The NA Miata’s light weight, nimble handling, and fun-to-drive nature makes it the undisputed budget driver’s car. But while the stock suspension was impressive for its time, suspension upgrades can significantly enhance your Miata’s performance, comfort, and overall driving experience.
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Upgrading the suspension on your NA Miata is one of the most effective ways to improve your car’s performance and feel. The stock suspension, while adequate for most daily driving scenarios, may not deliver the sharp handling or stability needed for more spirited driving or track use. Over time, stock components also wear out, leading to reduced ride quality and handling performance. Suspension upgrades can address these issues by offering better control, improved comfort, and enhanced cornering abilities.
When upgrading your NA Miata’s suspension, it’s useful to think of the process in stages. Each stage offers a different level of performance improvement, so understanding these tiers will help you select the best upgrade for your needs.
Stage 1 is the simplest suspension upgrade and involves replacing your worn-out stock springs and shocks with upgraded components. This overhaul restores the original ride comfort and handling while offering a noticeable performance boost. Upgrading to performance-oriented shocks and springs will give your Miata a more responsive feel without making the ride too harsh.
This setup is perfect for drivers who use their Miata as a daily driver and want improved handling without sacrificing comfort. The components involved typically include springs, shocks, and possibly new upper mounts. Stage 1 is ideal for restoring your Miata’s suspension performance while providing mild handling improvements.
Stage 1.5 builds on the basic Stage 1 setup by adding rear upper mounts to increase suspension travel. More travel means a smoother ride over uneven surfaces and helps prevent bottoming out when the suspension is compressed during spirited driving. This upgrade is a great choice for drivers who want a little extra comfort and control on rough roads or during mild track use.
With this modification, you’ll enjoy a smoother ride without losing the performance gains from the Stage 1 upgrades. It’s a small addition, but one that can make a noticeable difference, especially if you frequently drive on bumpy or uneven roads.
The Stage 2 upgrade adds sway bars (also known as anti-roll bars) to the springs and shocks setup from Stage 1. Sway bars help reduce body roll when cornering, which allows for flatter, more controlled turns without significantly impacting ride quality. This setup is ideal for drivers who want to push their Miata harder in corners, making it a favorite among enthusiasts who want sharper handling for both daily driving and occasional track use.
Stage 2 provides a noticeable improvement in cornering stability, making your Miata feel more planted and responsive during spirited driving. It’s a solid middle-ground option for those who want to improve their car’s handling without going to full coilover setups.
Stage 2.5 is an enhanced version of Stage 2, with the addition of rear upper mounts for extended suspension travel. This upgrade offers the best of both worlds—improved handling and performance, along with a smoother ride. By maximizing suspension travel, Stage 2.5 delivers better comfort on rough roads while maintaining the sharp, controlled feel needed for more aggressive driving.
This setup is perfect for drivers who want a balance between comfort and performance. Whether you’re on the street or the track, the extended travel allows your Miata to handle bumps and imperfections better, without sacrificing stability in the corners.
Understanding the key components of your Miata’s suspension will help you make informed decisions about upgrades. Here’s a breakdown of the main parts involved in a suspension system upgrade:
Springs are responsible for supporting the car’s weight and absorbing impacts from the road. When you upgrade your springs, you can opt for stiffer or softer rates, depending on your goals. Stiffer springs will provide better handling and reduce body roll but can make the ride harsher. Softer springs, on the other hand, offer a smoother ride at the cost of some handling sharpness.
Flying Miata Springs are a popular option for NA Miata owners. These springs are tuned specifically for the Miata, offering a lower ride height and improved performance without compromising suspension travel. They strike a great balance between performance and comfort.
Shocks control the movement of the springs, preventing excessive bouncing and helping to smooth out the ride. Upgrading to higher-quality shocks can drastically improve your Miata’s handling and ride quality.
Koni STRT shocks are a great entry-level upgrade, offering slightly firmer damping than stock while maintaining comfort. Koni Yellow (Sports) shocks, which are adjustable, allow you to fine-tune your suspension’s stiffness. For track-focused drivers, Fox Racing Coilovers offer top-of-the-line performance with fully adjustable damping and ride height, making them ideal for fine-tuning your car’s handling.
Sway bars help reduce body roll during cornering by connecting the left and right sides of the suspension. By upgrading to adjustable sway bars, you can fine-tune your Miata’s handling, making it sharper and more predictable through turns.
Upper mounts connect the shocks to the car’s body. By upgrading to extended upper mounts, you increase suspension travel, which can improve ride comfort, particularly over rough surfaces. This is an important upgrade for drivers who want a lowered stance without sacrificing ride quality.
When upgrading your suspension, one of the most important decisions is whether to go with a coilover setup or stick with a more traditional springs and shocks configuration.
A non-coilover setup involves separate springs and shocks, typically with a fixed ride height. This option is simple, cost-effective, and ideal for drivers who want to install the suspension and forget about it. There’s no need for frequent adjustments, making it perfect for daily driving.
Advantages: Easy installation, low maintenance, consistent performance.
Disadvantages: Limited tunability—you can’t adjust ride height or spring rates once installed.
Coilovers combine the spring and shock into a single, integrated unit, offering the ability to adjust both ride height and damping. Coilovers are highly customizable and perfect for drivers who want to dial in their suspension for different driving conditions, especially on the track.
Advantages: Highly adjustable, allows for precise control over ride height and handling.
Disadvantages: More complex to install and requires regular adjustments for optimal performance.
Fox Racing Coilovers are a premium option for Miata owners looking for maximum adjustability. These coilovers offer precise control over damping and ride height, making them a great choice for track enthusiasts who want to fine-tune their suspension for different conditions.
The right suspension setup depends largely on how you plan to use your Miata. Here’s a breakdown of the best options for different driving scenarios:
For daily driving, the Fly Miata Springs paired with Koni Yellow Shocks is an excellent combination. This setup provides a comfortable ride with enough stiffness to improve handling. For street use, a Stage 1 or Stage 1.5 kit works best, offering the perfect blend of comfort and performance.
For track enthusiasts, coilovers are the way to go. Fox Racing Coilovers offer full adjustability, allowing you to fine-tune your Miata’s suspension for optimal performance on the track. The Stage 2.5 or Fox Coilover Kit provides the flexibility to minimize body roll and maximize grip, making it ideal for track days or autocross events.
Upgrading your suspension isn’t just about choosing the right components. The installation process is equally important to ensure that everything works as it should.
When installing new springs, a spring compressor is essential to safely compress the springs for removal or installation. Always prioritize safety when using a spring compressor, as compressed springs store a lot of energy.
An impact driver can speed up the process of removing bolts, but it’s important to use a torque wrench when tightening everything down. Proper torque ensures that your suspension components are secure and perform as intended.
After any suspension upgrade, it’s crucial to get an alignment. Changing your ride height or suspension components can throw off your alignment, leading to poor handling and uneven tire wear. It’s best to let the suspension settle for a few days after installation before getting an alignment.
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