13+ Best Mazda Miata & MX5 Coilovers
If you are looking to max out the performance of your Mazda Miata, also known as the MX5, whether for track days, drifting or just want to get the ultimate low, coilovers are basically your best option.
In this post, I’m going to give you a list of the best coilovers available for Miatas on the market today, including NA, NB, NC and ND models. So no matter which Miata you have, this guide will have something for you.
TOP 3 COILOVERS
 |  |  |
About the Mazda Miata / MX5
The Mazda Miata, sold as the MX5 in most markets outside the United States, is an incredibly popular little sports car.
First made in 1989, it’s small body, light weight, front engine rear wheel drive configuration, good handling and convertible roof made it an extremely popular choice for car enthusiasts and people who wanted an interesting car to drive.
With older models like the NA and NB now being very affordable, and with an abundance of them around, they have become one of the go to cars for people getting into motorsports or drifting.
Due to this, the Miata has an enormous amount of aftermarket parts available for it, and that include coilovers kits.
Coilovers Are the Perfect Suspension Solution For the Miata and MX5
Installing a coilover kit on your Miata will not only make it look better by dropping the ride height, but it will also significantly improve its handling. This will really make it feel like a little go cart, and will allow you to take corners at significant speed.
Coilovers will also allow you to set up the ride just right, from the height to the stiffness, if they feature dampening adjustability.
Lowering springs, on the other hand, don’t give you these options. So while they may be tempting because they are cheaper, often people put them on old shocks, which quickly blow as they were not designed to handle the stiffer spring rates. Then they need to get new shocks which ends up costing the same if not more than many decent coilover kits.
Not only that, but if you are looking to further upgrade your Miata with engine modifications such as a turbo or supercharger kit, coilovers are going to handle that extra power a lot better than factory shocks with lowering springs.
No matter which way you slice it, coilovers are a fantastic option for the Miata, and in this guide I’m going to give you the best coilovers available today, so that you know exactly what to buy for your car.
Let’s get right into it.
The Best Coilovers For Miatas and MX5s
Ohlins Road and Track
Best for: Street & regular track use
Dampening adjustment: Yes, 20-level
Price: From $2061
Miatas made for:
- NA
- NB
- NC
- ND
Kicking off this list with one of the best coilovers available on the market today, the Ohlins Road & Track is the perfect blend of street and track.
Ohlins have been around for decades making some of the highest level suspension kits available, and these are no exception.
The ride height adjustment is done by the shock body so you retain full suspension travel at all ride heights, which also allows you to corner balance the car.
These feature a dampening adjustment using the Ohlins Dual Flow Valve (DFV) technology, which adjusts low and high speed damping and compression, allowing you to quickly switch between road and race mode.
This coilover kit is designed to give you maximum grip and faster lap times on the track while also providing an extremely comfortable ride on the road.
They are also TUV approved for those in Europe who need this certification.
These coilovers have an excellent reputation, as you would expect from Ohlins, and are a fantastic option for those who intend to use their Miata for both street and track.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustment by the shock body, up to 40mm lower than stock
- 20-level dampening adjustment using Ohlins Dual Flow Valve (DFV) technology
- Monotube dampers
- Corrosion salt spray tested to ISO 9227 standard
- Rebuildable
- 2 year warranty
If you want to get the Ohlins Road & Track for your Miata, here is the best price I have found them (select your Miata model from the list):
NA & NB MIATA OHLINS ROAD & TRACK
KW V3
Best for: Comfortable street with track use
Dampening adjustment: Yes, independent low speed compression and rebound
Price: From $2804
Miatas made for:
- NC
- ND
Next on the list is the KW V3, which is an extremely popular coilover kit. KW have been in the coilover game since the beginning, and have made a big name for themselves both in motorsport and for road car suspensions.
The V3 kit offers both ride height adjustment and individual compression and rebound adjustment with external reservoirs.
This kit is very popular with people who are looking to prioritize comfortable street driving, while also wanting good track performance.
