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- San Antonio, Texas
- :
- '15 CX-5 Miata AWD
NVH = Noise/Vibration/Harshness
STAGE ONE: Must have bolt ons with minimal utility loss
Lowering Springs - Eibach/H&R (lower)/AutoExe
Mild drop, not enough to worry about scraping anymore than you would in a sedan.
Increase cornering performance, decrease wheel gap, and reduce body roll without sacrificing practical suspension travel. Minimal increase of NVH.
Rear sway bar- Corksport /James Barone Racing /Hardrace/Autoexe
Reduce understeer. Can be used with an adjustable front to tweak under/oversteer for personal preference. Stiffer than the oem bar, meaning it's more resistant to a rolling moment on the suspension. Greatly reduces body roll and increases cornering performance. Least stiff setting only for minimal loss of utility and not having to consider driveway angles. Harder settings while offering greater effect, may require additional modifications (in addition to limiting total suspension travel which will require more caution on steep slopes (driveways). Minimal increase of NVH on least stiff, stiffer settings vary greatly.
Strut tower bar - Ultra Racing/Tanabe/Autoexe
Reduce chassis flexing between shock towers by providing a solid link between each strut. Acts an energy absorber during a collision. Bracing of suspension components can preserve alignment settings during cornering. May increase NVH. A SOLID bar is ideal. A HINGED bar is counterintuitive to the purpose of the bar.
STAGE TWO: Increase cornering which may adversely affect off road capability and/or require more caution at steep driveways.
Lowering Springs- Corksport
One of the lowest spring only drop.
Increase cornering performance, decrease wheel gap, possible rubbing. Medium increase of NVH.
Dampers - Koni
Increase dampening rate to provide better cornering ability. May cause a Low to medium increase in NVH. Will not affect ground clearance or steep driveway navigation.
Adjustable Coilovers - BC Racing/K Sport/AutoExe/Numerous JDM vendors
Provide adjustable ride height, and a matching damper for that ride height. Adjustable dampening force (how hard or bouncy the ride is) Offer front camber adjustment via a camber plate (extra useful when going very low). Generally the best choice for improved cornering at any ride height. Usually more expensive than buying a spring + damper. Adjusting them outside of factory setting can be time consuming. Lower settings will require adjustments to the rear sway bar if an aftermarket is being used (in the form of adjustable end link). Front end link is not required but can be used to reduce preload on an OEM bar. NVH will range from no increase to very high increase depending first on stiffness setting, then ride height.
Front Sway Bar - James Barone Racing/Hardrace/Megan Racing/AutoExe
Reduce understeer. Can be used with an adjustable rear to tweak under/oversteer for personal preference. Stiffer than the oem bar, meaning it's more resistant to a rolling moment on the suspension. Greatly reduces body roll and increases cornering performance. Least stiff setting only for minimal loss of utility and not having to consider driveway angles. Harder settings while offering greater effect, may require additional modifications (in addition to limiting total suspension travel which will require more caution on steep slopes (driveways). Minimal increase of NVH on least stiff, stiffer settings vary greatly.
Rear sway bar (stiffer/est setting)- Corksport /James Barone Racing /Hardrace/Autoexe
Increasing the setting will decrease the lever on the arm causing it to provide a stronger anti-roll effect. In many lowered applications, an adjustable endlink (such as AutoExe) will be required to even use a setting over the least stiff. A stiff setting, compounded by the lower ride height will also reduce maximum suspension travel which is great for cornering. However this may cause problems if you take your car on (dirt) roads where the elevation varies by 4 or more inches. Or you have to navigate steep driveways (enter at an angle) Medium increase of NVH.
Chassis Bracing - Lower Arm Bar, Rear Arm Bar etc.) Ultra Racing/Tanabe/Autoexe
Reduce chassis flexing between certain points. Acts an energy absorber during a collision. Bracing of suspension components can preserve alignment settings during cornering. May increase NVH.
STAGE THREE: Engine Performance
ECU Tuning - Orange Virus Tuning, others
Increase WHP and TQ 15-35% depending on local environment, fuel type and powertrain modifications. The only modification that will by itself directly increase power output. May increase NVH.
Catback Exhaust - Corksport/Racing Beat/AutoExe and numerous JDM vendors.
Will increase the potential of power gain from ECU tuning. Will increase NVH.
Engine Air Intake - Corksport/James Barone Racing/K&N
Short Ram Intake with Dry Flow Filter
Will increase the potential power gain from ECU tuning, best choice for maximum tune output. May move the power band towards higher RPMS in untuned engines. May increase MPG's during cruising. Will increase intake temperatures at least 10degF in all situations, up to 20(Good for fuel vaporization during cruising, not good for acceleration in hot environments during a heat soak (traffic) situation). Will increase in NVH.
High Flow Panel Filter, Dry Flow
Will increase the potential power gain from ECU tuning, however not to the same extent as the Short Ram Intake. Will not increase intake temperatures. Will not increase NVH.
