1990 miata suspension question

Ok, I have a pile of parts for my 1990 (I keep buying cheap stuff... I need to quit)... what is the best combo?

I have: new KYB AGX's

old, kinda rusty Koni yellows

not as old Bilsteins.

Racing beat springs (used)

OEM springs (used)

would it behove me to put the RB springs on the koni yellows, and put the yellows on the lowest height setting (and probably then firm up the shock setting)? or would the bilsteins be the better shock?

this is on a supercharged 1990 miata with 15x9 offset wheels with 225/45 rivals with Racingbeat sways, front and back.. to be used for autocross.

I am just checking my thoughts.

Sell everything but the Bilsteins. Install these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-REAR-ALUMINUM-SCALED-COILOVER-0-3-SPRING-KIT-90-97-MIATA-MX-5-MX5-NA-BLUE-/350888873588?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51b29b4e74&vxp=mtr

Money in your pocket, and better than what you've got.

If you end up with enough extra money, spring for some ISC top hats.

Isn't there are issue with the springs being too stiff for the shocks? I am still trying to figure all this out.

Nah, they're a 450/325 setup. If you've got yeller billies, they'll be fine. I did a homebrew setup using MSM shocks, custom extended top hats, Swank Force Racing 36/36 bumpstops, and 550/400lb springs.

Good reading here:

http://www.miataturbo.net/suspension-brakes-drivetrain-49/better-bilstein-ebay-coilover-thread-78451/

waitaminute!

I have a set of those ebay coils (red with gold... tryin to pretend to be GC coils, I think). they came with the AGX's... and didn't fit the shocks worth a damn, I thought they were junk! if they fit the yellow billies, I am good to go!

I might have exactly what is needed... and a lot pf parts to sell.

gracias mi amigo.

SCARR wrote: waitaminute! I have a set of those ebay coils (red with gold... tryin to pretend to be GC coils, I think). they came with the AGX's... and didn't fit the shocks worth a damn, I thought they were junk! if they fit the yellow billies, I am good to go! I might have exactly what is needed... and a lot pf parts to sell. gracias mi amigo.

Well... you might want to verify the rates of those springs first. There's a lot of kits floating around. Some are ok, i have a red kit laying around that's a 425/300 setup that would work pretty nicely. But there's also some "Square" 500/500 setups that won't work worth a damn.

I'd suggest reading that entire thread either way though, really interesting info. (With lots of standard MT.net banter.)

How do I verify? or if there are no markings, should I just get a new set?

Know anyone with a spring dyno? Most circle track shops should be able to help you out.

nope... but I DO have some heavy things to put on them and see how far they move... I think I will try to figure it out old school.

worst case... She rides weird until I buy new springs. I mean it takes very little work to swap them.

Actually... since i'm not using the blue 450/325 setup, you want them?

Lemme see what I got now... I may not need them.

for all I know, my coils' perches may not even fit the billies. they might go to a totally different car.

well.. I guess the coils I have DON'T go to a miata... )I should have tried to figure out the spring rate and stuff, before putting them on...) I have the rears on... and they didn't even seem to compress at all. stinkbug stance has been acheived. time to take it all back apart.

Are the Bilsteins OE units or spec miata?

I have autocrossed (and tracked) NA miatas with spec miata Bilsteins, AGXs, and Koni yellows. I really liked the AGX's for stiffer springs, despite their reputation as being cheap.

It felt like the Konis and Bilsteins really couldn't provide enough damping for spring rates much higher than stock. I'm running 375F 275R (lb/in) rates with Konis on my track day miata and would not go much higher without shocks that were really valved for it. (I think you'll want higher spring rates for a competitive autox car.)

$0.02