I don't think you understand what we mean by "bottoming out". We're not talking about the car bottoming out on the ground.

With a shitty suspension dialed down low, you're basically riding on the bumpstops all the time- especially in the rear. This is a disaster from both a ride comfort standpoint and a handling standpoint. You crash over bumps like a cement truck, and your tires want to break loose every time the weight transfers in a turn.

The easiest thing you can do is dial your Racelands back up to stock height. It costs you nothing but time. I think you'll be amazed at the improvements in both comfort and handling. If you spend even a penny before you do that, along with some research, you are basically throwing your money away.

 

While I can't talk miata application specific, I ran ST coilovers on my 135i (they're KW v1's for cheaper because no stainless steel) and was more than happy with the ride comfort. Better than OEM and I ran them rather low.

Obviously they were too soft to do any real tracking, but for some laps here and there you don't need anything crazy. I think I paid $880 or so shipped for my 1er, I can only imagine they're cheaper for a miata.

Here's an impression from someone, miata specific https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=401526

 

They're actually being surprisingly nice and helpful given how stupid your question is. Like way too nice. Like we're gonna have to remedy this problem

ok

 

"Any suspension will work if you don't let it" - Colin Chapman

If you think ride height doesn't affect ride quality tell me why Baja racers have suspension travel measured in feet? Hint: It isn't for looks. When you have a 3 inch pothole to bridge, you either need to let that wheel move 3" up into the body or accept that the force of that impact is going to be transferred to the body like a sledgehammer. You can install Ohlins, Xidas, Motons, whatever god-tier suspension you want, but if you're riding the bumpstops damper quality doesn't make any real difference.

With the preload setting you have on the Racelands, you're riding the stops. You need more wheel travel. Take off the spring, find your range of wheel travel and shock travel then get an extended top hat to put you closer to the middle of the shocks stroke at your ride height.

 

+1
I know a couple of friends with a kw V1 set and the ride is stiff but not too harsh that it's not bearable. It's a subjective matter anyway.

 

Oh baby now we're talking

Edit: Why does this NA feel like a Scion?

 

I've played with a variety of height settings, from lowest for a cheeky round-the-block experiment, to pretty much stock ride height. Holy **** these things suck at that height - small dips would cause the car to bounce on rebound, and it was generally miserable.

 

This post is a good post, OP should read it and then read it again and then do what it says

 

What about for crappy roads that isn't being tracked and budget is like $1500? I've had my eyes on the Feal with the 9/6 kg spring rates, but I don't know if it'd be smooth enough.

 

I'd also consider FM Fox setup. Not a lot of reviews but I have heard some pretty good things about their capabilities in crappy roads

 

Xida GS.

 

This.

Or GS if you can bump your budget. GS are maybe 80% more than DIY Bilstein but like, mm.. 400% more shock.

 

i had good luck with vmaxx classics. run them at a reasonable ride height and they ride nice. Under $800 and no cobbling together **** from ebay.

 

$1000 budget gets you brandy-new Bilstein setup ground up. No ebay or "old gross parts" required.

 

but for $800 you can get vmaxxx crapsticks.

 

Comes with collapsing springs for no additional charge!

 

I like the rust after 6mo of use personally.

 

haha. Didn't know the Billstein setup came complete. all the info I've seen of them was ordering 7 different components from ebay and assembling at home. I'm bad at these things.


I did have good luck with vmaxx for 2 years, then sold them for $400. I would still recommend them. Sorry?

 

It doesn't come complete. You buy the parts. You put them together. But this budget means you can buy new parts.

 

I always buy the wrong thing then can't figure out how to return to through ebay.


I can't function in this modern world.