MX-5 Geo and Lowering

Housey

Housey

Housey

Man of Honour
Joined
21 Feb 2006
Posts
29,593
Popped into Centre mavity yesterday and booked my wife's MX-5 in for a full work over in early August. I plan to have the geometry sorted out as it's not quite right and is suffering a lot more bump steer than I would expect and I have also asked about lowering it by a couple of inches. Chris Franklin is going to speak to Bilstein and understand what the best way forward is on this front. Though the MK3.5 is lower than the MK3 it still looks somewhat tippy toes and having seen a couple lowered now it does make the whole car look better. I want to maintain as much of the damping quality of the current set up but just want to get is looking that extra bit lower. I will get some pictures of before and after up too and if I can spare the time will spend the day there with him and take a few pictures to share.

And yes, we will ensure the insurance is aware of any changes.
 
Tony at Wheels in Motion is another top man for Geo, and lowering. Had my 5 done there a few months back.

The car that I drove home with looked identical to the one I arrived in, except it was a 30mm lower.

However, the handling was like owning a different car.

Feel like she's on rails now.

Thumbs up to WIM!
 
I live 30 mins from Centre mavity, I live 3 hours from WIM. Chris Franklin is, from various sources of quality one of the best setters up of a car in the UK, some would say the best.
 
Hussman said:
Tony at Wheels in Motion is another top man for Geo, and lowering. Had my 5 done there a few months back.

The car that I drove home with looked identical to the one I arrived in, except it was a 30mm lower.

However, the handling was like owning a different car.

Feel like she's on rails now.

Thumbs up to WIM!
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Did you suffer bump steer pre set up?

By this I mean as speed rose and the road started to get a bit lumpy the car would move around at the front end and vibrate through the steering and if so, did this get resolved?
 
Housey said:
I live 30 mins from Centre mavity, I live 3 hours from WIM. Chris Franklin is, from various sources of quality one of the best setters up of a car in the UK, some would say the best.
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120 miles from here but i think he is the best, he's done 2 for me.
 
No bump steer that I was aware of, but it was worth the money.

I'm sure CG is equally good to WIM, just WIM was a lot nearer for me and has many good reviews on the MX5 forums. I can't compare my result directly with CG as I've never had work done by them on my car.

Bottom line is, if you're happy with the work you've had done on your car what does it matter if someone else disagrees :)

I would suspect both companies offer a similar level of service.
 
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DiamondMark said:
120 miles from here but i think he is the best, he's done 2 for me.
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He had 3 911's in yesterday and has worked on my old GT3, though not in my possession. He also worked on a couple of MX5's I know too and the feedback was pricey but transformational.
 
Housey said:
He had 3 911's in yesterday and has worked on my old GT3, though not in my possession. He also worked on a couple of MX5's I know too and the feedback was pricey but transformational.
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He did my 997 and my old Turbo Cayenne.

The 997 transformation was amazing, the Cayenne still ate tyres but did drive better, he's a top bloke, he aint even expensive.
 
Housey said:
I did wonder, but that's what my Mac spullchucker came up with and Steve Jobbs is NEVER wrong!
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Try telling that to all those left-handers who bought the new iPhone with its reception issues! :D

BTW I'm on a mac here, and I'm left handed, lucky I stuck with the old iPhone really. :p
 
Hussman said:
Oh, I see a new one - lucky man!

I have a MkII.

Hard or soft top?
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IMG_0023.jpg
 
Personally I’d prefer to take the car to someone with a proven track record and knowledge of the 5's geo setup, otherwise you could be in for quite a few visits till he dials in the settings which feel right on the road.

I've got / used to have a list of custom geo setup's spanning the Mk1 to Mk3 Mx-5, will look on my server at home and see if I’ve still got the file knocking about.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Personally I’d prefer to take the car to someone with a proven track record and knowledge of the 5's geo setup, otherwise you could be in for quite a few visits till he dials in the settings which feel right on the road.

I've got / used to have a list of custom geo setup's spanning the Mk1 to Mk3 Mx-5, will look on my server at home and see if I’ve still got the file knocking about.
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He has done loads of 5's.
 
Firestar_3x said:
Personally I’d prefer to take the car to someone with a proven track record and knowledge of the 5's geo setup, otherwise you could be in for quite a few visits till he dials in the settings which feel right on the road.

I've got / used to have a list of custom geo setup's spanning the Mk1 to Mk3 Mx-5, will look on my server at home and see if I’ve still got the file knocking about.
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Tony at WIM has these...;)

They do all the Geo for the Mazda MX5 racing series cars and have worked with GAZ to produce MX5-specific coilsovers etc.

Having said that @Firestar, if you'd be happy to share the data I'd be pleased to get a copy. - thanks!
 
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