Hi all, I’ve just bought a Mk2 1.8 - totally standard at the mo but I want to change this as soon as possible! It drives OK as it is (needs wheel alignment and stiffening up) but is sitting a little high for my liking and I want to track day it. I’ve already ordered a new set of road alloys (15’s) so I can use my 14’s for the track. A local garage has said they will put suitable 14in tyres to one side for me rather than me buying new for the rear all the time…
My question is really what does everyone else run out there - have you just replaced the springs or are you running a Gaz/Koni setup… what do you recommend?
The roads round here aren’t bad (but they’re not great either!) and this is the car i use to drive to work and back every day. I don’t mind a ride that is firm but I don’t want a bad back as a result!
Any input greatly received 
Rich
Hi Rich,
I have literally just fitted new springs to my NA (with KYB AGXs). I went for the Spax sports springs (see link) as they are red and match the shocks!!!
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=4791
I looked at various options but these are progressive (important if you don’t want your spine to snap on the first pothole) and don’t lower the car too much. I’m putting 15" wheels on and these fill the arch nicely without looking like boy-racer / tractor wheels.
I’ll follow up with a photo but, as I believe these items are available for the NB IMHO you could do far worse.
Thanks for the info, the springs look good… didn’t like some of the ‘sagging’ issues i’ve read about the Eibach springs but didn’t want the 35mm drop that comes with the Koni’s!
The KYB AGX’s look good too but when coupling the whole lot together it costs more than Gaz Perfomance Coilovers from Absolutely Shocks (via MX5Mad.com). I’d be interested in hearing from people with these fitted too. Are the KYB AGX’s coupled with a good set of springs better than the Gaz kit?
Thanks for the info, I’d be interested in seeing a photo too, thanks.
I didn’t like some of the ‘sagging’ issues i’ve read about with the Eibach springs and i don’t really want the drop of 35mm that the Koni’s give you…
The KYB AGX’s look good too, but the whole package of those plus the Spax cost more than the Gaz Performance kit from Absolutely Shocks. Are the KYB AGX’s plus a good set of springs a better combo than the Gaz kit?
I don’t want to hijack the thread, but could you please confirm the measurements front and rear from the wheel centre to arch lip?
I have already been down the Eibach road and won’t be going back as the car was wat too low - I also have KYB AGX’s on a MK1. Currently I have the trim springs fitted but the front is a tiny bit higher than the rear and I would like to reverse this as Mazda intended.
Nutter: Certainly will, once the car is back from the MOT station…maybe that should read if it gats back from the MOT station!
RichBRG: If you’re not planning to use the car at track days then save £20 per corner and don’t get the KYB AGXs, just the standard KYBs; they have the same internal workings, just without the resistance dial to harden the compression rate. I’m guessing £80 will make them cheaper than the GAZs.
I’m not into making my car super-low, I live in rural Yorkshire and the potholes round here put the grand canyon to shame so I’m trying to give the car a ‘purposeful’ look whilst maintaining a certain decorum of ‘gentlemanly’
Photos and measurements to follow…
Sorry Rich,
Just re-read your original thread and you mention ‘stiffening up’. Would this mean your looking at changing the bushes too? Again I’ve replaced the original black rubber things Mazda put in (believe me, they had seen better days after 15 years but were less than eager to come out!!!) with rather nice orange ones from flo-flex (you can find them on their ebay shop or google). I paid for a full set of bushes (including the anti-roll bar and link arms) the same as I would have done for the fronts alone had I gone to MX-5 Parts and purchased the blue ‘poly-bush’ ones they sell. I’m no expert but, as I took Betsy to the garage yesterday she feels a lot ‘tighter’ let alone from feeling more solid due to the new springs and shocks.
Yeah I do plan to track day the car. That’s the main reason for wanting to upgrade it’s handling. I would look at doing the bushes too if I could get them for the right price - they’re very expensive for the full kit on MX5Parts. I’ll take a look for those ones you have. I’ve have the front and rear cross braces on order for it and am looking for a good strut brace at the moment too (with Brake Master Cyclinder add-on. Just need the suspension to finish it off! If nobody else has any input on the Gaz shocks I’ll have to presume they’re not worthy of my money and go down the same route you have…!
I’ve got the Absolutely Shocks Gaz kit on my NA and I’m happy. I like the adjustable perches and damper stiffness, and at 315f/330r with a geometry setup I am very impressed with the grip and flat cornering, I hated the standard body roll.
I’ve not tried anything else, so can’t comment further.
I’ve got the Il motorsports strut braces front and rear, the front one is for a Mk2 but I just milled out the recess for the shock mount until it was a snug fit - pretty easy to do without compromising the structural rigidity of the mount. Because the mount is for the Mk2 I couldn’t fit the cross bar through the top mounting holes (sat too high and wouldn’t allow the bonnet to close without rubbing) so I just bolted through lower down the mount…seems to work fine with no sign of movement.
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=4761
Some may say I’ve ‘bodged’ it but it looks like its supposed to be there and the thick aluminium bar looks far more purposeful than some of the Mk1 braces I’ve seen.
Cheers for additional info guys. I guess i’ll have to make the decision and pick a setup. My Chassis braces arrived on friday. I think I’ll sort the suspension and bushes at the same time and that will do me.
My car goes to the garage in the morning for a service and to have it’s k&n fitted… then I’ll get on with the rest of the mods. I just want to get it on the track and have some fun [:D]
Nutter:
310mm front and rear from centre of wheel to arch.
Trying to attach jpegs but need to read the idiots guide first!
Jon
Pictures for you…
Thanks Jon,
It looks nice and tidy under there, I painted mine up when I fitted the bushes but doubt the winter has been kind.
Thanks for the effort measuring and inseting the pictures. I was hoping it would be slightly higher than that. I bet it corners very flat though?
I’m sure there is a gap in the market for decent springs with similar height to the early MK1’s but slightly uprated and keeping the original front / rear bias.
Back to the drawing board I guess…
nutter
Nice and tidy being the result of a week on my cold garage floor spitting out flakes of rust looking a right numpty in a pair of old ski goggles!
I’ve been promising myself I’d do the underneath for ages, just took a few weeks enforced holiday to give me the motivation!
Having dug into a few other threads I hadn’t realised it was as low as it is; 10-15mm lower than standard sports springs seems to be the average but yes, it goes around corners superbly, not that I have had much chance, it came back from the MOT with a new rear arch that I am now prepping! Must get it finished for the Spring Rally seeing as its only 15 miles down the road!!!
Good luck with your search…[8-|]