ZX2 Struts -- $137.50 + 13.75 Shipping = $155.25

nolig2278 · Post by **nolig2278** » December 4th, 2006, 10:20 pm

http://info.rockauto.com/Monroe/Detail.html?904913.jpg is the strut mate bearing plate, i might just get it from them

the struts came in today. that was fast

update: i ordered the above link as it was the strut mate plate and bearing for about $33 also 2 front boot/bumpstops (bellows) for a just under $120 with 2 day shipping.

i should be installing this weekend. I know the factory strut plates can adjust camber and caster, anyone know if these monroe plates will do the same?

thanks

nolig2278 · Post by **nolig2278** » December 10th, 2006, 9:33 pm

installed the front 2 zx2 struts, boots, plastic bearings and strut plates.
i dremeled out the spring perch, it does take a bit of time.

new strut mates had a notch on one side that I put on the outside. Did anyone else pay attention to this? stock mx3 this can affect caster and camber.

camber is about -2 on both front, it is out of spec but is this ok?
caster left is .9 and right 2.1
toe is .24 and .21

the zx2 struts and or strut mate seem to have raised the car a little compared to the tokico blue, using same eibach springs, nice cause i can now clear some speed bumps and a little easier onto alignment rack at firstone

also the zx2 tokico blacks seem to push down, by hand a bit easier than my blues, does this make sense, but ride is better

TREVO123 · Post by **TREVO123** » December 27th, 2006, 3:36 am

So these should work for Megan Racing Zx-2 springs? Thats what i have and possibly lookin to upgrade the struts..

Another thing, If i was to Paypal one of you guys that have purchased of that site, the correct amount of money to buy the struts + id give ya $10 for doing it for me, as for i dont have a credit card..

Yoda · Post by **Yoda** » December 28th, 2006, 1:41 pm

TREVO123 wrote:So these should work for Megan Racing Zx-2 springs? Thats what i have and possibly lookin to upgrade the struts..

All Escort (including the ZX2) springs are 1" taller in the rear and shorter in the front compared to MX-3 spring

TREVO123 · Post by **TREVO123** » December 28th, 2006, 8:16 pm

Yoda wrote:
TREVO123 wrote:So these should work for Megan Racing Zx-2 springs? Thats what i have and possibly lookin to upgrade the struts..
All Escort (including the ZX2) springs are 1" taller in the rear and shorter in the front compared to MX-3 spring

They are a 1.75-2" drop.. ahh screw it ill use my stock struts for now..

Steeb · Post by **Steeb** » December 29th, 2006, 11:49 am

lotta people have used zx2 aftermarket springs in mx3's and they seem to all sit fine

zzzoomx3 · Post by **zzzoomx3** » February 8th, 2007, 7:54 pm

so whats the bottom line here - with the ZX2 blues? i am needing to replace my struts on my V6 mx3 and as we all know bleakley seems to have the best deal around for that upgrade - 140 for all 4 - if i am reading that right...right?

i will be adding eibach springs to this mix, but ONLY the right ones for the mx3 V6 and not some for another mazda or ford.

i got that a dremel will be necessary for the blues to fit properly, thats easy enough, but what was all this talk of different mounts and blacks and all that - with all this talk - yo'd think we'd have a more solid FAQ on the matter - but alas, it leaves much to be desired.

thanks

Steeb · Post by **Steeb** » February 9th, 2007, 2:50 pm

Yoda wrote:All Escort (including the ZX2) springs are 1" taller in the rear and shorter in the front compared to MX-3 spring

lots of people have zx2 aftermarket springs and when installed they do lower the car as much as advertised.

zzzoomx3 wrote:so whats the bottom line here - with the ZX2 blues? i am needing to replace my struts on my V6 mx3 and as we all know bleakley seems to have the best deal around for that upgrade - 140 for all 4 - if i am reading that right...right?

i will be adding eibach springs to this mix, but ONLY the right ones for the mx3 V6 and not some for another mazda or ford.

i got that a dremel will be necessary for the blues to fit properly, thats easy enough, but what was all this talk of different mounts and blacks and all that - with all this talk - yo'd think we'd have a more solid FAQ on the matter - but alas, it leaves much to be desired.

thanks

zx2 s/r tokico is not the same as tokico hp (blue)

the faq is very clear, perhaps you should read it over until u understand it.

zzzoomx3 · Post by **zzzoomx3** » February 9th, 2007, 3:03 pm

do you mean THISFAQ? dead link....(http://www.teamzx2.com/index.cfm?fa=art ... ticle_id=9)

tehbrookzorz · Post by **tehbrookzorz** » February 16th, 2007, 11:49 pm

http://www.mx-3.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=36490

I must admit though, I'm still a bit confused about the necessary parts, but it's the lingo synonyms I think I'm missing.

tehbrookzorz · Post by **tehbrookzorz** » February 21st, 2007, 3:32 am

Ugh. I was getting mixed up when people were saying spring pearch and ZX-2 springs raising the car. I'm sure other people got mixed up too.

