vlim
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Posts: 12
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Post by vlim on Oct 22, 2020 9:27:43 GMT
Morning all
I've recently acquired a 94 NA 1.8is at 136k miles and I'm loving it !
Currently running :
Dampers and springs are new on the rear (pedders)
New springs on front
Added by me:
15" Mazda Enkeis (99-00 I think) and new pilot sport3's
Refreshed f ARB with poly bushes
Refreshed R ARB 12mm with poly bushes ... made a huge difference 11 -> 12 + bushes
Handling is massively improved, R-ARB and wheel/tyres made an enormous difference.
Questions:
I will clearly need an alignment setup ... any suggestion in the Cambridge area ?
I'm also considering dampers, bearing in mind that this is a ROAD car I wondered what peoples suggestions might be ? My quandary is: Is it worth a short term refresh to match the rear, or bilstein or meister zeta-CRD ?
Thanks
Vlim
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Post by batou on Oct 22, 2020 11:57:40 GMT
If you find a good place for alignment in the area let me know, I'm a bit further down in North Herts and I've used track-group.com in Kimbolton on a previous car who were absolutely excellent but that was for a track only car. Tyre shops near me are a bit "by the book" and expensive as each adjustment is charged...
I've just replaced the 27 year old Bilsteins on my 93 NA Eunos with Tein Flex Z, very pleased so far with them but then I thought the Bilsteins were firm but absolutely fine for UK roads and most people dont share that view so take from that what you will. That said, I'm 8 clicks all round which is bang in the middle and the damping is better for sure, the difference between full hard and now was huge so, although I haven't tried it I imagine the next 8 clicks to full soft will be just as drastic. I got a silly deal on a new set which I couldn't turn down. Most people go the meister route and are happy so I don't think you can go wrong.
Even if its just a road car what do you want to gain out of the suspension change exactly?
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Post by howardb66 on Oct 22, 2020 12:48:17 GMT
A friend of mine has MeisterR CRDs on his MK1 & thinks they’re great, I’ve got BC Racing on mine & rate them highly too.
Good geo/ride height/corner weight makes a huge difference to the way these cars drive. Northampton Motorsport are not too far From Cambridge.
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vlim
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Posts: 12
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Post by vlim on Oct 22, 2020 13:48:49 GMT
Ta I'll take a look at track-group
Interesting stuff ... We've been very impressed with the grp N bilsteins and the gravel spec versions on the 205's.
Where do I want to get to is a fab question 
My aim I guess is to mimic the scoob, running the Prodrive WR Sport package (reworked bilsteins dampers and eibach springs) adjustable R-ARB. I guess the important bit is the above enables a compliant ride and yet remains astonishingly composed at 'any' speed and is setup to be neutral to slightly tail happy.
I was intrigued by the CRDs as they report digressive damping (as on the bilsteins) and that has proved great in road cars.
Whats the longevity like on the CRDs or have they not been out long enough ?
I have noted that our Gaz golds have to be regularly rebuilt ... not so great for a road car, less bad for a track car
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Post by wannabe on Oct 22, 2020 13:58:07 GMT
I guess your budget will dictate suspension options - personally I'd do it once rather than replace the front dampers for a short time then do the whole lot a little while later, but then new OEM were good (in terms of a rounded, balanced setup) out of the box so you might not want to change things up once you've done the fronts.
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Post by batou on Oct 22, 2020 14:08:15 GMT
Ta I'll take a look at track-group
Interesting stuff ... We've been very impressed with the grp N bilsteins and the gravel spec versions on the 205's.
Where do I want to get to is a fab question
My aim I guess is to mimic the scoob, running the Prodrive WR Sport package (reworked bilsteins dampers and eibach springs) adjustable R-ARB. I guess the important bit is the above enables a compliant ride and yet remains astonishingly composed at 'any' speed and is setup to be neutral to slightly tail happy.
I was intrigued by the CRDs as they report digressive damping (as on the bilsteins) and that has proved great in road cars.
Whats the longevity like on the CRDs or have they not been out long enough ?
I have noted that our Gaz golds have to be regularly rebuilt ... not so great for a road car, less bad for a track car
Interesting, my other car is 04' (SG9) Forester STI...  ...basically blob eye STI suspension but 50/50 split and no DCCD. Its on the stock STI suspension and damn is that thing a fast magic carpet, its reasonably firm, not too much roll (apart from slow speed stuff, very compliant and there isn't anything it can't handle road wise. The Roadster is limited by design, there simply isn't that much travel available (especially the rear dampers) to get that level of compliance and handling without a compromise somewhere so there will be roads its excellent on and roads its not so for me its a case of weighing up what roads I want it to be good on, and given the Mazda doesn't have 300+ under the right foot like scoob its going to be the tight stuff I imagine. |
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Post by wannabe on Oct 22, 2020 15:01:02 GMT
The NB suspension has more travel in it (shorter bumpstops?) but you have to cut springs if you're going for a direct swap of NB top mounts / dampers / springs onto an NA (because the NA is lighter and therefore sits too high otherwise).
