Progress Technology MX5 Springs. 2006-2008

These MX5 Springs were chosen by Mazda for their limited edition 2007 MSR package that dominated the SCCA STOCK CLASS until ND came along. The engineering staff at Progress has decades of experience in the design and tuning of performance suspension systems, including CART/Indy Cars, IMSA, SCCA, NASA, and SCORE competitors. These MX5 springs reflect their ability to develop a successful blend of appearance, handling capability, and ride quality.

These MX5 springs feature increased spring rates for upgraded handling capabilities with reasonable rate upgrade to keep superior ride quality. These MX5 springs are designed to work with OEM shocks but will benefit from using high performance shocks such as our adjustable choices from Koni and Tokico. Progress specifies only certified high-tensile SAE spring wire materials. Their MX5 springs are cold-wound on modern CNC coiling machines, then stress relieved, pre-set, and shot-peened for maximum durability.

-Front starting drop: 0.5" --- Rear starting drop: 0.5"
-Front starting rate: 126 lbs/in --- Rear starting rate: 116 lbs/in
-All spring kits are powdercoated metallic gray.
-Drop amount varies by 0.25" depending and typically setup will settle a good quarter inch over time.

BRIAN'S APPLICATION NOTES: The drop figures are for 2006-2008. Note spring 'starting' rates, initial travel comfort very similar to stock but when you lean on them in the turns the progress design means much less squishy than stock for much flatter handling. These are a great choice for those who want to replace the soggy factory springs, improve handling, without dropping the car a lot. For those who want MORE DROP than the half inch drop the springs provide, combine these springs with our KONI SPORT to reproduce that factory MSR package handling and stance for total lowering of about an inch. Even customers with the PRHT have been very happy with this spring choice (shown below on PRHT in combination with KONI SHOCKS that lower another half inch or so. We suggest adding our FCM Sport or Comfort bumpstops depending on your driving intentions.

INSTALL NOTES: It is important to not lock down the bolts to the suspension after install while the car is suspended in the air with the suspension fully extended. Bounce it on the ground, then give it a drive around the block with the bolts just snug so you get it to settle before you torque everything ON THE GROUND. Most shops will NOT know to do this...PRINT ALL THIS PAGE FOR YOUR INSTALLER! See details in our forum installation section, thread is titled: "Spring Installation, Mazda Workshop Manual Notes" and factory TSB notes below. Once you do it right, drive it 500 miles and then do it again (which usually results in another quarter inch or more of lowering)....and then do the alignment. ROCKY'S TIPS: Our head mechanic Rocky has his own method that seems to work even better than the factory TSB. Once he finishes install at each corner he jacks up just that corner with BOTH UPPER AND LOWER LINKs loose, so the full weight of the car is compressing that corner, then he torques the bolts...and he still finds car will settle with 500 miles but usually only another 1/8th inch.

ALIGNMENT:

Alignment depends much on what you do with the car. Assuming no autocross or track use, for pure street driving my suggestion is:

Front Camber -1.8
Toe IN 1/32nd per side (some shops call this 1/16th 'total' toe in).
Caster 6.5

Rear Camber -1.2
Toe IN 1/32nd per side
Racers will take much more camber (and usually full coilovers instead of just these very mild street springs). Autocross customers will toe OUT the front, track users usually toe ZERO front and rear.

These are the same springs that Mazda sold in the MSR package 2007 MX5 that DOMINATED the Stock/Street SCCA Autocross class for years. Take a ride in a fast MSR and notice how fast and stable an MX5 can be with these springs. Note the Miata in video below has our RoadsterSport Suspension Package with these springs and KONI SPORT shocks and our bumpstops and our Progress Sway.