Miata Coilover Setup: Street, Autocross and Track
A Miata shows every suspension change in the first corner. This guide covers Miata coilover setup: rates, damping and alignment for the street, autocross and track, and what to know before you order.
Few cars reward a careful setup as much as this one, or punish a careless one as quickly. Below are the notes we give owners once they have picked their kit.
Every Miata kit, by generation
The NA, NB, NC and ND kit lists live on our Miata page. Pick yours there, then use this guide to set it up.
- Mazda MX-5 Miata coilovers: NA, NB, NC and ND, every brand we carry
- Fiat 124 Spider coilovers: the ND-based Fiat cousin
The BC Racing coilover kit listed for the 2006 to 2015 Mazda Miata MX-5. Photo: BC Racing.
Before You Order: Springs, Rates and Upkeep
A few details save you time once the box arrives.
Read the spring rates. Many kits give the coilover spring rate in kgf/mm. To convert, 1 kgf/mm equals about 56 lb/in as a rule of thumb (55.9974 to four decimal places). A rate that looks soft in one unit may not be soft in the other.
Custom rates and Swift. On BC Racing, you can order custom spring rates or Swift Springs SPEC-R springs. A custom build fee applies, and we pass it on without markup. Fortune Auto builds every kit to order and can tune valving to your use.
Check what is in the box. Coilover top mounts, camber adjustment and hardware vary by brand and kit. Read the product page for your coilover kit so nothing surprises you on install day.
Plan for upkeep. Seals and oil are wear items on any damper. Fortune Auto publishes its own rebuild schedule. It calls for a rebuild every 60,000 miles for street-only use, and every 15,000 to 30,000 miles for mixed use. Check other brands' service advice in their manuals.
Many Miatas are summer cars that sit through winter. Before storage, clean the threads, check every locking collar and look for any oil on the damper bodies. Small problems are easier to fix in the off season than the week before your first event.
Miata Coilover Setup for Street, Autocross and Track
The Miata does all three, often in the same week. Set it up for the one you do most.
Street
Keep the drop modest. There is no single safe drop for every car. It depends on wheels, tires and the bump travel you have left. Go too low and the car rides on its bump stops, which feels harsh and unpredictable. Spring rate and damping both shape comfort, so start from the kit's default spring rate and the manual's damping setting. Our guide on how coilovers affect ride quality explains why.
Autocross
Autocross rewards quick transitions and a car that puts power down out of tight corners. Adjustable damping helps you tune between runs. Change one thing at a time and write it down. Check your class rules before you buy, because they can limit what you change.
Track
Long sessions bring heat, so damper consistency matters. Set ride height, then corner weights, then alignment. Corner balancing aims for about 50 percent cross weight. Our coilover setup guide covers each discipline in more depth.
For Street, Autocross and Track
On full-length kits like BC Racing and Fortune Auto, height is set at the lower mount. The spring perch sets preload. Our guide on how to set ride height on coilovers walks through it. Tighten each locking collar, then recheck after a few hundred miles. Align after every height change, because camber and toe move with ride height. Start damping from the kit's manual setting, since click counting differs by brand.
On a car this light, unsprung weight is worth thinking about. A coilover kit does not automatically cut it. The wheel, tire, brakes and hub make up most of the unsprung weight, so lighter wheels do more than any damper swap.
Matching a Brand to Your Miata
We are an authorized dealer for every brand here. Each serves a different Miata owner.
BC Racing coilovers cover all four generations with nitrogen-charged monotube dampers. The BR Series is the best seller, with 30-click simultaneous compression and rebound. Swift Springs SPEC-R springs are an upgrade option on most BC Racing kits.
Fortune Auto hand-builds in Virginia. The 500 Series is a single-adjustable monotube, custom valved for your car and how you use it.
KW brings German engineering and TÜV certification on most kits. KW V3 has independently adjustable compression and rebound.
Öhlins lists Road & Track kits for every Miata generation, and Road & Track kits use DFV (Dual Flow Valve). TEIN gives you 16-click damping on Street Advance Z and Flex Z. Bilstein put the first monotube gas pressure shock absorber into series production, on a Mercedes-Benz in 1957. Feal hand-builds in Murrieta, California.
Pick a coilover kit for how you drive, not for the label on the box. Get the Miata coilover setup right and the car stays fun for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Miata coilovers suit autocross?
There is no single answer. Autocross rewards adjustable damping you can change between runs and a spring rate that suits your tires. Check your class rules first, then tell us your class and we will narrow it down.
How low should I lower my Miata?
There is no single safe number. On perch-only kits, lowering eats into bump travel, so a big drop can leave the car on its bump stops. Start modest, check clearance and adjust from there.
Is the Bilstein B12 a coilover?
The B12 Pro-Kit pairs Bilstein dampers with lowering springs. It is a shock and spring package without coilover height adjustment. The Bilstein B14 PSS is the coilover, with fixed damping and adjustable height.
Do I need an alignment after installing coilovers on my Miata?
Yes. Any ride height change alters camber and toe. Set your height, let the car settle, then align it. On a Miata, small alignment changes are easy to feel.
What does Extreme by Default mean on the BC Racing NA and NB kit?
It is wording from the BC Racing product name. Call us before you order and we will explain what it means for the ride height you are after.
Questions About Your Miata?
NA, NB, NC or ND, street, autocross or track. Tell us the car and the plan, and we will match the kit.
Call 1-800-460-9106 with your VIN. We will confirm fitment and talk spring rates and setup with you. Free shipping on BC Racing kits in the continental US. Shipping for other brands is shown at checkout.
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