Bashing and crashing

[A5man]

I asked for help a while back and have just been searching to no avail for my original post. This is an update really, and concerns all the bashing and crashing I get from underneath every time I go over a bump. Anyhow, last weekend I was looking at the rear springs and noticed that a piece of rubber was hanging loose from the nearside one. It looks as if the rubber coil inside is disintegrating. Could this be part of my problem and do the springs need replacing? I did ask about the cost on my previous MX5 when the spring actually broke, and I remember the guy told me that it would be £150 for a PAIR of new ones. Does this seem about right? What do you all reckon. Many thanks in anticipation of your replies.

[CaptiV8ted]

Regarding the rubber hanging down, it sounds lke your bump stop is shredded. For the rest of the question, I can only offer my similar experience.

When I bought my car (a '92 1.6), it was running on after market springs and standard shocks. Pretty awful combination by all accounts. If your car has been lowered, you lose a little suspension travel. If it's been dropped a long way, then the problem will be worse. At the rear of the car, there is barely enough suspension travel as standard. The mk2 cars had a diffent shock setup to give more travel I believe. A comon mod is to use mk2 top mounts in a mk1.

I bought a Meister R kit for mine which uses a mk2 top mount anyway, but has two 'perches' which allow you to set your ride height without sacrificing suspension travel. Dogs danglies, but the wrong side of £600.

It may be that you springs have been changed for lowered ones, plus your shocks could be tired and your bump stop has had it. All this is not going to add up to going over bumps well.

For info, with my setup, the spring compression is gradual, feels nice and taught without being jarring, but please remember, you've got a fairly light (sports) car that you sit quite rearwards in. It's going to be a bit bumpy anyway Shouldn't be crashy though...

[MX-5 Lazza]

I think I remember your original thread and I think I remember suggesting that it could be a worn drop-link. I'd say that would be the most likely cause and the bonus is that it's a cheap fix.

[A5man]

Thanks Lazza! I will look into your suggestion, but what precisely is this 'bump stop' that our friend mentioned? Is this something separate from the rubber coil that goes inside the springs or not?

[MX-5 Lazza]

The bump stop sits at the top of the shock and does what it suggests i.e. it's a rubber cushion that stops the shock body from bumping into the top mount. On a mk1 this is also the shock dust boot. It sounds like its the dust boot part that might be coming away on yours. That might be an MoT fail, depending on how your MoT guy views it. Many ignore it.
If that's what it is, it won't be a cause of noise.