KW puts a huge amount on engineering behind their coilover kits, and tunes the springs and dampening of each kit specific to each vehicle.
This results in excellent handling and amazing road comfort which can quickly be stiffened up for the track when needed.
Their coilovers are also very well known for being possibly the best kit on the market that won’t corrode and seized up.
KW use a special “inox-line” stainless steel which has been salt spray tested for 220 hours.
They also specifically engineered composite spring perches which will never seize due to corrosion.
KW are so confident in their product that they offer a lifetime warranty, which is pretty impressive and possibly the only suspension company to do so.
The only gripe I personally have with KW kits is that the ride height is done by the spring perch, which means the lower you go the less damper travel you have. So keep that in mind if you intend to go lower than KW’s recommended range.
If you are looking for a kit that will handle both road and track and will give you a comfortable ride, the KW V3 is a good choice.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustable
- Independent low speed compression and rebound dampening adjustable
- Made in Germany
- Specifically tuned for each vehicle
- Excellent corrosion resistance, “inox-line” stainless steel salt spray tested for 220 hours
- Special anti-corrosion composite parts
- TUV approved
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Rebuildable (but must be sent to Germany)
If you want to get the KW V3’s, here is where you can get them for the best price (select your Miata model):
TEIN Flex Z
Best for: Comfortable street use with the occasional track day
Dampening adjustment: Yes, independent low speed compression and rebound
Price: From $739
Miatas made for:
- NA
- NB
- NC
- ND
The TEIN Flex Z is one of the best value for money kits available on the market today.
Despite coming under $1000, these Miata TEIN coilovers have some serious engineering behind them and come packed with features.
Being primarily designed for street use, these coilovers feature a twin-tube damper to make the ride more comfortable. However, they use a special oil designed to withstand heat and prevent foaming, making them suitable for track use and intensive driving.
The ride height adjustment on these is done by the shock body, which means as you lower the car you still keep all the suspension travel. It also means you can corner balance the car and adjust the spring preload.
TEIN has also put in effort to ensure these kits are very corrosion resistant. Their patented green powder coat is specifically designed and applied in a way to make it chip resistant and prevent corrosion even in the harshest weather. They also coat the adjustment threads with their special ZT coating to achieve the same results.
Another amazing feature of these coilovers is that TEIN actually make each kit specific to the area of the world they are expected to be sold in. This allows TEIN to make adjustments to the kit to better suit the expected condition in the buyer’s area, whether that’s harsher weather or worse roads.
While these kits are not rebuildable, TEIN has designed the dampers as inserts that can be replaced, making it not only cheaper than rebuilding but also faster, since you can just order the new inserts and swap them in.
TEIN will also custom valve the damper inserts for you if you want different valving, say if you changed the spring rate.
There are very few kits that come close to this level of engineering for this sort of money, making these a fantastic choice for under $1000. Perfect for people who will be using their car primarily on the street with the occasional track day.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustable by the shock body
- 16-level dampening adjustment
- Twin-tube dampers for increased street comfort
- Signature TEIN no-sag springs
- Special powder coat and ZT coating for maximum corrosion resistance
- Special damper oil with anti-foaming properties and long life even in high temperatures
- Damper inserts replaceable
- Custom valving available
- 1 year warranty
You can get the TEIN Flex Z’s for the best price here (select your Miata model):
HKS Hipermax S
Best for: Comfortable street use with track days
Dampening adjustment: Yes, 30-level
Price: NA
Miatas made for:
- ND
While only available for the ND, these coilovers are a fantastic blend of street comfort and performance.
HKS have been in the game since the beginning, having made the world’s first turbo kit in 1974, and they haven’t stopped making quality aftermarket parts since.
The Hipermax S are their “comfort” coilover which is designed to give you the best quality ride possible on the street while still having excellent handling performance.
They feature monotube dampers with 30 levels of dampening adjustment, done through a special “Wide Range” needle which makes each adjustment more prominent and gives you a wider range and more softer adjustment for street use.
