Canaille

Hi all,

I'm about to order the Flyin` Miata stage 2.5 suspension kit. I sent them couple of questions which should be answered soon enough as they were on vacation


http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?...0%20%201990-93

My car is a 1989 MY. I currently ride on D2 coilovers & use RB sway bars (solid I assume, as they are silver and pretty old now).
I don't have the shock mounts of OEM suspension, and willing to increase rear suspension travel (I've done some homework ) so the rear shock mounts are definitely something I need.

My unclear points :
- There are options on the order page (90-93 or 94-97). I studied the website and it's most likely linked to the sway bar characteristics. Can someone confirm my reading ?
- I would like to convert my front shock mounts to the NB style (one piece instead of the puzzle on NA). Is there anything against this idea in choosing the 90-93 package ?

Also, I couldn't find any reviews of this kit on CR.net, but there are some very positive comments on miata.net.

Are you guys using it ? What are your thoughts ?

Thanks for your inputs.
Jerome

mx5msm

I have the stage one (springs and shocks). I like it a lot. It rides nice on the street and we drive it on a go-kart track every week. It does well against the other cars that are there every week. That said I would love to upgrade to the Tein flex. When I ride with the guys that have the flex it is defiantly much much flatter. I do get a fair amount of body roll vs the guys on the coil overs. The sway bars may fix some of this and will be my next purchase. Although I will probably do the Racing Beat.

I did not get the sways because 1.budget 2. I wanted to drive it for awhile with out them to get a real feel for the difference they make.

I have spoke with them and they are different sways for the 89-93 vs 94-97.

1vicissitude

Is there anything wrong with the current D2 or are you trying to achieve more travel? Can the D2 be modified to take isc tophats? If so, that might save you alot of money, increase travel, and keep the spring rates higher.

Canaille

Thanks for the comments.

D2, as many coilovers, leak sooner or later. Too often on the sooner side. The reviews of Tein I found quoted several leaks below 30k km.
The D2 are also very stiff with crazy spring rates (the GF is not happy) and they don't improve at all the suspension travel.

At first I wanted to get Tein flex but they are more track oriented as my D2, and I spend most of my time on the road.

Hella_Rare_Yellow

I have the full 2.5 with GC sleeves on my 92.
Im not sure what the split years has to do with anything. I am also unclear on the mounts you speak of.
As for the ride/handle. I have only wonderful things to say. I have it lowered as far as the spring will let me, the tokikos as stiff as they go, and the sway bars on the stiffest notch. I work at a go kart track and it feels like a larger version. not much body roll. i still have about 2+ inches of shock travel and still haven't bottomed out the shocks or rubbed at all. Any specific questions, I would love to help you out.

cheers.

__________________
1993 Brilliant Beige Mazda Protege(DD): Sold
1989 White Toyota Supra Tubo Targa Top(Street drifter): Sold
1992 Sunburst Mazda Miata: Garage Queen
2013 DGM Subaru Impreza Sport Limited: DD
Build Thread

Canaille

Thanks Yellow. Sounds like you enjoy your set up although there is no room for compromises in the way you tuned it

Regarding the sway bars, here is what FM site reads :
http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?...0%20%201990-93

And for the mounts, sorry I was unclear and I actually mixed up...
The NA is in one piece, whereas the NB is in several parts (bushings, shims etc).
NA :

NB:


I'll get a set of NA for my front dampers, they're back at about $40 in a French online shop.

Hella_Rare_Yellow

i see what you mean. I forgot to mention i have extended tophats in the front as well. it didn't lower as far as i had wanted. So i ordered the extended tophats to solve the same problem you are explaining with here. I was just unaware of the NB tophats that would have solved the problem. Oh well. They make my engine bay look better.

__________________
1993 Brilliant Beige Mazda Protege(DD): Sold
1989 White Toyota Supra Tubo Targa Top(Street drifter): Sold
1992 Sunburst Mazda Miata: Garage Queen
2013 DGM Subaru Impreza Sport Limited: DD
Build Thread

Canaille

Arg, you make me wondering if the rear won't be lower than the front.

If the FM guys could stand up and give some precious pieces of info, that would be great

3MiataFamily

I installed the FM kit on a Clubmember's car this year..complete with the FM rear mounts..and he loves it..the FM rear mounts give a little more travel to the rear shocks to prevent bottoming out...

I have been running the FM springs with the Illuminas for close to 200k miles..with Racing Beat hollow front bar and solid rear bar..with FCM bump stops..standard NA top hats all around. My DD and wouldn't have it any other way..

the NB top hats for the front will give slightly more of a drop..and those are available from FatCat Motorsports..(FCM)...

LuckyE85

Subscribed to hear more reviews. I've been looking into this (More specifically what Hella_Rare_Yellow has) for a long time, but there are few reviews to read on it.

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Is the world just too lazy to host and IMG tag? I'm not clicking those stupid attachments.

Black_Panther

I want D2 Coils!!!

Gearhead_Jay

My car is on a full 2.5 kit. It rides well, handles well, and it has been on the car for about 50k miles, so far no issues. Also FM is a great company to deal with. I recommend it.

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Hella_Rare_Yellow

Also my recommendation to anyone thinking about working with FM. Great people, great service, and great customer service as well.

Any questions for those of you who are looking into it, post them up i can take measurements or pictures whatever you need, i'll try to help you out.

