Gauging interest: high-load stock height rear springs for the 5?

thaxman said:
So what could be a good spring rate for hauling an extra 800 lbs of passenger (400 in the back 4 seats)?
Click to expand...

Double would probably be safe- I'll try to take measurements on the car before the weekend is out, but I have a LOT of other work to do. :( At least I got all the rest of my springs back from the shop though. I also want to compare to what spring rates the other spring manufacturers are using (Tein, Eibach, H&R etc) because too high of a rate is going to beat up the OE shock pretty badly. I guess I should just assume that people will want to upgrade their rear shocks since they suck from the factory anyway.
 
flcruising said:
That's what air helper springs are for - http://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Firestone/F4168.html

I think this would be a better alternative than a persistently stiff rear end. As a teenager I had for a short time a 1980 Ford Fairmont wagon that had these factory. Kind of neat to watch the tail end just lift right up to where it should be while you add air. Didn't take but a few PSI.
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That's a pretty good price! You have to manually air up/down with those though. I guess you could mount a compressor on the car and a few switches plus some remote release valves. Springs are just the simpler solution- and if you match the shocks properly, your ride will be ok. My rear springs are 392 in/lb (more than double), and the ride is smooth.
 
Real quick update on what type of spring rate difference is needed for my Mz5.

I met my wife @ the gas station & she had 1 11YO in front, a 2YO and skinny 8YO center and another 8YO and skinny 11 YO in back & on a level surface, there was a slight but definitely visible reverse rake from the front to the rear of the car. IF one was to round up, I'm guessing the back row human cargo was 170 lb, center was 90 lbs and the front 280 lbs max, or total weight under 550 lbs. Not liking this, but the need for a greater spring rate back there is a must. Some have mentioned the air bags, but I don't see that as a viable long-term solution for me. #1 its too arid here, and even OE air bags like Audi and Lincoln fail long before 10 years are up, so for bags not desert-tested on-vehicle, well, I would cut lifespan in half down here. #2 I don't want to add another layer of complexity here. I just want to go up in spring rate. Sure the stiffer back end might affect how it feels in hard cornering, but to be truthful, other than left-turns at lights, this car hasn't done anything like that in years.
 
phunky.buddha said:
Double would probably be safe- I'll try to take measurements on the car before the weekend is out, but I have a LOT of other work to do. :( At least I got all the rest of my springs back from the shop though. I also want to compare to what spring rates the other spring manufacturers are using (Tein, Eibach, H&R etc) because too high of a rate is going to beat up the OE shock pretty badly. I guess I should just assume that people will want to upgrade their rear shocks since they suck from the factory anyway.
Click to expand...

Hey phunky.buddha,

Any progress yet? I may have a bit of cash that will allow me to bump up my shedule.

Tires, brake pads, resurfaced rotors, springs, new sway bushings, alignment per specs mentioned in this forum...About $1000 you think?
 
thaxman said:
Hey phunky.buddha,

Any progress yet? I may have a bit of cash that will allow me to bump up my shedule.

Tires, brake pads, resurfaced rotors, springs, new sway bushings, alignment per specs mentioned in this forum...About $1000 you think?
Click to expand...

That would probably be right about that amount of money just for parts- and I need to get under the wife's car ASAP because her clutch is toast. No progress yet, but might be able to finish up measurements in a few days. I hope. Sorry for the delay- I've been pushing 70+ hours a week at work the last few weeks.
 
phunky.buddha said:
That would probably be right about that amount of money just for parts- and I need to get under the wife's car ASAP because her clutch is toast. No progress yet, but might be able to finish up measurements in a few days. I hope. Sorry for the delay- I've been pushing 70+ hours a week at work the last few weeks.
Click to expand...

I'm not tying to rush you too much, really. I am not available to do any of this until 12/13, the day after Masters Projects are completed. I'm just thinking I will try to order some springs around the beginning of Dec, along with some brake pads and sway bushings. Then, when they arrive, its time for tires, then off to the suspension shop for the labor and alignment. Contemplating GY or Michelin fuel-saver tires, but I haven't done any internet research on other people's experiences on them yet.
 