They also use a special Duel Pre-Load Valve System which is designed to increase handling performance and keep unnecessary movements to a minimum.
HKS has also developed a special bump stop which is progressive, adding to the ride comfort and softening the blow of the suspension does bottom out. Instead of just hitting the bump stop, it gets progressively harder as it gets compressed, making the impact far less noticeable.
The shock bodies come with a special PNE coating which HKS originally developed for their “snow edition” coilovers and now use on all coilovers. This coating has been shown to be 5 times for durable than standard galvanizing against corrosion.
The strut mounts use a strengthened rubber bushing to keep the ride comfort to a maximum, while still being tighter than a stock bushing and improving handling.
On top of all this, HKS offer a 3 year warranty on these coilovers so you can enjoy them with peace of mind.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustment by the shock body
- 30-level dampening adjustment
- WR needle giving you a wide adjustment range and more soft options for comfortable street ride
- Special bump stop for increased comfort
- Dual PVS damping system for increased handling
- Aluminium strut mounts with strengthened rubber bushing for increased ride comfort while still improving handling over stock
- PNE coating which is 5 times more durable than galvanizing against corrosion
- 3 years warranty
- Rebuildable by HKS
HKS MAX SP IV
Best for: Street and track use where performance is the priority
Dampening adjustment: Yes, 30-level
Price: NA
Miatas made for:
- ND
If you are looking for a more performance oriented coilover and are willing to sacrifice a little bit of ride comfort, the MAX SP IV’s are for you.
These are HKS’ performance coilover and are designed to give you maximum handling improvement while still keeping a comfortable ride.
They are specifically designed to mate with high grip radial tyres and will transfer the maximum amount of feel to the driving, giving you strong feedback on traction and road surface condition.
Like the Hipermax S, these feature monotube dampers with 30-level dampening adjustment. However, the MAX SP IV use a larger cylinder shaft for firmer damping even at small stroke ranges to give you a better driving experience.
They also feature a new needle design with revised low, middle and high speed dampening in order to increase ride comfort.
They also use aluminium brackets, adjustment collar and other parts to reduce the weight as much as possible, leading to less unsprung weight and better handling.
They also feature the special PNE coating for maximum corrosion resistance, and can also be rebuilt by HKS.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustment by the shock body
- 30-level dampening adjustment
- Larger cylinder shaft for better driving experience
- New needle design for increased ride comfort
- Aluminium brackets and parts for lower unsprung weight
- PNE coating for maximum corrosion resistance
BC Racing BR
Best for: Street with track use
Dampening adjustment: Yes, 30-level
Price: $1195
Miatas made for:
- NA
- NB
- NC
- ND
Possibly the most popular coilover kit on the planet, the BC Racing BR Series has everything you need and more, all for a fantastic price.
What makes this kit so popular is the sheer amount of customizability. BC Racing let’s you specify also every aspect of the kit, from the spring rates to the valving and more, to put together the perfect kit no matter what your needs are.
A huge number of people use the BR Series coilovers for everything including daily driving, track use, drifting and maximum low, and they prove themselves times and again to be able to handle anything thrown at them.
Ride height on these is adjusted by the shock body, which ensures you get maximum suspension travel at all ride heights, making for a more comfortable ride and a longer life of the dampers.
Lowering is 1-3 inches lower than factory on the standard kit, and BC does offer an Extreme Low kit which will go 2.5-5 inches lower than factory.
The dampers are monotube with linear valving and give you 30-levels of dampening adjustment (simultaneous compression/rebound) to fine tune the ride to your liking.
BC Racing specifies the spring rates for each car, with matching valving. However, you can specify your own spring rates, and BC will valve the dampers to match. They also offer Swift Springs as an upgrade option if you want the absolute best.
These coilovers are also completely rebuildable and BC Racing will sell you all the parts you need for a rebuild, as well as do there build and revalve them to new specs if you so desire.
