Other than looks, is it worthwhile having lowered suspension on a daily driver? Does it really improve the handling of a Gen 1?

 

I just did it this weekend. I will let you know after my alignment on Tuesday. I did Suspension Tech Springs, Tockico Blue shocks and struts, Energy Suspension master kit on all the bushings with new sway bar endlinks. Only dropped 1/2" in front and 3/4" in rear, it had to be because of the 20 year old shocks had sagged that much.

 

if your gonna lower the car get stiffer shocks and struts, YES it will greatly improve handling

 

Lowering vs. improved suspension:
You could lower the car el cheapo by cutting the springs, but I don't think it would help tremendously.
But, if you installed performance springs, ie. Racing Beat, Eibach's, suspension techniques that is a different story. It makes a HUGE difference in handling.
I run Eibach's and Tokico Illumina's on my second gen vert. For being as heavy a car as it is, it handles amazing. But, you definitely sacrifice ride comfort.
I am contemplating running the same set up on my 80, but, I hate to give up the "plush" ride. But, if I want to autox, it is the only way to go.

 

All my suspension parts have been recently upgraded,which certainly improved the handling. The questions are whether lowering the ride height will further improve handling, is the suspension then too stiff due to the limited spring movement, will the suspension frequently bottom out if the road is not dead flat?

 

I believe that if you go too low in the front (more than 1 inch,) the struts will bottom out. Or so says Racing Beat anyhow. Hopefully someone with experience will pipe up and tell us if that's the case or not.

 

Does anyone make a spring kit that maintains stock height (for drivability on the **** roads where I live) but increases the spring rate?

 

Not that I'm aware of. That being said, the RB spring set didn't drop my car at all, because my springs were so sagged from old age. In fact, they raised the back end of my car up about a 1/2 inch, giving it a much nicer stance. The springs themselves are 25-30% stiffer than stock, so it's a noticeable difference, but not punishingly so.

 

along the same lines, is it logical/worthwile to replace JUST the springs (not the shocks & struts)...? I can't afford both right now. Should I wait till I can afford both, or is it a good idea to get the springs now, and get the shocks & struts when I can afford them? I plan on getting RB springs, not sure which shocks & struts.

 

My full intentions, when I get enough money, are to go eibach springs with illumina struts. Not knowing from first hand experiences; however, I can't imagine it making anything worse on a twenty+ year old car's suspension.

 

Racing beat makes a kit for the front that lowers the body, and therefore the center of gravity, but retains the stock travel. It raises the top of the tower up a bit. I don't have any experience w/ it, but I know they make it. Let me see if I can find a link.....here you go:

http://www.racingbeat.com/FRmazda1.htm

Edit: oh, I guess the link is only to the main site, select suspension. and Front susp. lowering kit.

 

Which aftermarket springs can support more weight? I'm debating between Eibach and RB. I need a set for my 20B.

 

I have the Racing Beat kit that lowers the front and am very happy with it, it lowers the car without changing the suspension geometry. I am very happy with it, you still have full suspension travel but......you have to be willing to cut the top out of the strut towers, didnt bother me, eventough I have owned my car for 27 years, however some people may have a problem with it.

You can bolt them in if you want, However I wanted more than a few bolts holding the front of my car together so I welded mine in.

I like them fine, No complaints!!!!!

 

Yes. Get the front coilover kit from ground-control.com. You can pick what spring rate you want, from as low as 50 lbs to well over 1000lbs.

For the rear, go to iscracing.net and get their rear threaded spring perches and they sell rear springs of 125, 150 or 225lb rates.

You can raise or lower the ride height and pick exactly what spring rate you want. Very adjustable.

 

I have full racing beat lowering springs on my SE. It lowers the front 1" and the rear 1". I also have Topiko (spelling) shocks. It handles like a dream. Compared to my stock suspension '81 GSL, I wouldn't go back to stock springs. I never spin out compared to my GSL also. And to add I want to install RB front and rear sway bars and front and rear strut tower braces. Oh its gonna be fun!

 

For mostly street use I would keep the stock springs(for now if they aren't sagging) get some good shocks and sway bars first. This will give you the biggest difference in how the car feels. The big bars won't hurt your ride quality that much and really tightens up how the car points. Then get the springs later if you still want them.

 

don't need a rear sway bar, it handles better without one. i took it off the 81 and never put it back on. try it @ an auto-x or track day, you'll be happier.

 

Same here

 

My front springs are sagging. Should I get Eibach or RB?

 

Heck, the RB's could be Eibach's there are only so many quality spring manufacturers. That rear bar advice is dead on. Upper bushings in the rear bind up and the whole assembly becomes a sway bar. Urethane makes it worse. A front bar about as big as your arm is a good start on the street.