I'm running a set of R Package Bilsteins on my NA Miata with 171K miles on them. The original bump stops are long dead. It's very crashy over all but the smallest bumps. I can deal with a rough ride, but the suspension bottoms hard and often.
I plan to replace the bump stops with some Honda / Acura units as described here cheap miata suspension
I'm trying to do this on the cheap. It is worth trying to source some stiffer used springs when I do this? If so, what spring rates would be idea on R package Bilsteins for a street / track car?
At 171k, I`d be looking at new shocks, not new bump stops for your blown shocks.
What he said about the shocks.
I went down this road 6 months ago and found only heartbreak.
Here was the thread on it: http://www.miataturbo.net/suspension-brakes-drivetrain-49/rebuilding-bilsteins-70207/
Cliffs on your options: 1) Have FatCat revalve them. Oh wait, he only revalves the new ones you buy from him, and it still costs $1100
2) Send them to Bilstein for a factory revalve at $65\shock. Results have been mixed. If your 171,000 mile shocks are too far gone, they'll just charge you a diagnostic fee and then ship them back to you.
3) Have Kenny at Stuart Development revalve them. There is a laundry list of people that have sent their shocks in and never got them back. Or got them back several years later. The ones who have got them back have been very happy though.
4) Just buy someone's used MSM Bilsteins
5) Nut up and buy Xidas
6) Buy some of the more reasonably priced, half-measure shocks from 949 or FM
I went with option 4 as a stopgap while I save up for option 5. Hey, you can buy my 90,000 mile Bilsteins, only the rears are blown!
To answer your initial question, the word on the street is that 700\350 spring rates play well with R-package billys, assuming they're not clapped out pieces of crap like the ones on your car.
You can get new billies for just over $400.
calteg wrote: To answer your initial question, the word on the street is that 700\350 spring rates play well with R-package billys, assuming they're not clapped out pieces of crap like the ones on your car.
I've not been on that street, but I find that questionable. That's what, more than 4 times the spring rate that Mazda valved the shocks for? Maybe it keeps the car off the hard rubber bumpstops at the far-too-low ride height found on the stock R package.
I've never found anything to like about the R package suspension.
700lbs is WAY above what any miata stock shock can handle well. 450lbs seems to be ragged edge.
People are having good luck with a 450/325 setup. Of course, what "works" especially when it comes to ride quality, becomes subjective.
Yes 171k is a ton of miles. I'll try to score a used MSM suspension until I can "Nut Up" for something truly good.
Roughly, what should I expect to pay for the MSM setup?
I sold a set of MSM billies/springs/no top hats locally for $350. I bought the same set however with top hats for $300. I wouldn't pay over $300.
$200 for a set of used MSM bilsteins, give or take a hundred depending on mileage/condition.
Bear in mind these are the longest shocks that came on an na/nb, so there are some other things you'll want to do if you put them on an NA. Like NB top hats (at a minimum) for example.
LuxInterior wrote: Yes 171k is a ton of miles. I'll try to score a used MSM suspension until I can "Nut Up" for something truly good. Roughly, what should I expect to pay for the MSM setup?
If it's a street car, just buy the VMaxx from Flyin' Miata or the new Techna's from 949.
Either will be a quality option.
Even the non-adjustable VMaxx Classic worked well for me on the track, so they are up to light track use.
I personally wouldn't go the used MSM suspension route again. They're OK and did help in my car because the OEM suspension was completely shot, but you never know how good they are/how much life they have left in them. If the suspension in your car isn't completely unusable and dangerous, I'd just save up the money and change the parts out once.
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