Loving the NC but

Technical Area Steering & Suspension
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  1. My model of MX-5 is: NC
  2. I’m based near: Norwich
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Body Roll

Hey everyone,

Loving the NC, and have just had 4 new Continental Premium Contact 6 tyres fitted to the standard 16’s with a full wheel alignment. Which sorted the instability at higher speeds due to old cheap tyres and poor geometry.

The car now feels fantastic to drive and grips as it should, however she rolls alot when pushing hard which is a little unnerving and something I never experienced in my S2000.

Is this normal for a 2007 NC setup?

If so would RX8 anti rollbars sort this?

I’d ideally like to get a good feeling for the standard setup before going the coilover route.

Thanks

Jon

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I think you are expecting too much from the suspension, it won’t handle as good as the S2000 in standard form but it should be decent enough.
Next step if you want it better is refresh the suspension, a 2007 car will be feeling and probably by now looking tired.
I owned a 2007 NC it was pretty good on the original Bilsteins with lowering springs fitted, that all changed to excellent when I had complete change of suspension. A considered purchase at over £1k plus fitting costs but worth it.

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Advice from a professional for my 07 sport was ZetaCRDs.

See: NC1 MeisterR ZetaCRDs fitted by Vincent's

He also has told me the suspension change renders stiffer ARBs a bit pointless unless you’re tracking it.

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Uprated ARB’s are a good place to start if you don’t want to go the whole hog and get coilovers.

I have both coilovers and uprated ARB’s and my MK3.5 handles like a dream. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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I have a 2006 NC, fitting lowering springs transformed the car for me, it still rolls but is much better than standard (it was like being in a boat before).

I’m sure Meister R suspension would be even better (and hopefully I will splash out on a set at some point).

But fitting the lowering springs and setting the suspension up properly has now made it acceptable.
(all for about £130).

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Doesn’t the nc with 16s come with the basic shocks? If so a set of bilstein and springs from a later car would do a lot and lower it a bit, but I found there was still a fair bit of roll to get rid of…

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I also have the NC1. Expensive is coil-overs. Cheap is some lowering springs and the ARB off a RX8.
I went the latter route as my original dampers were sound and I’m happy to do the spannering.

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The suspension seems fine, as it’s only done 83k , the front end ride height is very high compared to the rear.

If I can just get rid of the roll I think it would it would be a massive improvement.

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Yes your right, very high ride height especially at the front end and yes very boaty when pushed :grin:

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Thanks for the advice :blush:

Did you run the car with just the ARBs before fitting the lowering springs?

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Springs first. 30mm. Much nicer feel to the car. ARB not so noticeable change. Could have been the opposite if I’d done it the other way mind.

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I put on uprated ARB’s front and back and also RX8 drop links, these made a real difference.

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Ah great, So your still running standard high suspension with RX8 ARBs?

When I say say high suspension you can get a fist between the front wheel and wing :grin:

And it illuminated the body roll?

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I have also since then fitted new Bilsten shocks; but when I just fitted the ARB’s and drop links I found a noticeable reduction in body roll.

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I have a NC1 Sport which has been on the standard lowering springs since new (2008). Much better than the standard setup with regard to body roll
Also in Norwich so happy to meet up to compare ride heights and take you for a drive to compare the amount of body roll.
PM me if you are interested.

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That would be great I’d really appreciate that :grinning:

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I swapped both front and rear ARB’s to yellow dot RX8. I found the front to be too stiff and caused the car to understeer. I kept the standard mx5 nc front arb and rx8 rear arb. Handles perfectly with meister r coil overs

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Interesting :blush:, what tyres were you running at the time? ?

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Just goes to show it’s something to fiddle with for little outlay. I’ll probably change back to the OE ARB just for interest at some point. I swapped two things too close together in hindsight.

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Yeah, I am getting alot of conflicting opinions

I have had lowering springs in the past on previous cars and they were not matched with the dampers and made the car crashy.

I’ve had coilovers on previous cars and they were too hard.

I want a bit of comfort with less body roll really If that’s possible with these cars :grimacing: