Newbie with MX5 preparing for drifting

M

madein

New Member
Hi guys,

I'm new here and I'm going to pick up 2002 MX5 tomorrow, 1.8 S VT Sport.

hope it is going to be good buy and get me back home, as it is bit of distance.

I would like to ask few questions, I'm hoping to do some drift evenings in Essex Arena.

Does it make big differences to buy Coilovers for £200 or £700 from ebay?
Looking to replace some fluids as well, PAS, Brakes, what do you use or recommend?
Are the standard brakes good enough or would you recommend some upgrade?
what about steering wheel? I have seen 350mm, 320mm or even smaller, even bottom flat, what do you think which is better?

I have seen so many picture of drift ready cars, but still can find if there is better to use smaller or wider tyres for drifting?

I'm sure I will still have million questions :wack:
 
You get what you pay for with coilovers as with anything,if it's just for drifting then maybe just get something cheap as they will do. Steering wheel size is a preference thing and won't make much difference really. Don't worry about the brakes, you won't be using them when drifting an mx5
Spend your money on a good seat and a rollbar. You will want skinny tyres pumped up hard as you won't have much power to play with.
 
Welcome to the forum :)

If that's the model I think it is, it's the 1.8VVT so it will have PLENTY of power for "mint skids".

Coilovers - As above, you get what you pay for. Do you want to just be low and harder, go for Raceland/TA Tecknik £200 jobbies. Actually want an upgrade that you don't have to get replaced after 18 months, go get some HSDs or BCs.

Fluids - Good rule of thumb to do PAS fluid so it's nice and fresh. Usual service stuff including a decent coolant flush certainly can't go wrong.

Brakes - I have to partially disagree with the above. YES, you won't use them while on drift but decent pads and a good pedal feel can do wonders with weight shift and trail braking to initiate AND obviously to help you avoid hitting someone who's talent has run out or when your talent runs out. Some half decent pads on standard disks and a brake fluid flush will be grand.

Steering wheels - Yes, personal preference. I've driven my AE86 with a 320mm wheel and I personally didn't like it so went for 350 upto 370mm Nardi. Don't go for a flat bottom as it makes it a cnut to feed through consistently.

Tyres - Rear, start of small. As your confidence increases and you want to add on speed, go wider. These cars will drift on 195s with ease but whack up the pressure and you'll be grand :)

Drift Mods - Good place to start is Rack Spacers. Easy job to do, basically a washer that goes in between your inner tie rods and steering rack and gives you more lock.
If you need more after it, you can try removing the power steering and getting chopped knuckles :)

And finally - MX5s DON'T NEED A HYDRO! ;)
 
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Thank you guys for the advise.

I was kind of busy to replay and thank you yesterday, as strait after work I was catching train and went to pick it up.

Visually looks really nice, bit bubbles on the rear arches, drove it 250 miles back home without any big troubles.

Didn't have even time to make some photo, as it starts raining, but there are from the advert:













Now I'm in hunt for rollcage, probably will try this one:

T R LANE PERFORMANCE LTD - MX5 FULL ROLLCAGE

does any one have experience with this?

with coilovers, I will probably try the BC, anyone have experience with them:

http://corbymotorsport.com/mazda-mx5-bc-coilovers-c-14_86_393_399/mazda-mx5-8905-bc-coilover-kit-br-p-1085

with seats, it would be hard choice as there are plenty of them, but I will probably try to safe some money now:

PAIR OF BLACK FIXED BUCKET CAR SEATS + RACING HARNESSES | eBay
 
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madein said:
Hi guys,

I'm new here and I'm going to pick up 2002 MX5 tomorrow, 1.8 S VT Sport.

hope it is going to be good buy and get me back home, as it is bit of distance.

I would like to ask few questions, I'm hoping to do some drift evenings in Essex Arena.

Does it make big differences to buy Coilovers for £200 or £700 from ebay?
Looking to replace some fluids as well, PAS, Brakes, what do you use or recommend?
Are the standard brakes good enough or would you recommend some upgrade?
what about steering wheel? I have seen 350mm, 320mm or even smaller, even bottom flat, what do you think which is better?

I have seen so many picture of drift ready cars, but still can find if there is better to use smaller or wider tyres for drifting?

I'm sure I will still have million questions :wack:
Click to expand...


Sent from my 4045L using Tapatalk
 
Car looks alright dude. The bubbles on the arches are ok, its the sills you need to watch out for on MX5's

I had a TR lane half cage in mine. Stiffens up the car loads and makes a mount for the harness with the cabin brace.

As mentioned above you don't need a hydro. You wont really need any mods other than coilovers to do phat skids, the VLSD in there will keep you from the 1 tyre fire but even with an open diff i managed some good skids in mine so you'll be golden.
Coilovers will make such a difference to the car. They wallow about a bit in the corners with oem suspension. Drop it down and firm the ride and itll be a totally different car, not just for drifting :)



I cant really comment on those seats you've posted up there, but one thing i will say is you cant really put a price on safety. Get the best you can afford :thumbs:
 
lower class said:
Car looks alright dude. The bubbles on the arches are ok, its the sills you need to watch out for on MX5's

I had a TR lane half cage in mine. Stiffens up the car loads and makes a mount for the harness with the cabin brace.

As mentioned above you don't need a hydro. You wont really need any mods other than coilovers to do phat skids, the VLSD in there will keep you from the 1 tyre fire but even with an open diff i managed some good skids in mine so you'll be golden.
Coilovers will make such a difference to the car. They wallow about a bit in the corners with oem suspension. Drop it down and firm the ride and itll be a totally different car, not just for drifting :)



I cant really comment on those seats you've posted up there, but one thing i will say is you cant really put a price on safety. Get the best you can afford :thumbs:
Click to expand...

thanks for the comment, I got now the BC Racing adjustable coilovers and I'm happy I didn't go for the cheapest version, the way they are adjustable is just perfect, the ride height is just enough not to touch the speed bumps (at least most of them) and still comfort on the road and with a twist you can just adjust them to be really stiff when drifting (at least trying).

I have also change all the suspension bushes and links, still need to do the engine mounts and differential bushes.

With the seats I have got them, but I decided not to fit them by now and use the original seats, but I will try to put the grommets in to use the with either 4 or 5 points harness bar.

I still wasn't so sure about the roll bar or cage, but I will use the TR as you are saying.

Probably could do with build thread by now:wack:
 
I had fabric stock seat and they weren't that bad. I'm not sure if its the same with the leather ones but with fabrics you can dig out some of the foam so you're sitting lower into the seat which helps hold you in.

You'd probably be alright with a half cage for now, being a vert the top of the windscreen is re-enforced anyway. certainly be cheaper :thumbs:

Good shout on the coil overs. They'll last longer and like you say they're adjustable. You're better off setting the rears a little softer than the fronts. You want the front planted for steering and the rears a little less to absorb bumps more which will make it less skitty.


Does sound like you've done alot! Get a build thread up dude. Everyone loves a miata!!
 
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