NC2 (3.5) Sport Tech - next steps after ARB / Drop Links

Technical Area Steering & Suspension
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  1. My model of MX-5 is: NC3.5 2.0i Sport Tech (conv)
  2. I’m based near: Shropshire
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: next steps with suspension

OK everyone - newbie here so go gentle… please… have read a few of the threads on suspension and want to establish some specific thoughts / experiences around the following -

Car is used on road, has to step in occasionally to cover for a daily (when daily is in for work + then it might need to do 200 mixed miles round trip to office) but might look to do odd track day going forward.

Only mod so far is installed uprated ARB (MX-5 Parts / IL Motorsport ones @ “35% increase”) and IL Drop Links - makes a good difference to the roll stiffness + really happy with them.

Given its still running on OEM Bilstein / spring combo what’s the thoughts with regards to damper and springs without trashing the ride?

Wondering if there is specific experience with uprated ARB being used in conjunction with progressive springs + higher spec dampers - so something like the BBR Koni kit? Do the uprated ARB make this too skittish for general road use (if I do have to take it out in the rain etc.)?

Also don’t want to go too low as plenty of speed bumps around the urban areas of Shropshire - but sitting a bit lower would improve the overall look of the car.

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Really depends on what you want from the car and what budget you want to allocate to doing it.

You could go with lowering springs as a first step.

Then you have lowering springs and uprated shocks

Next would be a fully adjustable suspension set from Meister, Tein etc

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Hi everyone - have sought out comments from IL about their experiences / recommendations here to try to form a detailed picture / view (…should I bin off their uprated ARB when replacing shocks + springs to avoid car getting too skittish / like a plank…) and Marcus @ IL (super responsive + understanding) is recommending Tein Flex Z coilovers whilst retaining the uprated ARB. Anyone willing to share experiences of this combination on '09+ NC … plenty of posts on Tein coilovers so hoping someone has been in the same position / end goals and can comment on specifics - thanks! :slight_smile: