Spring Install (Gap) Question

[Mako Koiwai]

I installed the 8 inch, 2.25" 500/300lb springs into Karen's Miata yesterday. It looks like that when in full droop, the front shock assemble will have a good 1" gap between spring and it's upper retainer. Rear has only about a 1/4" gap at full droop.

Do we need to be concerned about this? Are we safe to run the Porsche AX on Sunday?

Would the front end ever get into full droop enough to warrant getting helper springs? We've also got the 1.125" RB sway bar in front.

The rear, with the oem springs, use to often get into full droop under hard cornering. We're hoping that now being stiffer and LOWERED ... Charlene will stop having her butt so high in the air!

Photo shows about three inches of gap while I was checking things out, before setting the ride heights. We're going to be at 12.75" in front, 13" in the rear.

[Aaron Goldsmith]

Just don't do any dukes of hazard stunts on sunday and you should be fine,

[Tom Denham]

Can you add a Helper Spring?????

[John Coffey]

Not a problem. Just make sure the springs seat properly every time you drop the car off the jack. If it concerns you, Hyperco and other sell helper springs for $20 to $35 each.

[Jeff Wong]

Mako, is that already adjusted for a certain ride height? If not, the gap will change depending on how low or high you want it. I would think that the spring would come up a little more since you will be losing 3" of travel off the bat.

[Mako Koiwai]

Here is the front gap at our desired ride heights of 12.75" ... at full droop. I don't believe we ever typically get to full droop in the front, especially now with the short stiffer springs, car lowered. Should be OK.

[Karen Zaterman]

The question is...

Are we safe to run the Porsche AX on Sunday?

Sunday is coming very soon so it will be without the helper springs.
We've been talking it over & don't think it will be a problem but I would feel better with some additional SERIOUS input.

TIA, K

[Jeff Wong]

Here is the front gap at our desired ride heights of 12.75" ... at full droop. I don't believe we ever typically get to full droop in the front, especially now with the short stiffer springs, car lowered. Should be OK.

I'm assuming that the spring sits on the upper spring perch flat? You should be okay if it does. All the ST miatas on Koni yellows have the springs sitting on just the upper shock mount which isn't ideal, but it works, just make sure you don't over tighten the bushings.

This is a penske setup with our upper shock mount

EDIT: The picture below is not set to any ride height however it is common to have free play between the spring and upper perch depending on the extended length of the shock.

BTW: They are $150.00 for the PAIR if you want to be blinging :king:

[Steve Ekstrand]

Is your sway bar attached?

[Aaron Goldsmith]

The question is...

Are we safe to run the Porsche AX on Sunday?

Sunday is coming very soon so it will be without the helper springs.
We've been talking it over & don't think it will be a problem but I would feel better with some additional SERIOUS input.

TIA, K

My input WAS serious. Supra has had more droop than spring for 3 years, just be careful when you set it down.

[Will Kalman]

Not a problem. Just make sure the springs seat properly every time you drop the car off the jack. If it concerns you, Hyperco and other sell helper springs for $20 to $35 each.

I agree, the Escort had WAY more droop travel than spring travel (@600#/in, it only compressed the spring about an inch) without helper springs and it was never an issue except for, as John noted, making sure it was properly seated when lowering. Looks like your bumpstop will virtually guarantee that, anyways. In turns, your sway bar will probably keep that shock from extending beyond the spring.

[Reijo Silvennoinen]

Make sure you take up the space otherwise your car height will be too high.

Yeah, on Bill's Miata we had to ensure the front springs were "in place" everytime we raised/lowered the car.

It's just a fact of life with short springs.

Reijo

[Karen Zaterman]

Thank you all!
SERIOUSLY! You guys rock

Now, Aaron, how does 2 feet from trees, 100 MPH, sideways sound?

Car was good last Sunday at the Porsche club event... looking forward to testing more next Saturday. You won't see her acting like a slut anymore with her tail in the air.

...and in answer to Steve, rear sway bar was disconnected on Sunday.

[Karen Zaterman]

This is a penske setup with our upper shock mount

EDIT: The picture below is not set to any ride height however it is common to have free play between the spring and upper perch depending on the extended length of the shock.

BTW: They are $150.00 for the PAIR if you want to be blinging :king:

Tempting, but cutting back on expenditure for awhile. These are sweet looking tho'. I'll post it on Charlene's Facebook account as her 1st wish list item. ;)

[Aaron Goldsmith]

Now, Aaron, how does 2 feet from trees, 100 MPH, sideways sound?

Sounds awesome! Where do i sign up?!

[Sebastian Rios]

Now, Aaron, how does 2 feet from trees, 100 MPH, sideways sound?

Top 100 NASIOC inspired memes.

[Aaron Goldsmith]

Now, Aaron, how does 2 feet from trees, 100 MPH, sideways sound?

Top 100 NASIOC inspired memes.

Awesome if it refers to this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYFxSilcqgs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Marshall Grice]

maybe Mr. Motonishi can tell us what that feels like?

[Mako Koiwai]

... and Andi M.

[Mako Koiwai]

Jeff ... is that the Penske SLOTTED upper spring retainer? Is there any rubber bushing material under the top hat?

[Mako Koiwai]

The car was much flatter and easier to drive. We were only on real and old street tires. This weekend we'll have our race Dunlop SS's on ... which will of course produce a bit more lean. Car was a little loose at first. We lowered the rear a good 1/8th inch, soften the rebound another turn to erase that. Later we took the front bump up from 2 to 4 out of 6, and the felt a bit better, but wasn't faster. We're down to around 12.5" all around.

NO issues with the spring gap, which of course is disappearing as we continue to lower the car. 6" or 7" 2.5" springs had been recommended. We went with 8" springs but 2.25" IO.

Coming out of the slowest corner where we were cranked over the most. In the past we would be on the verge of lifting our inside rear tire.

[Marshall Grice]

We were only on real and old street tires. This weekend we'll have our race Dunlop SS's on ... which will of course produce a bit more lean. Car was a little loose at first. We lowered the rear a good 1/8th inch, soften the rebound another turn to erase that. Later we took the front bump up from 2 to 4 out of 6, and the felt a bit better, but wasn't faster. We're down to around 12.5" all around.

making setup changes on crappy tires is a good way to thoroughly screw stuff up. tear that page of setup changes right out of your log book. start over again when you put the real tires on.

[Aaron Goldsmith]

making setup changes on crappy tires is a good way to thoroughly screw stuff up. tear that page of setup changes right out of your log book. start over again when you put the real tires on.

Amen.

[Mako Koiwai]

I'll pass that on to the car owner ... she who signs the checks