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Old 06-08-2020, 09:37 AM   #1
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Miata shocks

Recently I've been spending too much time on the Miata forum as I've been doing a bunch of work on it.

Well, it would seem by reading information there that at 95k miles either my shocks are dead and I don't know it, or they are likely to die at any moment.

All indications are that they are OEM. The only mod I am aware of is the front sway. I assume an alignment was done, but was it tweaked to an AutoX-friendly alignment?

I'm generally pretty happy with the Miata suspension but I could easily be convinced that it can be improved both in performance and ride quality. But somehow, general consensus is that the stock suspension (even the sports one I have) is crap and people itch for an excuse to upgrade. They say the stock springs are noodles.

Short term, I plan on driving it as-is. But should I really consider a preemptive suspension job next year? I hate dealing with suspension decisions because so much of it is subjective. Problem is that I can't tell if my stock suspension is even behaving like a stock suspension anymore given the mileage.
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Old 06-08-2020, 10:43 AM   #2
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at 95k miles either my shocks are dead and I don't know it, or they are likely to die at any moment.

Short term, I plan on driving it as-is. But should I really consider a preemptive suspension job next year?
I think your answer is right here. If you don't feel it, why worry? Shocks don't fail like a wheel coming off or rusted brake lines. Even if it creeps up on you and you ended up driving on less than stellar shocks for a few weeks or months, what is the incurred cost? Not like you are competing with it.
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Old 06-08-2020, 11:49 AM   #3
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Stock NC springs are soft AF and roll like MFers. I mean, it's scary to watch one.

Big front sway helps and shocks help slow down what's happening even more and makes them look a ton more composed.

If you were going to do something, would you just want to basically refresh but stick towards stock? Or would you would you want to make it more of a project?

If you want to stick more towards stock, Koni Yellows and call it a day?

If you want to mod, the world is your oyster.
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Old 06-08-2020, 12:09 PM   #4
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Stock NC springs are soft AF and roll like MFers. I mean, it's scary to watch one.

Big front sway helps and shocks help slow down what's happening even more and makes them look a ton more composed.

If you were going to do something, would you just want to basically refresh but stick towards stock? Or would you would you want to make it more of a project?

If you want to stick more towards stock, Koni Yellows and call it a day?

If you want to mod, the world is your oyster.
I do know standard springs are wicked soft. I drove an early NC and the lean was ridiculous. My understanding is that the sport suspension only changed the shocks. I was and still am amazed at how much better my car is only with the Bilstein OEM shocks and a sway bar.

I'm happy to turn it into a project car. I do still hold out hope I'll hold onto it long enough to eventually track it or even Lemons it.

That said, I've seen some $2k+ Ohlin setups that I am not willing to invest on. But it appears $1k gets you a mighty fine setup . I could be convinced to invest that much if it makes that big a difference.

Here is one of endless threads. This one is about a street/DD setup.

https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=713296
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Old 06-08-2020, 04:53 PM   #5
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I do know standard springs are wicked soft.
PSA: Using that beantown colloquialism can be a trigger for some of us people.
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Old 06-08-2020, 05:36 PM   #6
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PSA: Using that beantown colloquialism can be a trigger for some of us people.
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Old 06-08-2020, 05:40 PM   #7
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PSA: Using that beantown colloquialism can be a trigger for some of us people.
A triggah?
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Old 06-08-2020, 06:00 PM   #8
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A triggah?
Now you are just making me think of the Smaht Pahk commercial.
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Old 06-08-2020, 06:32 PM   #9
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A triggah?
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Old 06-09-2020, 02:31 PM   #10
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When I had my NC, we installed these:
https://www.shop-fortune-auto.com/co...ries-coilovers

It made a HUGE difference.
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