My first mod I did was I got a smaller girlfriend. Yep ! She weighs less and she eats less, which saves me a lot of money ! Now, my car handles better, gets better mpg. I highly recommend this mod.
@tomhunter914 ай бұрын
😂
@D3Brian4 ай бұрын
Very brave!
@DvLRaphy3 ай бұрын
honestly i got rid of it completely! there is a lot of cons, but tbh, I've got a lot of more space now to carry stuff and I can definitely tell the difference in the handling of the car without one. i'd recommend you try
@BryceWomeldurf Жыл бұрын
I totally agree on "fix what's broken." Every time some kid picks up their first NA or NB I tell them "catch up on the maintenance first."
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
100%!
@kevinw73197 ай бұрын
My first mod was stubby antenna. 2nd was carplay for my ND1
@FlyinMiataVideo7 ай бұрын
They don't always have to be expensive mods to make them important. The most important first mod on an NA to me would be to disconnect the door buzzer. Man! That thing is obnoxious.
@DarR12993 ай бұрын
Less wind drag huh?
@benjankens7099 Жыл бұрын
The challenge I have is that I changed the wheels/tires, shocks, and sway bars all at once. Therefore, I have no reference point of how the swaybars (or anti-sway bars), impacted the car (94M). Not that I would do it differently (needed the new shocks to compliment the new wheels, "while I was at it...", etc.), but it would be nice to do each mod one at a time to see the difference. But, Keith, I take your word for it. 🙂
@dennisborg5243 Жыл бұрын
You are 100% correct. We have all done the while I’m in there I’ll change several things. But like you said. Even though it takes much more time. It is always best to change one item only at a time. It is that way that you are able to tune your car and understand what adjustment to what part gives you what kind of improvement. Time consuming yes. But in the end you’ll be a better tuner👍
@stephanegenest67935 ай бұрын
Same project !
@killing530 Жыл бұрын
i didn’t notice too much of a difference with my new sways until i got rid of the stock endlinks and got adjustable ones while properly preloading the bar! now the car stays planted while shifting weight quicker! some people also swear by the 5x shifter rebuild kit with the bronze bushing for their first mod! i haven’t done it yet but i’m looking forward to it!
@maneki9neko Жыл бұрын
Using rigid end links is transformative of the car. Many people change their bar and their end links at the same time, and think the difference is primarily the consequence of changing the bar. At less than competition speeds, with common after market bars, most of the effect will be felt by changing the end links. This is especially true when both ends of the end link have a tool-steel, spherical joint. The bronze bushing makes a difference, and it costs little. If your shifter bushings are worn, refreshing them makes a big difference.
@mr.butterworth Жыл бұрын
Replacing the slave cylinder last year on my ‘99, I discovered that the stock front sway bar is actually disconnected from the stock end link on the passenger side, and probably has been since I purchased the car two years ago. The car handles well, but I have no idea how it handles with a fully connected bar, let alone aftermarket bar and links.
@asphalthedgehog65803 ай бұрын
First thing I did was indeed the sway bars. Then some lowering. Cheap mods and it's a very nice road car now.
@vossler360 Жыл бұрын
When I first got my first "new to me" Miata and had this question, the consensus answer on the Miata forums was "driver upgrade," but in the context of car parts ARB is probably the best answer. Also, thanks for dispelling the common claim that more roll results in more grip. Whenever I hear this from people in my local Miata group, I just send them links to your videos. Keep up the good work!
@maneki9neko Жыл бұрын
When a Miata rolls, the outside wheel has more camber. And on a car with the factory alignment, that translates into more grip, especially on a 'touring tire' with a soft side wall. This is not a myth. It is straight forward geometry. The upper control arm is shorter than the lower one. As both go up, the upper control arm pulls the upper portion of the spindle towards the chassis increasing the camber. This said, body roll is distracting in a sweeping turn, and most people find the car easier to control without chassis roll. Where chassis roll is a bad actor, is in a chicane, or series of S turns. The chassis has inertia, takes time to roll and the camber is not available at the entrance to the 2nd and 3rd turn in a series of turns. You are better off without the chassis roll. The best method cancel the roll is open to debate. There are serious suspension designers for our cars who use other methods, unless the car is being used for competition.
@vossler360 Жыл бұрын
@@maneki9neko I'm going to quote directly from Keith's book "How to Build a High Performance Mazda MX-5 Miata", which he emphasized in bold letters. "Weight transfer will cost us total grip." If you want his proof, buy his book.
@vossler360 Жыл бұрын
@@maneki9neko I appears that you misunderstood the "myth" that was dispelled by Keith, so I'll relate it to you briefly. The myth is that if greater roll stiffness increases weight transfer to the outside wheel, therefore no roll stiffness will result in highest cornering force. This myth then leads to some wild claims that running no ARBs with softest spring rates leads to highest cornering forces. If you understand the geometry of the Miata's SLA suspension, then I need not explain further. Indeed there are different methods to control roll stiffness when tuning a suspension, as evidenced by some very fast Miata's that run very stiff racing coilovers without a rear ARB. But the context of this video is best "first modifications" to a Miata, and it was within this context that my original comment was made.
@JCYoo Жыл бұрын
Love the captain hat on the yacht, btw.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Mike has gone all in on his NC ownership!
@3ducs8 ай бұрын
The first, and only, modification I did on my early 2016 ND1 Sport was the Wilwood brakes. That was prompted by the stock rear calipers not playing well with New Hampshire winter salty roads. The Wilwoods have held up well for several seasons, I did all four wheels.
@johnrogerssr.7060 Жыл бұрын
Keith, totally agree on the sway bars! And, depending on where you plan on adding future modifications for your intended use of the car, maybe do the end links at the same time.
@maneki9neko Жыл бұрын
Many people find that changing the end links is more significant than changing the bar. See Killing530's post above. His reaction is common. People typically change both at the same time and think that most of the change was the bar. At less than competition speeds the different is in the links. This is especially true when both ends of the new links have true spherical joints.
@grantlauzon52379 ай бұрын
I’ve heard the ND is kinda unstable in how much it rolls. Nice to hear there’s an easy fix.
@hillbillysportsman5818 Жыл бұрын
An even cheaper first mod is the door bushings.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
We're a big fan of door bushings too!
@KennyKnoxify Жыл бұрын
I just got a second Miata and put delrin bushings in, but now my driver door does not want to close unless you slam it hard
@hillbillysportsman5818 Жыл бұрын
@@KennyKnoxify re-adjust them…
@FlyinMiataVideo4 ай бұрын
@@KennyKnoxify Take a closer look at the door cup that fits around the bushing and see if it is damaged. If so, open it up slightly so that the bushings will fit just a little looser.
@kona64514 ай бұрын
does that really make a difference??
@aubreywhitley688911 ай бұрын
I LOVE the captain's hat on the NC.
@FlyinMiataVideo11 ай бұрын
Courtesy of Mike Usrey ;)
@kentcurrie7326 Жыл бұрын
My first mod on my ND2 was replacing antenna. But, last week I finally had my FM sway bars installed. 😂
@ryanscanlon592811 ай бұрын
Same with the antenna, lol. Something this video does not do a good job of is explaining the difference between the stock swaybars and the aftermarket ones. I'd understand if it came from the factory without swaybars and you were adding aftermarket ones for stiffness. But what do these aftermarket swaybars buy you (other than adjustability) that the stock ones do not?
@lensoprezole532210 ай бұрын
@@ryanscanlon5928after market sway bars are used to reduce body roll. Because miata's have too much body roll from the factory (set up for comfort from factory).
@floriandugoli59239 ай бұрын
@@ryanscanlon5928it offers you better handling, the car is easier to rotate with the rear planted and the body roll is less prone to be an issue than the stock one (Aftermarket one are bigger), but i would say that you will improve overall the MX5 but that will not be enough if you want to chase time on track For folks like me with nice B roads with one oe two track sessions for fun per year that make sense to upgrade swaybars only I hope i could helped, english is not my first language
@nicolashuffman4312 Жыл бұрын
I added a set of Vmaxx coilovers to my NB one weekend, then added FM anti-roll bars the following weekend. The ARB's were a much bigger change! I'm not sure I've done anything so effective since. Another great early mod is to add a roll bar with REAL padding. Safety third!
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Sway bars are really one of the best bang-for-your-buck mods you can make! Good suggestion on the roll bar!
@johnellenberger1965 Жыл бұрын
+1 on FM's advice! I asked them directly last year when I was looking to modify my 21 GT RF. The sway bars literally transformed the car!
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Glad we could help, hope you are still enjoying the car!
@johnellenberger1965 Жыл бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo Absolutely! Next up is tires for the Kogekis!
@stevechoi11348 ай бұрын
Which away bars did you go with?
@johnellenberger19658 ай бұрын
@@stevechoi1134 The FM bars front and rear.
@gatorcellman Жыл бұрын
I know this vid is designed for all Miatas, but I'd suggest the very first thing to do with a 1.6 NA (assuming good mechanical condition, etc.) is bump the timing to 14 deg. BTDC. Gives a bit more lower end torque and other than a timing light, is completely free and needs no new parts! Perhaps you could do a series of first three things to do by each generation? Cheers
@raviolitrail Жыл бұрын
Swaybars, for the nb/na a brake proportion valve and pads. Getting the miata to rotate underbraking is magical.
@mr.butterworth Жыл бұрын
From my understanding, the rear brakes (of the NA and NB at least) don’t do a whole lot anyway. The fact that I’ve been running around with newer pads and rotors up front, and completely shot pads in the rear for over a year leads me to believe this is true.
@Cloverleaf7642 Жыл бұрын
Thanks v much, you’re right, that wasn’t what I was thinking. But it is now.
@BillyBlaze7 Жыл бұрын
i can second the shock / coilover upgrade on NC's, when i replaced the stock shocks on my brand new NC with a set of good coilovers the difference was incredible. before i changed them it wallowed like a pig
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
The NC is a great car, but that factory suspension on the early NC's was definitely unfortunate!
@BillyBlaze7 Жыл бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo 100%
@araarathisyomama7873 ай бұрын
Best first mod? Restore the car to it's former glory, because as we all know - previous owner likely wouldn't sell it if he knew it was any good. Keep it stock/reversible/obvious improvement mods if you want to get any of this money back. Advise for someone who wants to track it - monitor engine temps/health with accurate tools. I did and it saved my engine and my brown rad on my second track day when it got hot when I had to keep 50/50 hot/cooldown lap ratio to keep it in reasonable temps. Also get good alignment and tires that would not go almost completely bust after 2 track days like my all seasons did. Almost all of my outer side tread gone while center got barely touched.
@eNeRGizer99Nick Жыл бұрын
Thanks team and Keith, is there a video on the NC1 & 2 dampers?
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
We've got an NC Koni suspension install video. Let us know what else you'd like to see, we'll try to put it on our list!
@kylehamilton9495 Жыл бұрын
Question on adjustability - when setting up - if you started of using the middle hole, what would you expect to feel change if you move it the front or rear hole?
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Adjusting the stiffness at one end will affect the handling balance. Adjusting them both the same way will decrease overall roll, but if you go too far you'll start to notice an effect on ride quality. Check out our video on sway bar theory, it covers the how and why.
@jssw36185 ай бұрын
Door bushings first thing I did--cravenspeed.
@FlyinMiataVideo5 ай бұрын
Nice! It's one of the most simple yet effective mods you can do!
@adri1leushaАй бұрын
On all my cars, the first mode I did was a wide andgle inside mirror. Really nice int the miata if you like to drive top down, and any other car that has rear windows. You gain in rear visibility and have less blid spots! Otherwise I'd recommend driving the car for a while before doing any mods, and as the man said, maintenance first! (I do have anti-sway bars on my miata and would recommend the upgrade though!)
@FlyinMiataVideoАй бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@ag4allgood Жыл бұрын
Hey Keith , I did the axle back active exhaust ( aka Hush O Matic ) on my 2016 Club & really happy with that mod. Was it the 1st though ? No ! LED interior & trunk lights was 1st much cheaper than the exhaust or sway bar & you'll notice it immediately at night.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
All good parts! In the end it really comes down to personal preference, so there really isn't a wrong answer :)
@nutsackmania Жыл бұрын
FM turbo kit and a clutch. Congrats, you just solved your car's main problem.
@daveg7878 Жыл бұрын
With early nd2 or nd, the first mod I did was to add carplay. If it doesn’t come with it, it is a big improvement. Wasn’t too difficult or expensive.
@Jorge_Magallon Жыл бұрын
For an ND2, if I am having a shop (an authorized Miata Parts dealer about an hour from me that my local Miata Club seems to say good things about) install your front and rear sway bars, should I also have them address the coil overs. No other mods except your door bushings and a stubby antena. I am working towards keeping the car playful at slow speeds, but make it less rolly/scary (for me) in high-speed on road switchbacks and as refined as possible (for my wife). I am leaning towards the Fox suspension because of what Keith Tanner said about them being the ‘Ultimate in comfort’ in a previous suspension video (love having the wife with me, and she already complains a bit about the ride height) as well as performance.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
The coilovers and sway bars don't need to be done at the same time. The sway bars will help more with body roll, but the Fox suspension will give you loads of adjustability for both comfort and performance. We think you'll be happy with both! Feel free to reach out to our customer support team directly if you have any specific questions or want to hear personal experiences with those parts. Thanks!
@MrSilus200029 күн бұрын
The first modification is no modification. Appreciate the brand newness for a little while first. ❤
@FlyinMiataVideo28 күн бұрын
Can't hurt to get a benchmark for later!
@Erelio4 ай бұрын
Haven’t driven my Miata for 6 years , time to change fluids and dust off for some fun.
@FlyinMiataVideo4 ай бұрын
It'll be worth it!
@NA93Roadster Жыл бұрын
You are absolutely correct!
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
We're glad you approve! :D
@markg15312 ай бұрын
A great channel. Thanks!
@FlyinMiataVideo2 ай бұрын
Thank you too!
@Epiphonech Жыл бұрын
Nope, it's the better tyres. NS2R in my case, great mod for a stock street car that has occasional trackdays. Great start for dual duty as well.
@EMCSCCA9 ай бұрын
Great videos!!! Question: If you just got a ND2 and plan to use it for SCCA Solo Street Category where the Rules state, "Substitution, addition, or removal of a single anti-roll bar and supporting hardware (brackets, endlinks, bushings, etc.) is permitted. The use of any bushing material is permitted. A bushing may be implemented as a bearing.", which sway bar would you change? Front or Rear, and what items do you recommend to replace the stock equipment for this use, while keeping it mostly a daily driver? Again, great videos!!!
@FlyinMiataVideo9 ай бұрын
Sorry for the late reply! KZfaq thought your question was spam, so it was stuck "in review" till I stumbled across it! If you can only replace one sway bar, most people opt to upgrade their front sway bar - the front sway bar is generally stiffer than the rear (on Miatas), and will do more work to keep the car flatter around corners. It will make the car tend more towards understeer, but that's the compromise you must take if you're beholden to the rulebook. We do offer the front sway bar by itself if you're looking to go this route: flyinmiata.com/products/front-fm-sway-bar-nd You could replace the rear sway bar instead, but that will make the car tend more towards oversteer, which can be less predictable and result in slower lap times - especially for amateur racers.
@michaelh.9866 Жыл бұрын
Thanks, Keith!
@lemonpaper2 ай бұрын
NC should also get a new coolant overflow tank although that may fall under “fix whats broken”
@craigs348821 күн бұрын
ha 404,000 miles - 2nd motor - original coolant tank - has never run hot
@senseye1977 Жыл бұрын
How do stiffer anti roll bars affect how KPC works on the new NDs? Great content by the way!
