New Shocks
10-03-2011, 09:24 PM
#22
MFz Regular
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Fayetteville, GA
Posts: 51
Well, that's more from word of mouth. My roll couple is so low with the Flex spring rates.. If they weren't backordered, I'd have them with the FM front bar. How was Sebring? A saw a few videos and it looked awesome!
10-04-2011, 08:28 AM
#23
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tampa, FL; Lake Jackson (Atlanta), GA
Posts: 1,902
The track has very long straights and some very tight technical sections. There is something for everybody. It has several deceiving corners where the real apex is further around the corner than you think it is. It really takes work to learn the real racing line. And Sebring has some fantastic sweepers. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and recommend it.
If my car had more power it would have done better in the long straights but I wouldn't have had enough tires, brakes, and suspension to handle it. Adding more power would have stressed every other aspect of the car more. I would have needed better pads if I had more tire. It would have needed higher spring rates if it had more tire because the lateral grip would allow greater speeds imposing more roll. And on and on. Thankfully the balance was good (thanks to fatcatmotorsports' online suspension calculator for guidance) and I had more brakes than tires, which is better than the opposite. When your tires are less capable than your brakes your stopping is predictable. When your tires are better than your brakes you might suddenly run out of brakes entering the next corner which can be exciting.
Here is a track map:
If my car had more power it would have done better in the long straights but I wouldn't have had enough tires, brakes, and suspension to handle it. Adding more power would have stressed every other aspect of the car more. I would have needed better pads if I had more tire. It would have needed higher spring rates if it had more tire because the lateral grip would allow greater speeds imposing more roll. And on and on. Thankfully the balance was good (thanks to fatcatmotorsports' online suspension calculator for guidance) and I had more brakes than tires, which is better than the opposite. When your tires are less capable than your brakes your stopping is predictable. When your tires are better than your brakes you might suddenly run out of brakes entering the next corner which can be exciting.
Here is a track map:
10-07-2011, 06:54 PM
#27
MFz Regular
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mt.Peak, Texas
Posts: 190
running along this same line,at our age the wife and and I are not doing much racing other than some guy from one redlight to another or cutting through side streets to get back in front of the a@# that sped around us just so we can park and wave as he goes by.
We do run the speed limit plus some and try to run a lot of country roads with less interstate
We use the car as a daily driver and everywhere we go
I do not see a need to lower it or make it look like a high rise 4x4 just a nice ride height and smoother ride
We are running a stock engine and the only mod we might would consider would be swapping to a 99 head or installing a 99-2000 year 1.8 at some point
We are running low profile 17 inch tires
Having this info what would you guys suggest for a better ride and yet still be stable and not overkill.
I think the shocks are probably orginal and they have about 105,000 miles on them
We do run the speed limit plus some and try to run a lot of country roads with less interstate
We use the car as a daily driver and everywhere we go
I do not see a need to lower it or make it look like a high rise 4x4 just a nice ride height and smoother ride
We are running a stock engine and the only mod we might would consider would be swapping to a 99 head or installing a 99-2000 year 1.8 at some point
We are running low profile 17 inch tires
Having this info what would you guys suggest for a better ride and yet still be stable and not overkill.
I think the shocks are probably orginal and they have about 105,000 miles on them
Last edited by mytwo; 10-07-2011 at 07:03 PM.
10-07-2011, 07:48 PM
#28
MFz Regular
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 220
Your shocks are most likely at the end of their life, so replacement is probably inevitable, and pretty much anything will be a ride/handling improvement. The biggest detriment to your ride quality atm, are those 17" wheels + low profiles. Trust me I'm on msm 17" racing harts.
As for shocks it all depends on your budget, and what you want out of your suspension. Almost all coilovers or even strut/spring combos will lower the car a little bit. How are the roads around you? Will lowering your car make commuting that much more difficult? I'm lowered almost 2 inches, and I gotta admit, I just don't take the miata alot now if I know what the roads to my destination are like.
Please provide a budget if you want recommendations.
As for shocks it all depends on your budget, and what you want out of your suspension. Almost all coilovers or even strut/spring combos will lower the car a little bit. How are the roads around you? Will lowering your car make commuting that much more difficult? I'm lowered almost 2 inches, and I gotta admit, I just don't take the miata alot now if I know what the roads to my destination are like.
Please provide a budget if you want recommendations.
10-12-2011, 10:23 AM
#29
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tampa, FL; Lake Jackson (Atlanta), GA
Posts: 1,902
I put Bilsteins from an NB on my '96 montego and it made a huge difference. I also shortened the bump stops about 3/4" because there wasn't enough travel in the rear to be comfortable. I hated the way the car rode on the worn out stockers and now I thoroughly enjoy it. I also used NB tophats, btw, to keep the ride height from going up.
And the Bilsteins are readily revalveable/rebuildable if you ever wear them out or change to stiffer springs.
And the Bilsteins are readily revalveable/rebuildable if you ever wear them out or change to stiffer springs.