Supergoat Garage

I was a little anxious for the spring and shock install. The last set of springs I did was on a 2013 BMW 335XI and due to the design of the Dinan springs I used, I had a very hard time getting spring compressors that would work and it ended up taking about 3 days. But, since this a Mazda, I figured things would go easier. Luckily for me they did. These were very easy to do. I did them over a span of two days just because it’s June and the weather here in South Carolina is hot! So I did the passenger side on day one, and finished the other side the next day working during the morning hours. It was a nice and relaxing way to get the job done.

Edit: I just realized I didn’t take any pictures of the springs and shocks themselves. I’m still trying to get better at this blogging thing and will try to remember to be better at pictures going forward.

It started off easy enough with the wheel coming off and since this car has spent it’s entire life in Texas and South Carolina, every nut and bolt came off without issue. No rust, no fuss. Even the swaybar endlinks unbolted without issue. It made the job a pleasure and helped ease the anxiousness I initially felt. With the upper control arm unbolted from the subframe, it made removing the springs and shock assembly a breeze.

I used a cheap spring compressor tool I got from an autopart store over a decade ago and luckily didn’t have to compress the springs a ton. The factory springs are fairly soft, even on the Club model so it wasn’t a huge job. The Flyin Miata springs were shorter than OEM but not short enough that I could avoid using a spring compressor. Still, it all went together just fine…or so I thought at first.

I didn’t realize it but the threaded part of the shaft on one of the Bilstein shocks had split while tightening down the top nut. The nut went on easily and I was able to hand tighten it, but once I got it all bolted in and went back to apply final torque on everything, I noticed the crack.

The crack did not extend down into where the nut was threaded and it was on tight, but I didn’t feel safe leaving it so I removed the assembly and begain trying to remove the top nut. The split did not allow me to hold the shaft steady with an allen wrench like you’re supposed to do. Going on was not an issue which is probably why I didn’t notice, but now the split kept opening and not allowing the wrench to bite. So I had to resort to using vice grips on it to break the nut loose.

As of his writing I’m still waiting on an RMA from Bilstein so I can return it, but while waiting I went ahead and got another one. Luckily that was the only issue I had. This particular shock was ordered separately from the others due to temporary supply issues (of my funds) so maybe it was from a different batch? Who knows.

Once the springs and shocks were in and I lowered the car for the first time I was not extremely impressed. Even after releasing the parking brake and moving the car back and forth some to get everything to settle in the drop was barely noticeable. Disappointing but not the end of the world. I know the internet has debated this to the moon and back, but in my experience springs do need a few days and miles to reach full drop especially when paired with new shocks. I saw it happen on my BMW 335, and over the course of a few days it happened with my Miata as well.

After a few days of putting about 100 miles on it, the car seemed to settle in. I chose Flyin Miata springs because I didn’t want a huge drop. I wanted stiffer springs, slightly lower ride height but also be able to still fit a jack under it. This combination of Flyin Miata springs and Bilstein B8 shocks accomplished that goal. While not a huge drop I still cut about a 1/2 inch or so off the factory bump stop. Maybe that was needed, maybe not. Maybe it’s just an old school hold over from my days in the 90s and early 00s modifying cars. Who knows.

With the suspension nicely settled in and about 100 miles under my belt with it, I’m ready to give my thoughts on it. My first impression was that the ride was firmer, but not unpleasantly so. It’s noticeable but not spine shattering. It’s not as harsh as the 2005 BMW Z4 with M Sport suspension I used to have, but not far off though. Those cars were famouse for their harsh ride, this one feels like it. Cornering feels much flatter, turn in feels sharper and the car feels lighter. It never felt heavy, I’m not even sure you can make a Miata feel heavy. Now, though, it just feels a lot more tossable. What little mass this car has feels even less now. Steering feel and control feels better and since I don’t feel the car lean as much anymore I have more confidence going into corners and long sweeping turns like an interstate on or off ramp.

The combination of Flyin’ Miata springs, Bilstein B8 shocks and the 124 Abarth rear sway bar has proven to be a very fun combination that has made an impactful difference to how this car feels and drives. I still need to install the front sway bar I have for it, but I don’t feel it’s necessary right now with how I drive. Still, I’ll have it on before Miatas at the Gap so I can get a good feel for it. I don’t know if the Abarth bar made a huge difference. What I’m feeling now feels nearly all down to the springs and shock combo. I ran the stock suspension with the Abarth bar for a few days and the car did feel ever so slightly stiffer in the rear but the car drastically changed it’s character with the new springs and shocks. I may have been OK keeping the factory Bilstein Club shocks as my car is a 2016 with the slightly stiffer factory shocks. According to Flyin’ Miata there springs pair perfectly with them, but I feel better with swapping them out if for nothing else than piece of mind due to mileage. Also, the car feels great with them and I’m just an enthusiast that likes to have some spirited driving. I don’t do anything competitive at the moment so I would never know the difference anyway if I’m honest in terms of running the even stiffer shocks with their springs. As the car sits, it’s very fun and planted.