Applicable to: '90 - '97
Flyin' Miata Lowering Springs on 97 M Edition
Everything I hoped for and nothing of which I was afraid. I vacillated for years over lowering my car because of the fear of overly harsh ride (mine is a daily driver),trouble with speed bumps, etc. I finally decided on Flyin' Miata springs, based in large part upon the reviews I read here, and am very happy with the decision. Installation was straighforward, taking two people about 5 hours (of course like every mod I've made to my car if I did it again it would take half the time). It even cured a low-speed clunk I'ld been hearing for the last few months. The springs lowered the car to about 13" wheel center to fender lip at both ends, enough to give an aggressive look without bringing speed bumps into play. The forward rake is gone. My primary purpose for these installing these springs was improved handling and they did that - squat and dive are nearly non-existent and body roll is much reduced. Turn-in is much quicker and the suspension takes a set much more rapidly. In general, it sharpened the handling significantly, so much so that I've almost had to learn to drive the car all over again. I'm looking forward to the next track day.
I recommend these springs to anyone wanting to improve handling and looks. The ride is definitely stiffer much not even close to objectional.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Set of FM Springs, set of KYB 8-way Adjustable AGX Shocks
Right away difference is incredible, although the mud guards had to be removed (they dragged sometimes. Overall these are a wonderful upgrade from tired stocks. They can be adjusted all the way stiff for real perfromance on flat roads or all the way soft to almost stock. Lowers the car, but even with factory rims looks great!
Great set up, would definately purchase again from FM.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Flyin' Miata performance springs
You need these! Flyin' Miata springs and the KYB KGX shocks transformed my '90 Miata! The ride is wonderful--less harsh than I had anticipated, but not much firmer than stock. The difference while cornering is astounding, and the car now handles bumps like railroad tracks (I cross them every day) with solid, jitter-free manners. I have the shocks set at 2 front, 3 rear for a pleasant everyday ride. Only difficult part of installation was getting the old spring/shock assembly out by prying the lower control arm down--I just couldn't seem to get it loose enough.
The springs & shocks arrived from Flyin' Miata in an incredible 3 days.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Good fit and finish
These springs are considerably stiffer and lower than stock... and I love it! While stiffer, they do not feel objectionable on the road and there was only a slight increase in ride harshness, and it's not objectionable to me at all. These springs set the car lower as well, how low will really depend on your car's weight, year and suspension set up. It looks great for cruising. I have only slightly scraped on a few speed bumps and that's when I go a little too fast and/or I have a passenger. Otherwise I just use common sense and go slower over the bumpsand try to hit them at an angle.
The install was typical for a suspension install so no surprises there. I did get a new alignment afterthe install and I dialed in an aggressive setting for my occasional autocross use. At competitions I have yet to hit the bumpstops and the decreased squat and roll is very nice. I have stock sways for now. I wanted to do as much tuning with the springs so as to free me up for more options in the future. Since these are the stiffest fixed height springs I made sure these were my priority. At this time I'm not cornerweighting my car so there is no need for me to go to adjustable perch coilovers. Iam very happy with these springs and have experienced no negatives since install about 4 months ago. Great product and I highly recommend them.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
FM Springs for 95. Installed for about a month. Spring rates are much higher than stock, but the ride isn't nearly as punishing as I thought. I consider myself to be an enthusiastic driver and these springs are a better fit for my driving style. The car can handle higher compressing forces than stock without using up all of the suspension travel.
I have Konis and am using the highest perch as recommended by FM. The ride height is a little more than 12" from hub center up front, and a little less than 13" from hub center aft on my car (95). I installed these with FM rear shock mounts since I was aware of limited travel aft with springs. Have not experienced these springs without the shock mounts aft, so I don't know if I would be hitting the bumpstops. Currently experimenting with settings on the Konis with the new springs. My first impression is that they induce a little more understeer than stock, but I only found this when scrubbing hard at auto-x. Probably would never notice this on the street. This was with Konis at 1/2 a turn back from full soft all around. Softened the front to full soft and it seemed to neutralize the slighter greater tendency to understeer.
As always, FM is super on advice and support. Most strongly recommended.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Springs for the 1990 Miata by Flyin' Miata
I recently replaced my tired old factory springs with a shiny new set of FM springs. One of the first things that you'll notice during your install is how much tighter the FM coil is when placed next to your OEM equipment. Immediately upon completion of my installation, It was readily apparent that the car was sitting much lower(approx. 2 inches in front/ 1.5 in the rear), and how much more aggressive and euro-sporty the cars stance looks. The ride is firm and tight, and the look is out of this world.
Of course, no set of springs is complete without a really good set of shock absorbers. I'm running the KYB AGX 8 way adjustables, which-coupled with the FM springs truly make a world of difference to the grip and performance of your zoomzoom. I would personally also recommend a nice stiff set of aftermarket sways and chassis braces. For those of you running 16 x 7 rims with lower profile tires, the combination of the springs, shocks, sways, and braces allows you to more effectively utilize the more rigid sidewall of your wheel/tire setup, putting the rubber where it belongs, on the pavement-and keeping it there without the body roll and jounciness of the factory components.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
Lowering springs for '90-'97 Miata
The overall ride became slightly harsher, but definately tolerable. I had KYB AGX 8 way adjustable shocks installed at the same time by Modacar in Pleasanton. The car definately corners better now and looks great (the raised look in the rear is gone).