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
The effect of KPC will likely be a bit smaller as there's less body movement to start with, but it will still have an effect.
@just-dl6 ай бұрын
If you start on driver parts, I need a shoulder. But seriously, I’d suggest a roll bar as the very first mod. Okay, second, after fix-what’s-broke.
@JETZcorp Жыл бұрын
I was really expecting the answer to be a real, strong roll bar.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
A good roll-bar is always a good thing for safety, but we were really looking at it from a performance point of view.
@DarR12993 ай бұрын
#1 Off the showroom floor alignment to the FM specifications. #2 Swaybars
@FlyinMiataVideo3 ай бұрын
Agreed.
@FurryFM4 ай бұрын
Second mod to do to your Miata: tighten the nut behind the wheel.
@toomars1301 Жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@pdavio Жыл бұрын
my first mod? fixing the failing roof latches, and putting the FM banner on the windscreen.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
We approve :)
@mathieubourbonnais7421 Жыл бұрын
Men, I was shock that the video was ending at 2:12. Dont you ever do this to me again 😂
@dgris7944 Жыл бұрын
What's the difference in benefit the FM sway bars bring to a MSM compared to a regular NB?
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
The MSM has larger bars than a regular NB, but they're not adjustable. That's the biggest thing you'd get with the FM bars, the ability to select your roll stiffness and adjust your handling balance. They can also be set to a stiffer level than the stock bars.
@connorleeduckworth8952 Жыл бұрын
On the ND2 I’d say the lowering the seats with the Paco motorsport mounts made the most notable improvement for me
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to fit comfortably!
@Trigger-xw9gq2 ай бұрын
I have two questions: On a car like this, why the heck would Mazda choose to put in such wimpy sway bars? At what point (on an ND) is it necessary to add a reinforcement kit to where the ends of the SB meet the frame? Is it determined by the thickness/stiffness of the bar, or the intended use (street, track etc)?
@FlyinMiataVideo2 ай бұрын
This video should sum it up for you pretty well kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aq5_rKSe3pyvmmw.html. If not, we don't think you'll need the reinforcement kit unless you're running really sticky tires, have stock suspension, have an upgraded sway bar, and do a number of track events.
@cornjolio Жыл бұрын
You hinted that changing the anti-sway bars on an ND is not as easy as on earlier generations. I've heard that before and don't have a lot of tools so would like to have it professionally done. Is that something any suspension mechanic could handle or do I need a Miata or mod specialist? How do I find such a specialist?
@The0Advent Жыл бұрын
Most mechanics can do it. They have a video installing them if you're interested
@cornjolio Жыл бұрын
@@The0Advent ok awesome. Thank you!
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
The front is a little more difficult on the ND just because there isn't much physical room to easily slide the sway bar out without removing other parts. It can be accomplished with a little time and patience. We do have a step-by-step video if you want to see the process, or give our shop a call, and our team may be able to recommend a shop near you for the install. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l6uphLR5x8CydqM.html
@JCYoo Жыл бұрын
I went with "coil overs" on my NC2 first. Would sway bars make a big difference?
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
On an NC2, that was probably the right choice. Sway bars will help eliminate some of that sloppy weight transfer to really tighten up the handling and give you a more precise feel.
@JCYoo Жыл бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo Thanks for the response. Guess I'll be ordering a set shortly.
@chrisjoplin3033 Жыл бұрын
Does your advice about the NC 1&2 needing shocks first also apply to the NC2 with suspension package?
@particleinthewave8378 Жыл бұрын
I asked the same question…guess I should have checked the comments first 😊
@maneki9neko Жыл бұрын
Up on the Angeles Crest Highway yesterday I was watching an ND Miata take a long sweeping turn at speed. The car had very considerable body roll. This seems to have been a design decision at Mazda. In stock condition all of our cars do this. This car is simply easier to control if some of this body roll is canceled. Roll is especially problematic in a set of slalom turns. On this there is pretty general agreement in the Miata community. However, this is where the consensus stops. There are various ways to make a Miata take a corner with less body roll. Some of these methods work well on 'real roads' with pot holes and frost heaves, and others do not. Installing a stout front bar on a car with stock springs does, as you say 'transform' the car. This said, changing the bar, and only the bar, can make the car quirky on rough pavement. The combination of stiff bar, and soft, stock springs, while it cancels roll, also cancels the independent motion of the wheels on that axle. Up on the Angeles Crest, in the warmer months, we have a car over the side about once a week. A lot of these are owner modified cars with race rubber, coil-overs, and owner specified suspension treatments. Recently Mountain Rescue went down a ravine to extract one car, and found another, previously unknown to them with the driver still in the car, still alive. He had been there for two days. The combination of stiff front bar, and soft stock springs, can, in a sweeping turn taken at speed, badly unsettle the car when the inside wheel drops into a pot hole and the sway bar pressure on the outside wheel is suddenly released. A major change in only one suspension component, without corresponding changes in the others, can make the car unpredictable, and difficult to manage on any but the flattest of roads. The Angeles Crest Highway, and the other 'Miata' roads here in Southern California, like Stunt Road in Malibu (yes, that's its real name), and the portion of Mulholland Highway known as the "Snake' are