Considering the price, the customization options, the support BC provides and the fact that these coilovers continue to prove themselves in both performance and longevity makes these one of the best kits available on the market today.
Features include
- Ride height adjustment by the shock body. 1-3 inches lower on the standard model, 2.5-5 inches lower on Extreme Low option
- 30-level dampening adjustment
- Monotube dampers
- Aluminium strut mounts
- Custom spring rates available with matching valving
- Swift Spring upgrade available
- Fully rebuildable with parts available from BC Racing
- 1 year warranty
Here is where you can get the best price on the BC Racing Br Series coilovers (select your Miata model):
NA & NB MIATA BC RACING BR SERIES
Fortune Auto 500
Best for: Street with track use
Dampening adjustment: Yes, 24-level rebound adjustment
Price: $1799
Miatas made for:
- NA
- NB
- NC
- ND
If you are looking for a premium coilover that not only has a ton of features but also lets you upgrade, the Fortune Auto 500s are an excellent option.
One of the biggest things that makes these coilovers unique is that they are modular, meaning they can be upgraded.
Fortune Auto has designed these to be the last kit you will ever need to buy, which you can upgrade to 2-way dampening adjustable with external reservoirs when the need arises.
Along with that, these coilovers are hand assembled by Fortune Auto at their Virginia facility, where they test every single damper on the shock dyno to ensure they are within a 3% tolerance. This guarantees that every single kit that leaves their facility is absolutely top quality.
The 500 Series are designed as a street coilover that can be used on the track, and come with both ride height adjustment by the shock body, and 24-level rebound dampening adjustment.
The dampers are monotube and feature synthetic shock oil and high pressure nitrogen. They also use a high flow digressive valving technology which gives you more control over the car, perfect for performance driving, while still being comfortable for road use.
The springs are made from a special chrome silicon alloy to ensure longevity and resistance to sag, as well as maximum consistency. Swift Springs are also available as an optional upgrade.
Many of the parts such as brackets and adjusters are made from back-milled 6061 forged aluminium for maximum weight reduction and are anodized for maximum protection. This includes the aluminium strut mounts, which utilize Koyo Japan bearings.
The standard kit offers 1-3 inches of lowering, with a Super Low option offering 2.5-5 inches of lowering.
If all that wasn’t impressive enough, Fortune Auto offer a 5 year warranty on these coilovers, which is one of the longest in the industry, second only to KW’s lifetime warranty. These coilovers are also fully rebuildable and Fortune Auto pride themselves on their fast turn around times.
This is one coilover kit that is hard to beat, and if you want the ultimate kit that gives you the option to upgrade in the future, this is the kit to go with.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustment by the shock body – lowering 1-3 inches on standard kit, 2.5-5 inches on the super low kit
- 24-level rebound dampening adjustment
- Modular – upgradeable to 2 way adjustable with external reservoirs
- Custom spring rates and matching valving available
- Swift Spring upgrade available
- Every damper dyno tested to 3% tolerance
- Monotube dampers with high flow digressive valving
- Synthetic damper oil with high pressure nitrogen
- Aluminium parts for maximum weight saving
- Strut mounts with Koyo Japan bearings
- Fully rebuildable
- 5 year warranty
You can get the Fortune Auto 500s for the best price here (select your Miata model):
NA & NB MIATA FORTUNE AUTO 500
FEAL 441
Best for: Street & regular track use
Dampening adjustment: Yes, 30-level
Price: NA
Miatas made for:
- NA
- NB
- NC
- ND
If you are looking for a coilover kit that is built for you specifically, the Feal 441s are a good option.
FEAL is owned by a pro drifter and their main focus is making coilovers for motorsport that perform at their best.
The 441 is their street and track coilover which is made to give you everything you need for a comfortable street ride as well as great performance on the track.
What sets FEAL apart is that they make kits specific to the person ordering and what they are need from it.
When you order a coilover kit from them, they will ask you a series of questions regarding your car and its setup, and what you intend to use it for, in order to put together the perfect coilover kit to suit your needs.