Perhaps it could be worth doing NB top mounts and then looking for NB aftermarket suspension? (If the aftermarket stuff also has more travel in it?)
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vlim
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Posts: 12
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Post by vlim on Oct 22, 2020 15:39:44 GMT
wannabe:
I know what you mean, prolly £100 just to put dampers on the front to match the back that I prolly wont like longer term.
batou:
Top stuff ... the scoob is incredibly flattering to drive, at just 1150kg and with nearly three times the power its a lovely blend of control, fun and performance; but does like fuel !! I ran the stock suspension for year whilst working out what I actually wanted .... vey long dull story 
Have you done the locking rear subframe bolts ?
I agree about the roadster design ... but for instance changing the rear bar was an astonishing improvement and was the wheels/tyres. I guess the issue is knowing where the compromise is and where we each are happy with it being !! I guess Id like to have a ride in a mk1 with CRDs that were set up for real roads just to see.
Are you guys all running poly bushes ?
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Post by wannabe on Oct 22, 2020 16:07:12 GMT
Are you guys all running poly bushes ?
I can confirm that the full Superpro kit does make a marked difference to feel, but it also makes potholes and those ridges on concrete sections of road very 'crashy' and somewhat wince-inducing! |
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Post by Zed. on Oct 22, 2020 17:21:12 GMT
I have noted that our Gaz golds have to be regularly rebuilt ... not so great for a road car, less bad for a track car
You might find they advise regular servicing / maintanance to keep the sudpension working 100%  Ohlins advise similar  Rich. |
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vlim
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Posts: 12
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Post by vlim on Oct 23, 2020 10:50:42 GMT
Crashy is not really what Im looking for and neither is numerous rebuilds ... those are for track cars
That said I was out in it yesterday and I deffo need to replace the lower front wishbone bushes as a priority O/S clonks even after a couple of serious tightenings. Still makes me smile though |
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Post by swordspork on Oct 23, 2020 11:01:49 GMT
I've got the meister sportive - I'm not interested in endless adjustment and track setup. At the time I was just after a good replacement for the knackered original suspension. So far no issues - I had the suspension fitted by skuzzle and aligned by wheels in motion.
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vlim
New Here
Posts: 12
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Post by vlim on Oct 23, 2020 12:27:13 GMT
swordspork:
Great to hear ... that's the way Im leaning right now.
Seems like I really do need to blag a ride in ideally an NA with this kind of road setup. Bit tricky with COVID right now !
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Post by batou on Oct 23, 2020 14:24:30 GMT
batou:
Top stuff ... the scoob is incredibly flattering to drive, at just 1150kg and with nearly three times the power its a lovely blend of control, fun and performance; but does like fuel !! I ran the stock suspension for year whilst working out what I actually wanted .... vey long dull story
Have you done the locking rear subframe bolts ?
I agree about the roadster design ... but for instance changing the rear bar was an astonishing improvement and was the wheels/tyres. I guess the issue is knowing where the compromise is and where we each are happy with it being !! I guess Id like to have a ride in a mk1 with CRDs that were set up for real roads just to see.
Are you guys all running poly bushes ?
I haven't done the subframe bolts no, do they not increase wear on the chassis? The only think I'd probably consider is some pink springs on them, sadly, they will at somepoint start knocking (they all do apparently) so if I do keep the car long term I'll have to consider something else I guess. Rear bar on the Roadster you mean? Yeah, listening to views on peoples experience of suspension for the road is tough as some people can take more of a pounding lol. Bit tough to do any passenger rides with randoms these days though   OEM rubbers for me, poly are great on track cars/handling/feel etc but it ruined the ride on my last car on the road (which was only really for track) . |
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vlim
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Posts: 12
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Post by vlim on Oct 23, 2020 16:17:23 GMT
My best mate has them on his forester turbo and together with a fully poly bush setup all round (lots of work and money) have utterly transformed the car. Just std suspension all be it renewed but the difference is very surprising.
Yes R-ARB up from 11->12mm and poly bushes in the mounts.
LOL ... well some cars have them as standard ... but I know exactly what you mean. We have some very aggressive poly bushes in the track pug and whilst ideal on the track its the last thing I would be looking for on the road !
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le sigh