wonderful. They are not, however, flat. They are real roads with real potholes. With real roads you need true independence of motion on all four wheels. By controlling chassis lean with springs, dampers, tire side wall stiffness, and tire pressures, rather than with sway bars, you preserve that independence. A local suspension designer at 949 Racing who is certainly known to you is Emilio Cervantes. He is the founder of 949, and has engineered many of the SuperMiata series of cars. Cervantes writes about 949's series of coil overs: "We recommend using stock sway bars with Xida XL, GS, and Ace." That master of 20th century suspension design, Colin Chapman, from whom the Miata's Power Plant Frame derives, used soft sway bars too. Chapman wrote, in period: "On current racing cars anti-roll bars are needed to obtain the required handling characteristics, but are not necessarily an essential feature of suspension design." Ref: lotuselan.net/wiki/Colin_Chapman:_One_Man_Band_of_the_Racing_Circus Before you replace the front sway bar, an important question to ask yourself is whether or not you are using the stock sway bars at full capacity. The factory end links are soft. By changing to rigid sway bar end links (Heim jointed end links at both ends) the 'wind up' in the links is eliminated, and the bar engages much faster. Completely rigid end links cause the effect of the stock bar to be felt instantly on entering the corner. A much sharper 'turn in' is achieved using the stock bar. This effect is transformative of the car. If the car has too much chassis roll for your taste, the first parts to change are the end links. That can be done in a matter of minutes, costs little, and is a meaningful improvement, both to chassis roll but also to the stability of the car in a long sweeping turn. The speed at which the suspension reacts to the alternating lateral forces in a slalom or chicane is meaningfully increased. Regrettably the Flyin Miata end link for the NA Miata retains a rubber bushing, on the lower end, from the factory design. Other vendors supply an end link for the NA that has tool-steel, spherical joints at both ends. To eliminate wind up in the end links, real spherical joints (Heim joints) are necessary. Bushings do not get you there. The sway bar bushings that secure the sway bar to the chassis need be changed as well, either to urethane or a stiffer rubber compound.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Stiff bar/soft spring vs soft bar/stiff spring is a matter of preference - there are a number of different schools of thought on it. We prefer a middle of the road approach - don't put a massive 1.25" Racing Beat bar on your car car with stock springs, and don't run 750 lb springs with no bar. Going with a reasonable increase in size can have some real benefits but without much of a downside or introducing poor handling characteristics on rough roads. We do our testing on "real" roads as well, they can easily be found outside California. We also recommend changing out both front and rear bars instead of just the front unless you are making other changes to modify the balance of the car - and this video was about a single modification, not a whole pile of them. Only NA factory end links have any rubber in them, so changing out NB-NC/ND end links will not do anything to change the effective sway bar stiffness or how quickly it responds. In our experience, all rod ends have a short service life in an end link no matter how well specified they are, which is why we don't offer them and we choose to retain a bushing in the lower part of the NA end link.
@autofigure00 Жыл бұрын
I feel like sway bars are first (no matter the generation) and maybe some adjustable end links and other suspension stuff. Also probably change the tires at the same time or before you change the sway bars. Then whatever is broken and maybe some mods that increase the longevity (like an oil catch can) once it's all maintained and good you can start beefing the engine and stuff if you want to and/or do cosmetic mods.
@maneki9neko Жыл бұрын
Agreed. Tires first. Stiffer side walls and higher pressures make a huge difference.
@DavidR8Ай бұрын
I'm a 'yet to be Miata' owner. Being that the NA and NB cars are now 20+ years old would replacing the struts likely be in the "fix what's broken" job category?
@FlyinMiataVideoАй бұрын
Want to feel old? The NAs can be 35 years old by this point :) Stock shocks are almost definitely in need of replacement by this point. They only lasted about 30k miles when new.
@DavidR8Ай бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo Now I feel really old! :)
@shanecolon47275 ай бұрын
I agree with him because that's what I bought first, haha....and coilovers.
@FlyinMiataVideo5 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@lensoprezole532210 ай бұрын
To summarize : stiffer sway bars will reduce body roll, but also reduce the playfulness of the car (the ability to easily "drift" in the turns) at low and average speeds ? Is that correct ? Thank you.
@FlyinMiataVideo10 ай бұрын
That’s not our experience. The car is probably more playful with the bars as it’s more responsive.
@justinoconnor67206 ай бұрын
I purchased a brand new 2023 Miata Club over the summer. While I love the handling, especially on twisty mountain roads, I've found myself slightly terrified to push the car to the limits of its grip, depending on the circumstances. Compared to say an e46 M3, which from my experience transitions very smoothly & linearly into a drift when pushed; I've found myself startled by the Miata letting go in a less predictable & twitchy manner. At low speeds in a parking lot, on wet leaves, grass, or snow it's totally predictable & controllable in all the right ways. At slightly higher speeds on a damp road though, I've been quite startled by the initial physics of reaching that limit. When you have room to play, once it lets go, you can then gain control over the drift, but that initial transition is too startling for most circumstances. Would sway bars help with this, or is there other suspension work that would need to be done as well to change this type of feeling & handing characteristics at the limits of traction?
