Another RUDE 92 shock question

[rudedog]

OK, my 92 has the original shocks. Yes, I know, but I've only had it two years and that's what I got and money was tight.
I want to replace the shocks very soon and there are four questions.

1. What to get for street driving and maybe a couple of autocrosses next year. AGX's?

2. Buy from one of the vendors such as Moss or Tittusville or buy a set off of e-bay that seem to be cheaper. Hopefully only in price. Are these legit and does anyone have any experience with these vendors.

3. Pay $70.00 per shock to have them installed or if I did a tech day would I get the know how and help to do the job.

4. Anything else a 92 would need instead of getting in there and then finding out?

Thanks group.

[Titus]

1. What to get for street driving and maybe a couple of autocrosses next year. AGX's?

I have the AGXs on my 92 and I love them, but I have them paired with FM springs. I have heard that the AGXs are not very good with the stock springs. The pointy board tends to recommend the Konis if you are sticking with the stock springs, but they are a little more expensive.

2. Buy from one of the vendors such as Moss or Tittusville or buy a set off of e-bay that seem to be cheaper. Hopefully only in price. Are these legit and does anyone have any experience with these vendors.

As far as where to buy, it may be difficult to cash in on the lifetime warranty if you buy via EBay. I have heard that any AGX dealer can swap you out, but I also hear many won't unless you bought through them. With that said, I have about 25k miles on mine so far with no problems.

3. Pay $70.00 per shock to have them installed or if I did a tech day would I get the know how and help to do the job.

I am sure that we could get some people together for a tech day if you are patient. If you are one of those guys that wants them installed the weekend you get them, you may be better off paying someone to do it.

4. Anything else a 92 would need instead of getting in there and then finding out?

You will want new shock boots... the OEM ones are definitely worth the extra money as they have a built in bump stop that acts as part of the suspension.

If you want to go all out and get springs and shocks, you should consider adding the Flyin Miata rear shock mounts. You are looking at about $850 to get springs, shocks and mounts via FM. Once you've gone this far, you will start thinking about adding sways for another $200.... it never really ends.

[Screamin'Screw]

AGXs seem to be a good, popular choice. Are you going with a different spring? This would be the time.

You can do it yourself at a tech day. Not really a difficult job with the right tools and an experienced helper.

You will be surprised at the difference - whole new car.

[POS Racing]

I have the AGXs on my 92 and I love them, but I have them paired with FM springs. I have heard that the AGXs are not very good with the stock springs. The pointy board tends to recommend the Konis if you are sticking with the stock springs, but they are a little more expensive.

You can't believe everything you read on the Pointy board Titus, I had the AGX's on stock springs on my '92 for a couple of years they worked great!

rudedog when you get the shocks just go ahead and get new OEM shock boots, that way you get new bump stops as well as new non crunchy boots.

Always up for a tech rudedog, just let us know!

[Titus]

You can't believe everything you read on the Pointy board Titus, I had the AGX's on stock springs on my '92 for a couple of years they worked great!

Which is why I was sure to point out that it was the pointy board's opinion... I figured it would save him some time in case someone like you or Sammm got pointy and suggested that there was a lot of good info that could be found with the search function on the Pointy board.

[rudedog]

OK, I'll get the boots as recommended and wiat for the right time to install.
Would any of you recommend this set up I see on the Miata.net for $575.00?

Brand new Koni Sport suspension kit for 90-97 M1 Miata. Includes Koni Yellow Sport Shocks (adjustable damping with 3 height settings) and matched Koni springs. Decided to go a different direction with suspension. My mistake is your gain!

[Titus]

OK, I'll get the boots as recommended and wiat for the right time to install.
Would any of you recommend this set up I see on the Miata.net for $575.00?

Brand new Koni Sport suspension kit for 90-97 M1 Miata. Includes Koni Yellow Sport Shocks (adjustable damping with 3 height settings) and matched Koni springs. Decided to go a different direction with suspension. My mistake is your gain!

I don't know much about the Koni springs, but I liked the ride in the one car with koni shocks that I road in. You are welcome to take a spin in my car some time if you want to see what the FM/AGX combo feels like in a 92. I also have the FM sway bars, but FM it is only $600 without the sways. The shock mounts I mentioned early are on my wish list, but are not a necessity.

[icepenguin66]

You can get a set of the AGX shocks on Ebay for $300! That's where I got mine. I personally do not recommend the Flyin Miata springs for the M1. I had 2 sets sag in one year so I got a refund and went with the Ground Control kit and could never be happier.

[rudedog]

Hey Icepenguin66 I see you live in Sachse. That's where my 65 Vette is being restored but that's another story. Five and a half years now and my buddy and I are not through yet.

[icepenguin66]

Cool, who's doing it? My father and I are almost done restoring a 71 Camaro RS. Steve Webb is going to paint it...a friend of ours.

