Shocks

Everything I find on shocks and suspension is for performance and handling.
Any body have any suggestions for shocks for improving ride for cruising?
I just bought a '95 two weeks ago and it seems like every bump I hit bigger
than a pebble goes straight up my.....seat. Is it normal for this car to
constantly feel like it is bottoming out?

"BAK" > wrote in message
news:0lCug.10684$PO.9778@dukeread03...
> Everything I find on shocks and suspension is for performance and
> handling.
> Any body have any suggestions for shocks for improving ride for cruising?
> I just bought a '95 two weeks ago and it seems like every bump I hit
> bigger
> than a pebble goes straight up my.....seat. Is it normal for this car to
> constantly feel like it is bottoming out?
>
>

Seems like you're describing two different symptoms. Could be the shocks
are shot, but I'd check your air pressure first. I wouldn't be surprised if
you found to be around 38 ppi and that would be the source of the problem.
Should be in the 26-30 range. I run at 28. Two different times I bought
tires the so-called "professionals" put in around 38.

"Frank Berger" > wrote in message
...
>
> "BAK" > wrote in message
> news:0lCug.10684$PO.9778@dukeread03...
> > Everything I find on shocks and suspension is for performance and
> > handling.
> > Any body have any suggestions for shocks for improving ride for
cruising?
> > I just bought a '95 two weeks ago and it seems like every bump I hit
> > bigger
> > than a pebble goes straight up my.....seat. Is it normal for this car to
> > constantly feel like it is bottoming out?
> >
> >
>
> Seems like you're describing two different symptoms. Could be the shocks
> are shot, but I'd check your air pressure first. I wouldn't be surprised
if
> you found to be around 38 ppi and that would be the source of the problem.
> Should be in the 26-30 range. I run at 28. Two different times I bought
> tires the so-called "professionals" put in around 38.
>
>

Thanks, that will be the first thing I check in the morning. I guess this is
one case where you ignore recommended tire pressure and go for what feels
right?

Well, all you'd ever want to know is at miata.net but if you're mostly
concerned about ride, not handling, you may want to go with a simple OEM
replacement. However, most people get 'bit' by this little car and realize
it can relatively easily be turned into a real serious handling car. Not
much loss in ride quality soooooo, before you do something you'll possibly
regret later, think about KYB AGX adjustable shocks (or sim). Softest
setting is near stock, firmest setting is FIRM! Easy to adjust too.

My 2 cents,
Chris
99BBB

"BAK" > wrote in message
news:0lCug.10684$PO.9778@dukeread03...
> Everything I find on shocks and suspension is for performance and
> handling.
> Any body have any suggestions for shocks for improving ride for cruising?
> I just bought a '95 two weeks ago and it seems like every bump I hit
> bigger
> than a pebble goes straight up my.....seat. Is it normal for this car to
> constantly feel like it is bottoming out?
>
>

In article <0lCug.10684$PO.9778@dukeread03>, "BAK" >
wrote:

> Any body have any suggestions for shocks for improving ride for cruising?
> I just bought a '95 two weeks ago and it seems like every bump I hit bigger
> than a pebble goes straight up my.....seat. Is it normal for this car to
> constantly feel like it is bottoming out?

It likely *is* bottoming out, because the shocks are shot. The KYB AGX
is an adjustable performance shock, but the lowest setting is softer
than an OEM shock. If you shop carefully, you can find a price not much
more than ordinary shocks that will last only 1/3 as long.

The Miata is a sports car with fairly stiff springs and limited wheel
travel, so it's not going to ride like a sedan. However, there are a few
things that can cause a worse-than-necessary ride: heavy aftermarket
wheels, stiff and heavy tires, too much tire pressure (28 psi works well
for most people).

--
Lanny Chambers
'94C, St. Louis
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

In article <8PCug.10685$PO.8471@dukeread03>, "BAK" >
wrote:
>
>Thanks, that will be the first thing I check in the morning. I guess this is
>one case where you ignore recommended tire pressure and go for what feels
>right?

Not sure about '95's, but for the NB's 26 psi *is* the recommended
tire pressure. I run 28-32, as 26 just seems too low and my OEM
tires were quickly eaten up by 12,000 mi, mostly at low P's.

Could certainly be the shocks, but could also be the tires. First, try
running at the Mazda spec for tire pressure. If things are still "shocking",
it is also possible that you are running exceptionally stiff tires, such as
high performance or run-flat tires. Also, if they are extremely low profile,
the ride will likely be harsh, even with the best shocks. Tires are also
shock absorbers, and the more sidewall, the softer the ride, with the
trade-off being slightly less steering response, etc. You may even prefer a
smaller wheel size to increase sidewall height, but you will lose cornering
performance. But I would change the shocks before I started changing wheel
sizes - that would be my last resort. Otherwise, a heavier, larger roadster
may be a better match for you.