All kits kits are hand built by FEAL in California, and are made specifically to order so that they can put together the right kit for you.
Another thing that makes their kits special is that they design them specifically to have more stroke than other suspension kits, which can be up to 25% more depending on the model. This means that not only will the ride be better, but you get more grip from your tyres as well.
The 441 is their entry-level coilover, giving you 30-level rebound dampening adjustment and designed for street use as well as track days.
They use monotube dampers with internals that are specifically designed to have as little friction as possible, with great attention being paid to all tolerances of all parts in the dampers.
Similar to the Fortune Auto’s, the FEAL coilovers are also modular, meaning they can be upgraded to 2 or 3-way dampening adjustment with external reservoirs. All you have to do is send them in FEAL and they will upgrade and service them for you.
And because they assemble all their suspension in-house, they also offer rebuild, revalving and repair services as well as shock dyno testing.
The 441 kit comes in a standard kit, as well as Drift, Drag and Max Travel kits which are designed specifically for those applications.
If you are looking for even more customizability, FEAL offer a 441+ kit which allows you to specify custom spring rates, and even upgrade to Swift Springs, and they will valve the dampers to match your specifications.
Features include:
- Monotube dampers
- Ride height adjustment by the shock body
- 30 level 1-way dampening adjustment
- Assembled in house in California
- Aluminium strut mounts
- 1 year warranty
- Modular – can be upgraded to 2 or 3-way dampening adjustable
- Dampers designed to have minimal friction with tight tolerances
- Designed to have more stroke than other coilovers for better comfort and more tyre grip
- Spring rates and dampening set up by Feal for each car model specifically
- Come with a shock dyno sheet
Silvers Neomax
Best for: Street with track use
Dampening adjustment: Yes, 24-level
Price: $1299
Miatas made for:
- NA
- NB
- NC
- ND
If you want all the benefits of an upgradable coilover kit but you don’t have the budget for the Fortune Autos or the FEALs, the Silvers Neomax are a great choice.
These coilovers offer many of the same features and benefits of the Fortune Auto 500s, but are made in Taiwan so the cost is far less.
However, just because they are made in Taiwan does not mean the quality is worse. Silvers actually have their own facility where they make these coilovers, and the dampers are all tested on the shock dyno and only used if they are within a 5% tolerance.
Like the Fortune Auto 500s, they can be spec’d with custom spring rates and valving and can also by upgraded to 2-way dampening adjustable with external reservoirs.
The ride height on these is done by the shock body for full suspension travel and maximum ride comfort.
The dampers are monotube and feature a linear piston with digressive valving that gives you 24-level dampening adjustment. This “hybrid” design gives you a comfortable ride while also providing excellent handling and responsiveness on the track.
The piston shaft is the maximum diameter that’s necessary and is made from chrome plated hardened steel, which is strong enough to retain lateral rigidity and not bend or bind under heavy loads. This decreases premature wear of the damper and minimizes the piston travel, making for the perfect combination of longer lasting shocks and weight reduction.
The shock bodies are 52mm and are made from carbon steel that is electroless nickel plated for maximum protection against corrosion and fatigue, even in harsh climates. Silvers claim that this offers far more protection than powder coat, especially the cheap powder coat many coilover companies in this price range use.
On multi-link suspension setups like the Miata, the lower mounts are made from T6 6061 aluminium which are CAD designed to ensure OEM like fitment, and are lighter than steel components which helps to reduce unsprung weight and further improve handling.
Silvers will customize these coilovers for your specifications including custom spring rates and valving as well as Swift Springs. They pride themselves on super fast turn around times, even for custom kits, which is less than 10 days.
The standard kit will lower your car up to 3 inches, with a Super Low Kit option which will lower your car up to 5 inches.
These coilovers are fantastic value for money, as they are in the same price bracket as the BC Racing BR Series, however these offer the ability to upgrade, which the BC’s don’t.
Features Include:
- Ride height adjustment by the shock body, up to 3 inches on the standard kit and up to 5 inches on the Super Low kit.
