ND very snappy on track - setup advice?

Technical Area Steering & Suspension
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  1. My model of MX-5 is: ND
  2. I’m based near: Milton Keynes
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Suspension setup/ Geo

Hi all,

Looking for a bit of advice on geo and suspension setup after a recent track day at Bedford Autodrome.

Car is a 2016 MX-5 ND 2.0 Sport Nav with the following handling-related setup:

HSD MonoPro coilovers (6kg front / 4kg rear)

Damping (14-click range), currently around 9 front / 7 rear

Rota GTR wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres (initially running ~32 psi hot)

Rear hub bushes recently replaced

Current alignment settings:

Front: Camber -2.2 / Caster 7.5 / Toe 0

Rear: Camber -1.4 / Toe 0.05 in

For context, I’ve come from a completely standard NC, which was much more progressive at the limit. It was quite difficult to get the rear out — I’d have to deliberately lift to induce oversteer, but once it stepped out it was very controllable, easy to catch, and I could hold a drift with good feedback. I never spun it.

In comparison, the ND feels much more snappy and unpredictable on the limit. At Bedford I struggled with rear stability, particularly in faster corners, and ended up spinning a few times trying to find the balance.

I initially started around 9 clicks front / 7 rear and softened the rear further (down to ~3 clicks) to try and gain grip, but it still felt nervous rather than planted.

I then went back to 9/7 and dropped tyre pressures to around 28 psi hot, which made a noticeable improvement in grip and confidence, but the car still feels a bit snappy at the limit rather than progressive.

Once I backed off slightly the car was manageable and fun, but I never felt fully confident pushing it consistently.

I’m wondering:

Does this sound more like a geo issue than damping?

Are my current alignment settings likely contributing to the snappy behaviour?

What alignment settings are people running for fast road / track on a similar setup?

Could the PS5s be contributing (sidewall / heat)?

Any recommended baseline settings for this spring rate on the ND?

Feels like the car has a lot more in it — just needs setting up properly.

Thanks

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Has the suspension been set properly

Spring pre load, corner weight is it weight transfer you are suffering??

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Hi mate

No it’s hasn’t to be fair and I think my geo settings are probably most to blame here in hindsight, I wanted the rear to be playful and this is how my NC was setup but not as seriously.

I’m going to try camber front = 2° and rear 1.9°, in the hope this gives the rear more stability and therefore less snappy.

My ND currently doesn’t understeer at all, it’s all rear end loose. Whereas my NC was understeer prone and had to force oversteer.

I’m struggling to find info on decent geometry setups for ND’S, it will be 50% road 50% track, but I’d rather jeopardize road handling over track.

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Have you looked on miata.net? usually plenty of advise on setup there.

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Dirtyhabit Build + Perfecting the ND = Change Everything - General Discussion Forums / Readers Rides - MX-5 Owners Club Forum

read post #1 :slight_smile:

that might get you started…. lol. do a control + find for ‘Handling’ on that first post, and read a couple of sections.

and then scroll down to post #4, where ive put some links into others with similar experiences / complaints.

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Yeah I came from an NC to an ND and get the same issues. You have to be driving them pretty hard to notice, but the issue is there. I have no confidence in the rear end and it turns in so sharply.

The car did it standard, now has Meisters on and the Flyn Miata alignment specs and still the same, maybe slightly better.

You are on zero front toe, I have a little toe in, I think Im going to try a bit more front toe in to try and calm the initial turn in and therefore not give me that uneasy feeling.

Ps, already have the rear strut brace on.

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*Clearly not an expert, but does the suspension have correct preload at the current ride height? I.e. like Rodders says, has the suspension been set up? Could you be hitting bump stops on the corners

Also from what I have read, your current set up does appear pretty aggressive, and a softer dual use setup might be a good bench mark to build from (see Blue Agave).

(*oops I didn’t mean you completelyDriven just replied and it looks like i’m saying you clearly aren’t an expert lol) :laughing:

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You Sir have answered all my questions. Including power mods lol!

I have ordered a rear brace already and have been trying to get my car booked in at BBR but proving difficult to get a response lol!

Apologies if I missed this, I did read your whole thread, what geometry are you running? The Verus diffuser and under tray kit looks awesome!

Where are you at with it now? What tyres have you settled on?

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geo - pretty much same as what Blue has quoted above. theres a few variations but all roughly the same.
except for caster… i had that at 7deg which was the most my guys could get, and that was rubbing the arch a bit. so dialed it back to about 6.

camber wise, i am very lowered, but 1.8 was the max we could get. (as per above specs).

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Perfect so your running a bit of toe in on the front as well?

Did you import your throttle body from Fab9 or manage to find a UK retailer? Was it the Bosch unit you went for?

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toe - yes. as per above specs. (*or as close as the alignment guys could get).

TB - direct from fab9. plug and play. one of the best ‘feeling’ mods ive done.
do not get / avoid the ‘Gramms’ one (70mm). not had it, but research found various connectivity issues electrically.
but thats another topic… lol

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sorry and you asked me about tyres…
215/45/17 goodyear eagle asymmetrics love them! really good tyre.

i also run winters on my oem wheels (im north scotland). when i put my goodyears on i nearly crash into kerbs for the first day, as i turn the wheel and the car turns! after the numb winters lol. but a good tyre. sticky. used on track a couple of times too. worked well.

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These kids bless ‘em!

I had the rear skipping and whipping on my way back from Sainsbury’s with two bags of shopping in the boot yesterday. There’s about 30lbs of toolkit too. It’s the opposite of Mazdas gram strategy but having some ballast in there at least makes the loose caboose predictable and you get through the turns quicker because you have more confidence. A spoiler would help.

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