need more photo's good work matey!

Have you thought about bigger wheels?

Cheers , yeah ive been thinking about that too, i really like the ones ive got though so im on the lookout for same style as current ones, but upping to 16's, i think the sidewall height on 17's might be a bit harsh for a daily.

And yup, more pics will be coming very soon

Smurf what tyres you have there? Couse mine 205/60/15 looks like SUV realy , lol. I think cool look is possible just with smaller tyres. I had winter ones 55 and it was allready kinda more cool, but speedo was showing bigger speed with them. I guess tyres 50 would make all better, and 45 even more.

This is standard height



-60mm (mazdaspeed springs made by eibach)



Coilovers

thats what i was curious about ..so now its clear. thx but then it depends some from tyres rims high too. i would check how much hand i can put into mine. coilovers are just for street driving with nice roads

Standard was on 17's and the -60 was on 16's but the 16's had a higher profile so we're roughly the same overall diameter.

Also don't forget the V6 sits a little lower as standard

Hmmmmmmm ok standard height was a 1.5 the -60 whas my lantis and the coilovers was a 1.5 on daiyamas

Hi Mate give us a pm when your putting your springs on i am just going down the garage to get this locking wheel nut off it as held me up so much and i need my new springs on after all the stick i took from my photo but i was happy with the compliments on her. all the best mate i have everything ready for the change,just need the weather and thats looking good so will be checking site for tips thanks again Nick Cara

eogbaker, and how you find handling changed from standard to -60mm, and stiffness

Mine came with them as standard as I have a lantis type r. But I thought the ride was great with them as I find other ones that I have been in with standard shocks too soft. Only reason I changed was I wanted coilovers to go lower

you mean too soft for city driving or for track'ish racing style. or for young age style ?

Just too soft for me. I do prefer a car that can go round corners so definitely don't like a high wobbly car... but I used my car every day to go everywhere. Went to the lake district a few times in it which is bumpy roads and a few places dirt roads. Never had an issue personally

just tried to take a pic, but its a bit dark, and tricky doing it one handed..... but as a comparison of the pics above, i can fit five fingers, so like the coilover pic plus one finger, if that makes sense?
Also with my tiny wheels, 15's, they dont help as the arches are not filled very well.....should be sunny tomorrow, so a good clean and a few pics needed i think

handling wise, i would describe it as firm, but still with some give so not too harsh.
it has highlighted the fact i could probably do with replacing the trailing arm bushes at some point as well as the rear anti roll bar ones too

ive also noticed a little bit of understeer too, but not too much as to make tight turns a little 'clenching' lol

it never ends does it?

i think all cars as they are made have that balance made in factory, and when you make "tunnings" you change that balance. some things maybe good for track and some better for cruising in comfort. depends whats we need. all lowering most times made for look and only look. and then well most says that its better because it must be better.

Lowering the car meke it more stable in corners with higher speeds, the low centre of gravity proves it.. the other thing that moust people are doing it it's because of look.. didn't even understand why it's needed stiffer springs....

i have mine lowered primarily for handling purposes, i live by some fantastic twisty country roads and the need for improved handling is needed, but yes also for styling reasons too, as i do prefer the look of lowered cars.

But i have also added both front and rear strut braces which adds to, or rather reduces body roll/flex during cornering, ill be replacing all the possible bushes to poly ones too to further reduce roll and age related saggyness

I would take those 40-s from you if you don't need them, but i already found ones here..
I live in Plovdiv city and here all is leveled but the mountain is 15min. away and me and my friend like to go up and relly enjoy the road..

sure in track corners are important. i wonder where you go high speed in corners in city with 50km limit. ? i would do it just for look.
and i like how car rools in corners. thats how you actualy feel what car is doing. well thats why mazda made new mx5 soft and with small wheels. and its rols in corners because its best that way

the leaning off the car in corners is too much with the stock springs..
It actually makes you more unstable (read it slower) as you don't trust the car and take your foot of the gas pedal..
Been there, done that...
I said in my previous post that i drive it like that in the mountain
Lets not SPAM Womble's tread any more..

feels a little bit like summer again out there today, so i decided to get into the engine bay for a bit of a clean and tidy up, engine decided it didnt like oil and covered the engine, school boy error on my behalf, forgot to fully tighten the oil cap after a bit of a top up, then went for a drive.....hmmmmm

so, i gave the slam panel and strut brace a respray

primer coat


then a fresh coat of white, then clear coat

after that, and before re-fitting i decided to colour code the nuts for both said pieces

as i was doing this i noticed the look on Deb's face, it was kind of a mixture of both confusion and disbelief, im sure as she was saying something the words 'get' and 'life' were muttered..... hahahaha.

