Here's what I'm scrambling to get done before the next ice race. Little background info. due to the rather unique front strut design on EA-series subarus, and lack of demand for performance parts for them, there aren't any suspension options for them (save GR2s). well, now that I've converted to 5-lug, I can run anything I want in the front.....but there still isn't anything available for the rear.....hmmmmm well, last summer I started looking for another application that would work. since the rear uses a pretty generic coilover-shock design, much like the '00+ Legacies and '08 impreza, I figured there had to be something out there. so I found an ebay seller that sold KYB AGXs that had pictures of the actual suspension on his listings (not just a generic picture), and started scrolling through until I found something that looked like what I wanted. lo and behold.....the '90-'97 miata ones looked really similar! so I joined a miata forum, and started pissing off real miata owners by asking them all kinds of basic questions about their suspension (that what they get for having a crappy FAQ section :biggrin: ). a found that, sure enough, the dimensions were pretty similar. the fronts and rears are essentially the exact same design, except the rears are about 3-4" shorter. so I bought a full set of 4 stock takeoffs from ebay (didn't want to sink the $$$ into AGXs until I knew that it would work). I got them to work with some modification, and have been running those since ~August. problem was, with the older miata ones, I had to cut out the upper bushing, which allows for the flex needed to accommodate the arced travel of the trailing arm, so there's some extra strain on the shock shaft. well, a couple weeks ago, I bought these '99 miata fronts.... and today I finally started taking them apart.....here's what I found. comparable length to the EA82, and substantially longer shock body (substantially less travel). so these aren't a very good option if lowering is high on your list of priorities.....but should work fine from a performance standpoint. I also just saw a post mentioning flipping the upper bracket upside-down for a small drop.... the NB miatas ('98?-'05 I believe) have a bushing in the upper mount much like the EA82s: so I think these will work a bit better with the EA82 upper mounts then the NA ones. I got a nice deal on a pair of 1200.250.0250 Eibach/Ground-Control springs (12" long, 2.5" ID, 250 lb/in) on ebay: these are very close to stock EA82 springs in dimensions (in fact....could make for a decent upgrade for EA82s....). Here on the EA82 shock): and similar height to the stock miata ones: the miata upper bushings go on like this: replace the lower washer (won't fit inside the 2.5" spring) with the EA82 spring perch: and stick the upper bracket (only ones I have are currently mounted on my car :-\ so not test-fitting) in that bushing, and I'll be hot to go. stock spring rates are 143 front and 196 rear. new setup will use stock WRX fronts (163) and these 250 rears. should make for a nice step up without sacrificing ride quality (can't say the same about these 400/450 lb/in sleeves!)
nice right up. too bad you are gitting rid of those coilovers... hehehe... I am interested to see how this handles with the GC coils and miata parts. definately pioneering some new stuff for the old subies!