[rudedog]

My long time friend Albert Payton who lives on Anthony Lane and had 5,500 square feet of concrete poured for his workshop about six months before we started.
We both work at Raytheon and my 17 year old daughter plays select soccer, I'm the manager, and I take motorcycle trips way too often on my Triumph. No I don't Plus the Miata I bought two and a half years ago.
I've got the suspension, frame, steering box, etc. completed. Down to the glass and now five primers later we're ready for paint but we wnat to put the motor in first.
I have it disasembled in my garage here in The Colony and am looking for someone to build it up after machine work. Know anyone?

[altiain]

Another happy KYB user here. I've had a set of Konis, two sets of OEM Sport Package Bilsteins, and the AGXs on the car. Out of all of the above, I prefer the AGXs, and imho they work fine with the OEM springs. FWIW, the fastest local autocross Miatas all have AGXs.

I'm kind of lukewarm on Koni. I've had three sets of Konis on three different cars ('98 Prelude, '93 RX-7, '99 Miata), and on two of those sets I've had a blown shock within 10k miles. Granted, Koni has excellent customer service (they'll ship you a replacement shock at no charge up front, then give you 90 days to return the defective one), but I firmly believe that the AGXs offer just as good a product for 99% of people at a much lower price.

BTW, most of the people on the board who recommend one brand of shock over another usually have only tried that one brand. I haven't, and I'd recommend the KYBs, even after running Konis on this car and the prevous two autocross cars I've owned.

[tailchaser]

Tres happy with the KYB's here - with either stock or FM springs. On my '02, the ride quality improved dramatically on the street with the KYB's - and the upgrade to FM's improved it again.

[Treibenschnell]

Happy here as well...

[Miatamoto]

Yet another KYB/stock spring junkie. It's worked great, and I've had zero complaints with them for the past season.

[icepenguin66]

Tres happy with the KYB's here - with either stock or FM springs. On my '02, the ride quality improved dramatically on the street with the KYB's - and the upgrade to FM's improved it again.

Why the hell is everyone else so happy with FM springs yet I had 2 sets of them and they both sagged to 11" ride height within 5 months?! As I keep saying, "my car is cursed!" Maybe I should have it blessed!

Rude Dog,
Keith Kraft in Plano on the NW corner of 75 and 15th street is a good place, but not if you're on a tight budget. I know plenty of hotrodders so I could ask a few and get back to ya. I'll have to some check out your project and the Miata sometime. We have everything done except for the paint...of course we took off all the body panels etc for the prep. We had a nice 383 built by Kim Barr Racing Engines, but I would not recommend him. Our motor is fine, but more than one friend has had bad experience with him.

[icepenguin66]

3. Pay $70.00 per shock to have them installed or if I did a tech day would I get the know how and help to do the job.

4. Anything else a 92 would need instead of getting in there and then finding out?

Thanks group.

Ah I read over these...

I've changed shocks or had to replace them so many times now that I can do all 4 in probably 2 hoursfso long as nothing goes wrong (like the shock hat stud being crossthreaded somehow and breaking off) I'd be glad to help if I'm not working on said day.

I would recommend getting replacement upper ball joint boots for the front. Since you have a 92 I'm positive they are old and worn, or when you pop the ball joint to get the shock out it will more than likely get torn by the ball joint fork. Since you're gonna be under there, see if the tie rod balljoint boots need replacing also. Speaking of, I just did this a few hours ago!

Also may want to check out the rear alignment bolts and see if they are extreamly rusted. Last time I got an alignment the guy (a trustworthy guy) said mine were badly rusted and made it very difficult for him to get close to my alignment specs. So I have new ones that I'm gonna install before my needed alignment real soon.

[rudedog]

Here is what I bought and they were delivered yesterday and look good.
(4) KYB-AGX 8 way adjustable shocks with OEM springs. Two Front (#741015) and two Rear (#741016) complete assemblies with Strut Mounts, caps, boots, etc. These 4 assemblies are 100% complete and are all ready to bolt in car.

Now the questions:
1. One reply said that I needed to get upper ball joing boots. OEM prefered?

2. Do I need any special tools that I need to rent or purchase?

3. Mixed feedback on stock vs. FM springs. Right now I think the stocks will stay. 99% road driving and maybe a couple of AX next year. Any negative feedback on my choice?

4. Tech day:
a. Can I get some help at what ever date works for anyone who will help. I'm having rotator cuff surgery next Friday so I suppose I'm looking at a date after that.
b. Location, My house in The Colony, your house, where my Vette is in Sachse. The advantage of this location is plenty of room (3,500 SF) all enclosed.

[POS Racing]

Just let us know what works for you after your surgery! I'm sure we could come up with a few folks to help ya!

As far as the ball joint joint, on an NA I've done the San Diego club method a few times, which doesn't require you to break loose the upper ball joint, but YYMV!

[Miatamoto]

Rent a strut style spring compressor from Autozone.

Put the compressor on the spring while everything is still on the car and compress everything to the point where you can pull everything out without disconnecting any suspension arms.

It works, that's how I got my AGXs in.