Upgrading the suspension on your ND Miata is one of the most effective ways to drastically enhance its handling, responsiveness, and overall ride quality. Whether you’re looking to improve your everyday driving comfort or gearing up for track-day perfection, suspension upgrades can transform how your Miata drives. In this guide, we’ll explore the key components, popular upgrades, and crucial considerations to help you select the right suspension setup based on your driving style and performance goals.
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The suspension system is what connects your Miata’s body to the road. It’s responsible for managing the forces that act on your car when you drive over bumps, take corners, or accelerate and brake. The stock suspension on the ND Miata strikes a balance between comfort and performance, designed for a broad range of drivers. However, if you want to sharpen specific aspects of performance—such as cornering precision, braking control, or ride comfort—a suspension upgrade is key.
The ND Miata’s stock suspension consists of four primary components: springs, shocks (or dampers), anti-roll bars, and bushings. Springs control the car’s ride height and compression under load. Shocks manage how the springs rebound after compressing over bumps. Anti-roll bars connect the suspension across the car to reduce body roll in turns, while bushings help smooth the ride by isolating vibrations. Upgrading any or all of these components allows you to customize how your Miata handles based on your driving preferences.
Before upgrading, it’s important to consider factors like ride height, suspension travel, and driving style. Lowering your Miata’s ride height can improve handling by reducing body roll, but it may also compromise ride comfort. Adequate suspension travel is crucial to avoid bottoming out over rough surfaces, while your driving style—whether you’re focused on daily driving, spirited weekend drives, or track days—will influence how stiff or adjustable your new setup should be.
Shocks, or dampers, are one of the most immediate ways to upgrade your Miata’s handling and comfort. Shocks control how the springs compress and rebound, ensuring that your tires maintain contact with the road, especially over uneven surfaces or during sharp maneuvers. Whether you’re aiming for improved stability or a more comfortable ride, upgrading your shocks can provide a noticeable improvement.
For a straightforward replacement of worn-out stock shocks, OEM replacement shocks like the Koni STR.T or Bilstein B6 are great options. These shocks provide a modest improvement in ride quality without drastically altering the car’s handling. For those seeking a performance boost, Koni Yellow Sports or Bilstein B8 shocks offer higher spring rate compatibility and adjustable damping. This allows you to fine-tune the suspension for different driving conditions, offering both better performance and comfort.
If you frequently alternate between street driving and track days, adjustable shocks such as Fox Racing Shocks or Öhlins may be the best option. Adjustable shocks allow you to tweak both rebound and compression, providing ultimate control over how stiff or soft the suspension feels depending on your driving conditions.
When choosing shocks, consider whether adjustability is important to you, especially if you frequently attend track days. Adjusting shocks allows you to optimize performance on the track while maintaining a more comfortable ride for daily use. Additionally, consider warranty and durability. Many high-quality performance shocks, such as Koni Yellow, come with a lifetime warranty, offering peace of mind for long-term use.=
Springs play a critical role in determining your Miata’s handling and ride comfort. They control your car’s ride height and determine how much the suspension compresses under load when cornering, braking, or driving over bumps. Upgrading the springs can improve handling by lowering your Miata’s center of gravity or provide a more comfortable ride if you opt for softer springs.
Lowering springs like the Eibach Pro-Kit or Progress Technology Springs are a popular choice for Miata owners looking to enhance handling. These springs typically lower the car by 1 to 1.5 inches, which reduces body roll and gives the car a more aggressive stance. However, it’s important to find a balance between lowering and maintaining enough suspension travel to avoid bottoming out over rough terrain.
There are two main types of springs to choose from: progressive and linear. Progressive springs get stiffer as they compress, making them ideal for daily driving with occasional performance demands. For example, Tein Flex Z coilovers use progressive springs that provide a comfortable ride under normal conditions but firm up when pushed harder. Linear springs, on the other hand, have a consistent spring rate, offering more predictable handling for aggressive driving or track use. H&R and Swift Springs are good examples of linear springs suited for performance-oriented drivers.
Alternatively, upgrading to a full coilover system like the Flyin’ Miata Fox Coilovers or KW Variant 3 allows for both adjustable ride height and damping, offering a complete suspension overhaul. Coilovers are ideal for drivers who want maximum control over their car’s handling characteristics and the ability to fine-tune the suspension for any scenario.
Anti-roll bars (also called sway bars) are designed to reduce body roll during cornering by linking the suspension on either side of the car. Upgrading your Miata’s sway bars can improve handling without requiring a full suspension replacement.
A stiffer sway bar reduces body roll, giving the car a more responsive feel during fast directional changes. Flyin’ Miata Sway Bars are a popular choice for Miata enthusiasts, offering adjustability to help fine-tune the car’s handling characteristics. Similarly, Progress Technology Sway Bars are known for their balanced performance, making them ideal for both street and occasional track use.
When upgrading sway bars, it’s important to maintain balance between the front and rear bars. A larger rear sway bar can increase oversteer, while a stiffer front bar can reduce understeer. Make sure both are properly matched to avoid upsetting your car’s handling dynamics.
Bushings are small components in your suspension that isolate vibrations and allow for smooth movement between parts. The factory-installed bushings are typically made of rubber, which provides comfort but can degrade over time, resulting in sloppy handling. Upgrading to polyurethane or delrin bushings can significantly tighten up your suspension, providing more direct steering feedback and better control.
Polyurethane bushings are much stiffer than rubber and resist flexing, improving suspension precision and durability. However, stiffer bushings may also transmit more road noise and vibration into the cabin, which is something to keep in mind if you prioritize ride comfort.
After upgrading your Miata’s suspension, getting a proper alignment is essential to ensure you’re getting the most out of your new setup. An alignment adjusts the angles of your tires to ensure they wear evenly and your car handles predictably.
For street driving, a moderate camber and toe-in alignment will provide good handling while maintaining even tire wear. If you’re upgrading your Miata for track use, a more aggressive performance alignment with increased camber will help your tires maintain maximum contact with the road during hard cornering.
Once your suspension components are installed, don’t forget to fine-tune the setup by adjusting damping and spring rates to suit your driving style. This is especially important if you’ve opted for adjustable coilovers, as these settings can greatly impact your Miata’s overall feel and performance.
Upgrading the suspension on your ND Miata is one of the most rewarding modifications you can make. Whether you’re replacing worn-out shocks, lowering your ride for sharper cornering, or adding stiffer sway bars to reduce body roll, each component plays a crucial role in improving the car’s handling and ride quality. By carefully selecting and tuning your suspension upgrades, you can create a Miata that feels perfectly dialed in for your specific driving needs, whether it’s for everyday comfort or track-day thrills.
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