[91mx-5]

Okay, so I'm sure this has been asked before, but I've searched all over and I can't seem to grasp what everyone means by "soft" on Raceland Coilovers.

By soft, does it mean that it doesn't rearrange your organs on a crappy road.
Or does it mean that when throw my car into a corner, the car is going to feel like it's about to roll over.

For instance, (And this is completely irrelevant) my sand rail has stiff suspension when i corner (no body roll), yet I can hit a huge jump and land it without break my back.

So in other words. Should I interpret soft as "I'm going to feel like I'm in an SUV." Or is it more like "It can take bumps in the road great, and will have next to no body roll through the turns."
I just want to know if it is body roll city in a corner with the coilovers?

 

[concealer404]

Spring rates are low.

 

[91mx-5]

So Lots of body roll? Or it'll take bumps well? Not exactly sure what that means

 

[concealer404]

So Lots of body roll? Or it'll take bumps well? Not exactly sure what that means

They roll a lot for a coilover, and they don't take bumps well because the travel sucks.

There's not really anything they do well except for hardpark.

 

[Braineack]

racelands make your car feel and handle like a lincoln town car.

they feel floating and squishy.

 

[Kangaruu]

Don't have experience with them but from low spring rates it's probably a lot of body roll (unless you install thicker sway bars) and will absorb bumps well (unless you have it lowered so far down [hellaflush!] to the point there's not enough suspension travel).

 

[batou]

racelands make your car feel and handle like a lincoln town car.

they feel floating and squishy.

This.

Has to do with spring rates and damping.

 

[91mx-5]

Well, I'm on quite a budget. Would Tokico HP shocks and H&R "Racing Springs" be any good?
Or does anyone know of any coilovers or shock/spring setups that wouldn't be much more than the raceland coilovers? I'm looking for a stiffish ride without much roll.

 

[AngelsAndBombs]

I thought this was a thread about erectile dysfunction.

 

[Caboose]

I thought this was a thread about erectile dysfunction.

x2.

They mean, it rides so terribly, the raging boner you would normally have from a proper Miata, is flaccid and pathetic.

 

[91mx-5]

I was waiting for someone to come up with something to say about the title... Anyway, so would that setup be any good? Any suggestions?!?!?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

When most people say "soft" they believe there are talking about spring rate. However, in the example of "racelands are soft", the issue is with insufficient damping, not too low of spring rate. Racelands would actually perform better with a lower spring rate; as the damping of the shocks (especially in the rear) cannot begin to control the springs. The rear dampers have very similar characteristics as the OEM "Showa" brand shocks, with 3 times the spring rate.

You'll ride slightly better than a stock miata with blown shocks at higher ride heights on good roads. You'll bouncy horribly on bad roads and at low ride heights. Trimming the bumpstops has been shown to improve the racelands as a whole. Overall, they're better than blown stock shocks; other than that, they have no redeeming qualities.

 

[concealer404]

Well, I'm on quite a budget. Would Tokico HP shocks and H&R "Racing Springs" be any good?
Or does anyone know of any coilovers or shock/spring setups that wouldn't be much more than the raceland coilovers? I'm looking for a stiffish ride without much roll.

What is "quite a budget?"

If you can't afford anything that will suit your needs, then you should continue saving. I WOULD take the Tokico HPs and H&R springs over Ricelands any day of the week. I personally would NOT be happy with either setup, so i won't buy either of them.

 

[Caboose]

Megans, IMO, would probably be your best setup.

 

[concealer404]

I'm going to preemptively cast my vote for Bilsteins + GCs.

 

[maykelcj]

Racelands like most people said are on the softer side for a coilover. I found they are stiffer than stock, but the dampening sucks balls. they take the bumps and tend to keep on bouncing if the road is not perfectly flat. Shock travel is ok, but most people argue this because they are lower than recommended. I'm currently on 205/50/15 and tucking the tip of tire tread with cut bumstops and I have yet to hit them. If you are looking for handling, this are not the answer, yet I do have some autox on them now and I can't complain much because anything is better than a 20 year old stock suspension. A good stiff suspension will absorb the bumps without your eyeballs falling out, but racelands are for low and slow.

 

[91mx-5]

Decided on KYB AGX & H&R springs. Thanks for the info on those coilovers. You guys kept me from buying them and being disappointed.

 

[maykelcj]

^that should be a good starting point. You will get better ride and handling improvement.

 

[robertw]

What kind driving will you be doing with the car?

 

[91mx-5]

I was looking to get into Auto-X, one day (I haven't made any effort to start) and I'd like to finish the main bulk of the car before I do, as well. I spend a lot of time in the canyons, and I DD this car as well (why I wanted adjustable). Well all that aside, I already ordered those shocks/springs that I mentioned earlier, so no matter what, I got those. I'm happy that I ended up getting that setup rather than the racelands though (not that I have anything against them, or the people that use them - hardparking just isn't my cup of tea).