Spring opinions please

[HalfMoon]

Just found both rear springs are cracked at the top

The front already has shorter springs so I found these
http://www.autolinkmx5.com/sport-springs-mazda-mx-...

...but then came across these on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAZDA-MX5-90-98-LOWERING-COI...

They look like a kit to convert regular suspension into adjustable height. Pretty much most of my brain is screaming "No!" but has anyone tried these - or similar?

[jonesy000]

The bottom one WILL ruin your dampers. Best stick to what you know, and get trim springs.

I've just fitted the cheap eBay Coilovers, 100% transformed the car.

[JonnyFive]

I've also got cheap (£180) coilovers and they're excellent.

[anonymous-user]

I recently fitted one of those sports springs sets from Autolink to my mk1 (all 4 corners) and it's a lot better to drive - it sits about 2 inches lower and rolls a lot less when cornering, but I've not really noticed that it's any more uncomfortable to drive than it was on standard springs.

The only issue is that it's now tricky to get the trolley jack under the diff to lift it, I have to manually lift the car a bit as i push the jack under.

[Richyvrlimited]

HalfMoon said:

Just found both rear springs are cracked at the top

The front already has shorter springs so I found these

Define shorter. Shorter than the fronts - which is normal, or shorter than other MX5 springs you've seen, (which is also likely normal as every year car got progressively longer springs).

[HalfMoon]

It turns out that at the front there are Bilstein coilovers - they were hidden under all the crud. I'd assumed that it just had shorter springs fitted as the front was noticeably lower than the rear and I've not had chance to get the car up on a lift yet to do my usual fine toothcomb checks yet

Ordered the first set of springs for now - they'll see me through until I get a decent set of coilovers all round

[S Works]

For a well controlled ride you need to match spring and damper rates thoughtfully, or you run the risk of throwing good money after bad for a random outcome. Notwithstanding the fact that you'll then need to re-geo the car (more money wasted if you're going to replace with coilovers - cos you'll need to do it again), I just can't fathom buying springs and dampers separately if you don't know that in combination, they'll actually compliment each other and worth coherently.