6ULs

[Toed64]

I tried the Exocet spacers on my na MX5 - it is SO much better without them. I thought about altering the front wing stays to avoid the necessity for spacers or more outset wheels and couldn't find a reason not to do so, except for appearance and the faff of having to cut and re-weld my wing stays.

[theancientone]

That's interesting, so can we perhaps conclude that the purity of the OEM geometry has been somewhat compromised by the design of the wing/fender stays?

[Toed64]

I think so. Down the lanes, my MX5 steering is far less twitchy and snatchy.

For ultimate road holding, particularly on track, there is an argument for a wider track, but I think that it's at the expense of handling and stability on our less than 100% smooth roads. The rear spacers cannot be adversely effecting the steering geometry.

[mazdaracer]

As the picture shows, the stock Miata is the top, the bottom is with the huge spacers or zero offset wheels. With the spacers/wheel offset we increase steering effort, different steering feedback, and we actual offset the centerline of the virtual front axle as one wheel centerline moves forward and the other moves back We also increase bearing load and leverage to the shock/spring. I have found no performance advantage to this yet? It does look cool though with the wider track.

[Ken]

I've been thinking about this for a while, and am wondering if custom front control arms could solve the problem. There are some vendors selling DIY kits targeted for Locosts. Why not extend the control arms by the offset amount? The strut spacers could be built with an offset of equal amount to get the other angles in spec. Thoughts?

[Stiggy]

The MX5 is one of very few cars that run with zero off set (ET) By increasing the track width the scrub increases and in turn provides a little more feedback. The spacers also give the car a better stance and always feel far more planted than an MX5. Increasing the track width is only possible as we have no body clearance to concern ourselves with. Under an MX5 wing there are restrictions of course.
It's down to personal taste in terms of track width but personally having driven the cars in anger on many occasions I would always stick with the wide track width. To keep it simple if you have wheels of 30 ET then using a 30 mm spacer gives you zero offset and a track width of around 60 mm wider than the MX5.
Some would consider a positive scrub radius of 30 mm to be on the high side, in practice I find it perfect.

[dietcoke]

Aug 14, 2015 22:56:16 GMT mazdaracer said:

As the picture shows, the stock Miata is the top, the bottom is with the huge spacers or zero offset wheels. With the spacers/wheel offset we increase steering effort, different steering feedback, and we actual offset the centerline of the virtual front axle as one wheel centerline moves forward and the other moves back We also increase bearing load and leverage to the shock/spring. I have found no performance advantage to this yet? It does look cool though with the wider track.

The advantage of wider track is a lower roll center, and less camber loss at the tire - this lets you run less pressure and improves traction. It also lowers weight transfer off of the inside tire, which increases overall traction available since you have more effective inner tire traction on the ground.

You have to compensate a wider track by more spring rate since you are using basically a longer lever on the spring, and a car will handle like it has softer springs if you increase the track width vs a prior amount.

Negative of the track is the scrub radius requires more steering effort (mainly at low speeds). It also puts heat in the tires faster at low speeds, with little effect at high speeds.

[welshy1]

Aug 21, 2015 19:53:06 GMT Stiggy said:

The MX5 is one of very few cars that run with zero off set (ET) By increasing the track width the scrub increases and in turn provides a little more feedback. The spacers also give the car a better stance and always feel far more planted than an MX5. Increasing the track width is only possible as we have no body clearance to concern ourselves with. Under an MX5 wing there are restrictions of course.
It's down to personal taste in terms of track width but personally having driven the cars in anger on many occasions I would always stick with the wide track width. To keep it simple if you have wheels of 30 ET then using a 30 mm spacer gives you zero offset and a track width of around 60 mm wider than the MX5.
Some would consider a positive scrub radius of 30 mm to be on the high side, in practice I find it perfect.

This my tracked exocet which includes gaz coilovers, polybushes all round, Jackson racing upgraded/adjustable anti roll bars and rose jointed arb links followed by slick tyres even on a standard 1.8 engine means not much can keep up with it through the corners in my experience over 2 different tracks llandow and pembrey will find out soon about blyton park and castle combe later next month.

The only downside is the lack of power which will be resolved by a td04.

[beardy]

Just curious, but has anyone noticed the spec E30 6UL wheels available. They are 15x7 +15 offset. Seem to be pretty close to being able to run this on the back with minimal spacers. Matches the spec Miata with standard Miata-esque offset for the front.
Light wheels, reasonable price, offset allows Miata front end geometry and matching wheels with modest spacers for rear
Am i missing something here?
Thanks
Beardy

[beardy]

Sorry to be a pain, but can someone speak to my earlier post?
This is a problem on the rear with rubbing on the chassis and at the front on the fender brackets correct?
This has become more than curiosity since I took delivery.
thanks

[gwnwar]

Are you using spacers?? You can bend the front brackets some..

[dietcoke]

Front brackets you just bend to fit. Rear will rub on the inner frame tube, which is your wheel offset limit. You need ~1.5 inch of clearance to not rub. Mine has a little over an inch and rubs a tiny bit on hard corners at the track, and im okay with it