__________________
1993 Brilliant Beige Mazda Protege(DD): Sold
1989 White Toyota Supra Tubo Targa Top(Street drifter): Sold
1992 Sunburst Mazda Miata: Garage Queen
2013 DGM Subaru Impreza Sport Limited: DD
Build Thread

LuckyE85

So it seems you have nothing but good things to say about the ride quality and handling characteristics with the GC sleeves. What spring rate did you go with? ie: just what flying miata recommends, or something different?

__________________
Is the world just too lazy to host and IMG tag? I'm not clicking those stupid attachments.

Hella_Rare_Yellow

standard FM tuned spring rates:
425 lb front
300 lb rear

__________________
1993 Brilliant Beige Mazda Protege(DD): Sold
1989 White Toyota Supra Tubo Targa Top(Street drifter): Sold
1992 Sunburst Mazda Miata: Garage Queen
2013 DGM Subaru Impreza Sport Limited: DD
Build Thread

wannafbody

The illuminas are a pretty good shock out of the box. They'll work with up to 450# front springs.

Keith Tanner

Thanks to Jerome for bringing this thread to my attention.

The difference between the 1990-93 and 1994-97 Stage 2.5 is in the sway bars, yes. 1.8 sways have different dimensions from the 1.6, both in diameter and in the length of the arms on the front bar.

I would not recommend going with the NB upper mounts on just one end unless you have coilovers or NB shocks and springs. You need adjustment available to lift the nose of the car up 10-15mm to compensate for the lower ride height of the NB mounts. Jerome, if you really want NB upper mounts in the front I'd recommend calling us, and we can put together a suspension kit that mixes an NB front spring/shock/mount assembly with the NA rear and FM upper mounts. It's not something we've done before, but it should work. An easier option would be to simply use the normal setup, which is simpler to assemble and works quite nicely. It's the rear that really needs the extra travel, and the bumpstops that come with the kit will add some extra travel up front anyhow.

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Flyin' Miata
Slow Car Fast

Canaille

Thanks again Keith.
Calling is tricky for me, need to work out what time it is for you guys, but it's on the to do list.

I think a "custom" suspension kit from you guys is the way I'll go.

Jerome

Phatmiata

Good info, im currently upgrading my NA to NB Suspension and didnt know about the sways having different dimensions.

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Keith Tanner

For Jerome and anyone else, if you want to know world time zones just use Google. Type in "time in Denver, Colorado" and it'll pop up with the current time. Good speaking to you earlier!

The difference in dimensions is between 1.6 and 1.8 cars, not NA and NB. Although NB sways do have some different geometry at the ends.

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Flyin' Miata
Slow Car Fast

Canaille

Thanks again Keith, very valuable to speak to you earlier.
The time we can call in are also on your website, pretty damn clever.
Jerome

iRoadster

Hey Keith, you should amend the suspension packages section of your website for the option to add the Ground Controls to the Stage 1 through 2.5 suspension packages.

jonpcovington

FM states on their site that ground control can be added to any suspension package for $150.

Canaille

Got this in my living room now, if weather allows that should be on the car pretty soon !

jonpcovington

Aren't they lovely? I put red 9 1/2" Rancho dust boots on mine and painted my control arms Allis-Chalmers orange and my calipers red. It's just a shame those rear shock mounts have to go into hiding.

Keith- the diagram in the kit shows putting the shaft spacer on top of the front shock mounts under the nuts. If someone wanted to raise the front slightly, could they put the spacer under the top shock mount?

iRoadster

I know that.
I mean have the GC sleeves be selectable in the drop menus where you choose the year of your car and if you want NB hats or not.
I'm pretty sure this is the setup I'll end up getting.

jgb.skyline

Any experiences with 15x8 +36 6ul wheels and this suspension? Specifically clearance issues? Also what is the approximate drop this setup gives?

I wouldn't be surprised if the info is on here already...but I'm a United States Marine and I don't have too much time to search. I'm looking at this to replace my lame coilovers and any help would be much appreciated!

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Why are cars so big these days?
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1996 NA with a serious plan

roblew

I have the same wheels and when I talked to Emillio at 949 he said that there would not be any issue with clearance when I told him about this kit or that I was only looking to lower my car about an inch or so. I will probably be ordering this kit next month. And I think this set up only gives you about an inch of drop.

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style bar delete fm butterfly brace fm high flow cat magnaflow cat back 15x8 6uls toyo proxes 4 megan streets
2006 Chev 2500 Crew Cab Duramax Diesel
2007 4 door Jeep Wrangler Sahara

kung fu jesus

jerome -

DO NOT lose those little red plastic pieces with the numbers.

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I ♣ baby seals.

Canaille

Hello !

I have installed my FM kit this WE.

I'll need to wait a bit for the car to settle and do alignment, only then I'll be able to enjoy the new handling abilities it has gained.
The ride surely is smoother than before : small road imperfection are still there but it's not as harsh as it used to be !

Few downsides though :
- the springs have no "dedicated coil" to mate with the damper or mount. My rear looked ankward :


- bushing for the rear sway bar didn't fit my bracket, but I dunno if my brackets were OEM or aftermarket. FM bar & previous bar had the same diameter, so I re-used the red bushing.


My front now really looks higher than my rear, I'll see in a week if it has changed.
I also have powerflex SB on my rear subframe, but OEM on the front end. They may have a "memory" and hold my nose higher than the rear SB as they fully rotate. Should I loosen the front long bold & re-torque it with wheels on the ground ?

I'll post more pictures of the assembly if you guys want

Jerome