Haha I love this! Nice week dude!

A life fueled with the blood of a high octane BA

looking good mate

Just discovered i have my MOT due a week on thurs, the shopping has begun

1 x CV Boot
2x H3 bulbs
1x red/chromed rear fog bulb
rear anti roll bar bushes, anyone know what size i will need?
rear fog light switch.
was hoping to have a new cat fitted too, but thought i had an extra month, this may not be done in time

hmmmmm, busy weekend ahead

thought it would be about time to update this a little, after reading the last post, oh i wish that was all i needed.....lol

anyway, the test was actually on monday, not the fortnight before, and i failed, but not on the things i was worried about, mainly emissions, and a worn offside cv boot.
failed on....
brake imbalance across an axle
both front brake hoses worn
no retaining clips on any of the brake hoses
blown rear brake light
torn nearside cv boot
then advisory for
offside rear brake hose showing signs of wear
offside front cv boot cracked but not allowing dirt in
misting on the front nearside shock
oil leak

I didnt think it was that bad.....

so ive been busy, frustrated, relieved, frustrated, nervous and then over the moon in the space of two days.....

replaced both front brake hoses, the ones from ebay, company called keep_driving, dont fit, had to be modified, but now fit a treat,
the offside front caliper was sticking, so stripped it down, regreased the slider and is all good.
replaced the cv boots with e-z boot, very tricky indeeed, but easier than the alternative
fitted all the brake hose retaining clips, dont know why i didnt do this when i fitted the new suspension.

re-tested, and passed.....over the moon.
i bled the brakes as you do, but tester mentioned it was still a little soft, but not too sotf that it would fail the mot, but advised to re-bleed when i get home.

re-bled all the brakes when i got in, but when i got to offside rear, i was a bit too enthusiastic when tightening up the nipple and sheared it, thankfully when it was closed......
so after a bit of a panic and thinking the worst, stu said all i would need was a new brake cylinder, phew.....

so this morning ive picked up a couple of new cylinders, £30 for both from eurocarparts, happy with that price
a new set of brake shoes, may as well if im opening up the drums
and postie has just delivered the rear brake hoses

and then as some of you know, Womble is being sold im upgrading to a v6 a very nice one, a very nice white one too....

But dont worry, Womble shall live on, she is going to a guy i know in my local car club, and he plans to turn her into a track car.......hence why im making sure she stops when needed......yes i know it would be the new owners responsibility to make sure the brakes are good before he gets her on track, but i can at least sleep on a night knowing that the brakes, at the very least are reliable......

Nice to know she's staying with somebody who will take care of her dude

Womble as you know will soon be leaving my ownership to take on a new life as a track car , but in the meantime the stripdown has begun, i didnt realise how much i have done in the last 18months or so, and how much i have added, the parts list was extensive, the garage is now choc full of many many shiny goodies which will be transferred to the new car (v6, sorry, cant help mentioning that ).

but as one last flying into the light 'mod' i did a test fit with the new spoiler, this wont be staying on Womble, but the mounts arrived to day and i just couldnt wait, my patience is terrible at times....

so, its marmite time(other beef based products are available, though not as tasty)





i must add, the logs are not some 'rat' mount, i just didnt want to drill in....

and from the rear



I must admit, its a tiny bit higher than expected, but for my eye, it sits well from each angle.

and as a sneak preview, here is 3D Tuning impression of what i will be aiming for with the new car



Thoughts/comments and opinions welcome

It's not for me, but if it floats your boat mate, you go for it. Actually, it's growing on me...hmmm

yeah i always thought it would be something a little different, i dont think it looks quite right on a darker looking car if that makes any sense? i might yet have a play about with the height of the mounts too, i might be able to shave an inch or two off, but i think from an overall point im fairly satisfied

I dont mind it but in my eyes its way too high....