[Mk2] [Turbo] Which top-mounts with KW V3s?

[James Junior]

Hi all,

I did a search but couldn't find much information on this.

I have recently bought an MR2 Turbo fitted with Tein coilovers and metal top mounts. The car is very low and very stiff. I suspect it would suit track driving well, but on the road it feels borderline dangerous, with the car hopping, bobbing and scrubbing all over the place over any broken surface or undulation in the road.

I want to make the car more compliant so it is beter suited to road driving. My plan is to replace the Teins with a set of KW V3 coilovers. Whilst pretty pricey, I have a set of these on my 370Z and they are a revelation. Much better handling, good drop and very comfortable.

I understand that top mounts can also impact the quality of the ride of the car. I have never changed these on a car before so not very knowledgeable. I understand that there are two kinds- a metal kind (pillowball mounts) and a rubber option more akin to the standard set up.

The car is currently fitted with the metal-type top mounts. As I am looking for maximum compliancy, I would prefer to return to a rubber-type top mount.

Can anyone offer any feedback or input?

Would you look to source a used set (presumably these come up from time to time if some people looking for a firmer set up swap them for pillowballs), or would you go new?

Any idea of what might work well with KW V3 coilovers?

Any input gratefully received. Sorry if my terminology isn't spot on, this is a new area for me. Always learning...

[SonicSW20]

Do they KW's not come with their own top mounts?

[James Junior]

Morning Gazza, no I don't believe they do. Any ideas?

[James Junior]

HI chaps, all good, have taken some advice on one of the MR2 FB groups and going to try to source a new set of OEM top mounts.

[SonicSW20]

Probably the best choice from an NVH point of view - you won't have any camber adjustment at the top mount though, only at the hub.

[ashley]

Can't you just keep the Tien top mounts? That's the route I've heard of folk going before...

[androo007]

I'd imagine that top mounts would only impact 10% of the ride "feel" - if that.

Most Flex and feel is from the rebound, stiffness and wheel/tyre selection.

[Race Idiot]

I went the same route with my H&R coilovers which did not come with topmounts. So I used a set of TRD ones.

How many people here actually need the extra adjustability of camberplates? Plus the NVH from the spherical bearings is at odds with wanting a car that rides nicely.

Good choice on the KW's, it was either those or the H&R's for me but I wasnt sure if I could find anyone to setup the damping correctly as they have both bound and rebound adjusters.

[SonicSW20]

How many people here actually need the extra adjustability of camberplates? Plus the NVH from the spherical bearings is at odds with wanting a car that rides nicely.

Depends on how much control you want over the setup. Having camber adjustment at the top mount as well as the hub gives you control over the steering axis inclination and therefore the scrub radius.

It is also useful for clearance on 8J wheels on the front, depending on the offset. This affects the two things above as well obviously.

Everything is a compromise, just making the OP aware of what the compromise is

[Race Idiot]

Must admit I havent bothered checking the scrub radius, but on a mcstrut car like the mr2 shouldnt it be negative? Have you done any adjustments to it yourself, did it make any difference? Be interesting to know.

I've got 8j wheels on the front but they are 30 offset, maybe i'll change my mind when I use my other wheels which are 35