@jonathanjurena Жыл бұрын
Since sway bars don't typically advertise their "spring rate" (capability for lack of better word) how do we know which ones to buy. Do the ebay $60 dollar ones do the same of the $200+ dollar FM or Boss etc? 🤷🏽♂️ we don't know. You get what you pay for is always a sales tactic. Genuine question here.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
We don’t usually publish the rates of our bars because people tend to misinterpret them - it’s not unusual for an aftermarket bar to have twice the rate of factory, and that’s often taken a “too stiff”. Sway bars are only a portion of the total roll stiffness, so they need big changes to have an effect. But if you want to know the specific numbers, contact our customer service team. What you’re buying from a name brand is support, metallurgy and accurate geometry. It’s easy to match the rough dimensions. It’s harder to make sure the steel is correct and the dimensions are truly accurate. The $60 ones might be okay, but it’s a risk.
@jmoyer885 ай бұрын
Adding a front sway bar to an ND is difficult. Adding it to an ND with a Supercharger will make you swear, but still doable.
@FlyinMiataVideo5 ай бұрын
Agreed - worth it in the end, though!
@markphillips8121 Жыл бұрын
What makes this modification more difficult on the ND? Where on your list would changing to LSD be?
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Compared to the other generations, there is much less room on the ND to slide the bar out from the front of the car, but it is possible with a little patience. (We have a step-by-step video if you need help!) The LSD priority would really come down to how you drive the car. If you drive hard, competitively or just want the feel of an LSD, then move it up your list. If you just weekend drive the car or daily the car, you might not notice much of a difference if you aren't pushing the car on a regular basis.
@nickallain Жыл бұрын
This may be getting into advanced topics here, but what is the relationship between sway bar stiffness and suspension dampers/springs? I see a lot of folks in various places recommending stock sway bars if you're going to run Ohlins (am I correct in assuming FOX for NA/NB is similar?) and could you explain why this is?
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
The dampers aren't the important thing here, the spring rates are. You get some of your roll stiffness from springs and some from sway bars. If you install stiffer springs and you don't want to increase roll stiffness, too much, you can use stock bars. But you lose the ability to fine-tune handling balance by adjusting bars, and sometimes the ideal balance is found with a fairly soft bar at one end and (usually) a higher spring rate at that end as well. It depends on what you're trying to accomplish - tire choice and alignment and even power level comes into the equation when you're really dialing things in. But generally speaking, we recommend a sway bar upgrade with our Fox suspension and have done the same when we have been benchmarking Ohlins.
@giovannirocco944829 күн бұрын
Hello, could you help me find the exact size and how to remove the rear sway bar bolts? The previous owner made a poor repair, and I want to see how to remove part of the cut bolt and replace the bolts correctly.
@FlyinMiataVideo28 күн бұрын
The bolts that attach the brackets to the subframe? They're a stud, an 8x1.25 if memory serves. It's not uncommon to break one off when installing a sway bar if you get too excited. The solution is to knock or drill the stud out and replace it with a nut and bolt.
@giovannirocco944825 күн бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo Yes, they are the bolts that go to the subframe. I couldn't find the type of bolt and its size in any manual, only the nut's part number
@FlyinMiataVideo25 күн бұрын
@@giovannirocco9448 That's because Mazda considers the studs part of the subframe.
@royanderson535 Жыл бұрын
My first mod on my '''23 miata was the removal of the horrid Bridgestone tires (this reduced the noise inside cabin tremendously). Also michellin S5 are the best.
@MrPerryz Жыл бұрын
My 2008 NC only had 21000 miles on it, so the first thing I did was replace the original tires. Then supercharged, header back exhaust, big brakes, suspension, etc. Thanks, FM, for fueling my carcaine addiction 😂
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Glad we could help! lol
@BillyBlaze7 Жыл бұрын
my first mod is always adding a functional roll bar
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
We'll never discourage safety mods!
@VeganBytes6 ай бұрын
Heres the thing, if its an ND, should i buy and pay for sway bar replacements or do i buy the Karcepts kit and fit it myself? Both options will probably cost the same, so whats the better choice?
@FlyinMiataVideo6 ай бұрын
The Karcepts kit does look pretty simple to install, which is a pretty sweet plus! That said, our sway bars come with full, detailed written and video instructions and is doable for someone with basic wrenching skills and some patience.
@markcasso50702 ай бұрын
Hey everyone. I have an MX5 2021. Want to get black rims for it but BBS is way too expensive can you guys help me out what’s a good option .
@FlyinMiataVideo2 ай бұрын
We have some black wheel options here flyinmiata.com/collections/nd-wheels. Shoot us an email if you have any other questions.
@JKDJack Жыл бұрын
Would stiffer sway bars affect how much dynamic negative camber you get in a same speed/turn corner? Since the suspension wont roll as much? Keith Tanner Fan
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
This actually gets interesting if you look at camber relative to the road or relative to the chassis. You'll get less camber gain relative to the chassis, but less camber loss relative to the road surface.
@kona64514 ай бұрын
What if your NC has the Bilsteins???
@FlyinMiataVideo4 ай бұрын
We'd still suggest new shocks, preferably Koni Sports, and then move on to sway bars. If you want to lower the car slightly, that'd be our Koni Stage 2 kit with FM springs.
@Brockthedog3155 ай бұрын
What is the minimum new shocks I would need for my nc2 to add new sway bars?
@FlyinMiataVideo4 ай бұрын
@Brockthedog315 You don't need to change your shocks to install new sway bars. However, we have found that NC shocks do not last very long, so if you have more than 60,000 miles on them, it's likely time to have them replaced, too.
