Bouncy 2003 LS

[bluemiata]

Hi all! Just joined and this is my 1st post.
I am a Miata enthusiast and have been since I purchased my midnight blue 6 speed in 2003, when I was a lot younger. Guess I'll always appreciate the cars handling and the fun it gives me, even if I am a "senior" citizen.
When the Miata was new, it was a treat to take it on long tripswith my wife- top down of course. Well, I thought I wanted to explore the effect of some mods. Racing Beat street springs and 3/4 inch hollow front roll bar with adjustable end links, KYB adj dampers,
Good-win Racing exhaust and GWR Monster Flow cold air intake. I kept this setup for 2 yrs. After a horrndus drive on US 1 from LA to northern CA, due to sore backs, all but the roll bar, end links and the GWR exhaust were replaced with stock replacements. The car handles great BUT, it is very bouncy. Tires have been, Khumo ASX, AST, and firestone wide oval (softest of all tried and best riding so far
but still very bouncy. My guess the front sway bar with the adj end links(set neutral) are the culprits.
Has anyone had similar experience and if so, how did you get rid of the bouncy effect but still have "immediate" turnin without the bounciness?

 

[JDM-P5]

Hmmm...sounds like a stiffer setting is needed. I've pretty much had coilovers on my Miata. The ride is a bit "harsher", but stiff enough w/no bounce.
And I drove it heavily modified in Turkey...the roads aren't in my top 10, but I survived.
Just a thought.

 

[brandini]

Bilstein & your problems will go away. Twin-tube shocks suck & react slowly for such a small car.

 

[AutotownMazda]

Hi bluemiata,

Am I reading this correct? You took out your performance suspension and put in the stock stuff and wonder why it's bouncy? It seems logical to me. Do you think you got used to the firm suspension? That would be my guess. Kinda like when I bought my 72 510 6 years ago with it's worn out stock suspension, it was SO bouncy and normal commuter cars felt stiff if I drove one. Then I put in my semi-race suspension in and now I can barely drive stock suspension vehicles because they are like big wales rolling around bouncy and unpredictable.

Just my thoughts on the subject,
Chris
Autotown

Oh yeah, and the only time your "front bar" aka anti roll bar, or anti sway bar, is affecting the suspension is during lateral gforce transitions (corners or quick darts of the wheel). Otherwise it has almost no effect on the suspension.

 

[brandini]

You turn right, left suspension compresses, the rate is controlled by the shock & spring, the sway bar transmits some of the force to the right suspension and compresses it so it makes the car corner flatter.

 

[bluemiata]

Hi Chris!

Thanks for the reply. What actuall made me get rid of the Racing Beat setup, was during our drive up the Pacific Coast on US 1. The overall drive took 12 hours - lots of road construction. Scenery was beautiful, but the road was definitely not glass sommot - resulting in a couple of sore backs- so much so that the wife and I swore then and there that the suspension must be made stock - or at least ride like stock - as we both love the long top down trips in the Miata.
So, looks like its best to keep that front sway bar and it poly bushings, but change out the shocks to Bilstein HP, Koni GR2 or ? Don't want to make another mistake this time. Having said that, what's the verdict - change out both stock shocks and stock springs, both with 25k miles, or just the shocks? I don't want to mess with adjustable shocks - did that! Since my Miata is a daily driver, comfortable ride rules over pure handling. Really would like to have a good suspension shop do the required work - but I do not know of anyone who specializes in Miata suspensions. Any suggestions? Once I get whatever work done, I'll post my rsults which will hopefully help others in my spot.

Thanks to all who took their time to comment on my woes!
Take care and keep the wheels rollin!