- 24-level dampening adjustment
- Monotube dampers with linear piston and digressive valving
- Larger piston shaft for increased rigidity and decreased damper wear
- T6 6061 aluminium bottom mounts on Miatas for weight reduction
- Electroless nickel plating for maximum corrosion and fatigue protection
- Modular – upgradeable to 2-way dampening adjustment with external reservoir
- Custom spring rates and valving available
- Swift spring upgrade available
- 18 month warranty
You can get the Silvers Neomax for the best price here (select your Miata model):
Megan Racing EZ II
Best for: Primarily street, will handle the odd track day
Dampening adjustment: Yes, 15-level
Price: $749
Miatas made for:
- NA
- NB
- NC
- ND
Known for being one of the best budget coilovers kits available today, the Megan Racing EZ II’s are perfect if you are looking for a budget coilover kit that can handle both street and track.
Being primarily designed as a street coilovers, the EZ II’s were designed with the maximum amount of ride comfort in mind while still providing excellent handling and grip.
The ride height on these is done by the shock body to give you full suspension travel at all ride heights. There is no exact specification from Megan Racing as to how low these go, but online reports suggest that they definitely go low enough.
The dampers are monotube and give you 15-level dampening adjustment, done from knobs at the top of the shock shaft. The adjustments are crisp and clear and can be felt to make a difference (unlike some cheap coilover kits).
They come complete with aluminium upper strut mounts and are ready to bolt in.
The EZ II’s have fantastic reviews online considering the low price, with a lot of Miata owners specifically running these and using them for everything from daily driving to autocross events with good success.
If you are building your Miata on a budget and you want a coilover kit that can handle both comfortable daily driving and track use, these are a good option.
Features Include:
- Ride height adjustment by the shock body
- 15-level dampening adjustment
- Monotube dampers
- Aluminium strut mounts
- 1 year warranty
You can get the Megan Racing EZ II’s here for the best price (select your Miata model):
NA & NB MIATA MEGAN RACING EZ II
Godspeed MonoSS
Best for: Street use
Dampening adjustment: Yes, 16-level
Price: $645
Miatas made for:
- NA
- NB
- NC
- ND
Another good budget option, the Godspeed MonoSS are an incredibly cheap coilover kit with a good reputation.
These are even cheaper than the Megan’s and come with a good mount of features.
The MonoSS are designed as a street coilover that can handle track use, and offer a comfortable street ride with reducing body roll and improving handling.
The ride height adjustment is done by the shock body for maximum suspension travel, increasing ride comfort and prolonging damper life.
The dampers are monotube, giving you 16-way dampening adjustment and feature race spec oil with a high viscosity index and a performance internal piston (though there’s not a lot of specifics as to what that is).
The shock body is 52mm and is aluminium on multi link suspensions like the Miata, which helps to reduce weight. The brackets and parts are also either aluminium or carbon steel.
They also come with aluminium strut mounts with a polyurethane bushing on applicable setups.
Reviews on these coilovers are positive, making them a great choice for those building a Miata on a budget.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustment by the shock body
- 16-level dampening adjustment
- Monotube dampers with race spec oil with a high viscosity index, and performance piston
- 52mm anodized aluminium shock body
- Aluminium or carbon steel parts and brackets for reduced weight
- Aluminium strut mounts
- 1 year warranty
You can get the Godspeed MonoSS here for the best price (select your Miata model):
ST X
Best for: Street use
Dampening adjustment: No
Price: $1274
Miatas made for:
- NC
- ND
ST coilovers are a good option for people who want to lower their car for daily use and not worry about messing with suspension settings.
These coilovers are very popular in the European car scene and are actually made by KW. The ST X is identical to the KW V1’s except for the fact that the ST shock bodies are made from steel and are slightly less durable against corrosion in harsh weather.
In all other respects, they are the same kit, and as such you can expect KW levels of quality and engineering behind these.