Davicho said:
Phunky sorry off topic....just for reference how many miles on the clutch?
Click to expand...

thaxman said:
+1

I'm @ 55K/7yrs on OEM. Wondering how much more I have to go. (Unless your wife's car is not the Mz5)
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It's a 2009 model, and we're brushing right up on 80k. I think we're sitting on 77k, have to go out and look though. Wife's car is the MZ5. Thanks for the data point! I did some hunting around though, and it seems like the clutch is a common early failure point (along with our rear shocks). Fun. :( That a topic for another thread though. I did order the Exedy OEM replacement clutch kit today from Amazon. It'll be here tomorrow.

thaxman said:
I'm not tying to rush you too much, really. I am not available to do any of this until 12/13, the day after Masters Projects are completed. I'm just thinking I will try to order some springs around the beginning of Dec, along with some brake pads and sway bushings. Then, when they arrive, its time for tires, then off to the suspension shop for the labor and alignment. Contemplating GY or Michelin fuel-saver tires, but I haven't done any internet research on other people's experiences on them yet.
Click to expand...

Go 235/45! :D Based on research I've done, the additional cost (and loss of grip) isn't worth the 1-2% gain you get from fuel saver tires. Not to me anyway.
 
Phunky are you running 235/45 on your MX5 wheels? I want to keep my OEM alloys, are they the same width as your MX5 wheels?
 
Davicho said:
Phunky are you running 235/45 on your MX5 wheels? I want to keep my OEM alloys, are they the same width as your MX5 wheels?
Click to expand...

Yes, running 235/45 on the MX-5 wheels, but they're 17x7 +55. The stock MZ5 wheels are 17x6.5 +52.5. 235/45 already requires a 7.5" wide wheel at the smallest, so 17x7 is a hair under the recommended minimum wheel size... cramming 235/45s onto 6.5" wide wheels would be too much of a pinch. You'll want 215/50 or 225/45 at the widest for factory alloys.
 
phunky.buddha said:
That would probably be right about that amount of money just for parts- and I need to get under the wife's car ASAP because her clutch is toast. No progress yet, but might be able to finish up measurements in a few days. I hope. Sorry for the delay- I've been pushing 70+ hours a week at work the last few weeks.
Click to expand...


Clutch in?

I hear you about hours worked. I put in my 40 now, come home and put in 5-6/night and 12-14 Sat/Sun to try to get my project done (I am failing royally in that regard..procrastination!!)

Because of Black Friday, I got an extra $100 off 4 tires @ Discount Tire today, so I am putting tires on Dec 13 after class commitments. When they are on, I NEED a proper alignment per the specs that have been posted here, so it will be brakes at the same time & hopefully rear springs. Looks like I'll be rolling the fenders either way, since my wheel situation won't be changing for some time. Wanted the Nissan SPEC-V wheels from a few years ago, but the center bore is too small by 1mm. They would look really HOT, but I would also have to bondo the centercaps ;->
 
Here's my offset, btw:

csUYo.jpg
 
thaxman said:
Clutch in?

I hear you about hours worked. I put in my 40 now, come home and put in 5-6/night and 12-14 Sat/Sun to try to get my project done (I am failing royally in that regard..procrastination!!)

Because of Black Friday, I got an extra $100 off 4 tires @ Discount Tire today, so I am putting tires on Dec 13 after class commitments. When they are on, I NEED a proper alignment per the specs that have been posted here, so it will be brakes at the same time & hopefully rear springs. Looks like I'll be rolling the fenders either way, since my wheel situation won't be changing for some time. Wanted the Nissan SPEC-V wheels from a few years ago, but the center bore is too small by 1mm. They would look really HOT, but I would also have to bondo the centercaps ;->
Click to expand...

Nope, been out of town this week- put the car back down on the ground and took off. :)

And we're WAY off topic now. :)
 
Found out I have a local spring shop here. They will also make custom springs... but the website says "Set up time is extensive and it is only practical to do so for large quantities."

But they also say they have access to a wide range of standard coils. Can't call until tomorrow at the earliest, but I would be interested in continuing phunky.buddha's inquiry of interested parties:

1. ME
2. ?
3. ?
n. ??
 
thaxman said:
Found out I have a local spring shop here. They will also make custom springs... but the website says "Set up time is extensive and it is only practical to do so for large quantities."

But they also say they have access to a wide range of standard coils. Can't call until tomorrow at the earliest, but I would be interested in continuing phunky.buddha's inquiry of interested parties:

1. ME
2. ?
3. ?
n. ??
Click to expand...

Oh. I just need to define the proper spec and order an off the shelf spring, then add my brand to it. :D
 
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