- My model of MX-5 is: __ NC2 PRHT
- I’m based near: __ Essex
- I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __ Suspension refresh options
I’m sure this topic has be done to death so apologies for another post, basically I can’t decide between:
- Coilovers
- New shocks and lowering springs
- New shocks on whatever springs are fitted to my car
I’ve been looking at refreshing my 90k miles NC2 PRHT suspension as its very floaty and rolls awfully even with new arbs, it’s quite unsettling when pushing the car. My issue is I cant decide what to do. I’ve read countless posts everywhere saying lowering springs with new shocks are too low, coilovers are too stiff and oem replacement springs seem to have some cars sat like monster trucks.
A part of me is thinking just replace the shocks with Bilstein b6s keeping the springs, as I don’t mind how the car sits currently, however the thought of removing the shocks and springs just to put back what I assume is 90k mile springs seems a bit silly to me.
Meister R Sportives seem tempting, I don’t need fancy race suspension but they’re less than 600 quid which seems suspiciously cheap??
Currently the car has RX8 yellow dot front arb and Racing Beat adjustable rear arb, sat on 215/45 Enkei RPF1s.
The car is a daily, doubt it would ever see a track but I’m not saying no, I think I have a high tolerance for stiff suspension? I also own a vx220 which rides nicer than my MX-5 somehow, except potholes lol. For context previous car was an abarth and then an NB MX-5, I don’t think I’ve been in a car that rolls and squats down like these do lol.
Any advice, opinions or experiences much appreciated.
I was in the same position and went for Meister Sportives and very happy with them for “fast road” use. The don’t completely eradiate the roll (not a bad thing), ride quality is still very good and got the look I was after. I may consider uprated ARB in the future (already have a RX8 yellow rear on the shelf). I would say with that combo you’d be very happy.
I would say they’d be too soft for track work, but work very well on the road. For the money, it’s hard to complain. I put “coilover socks” on them over the winter and they still look like new, although I did also coat them with ACF-50
I put the money saved towards new geunine Mazda upper and lower arms.
Yeah I see a lot of people saying they’re soft coilovers, which to be honest sounds good to me. Just want something to make it a bit more taut, as it currently handles like jelly around corners and through any dips and cambered bits of road. Think its actually making passengers feel sick lol.
My only concern with those in particular was being your typical cheap coilover, stiff and harsh as I was worried I’d ruin the car and end up spending more replacing. As I had seen some fitting these and saying they regretted it?
Anyway I just keep going in circles. But your experience sounds promising…
Given a single replacement Bilstein damper is over £200, at around £140 per corner, all-in for the Sportives, you get what you pay for.
My experience is with the Sportive NB offerings, which are getting replaced.
Yeah I spent a long time reading both positive and a few negative reviews which messes with you head. Deal was sealed when they offered a further 10% off as a club member. Worth asking.
Not regretted it. Felt 10x better than my old tired setup. As per the comment above, I won’t expect them to last another 16 years, but if I get 5 years I’d be more than happy with that.
Yeah this is what worries me, Bofi racing has them for like £560, insanely cheap I think. May I ask why are you looking at replacing them on your NB and how long you’ve had them?
Had them on since 2022ish and they just dont ride. It puts me off driving the car.
It’s barely lower than stock (Bilstiens) and there’s so little travel in the rear that it’s smacking bump-stops on every back road. Adjustments have been tried, out of the box they have a big drop in ride height but then it wouldn’t clear speedbumps without grinding the front lip.
Now it’s set to not hit the ground or the arches but it’s almost is if the car is too heavy for the springs, even with the boot emptied out.
This is just from my own research so take it with a pinch of salt.
But my use case is the same as yours, currently I have the stock Bilsteins and they are fine, but a bit too much body roll. I just bought a set of whiteline ARBs, and I want to see how much of an impact they’ll have, hoping that it might be good enough.
If not then the next steps will be coilovers, and from what I’ve read the issue is the short travel of the rear ones with the Meister’s, which is why I’d probably go for the Roadstersport long travel ones.
My goal is a balance of ride quality and handling for b roads, with the occasional track day potentially. I want to maintain the stock ride height because of speed bumps and country road conditions.
ARBs will deal with the body roll.
Firmer struts you’ll feel everywhere, all the time. Firmer ARBs will only matter when leaning into corners
Hi, I’ve a 2010 NC2 PRHT, both front springs were broken when I purchased it so I went down the Miester R route, totally changed the car. Great set up, lowered it when I did it, used the Flying Miata geometry set up and went to slightly wider tyre profile as well (recommended on here also).
