Amigos Posted June 5, 2014 Report Share Posted June 5, 2014 I have a 2007 Mazda MX-5 Mk.3 soft-top with 16†alloy wheels and Yokohama Advan A11A (205/50 R16 87V) tyres. I don’t have any issues with the road-holding capabilities (although I’m not much of an expert – and in the five years I have had the car, I’ve always thought the MX-5 was great in this respect anyway), but I’ve always thought the car looked a bit high (the 4x4 look with big gaps over the wheels). So I am considering getting the suspension lowered. This is mainly for the looks, and I don’t want to start worrying about too much the car bottoming out, etc. My local Mazda dealer say their blue springs to lower the car by 30mm (part number 4100-77-774A) will cost £184.99, and they want 2.5 hours labour costs (£261) on top. If I get them to fit these springs to my car, how long should I leave it before getting someone (WIM) to do a full wheel alignment afterwards? Or is there someone as good as WIM nearer to Portsmouth who could do it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted June 5, 2014 Report Share Posted June 5, 2014 I think WIM also supply and fit lowering springs for the MX5 so maybe ask them for a price? Tony, the owner is on holiday until the end of next week so you might not get a reply until then. There are lots of MX5 owners on here though so they could advise you better than I can but I believe you can get the geometry done straight away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 12, 2014 Report Share Posted June 12, 2014 Yes you can..... The cold rolled Eibachs for the soft and hard top we know exactly what the settling position will be. Once fitted the geometry is set to allow for the settling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amigos Posted June 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 Sounds good. I've booked a slot with WIM for Monday 14th July to have the Eibach springs installed (lowering the car by 30mm front / 25mm rear) and to have the geometry reset. I understand the geo will be set to allow for the settling in period, so that it can all be done on the same day. I'm looking forward to seeing an end to the 4x4 look ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amigos Posted June 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2014 Time changed to 12:00 for springs and 13:00 for geometry as we're driving up from Portsmouth and want to avoid the morning rush! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 14, 2014 Report Share Posted June 14, 2014 Great stuff, thanks for that. As said on the phone we have a trim-height table for the geometry that accommodates the coils settling period. This means there's an immediate improvement in the handling by the lowering but over the next 1000 miles or so the handling will get even better as the coils settle into the final positions... Reads complicated but trust me we have done 100's of times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super josh Posted June 15, 2014 Report Share Posted June 15, 2014 Tony, is the general consensus that you should allow 1000 miles for new springs to settle before getting an alignment? Cheers, Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 No, that's what the post above explains..... We know the cold rolled coils will settle and to what level so we have mapped the initial fitted ride height and the geometric setting migration after the settling. The final position between the sprung and unsprung chassis Is 345mm front and rear and that's where the migrated calibration settings will hit perfection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amigos Posted July 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 The Eibach springs were fitted to my MX-5 last week and the re-alignment work carried out. I am very pleased with the new look, and also the handling seems more direct. The old 4x4 gap above the front wheels (in particular) has gone, and the car looks much better. It doesn’t look unusually low – it just looks appropriate for a sports car. I think it was money well spent, so thank you WIM. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 Your welcome......Reason it doesn't look stupid low is because in essence the height has been corrected rather than modified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amigos Posted August 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 I've now driven 1500 miles since the Eibach springs were fitted, and I'm very satisfied with the new height. I seem to be driving it more now for some reason! However, I think one of the front shock absorbers is leaking a bit now (it's going into the local garage on Monday to check). If it is the shock absorber, is it OK to get the standard Mazda product replacement, or is it not really suitable now with the lower springs? MX5 Parts sell the standard part, but they say it fits convertible Mk3 models (2005-2008) with standard suspension and 16" wheels only. http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/shock-absorber-front-p-2321.html So will I have to get a more expensive shock absorber now (such as Bilstein B6 or Koni Sport)? If so, do you recommend any brand in particular? And if I get new front shock absorbers (I assume I need to replace both?), do I then need to get another full re-alignment done? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted August 29, 2014 Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 First up what colour is the current damper black or yellow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amigos Posted August 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2014 It's black - it is just a basic standard damper that came with the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted August 30, 2014 Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 In that case you would be wise to go for the standard Mazda black damper but you cannot use Bilstein B6 or Koni Sport and if you can change both fronts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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