- My model of MX-5 is: NB
- I’m based near: Hebden Bridge
- I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: OM or OM+ refresh
Having had my 1999 model for 23 years and having now covered 113k, I feel it’s time for a refresh and suspension is one of the bits being looked at. It’s for summer use on roads only and I don’t want to overly stiffen the ride to improve handling. Final thought is to retain standard ride height given it can ground at times on roads around here as is.
What would people recommend? Replace with standard spec, different springs and dampers or coilovers? If not standard, recommendations please!
I saw a suspension refresh coming up on my NBFL several years ago and resolved to get it all done in oine hit. using mine for competition touring and absolutely everything else I ummed and ahhhed for a good 18 months before deciding to go all in for OEM everything ride height, bushes arms, springs schowa shocks down to the last nut and bolt except adjustable rollbars which I have kept on the soft setting. So glad I spent two years assembling all the parts and taking them to MX-5 Restorations in Ilkeston for fitting. The car drives like it just came out of the show room but more importantly it gives me plenty of feed back on what is happening with grip front and rear. If it was stiffer and lower I’d have to rely on much faster reaction times to control it if anything went awry and I have got to that stage in life where I just do not have the feel or reaction times to cope with improved handling performance. Hope that helps.
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Having recently done all this to the underside of my 2004 svt, i can certainly vouch for how different the car “feels” with all new bits underneath - in short, totally different to how it was before with 120k+ miles on the bushes etc.
I opted for poly bushes for the suspension, fitted into the original arms which were repainted. I went down this route mainly due to cost and ease of fitting at home on the drive. The ride is certainly firmer than before, its also a lot more precise.
I would also suggest changing the ball joints at the front as well (upper and lower) and maybe even the tie rod ends. It will obviously add to the cost, although it makes sense to change them as you will need a 4 wheel alignment after changing the bushes out.
As for the rest of the suspension, you could find a decent set of OE fit bilsteins from an SVT and fit those in place of the standard shocks/springs, thus retaining a standard ride height but with a better “ride” (if that makes sense) than the standard shocks. Don’t forget shock bushes as well, upper and lower.
If you can stretch to it, then i would certainly also recommend a set of refurbished calipers and braided brake lines (plus the relevant fitting kits/sliders) - that has been the most noticeable change for me, much firmer pedal and lots of stopping power, even from the standard spec discs and pads.
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