@heavychevy4616 Жыл бұрын
thank u sir
@treeskier80211 күн бұрын
Is the 2006 Miata reliable? I see them much cheaper than the NC2 Miatas-pretty much the same price as a NB.
@FlyinMiataVideo9 күн бұрын
Ultimately, yes: The 2006-2008 "NC1" Miatas are still great, reliable cars. Our main best guesses for the lower prices are: 1. They're simply older cars 2. The aesthetics aren't as popular as the later versions 3. The engines on all NC1 Miatas didn't come with forged internals, which means a lower red line and potentially slightly less reliable if you're planning on throwing gobs of boost at it (although, if you keep this conservative, even the NC1 engines should be fine.) If you see an NC1 for a good price and in otherwise good shape, I say go for it.
@treeskier8029 күн бұрын
Thanks. I’m kind of cross shopping the NC1 and an NB. NB is really fun. I am in the minority but think I like the front fascia of the NC1 over the NC2-but it’s splitting hairs. Both are great. The Miata really is a car where there isn’t a bad looking one. I’m hoping as we enter September I may find a great deal. Thanks so much for your input.
@FlyinMiataVideo9 күн бұрын
@@treeskier802 You are welcome! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - if you don't mind the looks of the NC1s, you'll likely have an easier time finding a deal on an NC than an NB.
@4driversGr Жыл бұрын
Hi there. What do you think of installing only rear ARB on a ND 1.5 with Koni Sport (adjustable damping and height) / Eibach springs and 16'' wheels + bracing? I heard that on bumpy, slippery roads (as usual in Greece) having a thicker than stock front ARB there is a degree of understeer induced. Thanks in advance.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Adding just a rear bar will add oversteer. Adding just a front bar will add understeer. It's not due to bumpy roads, it's due to the way the weight transfer changes. We did another video on the theory of sway bars you might enjoy.
@flexorz91 Жыл бұрын
Is the impact of adding ARBs similar for the Fiat 124 Spider? I'm impressed of the adjustable Whitelines in my NC3. Just asking for my dad's 124 Spider, already have adjustable coilovers installed and lighter OZ wheels.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
The 124 shares so much with the ND, we're sure you'd notice a big difference with some quality sway bars! flyinmiata.com/products/nd-flyin-miata-sway-bars
@stefanilie4066 Жыл бұрын
I will see a differance if i install a aftermarket sway bar on stock suspension?
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
You will.
@shaunbeaulieu1148 Жыл бұрын
I'm interested in getting some these but I just would like street ones can you send me a link where I can purchase please
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
You can get them at flyinmiata.com for all years of Miata.
@lauracollins7566 Жыл бұрын
Off subject but did you add extra lights into the bumper of the silver NB behind you. If yes what are they
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
The NB is visually stock, minus some LED bulbs. The fog lights are OEM Mazda that came with the car.
@raulcferraz Жыл бұрын
Also in my 93 Miata with the 1.5 stage suspension... Would I need adjustable end links for the Flyin Miata sway bars?
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Not unless you are significantly changing the ride height or plan to corner balance the car. That's when the adjustable end links really come in handy!
@dougmiller9567 Жыл бұрын
Keith...I have a 2009 PRHT GS...it appears to have Bilestein dampers...judging by the yellow.. does it have a heavier front sway bar. I can't find a specs listing on this model here in PEI>
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Give our support team a call or email directly, they might be able to answer this for you.
@tjarkworthmann105 Жыл бұрын
Great!
@vinfa20674 ай бұрын
Change your broken oil dipstick lol
@scottyknows1566 Жыл бұрын
Even better, just get the front bar :)
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
That'll lead to more understeer if you don't change anything else, but that can be an improvement in an autocross situation.
@OmarTorres Жыл бұрын
Would sway bars help on an NC1 with brand new Koni STR.t? Stock springs so far.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Certainly.
@NoBettaFeta Жыл бұрын
Is there actually an advantage to not using the rear swaybar for uses like autocross?
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Check out Keith's sway bar theory video, he covers instances where removing the rear sway bar has benefits. He doesn't run a rear sway on his personal racecar.
@NoBettaFeta Жыл бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo will do, thanks!
@AlvinBrinson Жыл бұрын
*Cries in ND front sway bar labor rates*
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
We have a video to help with the install :) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l6uphLR5x8CydqM.html
@PeatyR Жыл бұрын
For a DD would it be necessary to upgrade the end links? 2001 SE with 46K miles.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
The only real reason to upgrade to adjustable end links would be if you have changed the car's ride height significantly, or if you want to corner balance the car. No need for them if you are at or near stock ride height on a street car.
@PeatyR Жыл бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo Perfect, thanks for the reply my FM bars are being delivered today! I'm on stock suspension and really don't plan on changing anything currently. I got a new set of Conti's the other week so I'm good to go :) Thanks for all the great content as always.
@raulcferraz Жыл бұрын
I have the Koni stage 1.5 installed on my NA (which was my priority because the shocks were blown). I did not install sway bars because my tires (hankook ventus v2) are not great, and I was under the impression that decreasing body roll would put more strain on the tires. Is that incorrect?
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Decreasing body roll will not put more strain on the tires.
