Suspension height: Rear the same or higher than front?
Suspension height: Rear the same or higher than front?
From searching, it seems that the factory FD ride height was: F25.5"-26.0" and R26.5" (Ground to upper fender arch peak).
I am keeping my car close to factory height for street driving ground clearance.
Does anyone know handling pros/cons of the rear higher than the front? I am choosing between (F26 R26) or (F26 R26.5) and my assumption is that it wont affect handling in a noticeable way as long as it is aligned.
The reason for bringing this up is it seems that when people lower their cars, the tenancy is to have a level front and rear.
I am keeping my car close to factory height for street driving ground clearance.
Does anyone know handling pros/cons of the rear higher than the front? I am choosing between (F26 R26) or (F26 R26.5) and my assumption is that it wont affect handling in a noticeable way as long as it is aligned.
The reason for bringing this up is it seems that when people lower their cars, the tenancy is to have a level front and rear.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,837
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From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
the factory setup always looks like its high in the rear, so i think when people set it to be level its just cosmetic.
on a street car with normal spring rates i don't think there would be much difference between the two. we do use ride height in the rear as a quick tuning tool at the track, changing rear ride height changes camber and toe at the same time, so you can change the balance of the car with one adjustment, quickly
on a street car with normal spring rates i don't think there would be much difference between the two. we do use ride height in the rear as a quick tuning tool at the track, changing rear ride height changes camber and toe at the same time, so you can change the balance of the car with one adjustment, quickly
I suspect that the rear of the FD is set higher in part to have more shock travel between the top of the shock and the hard OEM bump stops. Probably also to account for passenger weight as the ride height will change once you add the weight of people and any luggage in the car.
26" is probably OK. It probably won't negatively impact handling on the street. The lower you go, the more risk of running out of shock travel and hitting the bump stops which. On the street, you might do that on a big bump would impact comfort rather than handling.
Here is a visual from my overly lowered Spec Miata before I raised the ride height:
by https://www.flickr.com/photos/26005589@N06/, on Flickr
26" is probably OK. It probably won't negatively impact handling on the street. The lower you go, the more risk of running out of shock travel and hitting the bump stops which. On the street, you might do that on a big bump would impact comfort rather than handling.
Here is a visual from my overly lowered Spec Miata before I raised the ride height:
Last edited by gracer7-rx7; Jul 20, 2020 at 12:04 PM.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,837
Likes: 3,234
From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
they really goofed with the miata, it has about that much suspension travel when its stock!
the best thing you can do with a miata is ditch the dumb clunky steering wheel and put something else on there, but the next best thing is to switch the bump stops from petrified rubber to something soft!
the best thing you can do with a miata is ditch the dumb clunky steering wheel and put something else on there, but the next best thing is to switch the bump stops from petrified rubber to something soft!
Yeah, same design bump stops on the FD. It would probably help ride quality for people using the stock upper shock mounts to remove the hard rubber bump stops and fit some appropriately sized foam bump stops like on the Miata.
The pic of the Miata above is with the Fat Cat bump stops
The pic of the Miata above is with the Fat Cat bump stops
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