

There's also a lass on the Facebook forums (Elin? Erin?) whose fella is gonna fabricate some and they look alright too. Again time is a factor.

[Digby]

Suspension / bush wise, you can certainly get a nicer feeling ride quality by dropping several hundred on suspension, but you can improve the look and feel by chucking on some lowered springs on standard shocks and you will still keep up with the more expensive dampered car through the lanes.

My advice, if you love the MX experience, get a turbo. It's so, so, SO much better.

As I said to my friend when I got mine "You don't need a turbo, but it's like putting absolutely amazing icing on an already amazing cake"

I could never go back despite knowing how capable they are standard.

Having messed around with many for years including all kinds of suspension upgrades, various exhausts, air filters, timing mods...you name it, all of it - and I do mean ALL of it - was utterly pointless compared to slapping a turbo on.

Edit to add the 'Foamectomy' mod on the seats is great. It turns them in to hugging buckets for nothing more than a little of your time.

Edited by Digby on Friday 4th March 20:20

[Actus Reus]

So, just to update this I've decided on 3 mods for the car for now:

1. Meister R suspension (standard CRD as it's mainly for road use) - ordered on a Saturday and arrived the following Tuesday, and 10% off using the Nutz discount.
2. Roll Bar - I've ordered a GCFabrications GCR3 bar - it's their biggest and toughest looking bar, so hopefully up to the job. £400 odd delivered as I had it powder coated too.
3. Exhaust - an old MOT reports some escaping gases, so I'm going to get an MX5 Parts cat-back system fitted

That's it for now - next up probably seats and harnesses so as to make proper use of the roll bar. I'll also probably de-tango the car, and maybe add a few subtle graphics to go with the fairly lairy (KTM Orange) roll bar. As somebody said earlier, this is addictive isn't it?

[SixtySpeedTwin]

on the suspension front, your S-Special should be running bilstien uprated and slightly lowered suspension anyway, mine was. Wont be as good as the new stuff you have bought but you will probably be able to flog it.

[pewe]

Actus Reus said:

I've also spotted an Integra Type R near me and I've wanted one of those since I was 18. Decisions, decisions...

Just to add to your comment.
No1 son has recently bought an Integra TypeR, 60k miles and pretty pristine (albeit a bit of rust but hey it's 16 years old).
He took me for a drive in it and the power output and delivery are impressive - 8500rpm, 1800cc, 190bhp, normally aspirated etc. etc.
Have to say that screaming the nuts off a four pot, four stroke seems counter intuitive and dare I say it's no way as engaging as my s/c Mk1 Eunos - read ever so slightly boring/bland!
In fairness the two participating in yesterday's FDMC Dimanche Sprint seemed pretty competent but that's horses for courses...
Cheers, Pewe.

[Actus Reus]

Well I have now had the Meisters fitted, and the roll bar and an MX5 Parts cat-back.

I've only driven the car once since, but I'm impressed with the quality of the ride on the Meisters, and they + the roll bar have stiffened the car up and reduced roll significantly.

Also want to say that if you're in the market for a roll bar GCF are EXCELLENT - first class quality fabrication (to my eyes) and really good customer service. I'd not hesitate to use them again.

As and when I have time I'll stick a thread in readers cars in case anybody's interested.

[AmiableChimp]

Actus Reus said:

As and when I have time I'll stick a thread in readers cars in case anybody's interested.

Aye

[pewe]

Actus Reus said:

Well I have now had the Meisters fitted...

Have you adjusted the ride heights?
Opitmum seems to be 310 front and 320 rears.
Also I'm running my GT1's at 8 clicks off fully hard front and 10 rears - seems to give a good balance and acceptable ride stiffness.
HTH.
Cheers, Pewe.
PS quoted incorrect ride heights - now corrected....

Edited by pewe on Wednesday 27th April 18:03

[Actus Reus]

I had somebody fit them for me, but that height is about right. As to the hardness, I've not played with them yet as not had the time - again though, they're just over half way toward firm, with the fronts a tad harder than the rears.