Boreal
2001 LS 6 speed Silver/tan, Sport Suspension w/hard rear sway bar

"BAK" > wrote in message
news:0lCug.10684$PO.9778@dukeread03...
> Everything I find on shocks and suspension is for performance and
> handling.
> Any body have any suggestions for shocks for improving ride for cruising?
> I just bought a '95 two weeks ago and it seems like every bump I hit
> bigger
> than a pebble goes straight up my.....seat. Is it normal for this car to
> constantly feel like it is bottoming out?
>
>

i like all the responses that you have received so far and will add this...
on my '95 with 110k i didn't go for the kyb adjustable but rather installed
the basic but high quality kyb gr-2 shocks.
what a difference in ride. the set of gr-2 cost me $200 on ebay, $100 less
than the adjustables. but you also will need boots that include a bumpstops
and they are pricey at $25 each. my 95 had 110k on it when i replaced the
shocks and i suspect the shocks had never been replaced. they were
completely dead. no bounce at all from the shocks. the boot crumbled upon
touching them. looking back i now realize that my car did not have the big
between the top of the rear wheel and the fender that everyone talks about
on these cars with stock springs and shocks... now it does.

"BAK" > wrote in message
news:0lCug.10684$PO.9778@dukeread03...
> Everything I find on shocks and suspension is for performance and
> handling.
> Any body have any suggestions for shocks for improving ride for cruising?
> I just bought a '95 two weeks ago and it seems like every bump I hit
> bigger
> than a pebble goes straight up my.....seat. Is it normal for this car to
> constantly feel like it is bottoming out?
>
>

"BAK" > wrote in message
news:8PCug.10685$PO.8471@dukeread03...
>
> "Frank Berger" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "BAK" > wrote in message
>> news:0lCug.10684$PO.9778@dukeread03...
>> > Everything I find on shocks and suspension is for performance and
>> > handling.
>> > Any body have any suggestions for shocks for improving ride for
> cruising?
>> > I just bought a '95 two weeks ago and it seems like every bump I hit
>> > bigger
>> > than a pebble goes straight up my.....seat. Is it normal for this car
>> > to
>> > constantly feel like it is bottoming out?
>> >
>> >
>>
>> Seems like you're describing two different symptoms. Could be the shocks
>> are shot, but I'd check your air pressure first. I wouldn't be surprised
> if
>> you found to be around 38 ppi and that would be the source of the
>> problem.
>> Should be in the 26-30 range. I run at 28. Two different times I
>> bought
>> tires the so-called "professionals" put in around 38.
>>
>>
>
> Thanks, that will be the first thing I check in the morning. I guess this
> is
> one case where you ignore recommended tire pressure and go for what feels
> right?
>
>

Not exactly. A tire pressure so high that you you can feel every pebble is
way higher that the recommended pressure. You should run close to the
manufacturer's recommended pressure, which on my '96 is 26. For some
reason, many people, including some so-called professionals, think you
should run close to the MAXIMUM recommended pressure indicated ion the tire.
That's wrong, not to mention dangerous.

"Frank Berger" > wrote in message
...
>
> "BAK" > wrote in message
> news:8PCug.10685$PO.8471@dukeread03...
> >
> > "Frank Berger" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >>
> >> "BAK" > wrote in message
> >> news:0lCug.10684$PO.9778@dukeread03...
> >> > Everything I find on shocks and suspension is for performance and
> >> > handling.
> >> > Any body have any suggestions for shocks for improving ride for
> > cruising?
> >> > I just bought a '95 two weeks ago and it seems like every bump I hit
> >> > bigger
> >> > than a pebble goes straight up my.....seat. Is it normal for this car
> >> > to
> >> > constantly feel like it is bottoming out?
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >> Seems like you're describing two different symptoms. Could be the
shocks
> >> are shot, but I'd check your air pressure first. I wouldn't be
surprised
> > if
> >> you found to be around 38 ppi and that would be the source of the
> >> problem.
> >> Should be in the 26-30 range. I run at 28. Two different times I
> >> bought
> >> tires the so-called "professionals" put in around 38.
> >>
> >>
> >
> > Thanks, that will be the first thing I check in the morning. I guess
this
> > is
> > one case where you ignore recommended tire pressure and go for what
feels
> > right?
> >
> >
>
> Not exactly. A tire pressure so high that you you can feel every pebble
is
> way higher that the recommended pressure. You should run close to the
> manufacturer's recommended pressure, which on my '96 is 26. For some
> reason, many people, including some so-called professionals, think you
> should run close to the MAXIMUM recommended pressure indicated ion the
tire.
> That's wrong, not to mention dangerous.
>
>
Lowered the tire pressure this morning from 32 psi to 28. Seems to have made
a nice improvement. Will be pricing the shocks next. Thanks.