RS Ltd - leaning to the right??? Pls help!

[Vixstar]

My poor RS!! It's start leaning to the right, and now going over speed bumps it grates all underneath the car (it's mainly the right). I now have to re-route all my journeys to avoid the dreaded bumps!!

Would I be right to assume that it could be due to passenger weight? I don't have the original manual and unsure if there is a weight limit?? Can someone confirm this?

Does anyone one know what the actual problem is, and the likely cost of repair? It had upgraded suspension in 2005 with KYB adjustable dampers with AGX springs...

I'm going to sell soon, and need to get this problem fixed but dreading the bill!

Any advice would be welcome, thanks

[Vixstar]

I've just realised a major error! The car is leaning on the passenger side! Sorry for the confusion

[hornetrider]

If it's not been very gradual (ie over a period of years and hence almost unnoticeable) I'd be tempted to suggest you may have a broken spring. Have you checked them out?

[Munter]

There's a good chance you have a broken spring if it's leaning a lot to the right. That'd be the first thing I'd check for.

See what Don found here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[reaper668]

Are your shocks height adjustable? If they are they may have dropped. If not I'd check to make sure all your springs are still in one piece.

[Vixstar]

Yeah they are height ajustable, I'll get that checked out, fingers crossed the springs are in once piece!

Thanks for all you advice

[skinny]

if you're on kyb agx shocks, they are not height adjustable.

sounds like a broken spring to me

[Don Phil]

Munter said:

There's a good chance you have a broken spring if it's leaning a lot to the right. That'd be the first thing I'd check for.

See what Don found here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Yeah, thats not all I found... Turns out some plonker had put a front spring on the rear, hence why it had snapped

I presume this is an isolated incident by someone bodging it through its MOT or equivalent over in Japan or indeed over here, don't have much history with the car!

Check springs or a very flat tyre

[Vixstar]

I'll be getting the springs looked at this week and I've made sure the tyres have plenty of air!

Replacement of springs, plus labour an expensive job?

Thanks for everyones advice

[skinny]

well assuming it is a spring, you can get away with doing a pair rather than all 4. fronts are worse than rears but you're looking at around half a day worst case.

[Vixstar]

Thanks for everyone replying. I've had it looked at, and they said that both springs on the front have broken. (car is now very low, barely an inch or two off the floor). But he said because the suspension has been upgraded (KYB adjustable dampers and AGX springs) that if I put standard ones on it will mess up all the alignments. And they won't know what height to set it to??

He also said I will need to source these springs. Can anyone help me find what I'm looking for as I'm now out of my depth. It was just a normal garage I took it too, so I'm tempted to take it to a proper mazda/japenese garage as they will know exactly what to do. However dilemna - I haven't one local and don't want to drive the car over 50 miles (unless you think it can do the distance without causing more damage).

Anyone who has any ideas, I will be very grateful!

[Don Phil]

I'm no expert, but do agx springs exist? The dampers are kyb agx by the sounds of things, and will be adjustable for soft/hard settings, but not height. I've got some fitted with eibach lowering springs, and it sits quite low.

Not sure what springs you'll need, suppose it depends what you have on the back, lowering or normal. I drove around on my broken spring fora couple of months, but it was on the rear. I can't say I advise it though!

[MX-5 Lazza]

As above, Kayaba (KYB) are the manufacturer and AGX are the model of shock. KYB AGX are adjustable but not height adjustable although you can buy a kit that turns them into height-adjustables though I've never known anyone to do it - it would involve cutting off the spring seat and welding a threaded collar onto the shock body and it's just not worth it.
These can come with KYB springs but are more often matched to some others such as FM or Eibach as they just work a lot better and last longer.

I believe KYB do make some height adjustable shocks too but they aren't AGX.

What colour are your shock bodies and what colour are the springs?

[Munter]

If you have KYB AGX shocks. They should look like the ones on this page.

http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

If they do. Then I'd be tempted to phone MX5 parts ( 02392 644588 ) and ask them which springs they would suggest.

This may not be the cheapest option (or it might be I don't know), but should result in you getting springs with a bit more confidence of them being "the right ones".

[snotrag]

Mx5parts and Autolink sell a range of matched 'Sports' type springs which would do the trick - its probably worth buying a full set.

I know the Autolink ones look pretty good value - before anyone pipes up, yes thats not as indepth as slecting proper spring weights to match your dmaping curves etc etc - but its the best way on a budget to solve this problem I would have thought.

Theres that new RacingBeat Europe distributor too, they probably do a spring set.

[Firefox1]

Try www.buypartsby.co.uk they list KYB springs and AGX shocks, I brought a pair of rear shocks from them last year and saved about £40 on MX5 parts prices. If you just want front springs Autolink have lowered and standard springs at competitive prices.

[Vixstar]

wow - thanks everyone!

Lazza - the shocks and springs are a rusty red colour if that helps.

I'll call MX5 parts to get their opinion. I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest option, just ones that match up with the shocks, good quality and ultimately stops the car strapping the ground!

Everyone has been so helpful, what a great forum!

[Office_Monkey]

Approximately how much should it cost to change the front springs?

[MX-5 Lazza]

I that case I'd just go for Eibach or FM springs as they are a perfect match for KYB AGX shocks (if that is what you really have).