New shocks

[K10]

Right, now that the 5 is back on the road, took he for a good long spin yesterday, and the rear right and front left shocks are on the way out. They are adjustable Ohlins items and always seemed a bit crap. Car looks well that low, but too hard for Irish roads.

What are peoples reccomendations for a decent set of shocks for a Mk1 will most likely be getting springs too as I don't know anything about the ones on it, whether they are standard or what.

Have to be pretty well able to take abuse (bad roads, some track days), but also be used day-to day.

I have heard a lot of people say the original setup was great, and don't mess with what Mazda obviously spent a lot of time and money developing.

Thoughts?

[Fergus]

The original Mazda set up is to high and to soft for my liking.

Springs - FM, Eibach Sports Springs, Racing Beat....lots out there.
Shocks - KYB Adjustables, Koni Ride Height Adjustables....lot of them out there to.

Some think the Eibachs are a bit hard, the FMs seems to be fine as well as the Racing Beat ones. I have the Eibachs and they are a bit tough until you set the shocks up and when going a 'bit' fast it's all smoooooth with no 'swaying'

Wait until the next run and have a few test drives in cars with the different setups before making a decision, that's the best advice I can give you

[K10]

This is what I have:





They are tough, but I presume are adjustable, they will need rebuilding first though. Just wondering is there an accepted "best" out there and would it be worth my while going for them.

I need a little more clearance, to stop more of this:



Leading to this:


and a little less resistance to make it more comfortable.

[Geese]

You could add more preload in that shock in the picture to get more ground clearance.

[Fergus]

Those springs look shot to me man.
It would be good to know the make of those - so now other Mx5 drivers buy them
I may have a set of Eibachs for you to try out if you want, the Ohlins should have lasted longer, perhaps it may be just the springs ?

[gunners5]

If i had it all over again i would save a few quid and go for Performance5s new suspension set up or get a set of Gaz coilovers from mx5parts.
You will spend to much time trying to find the best compromise between driveability,comfort,style and most importantly performance with just a simple shock and spring set up believe me.
I fully rebushed my car worth doing if its a mk1 and have recently fitted Flyinmiata springs and rear shock mounts mated to KYB AGX adjustable dampers.Its a good set up for irish roads and the car feels like its brand new.
Unfortunately there is no real cheap or quick fixes to suspension upgrades its better off going with the right set up from the beginning.
Check out the bushes its not really a bad job just time consuming.

[Steve]

Just did my fronts last week.. you are right.. it does feel like new! Should have done it aaages ago..

I'd recommend :

1) just taking the control arms off and giving them to a garage to press out the old bushes and press in the new, it'll take them 20 mins at most (and save you hours of cursing & frustration).

2) Buy new alignment bolts beforehand, 3 of my old ones snapped off and one was frozen to the inner sleeve of another, easy enough to get them out.

3) WD40'ing all bolts every eve for about a week beforehand.

I did a few other things while I was in there, steering is now like new too.
Parts links :
2 x inner tie rods : http://tinyurl.com/dbsqzj
2 x outer tie rods : http://tinyurl.com/cy7flr (on offer at the mo')
4 x rose jointed ARB endlinks : http://tinyurl.com/cug2vo
Front bushing set : http://tinyurl.com/cretr6
Alignment bolt set : http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info. ... cts_id/662

Steve

[K10]

Fitted the rear Bilsteins today, only realised when they were on that one side is riding higher than the other. One spring is thinner (thinner gauge steel), but is longer, the other is shorter, but thicker. Guess the short one is a sport spring, the long one is a standard one.

Going to give them a try for a day or two, get the right spring for the other one and if they are good, I'll get a set of fronts to go with them, I think I'll go with the taller springs all round.

Anyone have some front Bilsteins/other shocks they want to sell?

Fergus: I just checked those Ohlins - they are adjustable on the front as well.

[franksm]

I would be worried about mixing brakes and suspension components on the '5, since it's a sports car (not a Mondeo). I had Spax springs on the rear and Mazda springs on the front for two weeks or so a few years ago - the car was awful to drive, even after an alignment.

[K10]

Don't worry, this is just for test-driving purposes, will decide on a final setup (most likely a set of bilsteins all round with original springs) and stick with that.

[franksm]

My current setup is *fab*

Fitted some Koni springs (MX5parts.co.uk) a couple of weeks ago, onto existing KYB AGX adjustable shocks. Really smooth, pleasant ride compared to the Spaxs !

[Steve]

What height does that give the car now Frank (centre of hub to wing lip)?

[K10]

Does anyone have Bilsteins? Or am I setting myself up for another change in a few months when I find out they're useless?

[franksm]

What height does that give the car now Frank (centre of hub to wing lip)?

Front = 30cm
Rear = 31cm

[mx5ash]

I have them along with fm sorings (2nd version) i like em they are hard but very well controlled. Dave also has them as std springs on his sspec and wouldn't change em for anything else.
If you wanna meet up sometime and have a spin let me know.
Ash

Does anyone have Bilsteins? Or am I setting myself up for another change in a few months when I find out they're useless?