Mx5 ride height with Koni shocks

[D. M. Warrington]

Dear experts,

I have a 90 MX5 (Eunos) with almost 95K mileage, and almost certainly
original shocks (I've had the car since 68K mileage, and there are no brand
names I can see on the shocks themselves). The US Miata Magazine reckons
standard shocks would be worn out by about 60K (35000 miles), so I am
thinking they are due for replacement, and was considering going for the
Koni adjustable ones that seem to be highly respected. The club group
purchase looks ideal for me.

My driving is all street driving (except for one day when the group down
here in Otago hired Teretonga), and what I'm looking for is essentially
standard ride height and softness, but a better than standard quality shock
absorber for longer life and maybe 'improved performance': does that have
any meaning if you want standard ride height and softness?

The word seems to be that Konis on their lowest perch plus standard springs
would give this, except for an email from John Johansson last November
reporting that with this setup, his car had a nose-down, tail-up 'hot rod'
look. Was that ever sorted out, John? And if so, how: eg rear Konis not
actually on lowest setting, or non-standard or worn out springs, or ...?

I'd be grateful for any comments, and especially reassurance on the ride height.

Regards,
Don Warrington

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr Don M. Warrington Email: dmw@physics.otago.ac.nz
Physics Department My office phone: +64-3-479 7753
University of Otago Physics Office phone: +64-3-479 7749
Box 56 Physics Fax: +64-3-479 0964
Dunedin
New Zealand

[MC]

Don
My 91 with Koni's has the stock springs set on the lowest spring perch which
lowered the car a small amount, and the level of the car looked no different
to the stock set up, i have them set on the softest settings giving a ride
similar to stock shocks, on track days i wind them up to almost hard, if
you want to keep your ride height the same as stock put it on the highest
spring perch and keep the adjustment on the soft setting, in 6yrs mine have
covered over 100,000k and are still as firm as the day i bought them, the
car had KYB's when i bought it at 30,000k and after 10,000k every one of
them leaked, and don't forget to do a wheel alignment front and back, and as
has been mentioned before Koni's will last forever as well as giving
excellent handling, just my 2c worth
MC

[Fletcher Blades]

Don,

I've just fitted Koni's and set them to the middle hight setting (with
factory springs). This has lowered the car very slightly.

If you want to retain the same height, you go with the top perch
(which, funnily enough, is the same perch height as the standard
shocks). The middle perch is the height of the Bilstein shocks that
came standard on the R model in the USA and some other sports models
in various parts of the world. Both these settings are provided
because certain types of motorsport (predominantly USA based) require
you to use the stock height that your car was purchased with, even
though you can use any shock you choose. (SCCA show-room stock rules).

This leaves the lowest setting... which is a height chosen by Koni as
a nice setting without being too low... its about an inch lower than
stock.

I would have gone lower, but my drive-way is steep, and I was already
rubbing my nose and exhaust tail if I didn't approach on an angle...

This leaves the stiff-ness... The Koni's are adjustable stiffness
from a setting that is very similar to, or maybe just a tiny bit
softer than standard, all the way up to bloody stiff... not quite
hard as a rock, but close enough.

I'm still playing with which settings I like on the street, and I'll
be playing with track settings in Taupo next month...

Another thing in their favour (but probably not of interest to you)...
is that as well as having a lifetime guarantee, they are re-buildable
and re-valve-able, so the agent can take them apart and change the
available settings to even stiffer (or looser) if you so choose (at a
price, obviously).


Also, apart from the odd rattle, squeak and groan, and the smell, it
is my contention that shock absorbers are THE major difference between
old cars and new. Replace the shocks and your car will feel new again
(or very nearly).

Go for it,

Fletch.

[Ray]

Fletch
A good starting point to set your shocks for Taupo is halfway, do several laps then
back them of half a turn, try that, then go half a turn above halfway, and see how
that performs, Taupo isn't as smooth as it used to be especially the left hander
at the end of the top straight, Lou and myself ended up just over halfway with our
settings, now Pukekohe is totally different, Lou and myself run max hard, well you
know how bumpy it is there, for the street i'm between 1/4 and 1/2, be interested
to know how you end up as i know you like to drive fairly hard, we all have different
driving styles but everybodys settings funny enough seem to end up about the same,

Yes your right about new shocks, doesn't the car come alive with decent shocks

Ray


[...]

[VIKING RACING]

G4day Don
John here,trying to answer your question.
After a lot of checking out on different mxfives, the conclusion was that
all standard setup cars have a "Hot Rod" appearance, and for a design
engineer of the old school it did not feel right that the rear was 20-25mm
higher, but that is the factory setup, a compromise for having a driveable
everyday car and a racecar.
I have now changed springs To Eibach, they are 25mm lower(thanks Gary)
and by playing around with the KONI different height settings, the height
diff. is 10mm, and I still have adjustment left for the "scrub angle" at the
rear to get a safe and fast car.
And as everyone else have said here, go for KONI unless you can afford a set
of VHLINS fully adjustable Springs and Shocks(Swedish quality) but it will
cost you a arm and a leg.
Reg
John Johansson

[D. M. Warrington]

Many thanks for the helpful comments. I have ordered a set of Koni's through
the club's group purchase.

Cheers,
Don