STAGE FOUR
Turbo Kit
Currently in development and testing by Orange Virus Tuning
STAGE ONE: Must have bolt ons with minimal utility loss
Lowering Springs - Eibach/H&R (lower)/AutoExe
Mild drop, not enough to worry about scraping anymore than you would in a sedan.
Increase cornering performance, decrease wheel gap, and reduce body roll without sacrificing practical suspension travel. Minimal increase of NVH.
Rear sway bar- Corksport /James Barone Racing /Hardrace/Autoexe
Reduce understeer. Can be used with an adjustable front to tweak under/oversteer for personal preference. Stiffer than the oem bar, meaning it's more resistant to a rolling moment on the suspension. Greatly reduces body roll and increases cornering performance. Least stiff setting only for minimal loss of utility and not having to consider driveway angles. Harder settings while offering greater effect, may require additional modifications (in addition to limiting total suspension travel which will require more caution on steep slopes (driveways). Minimal increase of NVH on least stiff, stiffer settings vary greatly.
Strut tower bar - Ultra Racing/Tanabe/Autoexe
Reduce chassis flexing between shock towers by providing a solid link between each strut. Acts an energy absorber during a collision. Bracing of suspension components can preserve alignment settings during cornering. May increase NVH. A SOLID bar is ideal. A HINGED bar is counterintuitive to the purpose of the bar.
STAGE TWO: Increase cornering which may adversely affect off road capability and/or require more caution at steep driveways.
Lowering Springs- Corksport
One of the lowest spring only drop.
Increase cornering performance, decrease wheel gap, possible rubbing. Medium increase of NVH.
Dampers - Koni
Increase dampening rate to provide better cornering ability. May cause a Low to medium increase in NVH. Will not affect ground clearance or steep driveway navigation.
Adjustable Coilovers - BC Racing/K Sport/AutoExe/Numerous JDM vendors
Provide adjustable ride height, and a matching damper for that ride height. Adjustable dampening force (how hard or bouncy the ride is) Offer front camber adjustment via a camber plate (extra useful when going very low). Generally the best choice for improved cornering at any ride height. Usually more expensive than buying a spring + damper. Adjusting them outside of factory setting can be time consuming. Lower settings will require adjustments to the rear sway bar if an aftermarket is being used (in the form of adjustable end link). Front end link is not required but can be used to reduce preload on an OEM bar. NVH will range from no increase to very high increase depending first on stiffness setting, then ride height.
Front Sway Bar - James Barone Racing/Hardrace/Megan Racing/AutoExe
Reduce understeer. Can be used with an adjustable rear to tweak under/oversteer for personal preference. Stiffer than the oem bar, meaning it's more resistant to a rolling moment on the suspension. Greatly reduces body roll and increases cornering performance. Least stiff setting only for minimal loss of utility and not having to consider driveway angles. Harder settings while offering greater effect, may require additional modifications (in addition to limiting total suspension travel which will require more caution on steep slopes (driveways). Minimal increase of NVH on least stiff, stiffer settings vary greatly.
Rear sway bar (stiffer/est setting)- Corksport /James Barone Racing /Hardrace/Autoexe
Increasing the setting will decrease the lever on the arm causing it to provide a stronger anti-roll effect. In many lowered applications, an adjustable endlink (such as AutoExe) will be required to even use a setting over the least stiff. A stiff setting, compounded by the lower ride height will also reduce maximum suspension travel which is great for cornering. However this may cause problems if you take your car on (dirt) roads where the elevation varies by 4 or more inches. Or you have to navigate steep driveways (enter at an angle) Medium increase of NVH.
Chassis Bracing - Lower Arm Bar, Rear Arm Bar etc.) Ultra Racing/Tanabe/Autoexe
Reduce chassis flexing between certain points. Acts an energy absorber during a collision. Bracing of suspension components can preserve alignment settings during cornering. May increase NVH.
STAGE THREE: Engine Performance
ECU Tuning - Orange Virus Tuning, others
Increase WHP and TQ 15-35% depending on local environment, fuel type and powertrain modifications. The only modification that will by itself directly increase power output. May increase NVH.
Catback Exhaust - Corksport/Racing Beat/AutoExe and numerous JDM vendors.
Will increase the potential of power gain from ECU tuning. Will increase NVH.
Engine Air Intake - Corksport/James Barone Racing/K&N
Short Ram Intake with Dry Flow Filter
Will increase the potential power gain from ECU tuning, best choice for maximum tune output. May move the power band towards higher RPMS in untuned engines. May increase MPG's during cruising. Will increase intake temperatures at least 10degF in all situations, up to 20(Good for fuel vaporization during cruising, not good for acceleration in hot environments during a heat soak (traffic) situation). Will increase in NVH.
High Flow Panel Filter, Dry Flow
Will increase the potential power gain from ECU tuning, however not to the same extent as the Short Ram Intake. Will not increase intake temperatures. Will not increase NVH.
STAGE FOUR
Turbo Kit
Currently in development and testing by Orange Virus Tuning
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