Saving the Mullet Miata - KYB that bitch ! / SSR

"DAT-AS-SUN" (dat-as-sun)
10/27/2015 at 09:18 • Filed to: None

So as some of you may know I’m taking this 99 NB miata and turning it around into a daily driver / autocrosser / canyon carver. So far I’ve tackled the brakes, Spark plugs, Air Filter and now as of last night KYB Adjustables with Eibach springs and Fat Cat Bump Stops.

Now here is where it gets interesting. Obviously the new/used KYB set up is gold compared to the blown coilover and failing springs but !! They are real coil overs that came out of the car with no marking or brand or model number. I thought this was pretty odd so I’ll be looking into them more. Maybe they’re early Raceland coil overs I’m not sure.

As far as the new set up it eliminated all failing suspension rattle. Mildly un “stanced” the car and rides like a cadillac - ish with them set on 1 . Very happy so far and I’m sure they’ll settle a little bit lower than they are sitting now.

Next order of business will be some light weight wheels and sticky tires. I found what I think is a SCREAMING DEAL on some 14x6 JDM SSR MKII-R’s which I’ll probably wrap with some type of sticky tire I have yet to decide on.

Any how I’m making some very solid progress and being rewarded for it the entire way.

DISCUSSION (16)

jjhats > DAT-AS-SUN
10/27/2015 at 09:49

those wheels are jdm as fawkkk. are they real two pieces? you should get wide barrels for them 6 inches is underwhelming on a Miata

daender > DAT-AS-SUN
10/27/2015 at 09:58

Might as well go wider on the wheels. The springs bump it out of ES and into STR, so you might as well run the max 7.5 width wheels. That said, those 4-spokes would look so good on it, very period correct. Wrap them in RE-71Rs or ZII Star Specs for all the dry traction in the world.

DAT-AS-SUN > daender
10/27/2015 at 10:28

I’m not sure I’m picking up what your putting out in regards to the ES & STR .. Please explain. Thanks for the input tho !

DAT-AS-SUN > jjhats
10/27/2015 at 10:32

Yes real 2 piece. Picking them up after work for $250.. Like I said fucking robbing this guy for these wheels .. I don’t think he knows what he has exactly.. or maybe he just needs the money ... Idgaf

uofime-2 > DAT-AS-SUN
10/27/2015 at 10:33

SCCA autoX classes

daender > DAT-AS-SUN
10/27/2015 at 10:37

They’re SCCA autocross classes, E-Street (stock street) and Street Touring Roadster. The classes are divided up by the car and the modifications allowed for each class. ES allows for the follow aftermarket parts: shocks, one swaybar, bumpstops, muffler (or cat-back exhaust), wheels (+/- 1 in diameter but has to maintain stock width), and tires (200 treadwear minimum for street classes). STR allows for more performance add-ons but now you have to play catch-up with the S2000s. Honestly, modify the car however you want and enjoy whatever class it gets thrown into.

DAT-AS-SUN > daender
10/27/2015 at 11:43

So I shot myself in the foot putting the springs on ? That sucks. But I’m not too butthurt about it I’ll be auto crossing .05% of the time I’m driving the car and these springs seem to work very very very well. Seems like you know your SCCA classes and I’ve got plenty of questions. Could I some how get your contact info ?

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > DAT-AS-SUN
10/27/2015 at 12:19

what year nb? gotta be careful with 14in on later ones cause they dont fit

DAT-AS-SUN > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
10/27/2015 at 12:55

99 ! should there be any issues ?

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > DAT-AS-SUN
10/27/2015 at 13:31

nope! its the later ones, i think 02... where they put larger brakes on them. my 03 wont clear 14in wheels

DAT-AS-SUN > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
10/27/2015 at 14:15

Just checked and the stock size for a 99 nb is 14x6 et 40.. Looks like your right 15” wheel same design a few years later for the bigger rear brakes.

DAT-AS-SUN > daender
10/27/2015 at 14:24

What do you think about these ? http://www.tires-easy.com/cgi-bin/rshop.…

daender > DAT-AS-SUN
10/27/2015 at 15:57

You can find me on the Miata.net forums, along with a whole bunch of other members with far more experience than me in STR and other classes. The Azenis is a good tire, not great. If you want the good stuff, check out the BFG Rival-S, Hankook RS3 V2 (might have V3 by now), Dunlop ZII Star Spec, and the Bridgestone RE-71R (magical rubber).

DAT-AS-SUN > daender
10/27/2015 at 16:01

Problem is I daily this car now. So I don’t want to spend 600 on rubber that I’ll end up driving on every day. at 79 bucks a tire I’m not getting owned and I can buy them twice a year without any issues.

DAT-AS-SUN > daender
10/27/2015 at 16:02

Would I still be STR with a 200 treadwear tire like the Falken Azenis I sent you ?

daender > DAT-AS-SUN
10/27/2015 at 20:29

Yes, you would still be in STR. I think dropping below that bumps you into the prepared classes, in which case that’s all slicks. Fair point on the cost of tires. RE-71Rs and Z2* might last a whole year of enthusiastic driving; track days, canyon/mountain carving, autocrosses, and some dd’ing thrown in. I’m still running around on a set of Nitto Neogens that’re 2 years old with decent tread life left in them.