Miata Mailing List: May 1998, Message #245

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Some of you have probably seen my recent posts about being run off the road
into the mud and the problems I had with my wife's car failing its
emissions test. Well, now I have some really GOOD news!

This morning (Sunday) I took my Miata down to a friend's garage with a
trunk full of suspension components from the Dealer Alternative. Five hours
later I raced
away somewhat lower and much faster round the curves thanks to new Tokico
Illumina adjustable shocks, Flying Miata springs, and Flying Miata sway
bars. Lack of time and of a 7mm Allen wrench kept us from mounting the FM
shock
tower brace, which will go on this week. The improvement is wonderful. Wow!
The car is a little too tail-happy at the moment, but the overall
improvement in handling and ride quality is great. I was expecting the ride
to be harsher than I was used to, but I was very happy. Of course, I am
comparing this to very worn out stock equipment (44K miles, including
several autocrosses).  As a test I deliberately drove down a road I knew to
be rough, and it took me 100 yds to realize that the pavement had been
removed and I was flying over a dirt and gravel road at 60 without
upsetting the car at all! Very impressive. The stock CD player, which has
always tended to skip on small bumps (especially the 'dots' on lane
dividers) while ignoring big ones, was skipping merrily. Oh well, can't
have everything.

I need an alignment (planning a modified Miq), and I've no idea what
settings the shocks are at or even if they match, so I expect I'll have fun
tweaking the handling to get it just right. I still have the shock tower
brace to install as well, although the brackets are already in place.

I've also got brand new Yokohama AVS intermediates on the car, replacing
the set I've been running since '95

Thanks to Bill Cardell for putting together an excellent suspension
package, and to Mt. Hood club member Eric Vaillancourt for his help with
the installation.


Kevin Watts
kevin@telestream.com
Treasurer, Mt.Hood Miata Club, Portland, OR
'91 BRG SE #996  "EU4IK"
'91 BRG SE #3282 "EU4IC" (my wife's)
Team FM suspension