They offer ride height adjustment, which is done by the spring perch and goes up to 85mm lower than factory. Despite the fact that the lowering is done by spring perch, which means you get less damper travel the lower you go, these coilovers are popular for running super low especially with the VW crowd, and have proven to get the job done.
They also feature a composite spring perch similar to the ones on KW coilovers which makes corrosion and seizing basically impossible, meaning you will always be able to adjust your coilovers.
If you are looking for a street coilover that will offer you a comfortable ride and has the potential to go low, the ST X are a good choice.
Features include:
- Ride height lowering by the spring perch up to 85mm
- Galvanized stainless steel shock bodies
- Composite spring perch
You can get ST X here for the best price (select your Miata model):
A’PEXi N1 ExV
Best for: Street & track use
Dampening adjustment: Yes, 32-level
Price: $1044
Miatas made for:
- NA / NB
The A’PEXi N1 ExVs are an excellent coilover at just over $1000. They are very similar to the BC Racing BR Series (infact, BC actually manufactures these for A’PEXi), however they have some slight differences.
A’PEXi has specified specific damper oil, spring rates and valving in these coilovers which is based on their own R&D and makes these coilovers a good option for track use.
They adjust ride height by the shock body, giving you full suspension travel at all heights, a more comfortable ride and the ability to set spring preload.
The dampers are monotube and offer 32-way dampening adjustment for precise tuning of the ride and handling.
These coilovers have exceptionally good reviews online, and despite the fact that they are on the stiffer side in order to handle track use, they still offer a comfortable ride on the street.
They have been specifically designed for US market conditions, meaning they are made to handle harsher weather and rougher roads.
These are not as popular as some of the other coilovers in the price range, making them a bit of a hidden gem which will give your Miata excellent handling performance for a low price.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustment by the shock body
- 32-level dampening adjustment
- Monotube dampers
- Special damper oil, spring rates and valving spec’d by A’PEXi
- Aluminium upper mounts with either pillowball or rubber bushing
- Rebuildable
You can get the A’PEXi N1 ExV for the best price here:
Skunk2 Pro-ST
Best for: Street & track use
Dampening adjustment: Yes, 12-level
Price: $1052
Miatas made for:
- NA
- NB
- NC
- ND
Skunk2 is a popular name in the Honda world, where they original started, making a wide range of performance parts and having a successful motorsport history using Hondas.
They have since branched out a bit and make parts for some other cars, the Miata for instance.
The Pro-ST coilovers are both height and dampening adjustable and designed for use on both street and track.
The ride height adjustment is done by the shock body to give you full suspension travel at all heights and a more comfortable ride. The coilovers overall are shorter than factory units and provide up to 3 inches of lowering.
The dampers are 52mm monotubes and features 12-level dampening adjustment. The dampers are designed to have a larger piston, more oil and more nitrogen to greatly improve handling characteristics and provide excellent durability even in extreme conditions.
The shock bodies are made from seamless carbon steel and are gold zinc electroplated along with the adjustment threads, and the lower shock mounts are powder coated. This provides good protection against corrosion.
The springs themselves are linear, made of the highest quality forged AE9254V Chrome Vanadium and are designed to work with the dampers to provide the perfect balance of street and track. The spring rates are selected specifically for each model.
Aluminium strut mounts are included which are CNC machined and anodized for protection. A high quality polyurethane bushing is included to keep precise handling while still retaining a comfortable ride for the street.
Additionally, padded spring seats are installed at the top and nylon washers at the bottom to reduce friction and eliminate any noise from spring binding, which is a common problem on coilovers.
If you are looking for a coilover that can handle both street and track, these are a great option at a decent price.
