Worst. Suspension. Ever.

Racelands. You all of course knew this. I knew one or more of coilover brands was suspect (couldn't remember if it was V-maxx or Racelands...), but having no personal experience with them, and with "internet conjecture" wherein some said "they're fine!" (LIARS!), and others saying "they're horrible!" (Preach it brother!), and whereas on the smooth roads I test drove the car on left the impression "eh, not so bad" I figured "what could go wrong?".

Let's put it this way: Suspension movement should not be chassis flex. Metal body structures have horrible damping characteristics.

There is somewhere that rebuilds those for something like 75 a unit. Someone here posted the company a few weeks ago. Hopefully they will chime in as I don't remember

Is the problem that they're massively overdamped or just that the spring rates are way too hard? Rebuilding the shock will only fix one of those.

A little of both, I suspect (there's about 2-1/2" of ground clearance), but primarily damping, I think - correct me as required:

• Over a single bump, it goes up and down ok, not too unsettling on the car. When it's a series of pavement irregularities, it's like the car is dancing on a washboard.

On bump of significant size, I don't think there's enough travel, period, as it'll bounce of the bump stop and unsettle the car pretty badly.

Tucson has really e36 M3ty roads, and that doesn't help at all. Up where I test drove the car, and in my particular neighborhood (outside of Tucson city limits, and Thank the Good Lord not county, either, they're e36 M3 too), where the roads are actually nice, the car is fine.

Rebuilt correctly might be swell, but then I'd have to get some springs and dampers for the car to ride on while they're away - that's a couple bones if I pick up used, so I think I'll replace the stuff once and be done with it.

On the miata?

It's not that the suspension is hard, it's that you're riding on the bump stops 99.9% of the time because they're the worst combination of too SOFT and too low.

Racelands are pretty much the worst thing you can do to a Miata.

I was going to chime in here and say the worst suspension I ever drove was on a GT6 - the front shocks felt blown and the rear suspension felt collapsed. But apparently it was in fine health according to the LBC shop that inspected the car afterwards...

V-Maxx look roughly like Racelands on a quick glance, so some people dismiss them for that reason. But they are not the same

Give me a call at work tomorrow and I can help figure out what's going to suit you best. 970 464 5600.

Swank Force One wrote: Racelands are pretty much the worst thing you can do to a Miata.

Yep, Miata. Preach it brother.

I like the look of the car, and don't mind the low. But these things are just horrible.

As far as replacements, I don't think anything else goes as low as these, and that's ok, as the 205/45s on it will eventually give way to 50s, so I think I can keep the look/lack of fender well gap.

But my oh my, these are going bye bye pretty soon.

Keith Tanner wrote: I was going to chime in here and say the worst suspension I ever drove was on a GT6 - the front shocks felt blown and the rear suspension felt collapsed. But apparently it was in fine health according to the LBC shop that inspected the car afterwards... V-Maxx look roughly like Racelands on a quick glance, so some people dismiss them for that reason. But they are not the same Give me a call at work tomorrow and I can help figure out what's going to suit you best. 970 464 5600.

Will do, boss, thanks.

Before you call, measure the distance from the center of the hub to the top of the fender opening. It'll identify what your ride height is regardless of wheel/tire choice.

Buy some 15s from Keith while you're on the phone.

Swank Force One wrote: Buy some 15s from Keith while you're on the phone.

It's already got them - and while they're heavyish (14.x lbs, according the mfg's website), I think they look sweet. Keeping those bad boys.

Oh, my bad. I forgot that people put 205/45s on 15s when they're looking for lows and slam.

As an experiment I've been running 450/275 springs over the OE shocks on my NB Miata. The springs are about 2.5 times stiffer than stock and I've set the ride height at the pinch welds to about 5". Total cost including adjustable perches was under $90.

When autocrossed, this setup provides great lateral traction but the car can get skittish over irregularities in the pavement. Threshold breaking is harder to manage because I can't judge the forward weight transfer as easily.

