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P5 SportDrive Suspension Pack - Download as PDF
The brand new P5 SportDrive suspension range is the definitive adjustable hardware for the MX-5 and the most highly specified for its price. Starting with a blank sheet of paper, and utilising development time at the Millbrook Proving Ground, P5 and Dave Turner (a vehicle dynamics specialist) have collaborated on the design of the ultimate damper and spring combination. Specifically designed for the bumpy British B-road, we’ve introduced controlled suspension travel and precise adjustability to keep tyres firmly and compliantly in touch with the tarmac - giving you maximum grip and feedback. And we haven’t stopped at superior road behaviour - we like to take our MX-5s out on track, so we’ve tuned the SportDrive range to outperform on the circuit as well. The Mazda’s fluid and playful nature is the envy of other
marques, but we’ve taken chassis performance to a whole new level, whilst keeping the original spirit of the car. Read about our detailed design considerations overleaf.
| The SportDrive specification
- Designed by P5, the UK’s leading MX-5 performance specialists, with a decade of knowledge and experience.
- All damper rates developed by a fully qualified chartered mechanical engineer with 17 years experience in road and motorsport vehicle dynamics.
- Hard anodized body for maximum corrosion protection.
- CAD designed, CNC machined. Screw fit. No welds.
- Height adjustable.
- Low friction internal design for smooth functioning.
- Large piston area for fine damping control.
- Top mounted adjusters that stay clean and easy to find.
- Monotubular - improves resistance to fade or cavitation.
- Rebuildable - damper characteristics can be changed and the damper rebuilt in a minimum of time.
- PTFE banded piston - fluid passes through the control valves rather than seeping around a metal snap ring (as seen on cheaper damper units).
- Completely separate flow paths for high and low speed bump and for high and low speed rebound - four independently tuneable damping controls.
- Piggyback canister option - creating a double adjustable damper for competition use.
- Motorsport spherical bearing eye for better control.
- External Schrader Valve for simple servicing.
- Closed cell polyurethane bump stops and enclosed dust boots included.
- Silkolene PRO RSF Racing Suspension Fluid.
- All dampers tested in-housing using our SPA Dynamometer.
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Custom designed for the MX-5
The SportDrive damper for the MX-5 is custom designed and built by P5. It’s not an off-the-shelf mass produced item with a promise of special valving - it’s a bespoke damper design for the MX-5. We chose a monotubular design over a twin-tube design because it offers many distinct advantages.
Larger pistons and superior seals
It’s a misconception that a damper with enough power to pull a house down is a good thing. It’s the low speed range of the damping curve that influences the performance and handling of your chassis and tuning these delicate movements requires control and consistency. Our large piston area displaces a lot of fluid and is therefore easier to control and tune. All this would be futile if we couldn't guarantee consistent results though; unlike other cheap dampers that we have seen using a metal snap ring, our piston is banded by a deep low friction PTFE seal. This ensures that all fluid displaced passes through the control valves rather than around the piston and stays quiet in operation.
Monotubular design
A single oil chamber and high pressure gas chamber reduce cavitation and aeration around the piston and this, coupled with a body that can better dissipate heat, results in a damper that is more resistant to fade under extreme conditions such as on track - we’ve ensured that you have consistent performance whatever the conditions. Plus, we’ve added our own design changes internally to improve on the monotubular design, giving superb levels of control.
Adjusting bump and rebound curve
Dampers that offer a fixed ratio bump and rebound adjustment through the use of one adjustment knob rarely deliver perfect damping. Once one parameter is correct, the other is often way off. The SportDrive damper has four tuneable sections, low and high speed bump and rebound, plus two 'knee' positions. Based on our knowledge, experience and testing, we have fixed four of these settings inside the unit, leaving adjustment to the rebound curve so you can optimally tune the damping
for performance and handling on road or track without destroying ride comfort. To keep adjustment simple and quick, the mechanism is on top of the damper rod where it’s easy to access and kept free from road dirt.
The perfect spring rates
We’ve carefully selected front and rear spring rates that work with your chassis. Rather than a plethora of choice, that often compromises performance or comfort, we have a set package which also ensures the damper is working in perfect hamony. It’s a myth that for a comfortable ride you need soft springs. Mazda didn't change the spring rates when they equipped special edtion models with Bilstein dampers, yet comfort and performance was horrendous due to poor low speed damping! Our rates keep the chassis compliant on road and track whilst appreciably stiffening the chassis in roll. Considerations were made to alignment changes in roll, bump rejection and ride frequencies so we keep the chassis in it’s sweet spot and therefore use all of the available grip rather than waste any.
Front and rear compatibility
The fundamental balance of the MX-5 chassis is set to understeer but by changing this balance to neutral steer you have much more control over the car. Although there’s still a hint of understeer present at the limit, you have much more control of the chassis balance in a corner by using your throttle to make directional changes with no change to steering angle. We've also increased Mazda’s claimed lateral acceleration of 0.85g to 0.97g using the same skinny 185 section tyres. After much testing and evaluation we specified 350lbs/in springs at the front and 250lbs/in springs at the rear.
Damper & spring warranty
Our dampers and springs are made in the UK to the highest standard and carry a 2-year warranty against defects.
SportDrive Suspension Pack, M1 & M2/M2.5 - £629.00. Introductory pricing of £559.00, please email for full details.
SportDrive Suspension Pack, Mk3 - £tbc
M2 Top Mount Kit for M1 - £99.00 |