Features include:
- Ride height adjustment by the shock body, up to 3 inches lower than stock
- 12-level dampening adjustment
- 52mm monotube dampers with larger piston and valve and a higher capacity for oil and nitrogen
- Forged AE9254V Chrome Vanadium linear springs
- Aluminium CNC machined strut mounts with polyurethane bushings
- Padded upper spring seat and lower nylon thrust washer
You can get Skunk2 Pro-ST for the best price here (select your miata model):
NA & NB MIATA SKUNK2 PRO-ST KIT
Top 3 Coilovers Kits For Miata & MX5
I’ve thrown a lot at you in this post, and even though I’ve narrowed it down from the hundreds of options available, it can still be hard to choose. So I’m going to narrow it down even further.
Here I’ll give you my top 3 picks for Miata coilovers, one for budget, one for best value for money, and one overall.
Best Budget: TEIN Flex Z
It’s really hard to look past the TEIN Flex Z when considering sub $1000 coilovers. Honestly, I’m not sure how they can sell them for so cheap, because everything about them points to a higher teir coilover that really should be in a higher price range.
The fact that they have pretty much everything you could want from a street oriented set up with the ability to handle track driving, along with the fact that you can get them valved to your liking, and that TEIN makes the kit specific to the region its being sold in is unheard of at this price level.
I also like the ability to replace the damper inserts which saves time and money.
These coilovers have excellent reviews online with many happy customers who are willing to vouch for their exceptional ride quality, good handling and great build quality.
If you are looking for a “budget” coilover that will be used for primarily street driving, you really can’t go wrong with TEIN Flex Z’s. They also make them for every Miata model which is a bonus.
GET THE TEIN FLEX Z FOR YOUR MIATA HERE
Best Value For Money: Silvers Neomax
I decided to give the best value for money pick to the Silvers Neomax because they offer so much for not a lot of money.
They are in the same price range as BC Racing BR’s (only $100 more), and give you practically everything that the BC’s give you, plus the ability to upgrade to 2-way dampening adjustment.
I like the fact that they are very open about where they are made, how they are made and the exact materials they use for all of their parts. It establishes a lot of trust in the company and the quality of the product.
I also like the fact that they give you a ton of customization options including spring rates and valving, Swift Spring upgrade, Super Low and more. So no matter what you want to use the car for, these coilovers will get the job done.
They are actually a really good deal, and even though they are not as popular as the BR Series (which would be my second choice), they have many great reviews and are doing their best to make a top quality product at a low price point.
They basically offer everything you get with the Fortune Auto 500s but for several hundred dollars less, which is a huge selling point.
If you want really good value for money, the Silvers Neomax are going to be very hard to beat.
GET THE SILVERS NEOMAX FOR YOUR MIATA HERE
Best Overall: Ohlins Road & Track
My top pick for the Miata and MX5 coilover goes to the Ohlins Road & Track.
This is basically the perfect all round coilover that will handle both comfortable daily driving as well as regular track use and do both exceptionally well.
Add to that the fact that they are made by a company who have been in the suspension game since forever and proved to know what they are doing.
They give you ride height adjustment by the shock body, dampening adjustment, are specifically tuned for the car they are made for and are made to the absolute highest standard, including the corrosion resistance which is made the last in harsh weather.
If money is no object and you want the best coilover for your Miata or MX5, it’s going to be really hard to find something better than the Ohlins Road & Track.
GET THE OHLINS ROAD AND TRACK FOR YOUR MIATA HERE
Conclusion
With so many options out there today, especially for the Miata, it can be hard to know which coilover to go for.
I hope that this guide has helped you to make a decision and find the best coilover for your car, whether you are building a daily driver, a track or drift missile or just want a super low show car.
If you have any questions about coilovers for Miatas or would like to suggest a coilover to include in this list, feel free to post it in the comments below.
Cars owned: Mk2 Golf with 1.8T swap, BMW E28 with M30B35 swap, BMW E36 328I Mtech, BMW 750IL, Nissan 300ZX, Honda Civic EF
- BC Racing BR Series VS Tein Flex Z Coilovers - April 15, 2024
- The Pros and Cons of Shock Body Vs Spring Perch Coilover Height Adjustment - April 13, 2024
- Monotube Vs Twin Tube Shocks: The Ultimate Guide - April 11, 2024