@MattJones-uv3hw Жыл бұрын
My dad passed me his 1990 Miata so he could buy his 2015 Miata. It's basically stock so I may consider adding a sway bar. I only drive around town though, so is doing this a bit of overkill?
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Not really. You'll feel the difference even at responsible street speeds. That's one of the reasons it's #1 on our list.
@MattJones-uv3hw Жыл бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo Thanks for the reply! My dad took really good care of the car and it only has 65 or 70,000 mi on it so I want to make sure I'm treating it right while it's my responsibility!
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
@@MattJones-uv3hw The good news is that if you do change out the sway bars and decide for some reason that they're not for you, the modification is fully reversible.
@MrTAKIS1984 Жыл бұрын
Can we change sway bars without changing suspension?
@Lateralus14 Жыл бұрын
Yes, absolutely. An aftermarket ARB will fit fine on a stock suspension setup, and won't interfere if you decide to make other suspension mods later.
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
Of course. Feel free to reach out to our support team if you have specific questions or just need to talk through the benefits!
@tommymoree Жыл бұрын
What if you have a NC 13....
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
The newer NCs had much better suspension, so the Sway Bar First suggestion still applies :)
@emilmadsen8972 Жыл бұрын
My first mod is an LS swap
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
We can't argue with you there, just don't forget the suspension and upgraded brakes ;)
@agunther08 Жыл бұрын
Question, how does it play with new Mx-5 KPC? -
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
We haven't tested these on a KPC car yet, but it should benefit from a more managed body roll and weight transfer.
@agunther08 Жыл бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo kind of academic question, I don't have one - my 2020 works great with your sways, frame reinforcement, and billet clamps. Seems if I remember correctly if you turn off traction control- KPC turns off too. Then you would really be glad you had those FM sways. Just wondered what your experience was showing. Thanks for the reply!
@violinmiata Жыл бұрын
Actually adjusting the swaybars does a lot more than adjusting shocks!
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
It does different things. But for steady state cornering balance adjustments, they're the way to go!
@violinmiata Жыл бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo totally different things, for sure. But balance wise, it’s huge. I had a epiphany at an autocross 10+ years ago, instigated by a fellow miata competitor. I had a good suspension, corner balanced and aligned. But was fighting oversteer. Noticed my friend had massive understeer and was 2 seconds faster. He said disconnect the rear bar, then did that for me lol. Life changing. We matched times and then drove each others cars. Now for mixed use driving my rear bar is connected, but full loose. Front on medium. Best use of my car, way better than before
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
@@violinmiata The nature of autocross is fairly violent transitions (especially on corner entry) and traction management problems coming off corners due to the low speeds and low gearing. It works better if you maximize rear traction at the cost of front, as you can use those transitions to rotate the car. Street and track use usually rewards a more balanced setup where you have more available traction to initiate a turn and are then able to work all four equally and balance on the throttle with less concern about putting down power. As you move into more powerful cars, you have to start emphasizing that rear traction a bit more - we'll set up a 500 hp V8 a little differently for track use than a 116 hp 1.6 to give the back end a fighting chance. As a bonus, setting the car up to rotate more makes it more playful and more fun. This sort of fine tuning is why adjustable sway bars are such a useful tuning tool.
@violinmiata Жыл бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo yep! Adjusting all the bits and pieces does make a difference!!
@ldsiverling Жыл бұрын
Anyone else strip the threads on the front sway bar brackets even at the listed torque settings? just me? Cheap mod to do at least.
@johnchalkiadakis Жыл бұрын
What are the 2nd 3rd 4th and 5th Mods to do to your Miata?? 😛
@MAbild7 Жыл бұрын
Apple CarPlay (assuming ND), Sound tube delete (assuming ND), LED Interior cabin / trunk lights, Delrin door bushings, Axle back exhaust, Spider Grille (assuming ND), Hard dog roll bar (not sway bar).
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
This really comes down to personal preference and how you want to use the car, but for a performance build: Suspension, wheels/tires, cooling, turbo.
@gedavids84 Жыл бұрын
0:10 Is it tires? I bet it's tires.
@gedavids84 Жыл бұрын
Awww, sway bars. Good recommendation.
@merlyn2121 Жыл бұрын
@@gedavids84 should be tires. Nothing I've done made more of a difference.
@38tech Жыл бұрын
What if you are dumb and did everything at once. Lol I just installed my stage 2 vmaxx extreme sports, new a arms upfront, r package tie rod ends, and engine mounts. Oh and new wheels and tires. 😂
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
We can support that ;)
@38tech Жыл бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo the one thing one the coils. Does it come at full stiff or soft?
@FlyinMiataVideo Жыл бұрын
@@38tech We cannot guarantee the shocks are set to any specific setting, we recommend you set them yourself.
@38tech Жыл бұрын
@@FlyinMiataVideo my older teins would stop at full tilt. Assuming these do the same. Sorry I know random question on this vid.
@Davan5147 ай бұрын
A couple of hundred dollars….seriously? On a ND?
@FlyinMiataVideo7 ай бұрын
Okay, that's true. Our ND sway bars are $350 shipped and you can pay considerably more for other brands.
@robertsimpson22 Жыл бұрын
If in The U.K, weld the little bugger up!!
@ryankim3612 Жыл бұрын
“AI bots”. Hahaha!!
@PrimsAlg Жыл бұрын
calling yt viewers bots when its clearly the better streaming platform, yall are just boomers /j