I commute in the Miata 4 days a week, 20 miles each way, over pretty flat roads with no complaints although I slow WAY down for speed bumps. The KYB shocks set to the softer settings (1 or 2) are just slightly stiffer than stock and are a good combo with the FM springs. I haven't tried anything stiffer than the 5 setting.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97
FM springs are rated at 342 lbs front, 228 lbs rear, and are designed to lower the car by approx. 1 1/4". They come powder coated black. Not designed for use with stock shocks.
I mounted these springs myself, shortly after mounting KYB AGX shocks. They lower the car as advertised. They seem to slightly reduce the rake that comes from the factory. My findings after several months of street driving are as follows. They reduce dive under hard breaking, and squat under hard acceleration. They don't allow the car to lean or roll over quite as far as it used to in corners. They improve the steering feel by making inputs feel more linear. They generally stiffen up the feel on the road. Imperfections in the road are more noticeable, but not to the point of being annoying. You must trim the rear bumpstops as per the instructions when you install these.
These spring really compliment my AGX shocks, or the other way around. Every time I get out of the car after driving, I have a grin on my face. It handles like a go cart. Take any corner you are familiar with at higher speeds than usual, safely. Keep in mind that most things performance related are a compromise. You gain handling at the expense of ride comfort. For me it is well worth the trade-off. I use my car as a daily driver and have no compliants about how it performs. I have not used these on the track or auto-x yet.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
good appearance and good packaging
no previous experience with this product
everything went in easily. I didn't want to write this right away for fear of changing my mind later. I've had everything on for over two weeks now, and the only thing I can say is that when Bill advertised the best ride on the market they meant it!!!!! I was really worried about lowering my car because of all the horror stories I've heard from the other club members that have done. With this setup your car will only ride slightly harder than stock and I mean only slightly. I would recommend these to anyone wishing to lower there car and still keep 95% of the original ride quality.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
1993 M1 with Flying Miata Springs and KYB AGX 8-Way Adjustable Shocks. Http://www.flyinmiata.com/
I rode in 6 cars with different shock and spring setups before I installed FM-Springs and KYB Shocks. The research paid off. My M1 is riding better than ever. This setup is great as a daily driver and occasional auto-crosser. The FM-Springs and KYB Shocks setup keeps my car flat in the turns and smooth over bumps at all speeds. I set the KYB’s to stiffness setting “3” for buzzing around town and “5” for the early Sunday Morning drives ;) With the FM-Springs and KYB, I am now thrilled to drive my car. All of my prior attempts with Eibach Springs, Racing Beat springs and Tokico HP Shocks resulted in a miserable driving experience. These Flying Miata Springs and KYB Shocks are great!
Springs for the street that lower the car. I specified to the Dealer Alternative that my car was a 93 Miata with 32k miles on the original springs. At the same time I replaced the original shocks with the Tokico (non adjustable) shocks also. Sway bars are stock. 15x7 Fittapaldi alloy rims with 195/50/15 BF Goodrich RE71 rubber where already on my car.
The ride definately stiffened up but not too hard. The new shocks add to the stiffness but how much I don't know. This combination really makes an already good handling a very good handler. The center of gravity is lowered and body lean is much reduced if you like to drive at high speed. It's not pancake flat but with sport sway bars if could be. I have not found the limits of my tires in a turn except on some loose gravel one day. The front springs are never a problem over any bump but I think the rear does bottom out on rare occasions. Maybe this is due to the progressive wound rear springs.
I love the look and the feel these springs give a Miata. The car sits flat now and does not have the rear in the air look. The faster you go, the better the Miata handles. If you love to drive, think about suspension upgrades.
For more info and pics, check out my web site at http://www.myplanet.net/mchapoton or send e-mail.
Miatas were designed to be excellent handling cars. The Dealer Alternative Flyin' Miata Springs, when combined with high-performance shocks, can be the cornerstone of a suspension upgrade that can give your Miata extraordinary handling capability and a lower, more aggressive appearance.
The springs are made of high-quality Swedish steel. Fit and finish are excellent; and they are a bolt-on application.
The springs (linear front and progressive rear) yield performance that is exceptional. My car corners "flatter than a pancake," and there is very little body roll at freeway speeds or below. The springs and shocks eliminate the nose of the car diving during hard braking and prevent the rear of the car from squatting during hard acceleration.
The springs lower the car approximately one inch in the front and slightly more in the rear, eliminating the factory rake (front to rear incline). Lowering a Miata obviously lowers both the mechanical and visual center of gravity, improving both performance and appearance.
If you buy high-performance springs/shocks you can expect to significantly firm up the suspension, and you will definitely have a car that rides more like an older Corvette than a newer Cadillac. The faster you go, the better they work. They do not particularly like rough roads at low speeds. My car handles speed bumps as well as any factory car, but the suspension rebounds harshly when the car hits large potholes at low speeds. The factory CD player in my car is sensitive to harsh road conditions, and I have not experienced increased CD skipping after installing the springs and shocks.
When I ordered the springs and Tokico HP shocks, I wanted the maximum improvement in performance with the minimum decrease in ride quality. The combination appears to be exactly what I wanted. I have several friends, including the friend who helped me install the springs and shocks, who believe that the ride in my car is much superior to the spring and shock combination more frequently used by members of the Houston Miata Club.
If you would like to know more about my car, Dealer Alternative springs, or Tokico shocks, check out my web site - http://rampages.onramp.net/~bookworm/ - or contact me at my e-mail address.
| Back to Product Reviews | 10 November, 2006 |
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