Recommended Upgrade for MSM Bilsteins
 

Looking for some advise on how to upgrade (adjustable coilover) stock MSM suspension. I was originally going to go FM Vmax or Megan Ezstreets, but figured maybe just save the money, upgrade the stock setup and use the extra money towards some new wheels. Looking to "upgrade" stock suspension because even with the 17"s I can still fit my whole thigh between the wheel and fender. And I'd just generally like to to handle a little better around corners with out killing streetability.

I know the stock Bilsteins are similar to the the Sports or HDs and they've only got 11k miles on them, so I'm leaning on starting from there. Need recommendation on all that I'll need to fit my application. I think all I'll need are sleeves, locking nuts and springs? And I read that QA1 springs were decent, but I couldn't find and am not sure which ones are correct for my application.

Thanks all.

Welcome to the forums!

Call fatcat and have them set you up with some new bumpstops. Then call Flyin Miata and get their lowering springs. Will cost you around $350. I managed to find a barely used set of FM springs for $100.

That will give you the lower ride height and eliminate some of the "bounce" just doing springs on stock shocks can sometime's cause.

Glad to have you on the forum Shane!
The MSM Bilsteins are great. I think they are slightly more aggressive than OTS HD/Sports (according to some dynos provided by FCM). Yes, they are rebuildable at any time you want btw.

Now onto the good stuff Generally I would suggest you start at minimum with the GC spring rates of 375/250. That should tighten the car up, but still keep it compliant and streetable. I would consider getting a pretty stiff set of sway bars to help eliminate body roll for the autocross.

If you want to go stiffer, I would suggest 450/300 as the next step up. You will find that a lot of people who are running this setup for street tire autocross classes.

As for track setups, I like my 550/450 setup very well, although its pretty uncommon. I know most people run 550/400 or 700/400 and use the sway bars to make adjustments for balance. the 550/450 with a RB front will pretty much guarantee you don't get on the bumpstops if you run around spec miata ride height (5.25" front and a slight rake).

The track setup is streetable for the most part. I don't really have problems on the streets, especially now since I raised the car up to about 5.5" which seems to keep off the bumps on everything but the worst of sharp bumps.

As for sleeves, you have a few options. There is the QA1 sleeves, the allstar performance sleeves (what I am running now), and the ebay sleeves.

They are all good, just different pricing. I would not suggest the allstar performance sleeves as the locking mechanism tends to damage the threads. the QA1 sleeves and ebay sleeves don't tend to have that. I know with ebay sleeves there are some fitment issues, but I am not sure if that applies to the Bilstein shock which is larger than the Konis (ask sixshooter aobut this). Lastly, the QA1 sleeves seem to work well, but they are the most expensive of the bunch, I know Braineack had them for a while, so perhaps he can chime in with any advice on them.

If you do go with the allstar sleeves, make sure you get the 5" sleeve and the perch as a seperate purchase (do not get the kit, because the only thing extra you get is this giant spring locator which is sure to kill your shock travel).

Yes, I was already planning on using the RB 1.125 tubular front with the money saved by going this route.

Anyone got any leads or preferably links on where to get everything. Checked through ebay and fiddled my way through summit and, well I'm just a little lost. And also, I've been reading a lot more today on miata.net and MT. What size springs do I need? 7' x 2.5" And I think I want to go the route of 375/250 as with the 1.125 sway bay, that will get me really close to that 60% ratio that I've been reading about.

Going to continue reading more and see if I can find a set of sleeves to choose.

EDIT: So far I've found these..

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HAL-7-250/

But no 375# in 7" springs

at those low rates, you should go with 8" springs I think. I would possibly look around at other setups, but I highly doubt 8" will make a big difference.

I don't even know if 7" is the preferred, Eibach has 375 lb spring, but its fuggin expensive as ----. Alternatively, you could probably do 400 which QA1 does have in 7".

So say like a 400# 7" for the front and 250# 8" for the rear?

Dammit, I don't see an 8" listed, only a 7" in 250. Hmmm

On further inspection, they do have 450# and 300#, but both in 7"

EDIT: Or maybe 7" 400 Front and 8" 250# Rear

yes, they do have 450/300 in 7"

Alright, got a good idea on springs. Just curious what the difference would be 450/300 and 400/300. Obviously 400/300 would be a little more plush, but possibly hit the stops more often? In this case you'd need to stiffen up the front sway bar a little more? Theoretically speaking?

yes, and yes. an RB front is about as stiff as you want to go with a sway bar. so the lower the spring rate, the higher the ride height has to be to stay off the bumps. Or less grip, but thats no fun!

Thanks a bunch Joe. Appreciate the help.