On the street, this setup is harsh. The suspension is busy all the time, and you feel every crevice in the road. NVH is noticeably increased and chassis flex and cowl shake are frequent.

In summary, the ride quality is worse than any car I've ever owned. Stiff springs on stock shocks is a dirt cheap and effective way to increase the handling limits of a dedicated autocross or track car, but the setup does not maintain traction as well as a set of quality dampers would with these spring rates. And for a daily-driven car, the punishing ride and increased NVH just aren't worth the sacrifice for a low stance.

Bilsteins or Showas?

On the flip side, i drove a built motor 99 Sport with an EFR strapped to it on Saturday, running a homebrew setup on the original Bilsteins, and had to admit that it was wayyyy closer to some serious high end stuff than i would have normally been comfortable in admitting.

The Flyin' Miata V-maxx suspension has moved up on the list of things to do to my Miata. I was going to duplicate EvanB's Mazdaspeed setup, but for about the same price I can get into proven coilovers. I'm thinking about how I want my ride height set and how much suspension travel it will give me.

Racelands are terrible, I have a few friends who have them...before I knew coilovers could suck I put some on my miata, lasted maybe 2 weeks and an autocross and I had enough...now ive got revalved bilstiens and 700/250 springs and it handles great and isnt stiff cause its valved correctly

Anyone else want to see this car thing OldGray is talking about? Funky wheels and 15" tires and stuff in a picture or two?

He's got a thread up somewhere. It's an Evo Orange NB1 Miata.

Brett_Murphy wrote: The Flyin' Miata V-maxx suspension has moved up on the list of things to do to my Miata. I was going to duplicate EvanB's Mazdaspeed setup, but for about the same price I can get into proven coilovers. I'm thinking about how I want my ride height set and how much suspension travel it will give me.

It's a very good setup. The bonus that it comes in right around only a grand with sway bars is awesome.

In reply to Pres589:

From the craigslist ad (yes, I should take some other pics and drop them on here...):

I does like the vibe the car puts down, but man, those Racelands must be manufactured at 666 Hellfire Way, Satan's Domain, Bad Universe 00666.

Tucson roads will beat bthe hell out of even the best setups, if those are as bad,as yoy say then thatcride must be torturous.

I semi-killed one of my Konis on those roads but it was my own fault. I miss the sun but not the roads. I rarely went into Tucson proper and played in the hills and mountains a lot. Lots of fun.

Racelands are misery for spirited driving, as noted. The Honda bois buy them, say they're great, then complain about them when they fall apart. The guys that piddle down the road seem happy with them, though, and evidently the VW versions seem to be popular.

nderwater wrote: As an experiment I've been running 450/275 springs over the OE shocks on my NB Miata. The springs are about 2.5 times stiffer than stock and I've set the ride height at the pinch welds to about 5". Total cost including adjustable perches was under $90. When autocrossed, this setup provides great lateral traction but the car can get skittish over irregularities in the pavement. Threshold breaking is harder to manage because I can't judge the forward weight transfer as easily. On the street, this setup is harsh. The suspension is busy all the time, and you feel every crevice in the road. NVH is noticeably increased and chassis flex and cowl shake are frequent. In summary, the ride quality is worse than any car I've ever owned. Stiff springs on stock shocks is a dirt cheap and effective way to increase the handling limits of a dedicated autocross or track car, but the setup does not maintain traction as well as a set of quality dampers would with these spring rates. And for a daily-driven car, the punishing ride and increased NVH just aren't worth the sacrifice for a low stance.

Short version: shock tuning is a thing, but it's okay if you're on smooth surfaces and the suspension's not actually doing anything

I dig those wheels, the car does look cool.

I'd rather have solid metal tubes as my shocks/springs over running racelands. All the bruh's saying they ride good must have never been in a car with good shocks.

Car looks pretty good. Hope you find a suspension you like.