So just got off the phone with Mike for ISC. He said the spring rates I chose are too high in the rear, and the only 550 in/lb springs he has are 8" and the only 450 in/lb springs he has are 7".

I told him thats really odd I have never seen longer springs in the miata, and he suggested that I can either use a setup like his 800/375 or a street setup like 375/225.

Yep, not sure how to take that other than I will have to get my springs else where. I guess its back to the drawing table for a bit.

 

ISC does Spec Miatas and they have equipment limitations that force them to run ~800/375 on the track. You are not bound by these limitations and are able to run different sways, coilover adjusters, and different shocks than they are. And your car will weigh differently overall and also in the F/R balance.

Here's some 7" 450lb:http://www.jegs.com/i/QA1/122/7-450/10002/-1
7" 550lb:http://www.jegs.com/i/QA1/122/7-550/10002/-1

Here's a whole slew of choices for $34.95 and they are in stock: http://www.summitracing.com/search/B...c&autoview=SKU

 

Thanks Steve,

I went ahead with the QA1 springs from summit w/ allstar performance sleeves. Unfortunately, they don't make a 5" sleeve kit (only 7", but you can buy the 5" sleeve seperate), so I will see if there is any fitment issues with the 7" and let you guys know. all my parts should be coming in by tuesday of next week, so I will take thursday-sunday and work on it all.

I am excited about replacing the bushings on my suspension. Its weird, but I have been reading/talking with a few master/phd mechanical students locally who are studying suspension design and they were telling me that manufacturer's use softer bushings as a piece of the suspension design. What I mean by that is they tend to use bushings that will induce more understeer at the limits.

Steve, what is your plans for suspension? I am quite interested to see/hear what you are going to do after seeing your thread on MT.

 

I'm planning on making a big mess of it this weekend. I'll probably be unhappy with the results after hours and hours of screwing with it, lol. I've been having restless dreams about fitment and adjustment issues for the last two nights. I'm thinking I might should have taken Brain up on his offer for the other two springs as well but I'm too proud/stubborn to give up until I've let it beat on me awhile. I'll either be happy or I won't after this weekend. I may need some pieces I don't have but won't know till I get in there.

You were talking about the aluminum adjustment sleeves being too long? I understand that it is quite common to hacksaw off the extra that sticks up above the shock body if they are too long. This seems to be common practice for certain ebay coilover kits.

 

yea, I figured thats what I will send up doing if the 7" sleeve sticks up. certainly cheaper than spending $60 on new sleeves.

well, I will let you know how my suspension feels soon enough. What were the spring rates that Scott is selling you?

 

I got a pair of 400 for my fronts from him. The others were 336 and would have been too high for rears with the 400s. And the 336s were way short and I would be worried about travel and bind.

I'm at post #1217 on a 60 page thread on DIY ebay coilovers on another forum and it took two days to get that far, but I've learned enough to be dangerous and remotely unsure of myself for my escapades tomorrow. Woohoo! Here goes!

 

Most of the suspension came in today and yesterday (still waiting on the sway and bushings from 949).

Fitment will require modification on the Bilsteins. the sleeves do not accomodate for the tab on the side of the bilsteins, and disappointingly they don't go any lower than the circle clip. Also, they will need to be shaved off the top. I am surprised they didn't place the circle clip seat slightly higher in the sleeve, it would make for a much better fitment and they would also allow you to adjust the ride height to either higher or lower than the perch that comes with the Bilsteins.

Anyways, here are pics.:






I will be doing all my fitment work tomorrow, so I will hack up the sleeve and take out the tab in the shock. Hopefully I will have pictures of it relatively assembled (without a top hat of course). I wonder if the AWR or the GC sleeves require you to grind the tab out also?

 

So, I have been reading around more about the e-bay sleeve fitment to prepare myself for the worst case scenario. While I don't think these will be anywhere NEAR as bad, I did find out that pretty much EVERY sleeve requires you to grind off the tab from the bilstein shocks (Including the GC one, which is made for the HD, not the NB Sport). Thats much more comforting to know, although I was kind of expecting it knowing that most sleeves are not that thick anyway. I have to say I am more disappointed in Bilstein's work/fitment with the horrendous "perch" they sent with it than anything else. The thing is like half the weight of the shock (exaggeration), and doesn't fit any spring that I bought.

Anyways, I certainly wish I had a perch like the ones that come with konis. I think possibily for sound comfort, a few loops of electric tape on the shock body will stop it front tinking near the top since I will have to cut the smaller radius end at the top (5" sleeves should have NO problem as that smaller radius ring is almost like a puzzle piece for the shock body).

I am excited guys! and I hope steve can get his worked out. Then me and him can hopefully put another corvette owner to shame at RA! whoooo!


Edit: One last gripe with the sleeve/Allstar Performance. I can't find anywhere where they state the spanner wrench size required to adjust the perch. How ------ hard can that be?

 

Just ordered a set of 93LE Tie rods for bump steer. $98 w/ castle nuts and pins, from Mazdaspeed Motorsports

 

I did mine yesterday and have pics but not much time to write details right now. I'm just going to dumps some pics of the process here for your reference since I know you are trying to do this too. A real write up will come eventually.

2000 NB Hard Bilsteins P/N NC1234700D




Factory NB Bilstein spring perches must come off.




Spring perch locator tabs must come off very carefully with a grinder or cut off wheel.






Wrap tape to take up thickness of ID of coilover so it doens't rattle or shift on clip.




It puts the lotion in the basket.






I have NA bumpstops still that I needed to cut down for increased travel until I can get good replacements at a later date.




Voila'!




Let me say that the ride is so wonderfully smooth I could have easily gone to 550lbs plus instead of just 400 on the front with these shocks. They are valved very strong and have no problems controlling the springs. The ride is hellaplush, lol! It absorbs minor road bumps without a fuss but complies beautifully in big dips like railroad tracks without feeling busy at all. No more hitting the bumpstops!

I thought everyone was kidding when they said the ride could be better than stock with stiffer springs. It is sooooo much more comfortable than stock.

More fun to follow but I've got places to go right now.