Miata Mailing List: February 1999, Message #4

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Previously on Koni's vs Tokico's, AGAIN, EunRodster@aol.com said...

> I guess I didn't give enough info of what I am looking for.  I bought my
Miata
> ('93 classic red) about 6 months ago, I thought the handling was ok
until I
> drove another miata, now I decided I want to upgrade my suspension.  As
far as
> I can tell my miata has the stock suspension (73k miles on car.)  I
would like
> to go 1 1/2" - 2" lower.  I am running stock wheels (14 x 5 1/2) with
> 185/60/14 Vipers (not familiar with the tire brand, they came on the car
when
> I bought it.)   I want a suspension that is equally as good on the
street and
> on the track (hopefully I will be able to race one day!)  I guess this
subject
> has been covered on the list many times so you can e-mail me privately
if you
> want!!!  I would appreciate any info you guys can provide!!!

OK, the problem that we are having centers around the fact that what might
be /my/ ideal solution might not be /your/ ideal solution.  Because of
this you kinda have to make up your own mind, but what you've already done
is a great first step (trying other people's cars).  If you like the way
this other Miata rides and handles, find out what they did.

One consideration however is that you said you want better /handling/. 
This isn't just shocks and springs.  In fact, those are probably two of
the last items on the list for handling.  If you want the car to corner
better and at higher speeds, turn quicker, stop faster and just feel more
confident, it's not shocks and springs you need, it's tires.

I have no idea what "Vipers" are, and consequently I figure that they are
probably not the best tires out there.  If you want great handling, get
great tires.  As a side benefit you also get significantly improved safety
and performance since the car will also be able to corner better, stop
shorter, accelerate better, etc.  There are several recommended tires on
the list, choose one and mount 'em up.

Next, if you want to corner flatter, and maybe add about 5mph to your
cornering speed, add some aftermarket swaybars like the FMs or JRs.

Next, if you don't like the way your car is riding, it's probably because
the OEM shocks were toast years ago, replace them.  There are several
choices, with Koni and Illumina being high on the list.  Both are
adjustable, the Konii have an adjustable spring perch which allows you to
lower the car without changing the springs, I believe they also provide
more adjustment settings than the Illuminae, but I might be remembering
wrong.  If you intend to change the springs too, the FM spring/Illumina
combo comes very highly recommended, and having ridden in a car so
equipped I can say that it felt very good indeed.

My point here is that shocks won't directly improve your handling, they'll
change the ride.  They will affect the handling to some degree because
they will stiffen or soften the ride and control rebound and bounce, but
it's secondary to their purpose.  Likewise the springs.  If it's handling
and performance you want, start with tires and sways, then go for the
shocks and springs.

	-John

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John Freas (jfreas@earthlink.net)
Red '90 Base-ish #7690
Birmingham, AL
Team LS1,2, SP, the Gap...
Team dlralt, MRoadster, PBC, Roebuck, Voodoo...
"I have no idea what those dimple things on the windshield frame are for."
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