Anyway, let's clear up the confusion. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm a visual learner so I found an image for reference: http://www.monroe.com/tech_support/tec_struts.asp

You use the ZX-2 black struts in the kit from Ford, which are half an inch shorter than MX-3 stock struts. part # M-18000-Z2

You use aftermarket MX-3 lowering springs from Eibach or whoever, ideally around a 1.5" drop.
I guess stock springs can be re-used but fitment will be interesting due to the shorter struts, no?

You use the ZX-2 upper strut mount/bearing plates for the front. Is this confirmed to have the same frame-mount setup as the MX-3 bearing plates? I imagine so at any rate.

You can use either the MX-3 or ZX-2 upper spring seats. The ZX-2 should be a perfect fit. To save costs, some people drill out the center hole of the MX-3 spring seats from 19mm to 22mm, though this may raise safety issues. Am I right?

Now in the rear do you need ZX-2 upper strut mounts or do MX-3 ones suffice? I imagine you have to swap the upper spring seats again or do the dremel trick. I haven't had these apart so I'm trying to confirm what I'm doing before I start, although I'll have a mechanic handy.

Boots and camber bolts should be sourced too before you start. Bumpstops will likely require replacing as well.

tehbrookzorz · Post by **tehbrookzorz** » February 23rd, 2007, 9:56 pm

Any thoughts?

tehbrookzorz · Post by **tehbrookzorz** » March 16th, 2007, 9:18 pm

Found this in another thread but figured it could be useful here too for people searching for info on ZX2 Struts in the future.
Thanks go to Neutral.

neutral wrote:
Bumpysbro wrote:hey guys my struts are completely gone the ride has gotten so bad that i wana replace the whole setup myself. if anyone can help me im making a list of parts that i need when i do this.
strut assembly
coil spring
strut mounts
strut bearing
i know i need a spring compressor.
is there anything else?
A few things ya might or will need to add to your list - highlighted below... Applies to the front only - replace the upper spring seats - sometimes called upper spring perch. They usually aren't included when you buy the strut mounts and they are subject to extreme deterioration, even more so than the strut mounts, esp if still the originals. Check out page R-012 of the online shop manual for a good exploded diagram. http://www.mx-3.com/95manual The strut mounts bolt to the body and the spring seat sits just below the strut mount. The thrust bearing sits between these two parts to allow the front spring/strut assembly to rotate against the strut mount when steering. That's why you don't have em or need em on the rear. Upper spring seat is a metal disk with a bonded rubber/metal center, the upper spring coil seats against a rubber collar/cushion lining the underside of the spring seat metal disk. That rubber collar is to dampen vibration and it does not come with the new spring seats but you can either reuse the old rubber collar if it's in decent shape, or replace it with a new rubber collar from the Mazda dealer, or save your $ & just use a length of heater hose shoved onto the topmost spring coil when reassembling.

You'll also need new strut dust boots and bump-stops all-around if your old ones are trashed. If the old ones are still in good cond., when you have everything apart, a cleaning and wipedown with WD40 will help to preserve the rubber. Shop manual shows the bump stop (called a "bound-stopper") and dust boot as separate parts but aftermarket OEM replacements are sold with the bump-stop and dust boot integrated as a single unit for the MX-3. At least my (KYB?) replacement boots came this way...

If you are installing lowering springs ya might need to reinstall the strut assembly using adjustable camber bolts to allow for proper wheel alignment/camber adjustment by the shop. I had to add these when I did mine w/H&R Sport springs a couple years ago - in my case just for the fronts tho - fyi

Spring compressor can be rented at many autoparts places like Advance Auto Parts etc. You pay them the purchase price which they refund when you return the rental tool. Whether renting or buying, get the type specifically noted for Macpherson struts as the jaws can be compressed a bit closer together than with other "regular" spring compressors. This can be especially helpful/necessary when reassembling with aftermarket springs that have fewer coils to hook the compresser jaws onto than the stock springs have. Below is a pic of one Mac strut type, which also comes with safety retainer pins that keep the jaws from slipping off the compressed spring - nice feature. I bought this type from Sears Craftsman - pd $40 to buy a few years ago - Sears price is now $50 - has lifetime warranty - not rentable from Sears. This online vendor offers same item for $35 - good price if you're buying. Tool is heavy so shipping could be high tho. http://www.etoolcart.com/index.asp?Page ... &ProdID=92

btw, your rear springs rubbing against the wheelwell sounds like broken rear strut mounts are allowing the rear springs to make contact with the inside of the rear strut towers. Also, your proper jackstand points for the front are positioned under the squarish frame rails that end just behind each control arm bolt, not on the control arm/bolt itself.

Listen to PATDIESEL cuz ya definitely wanna be sure to orient every replacement part EXACTLY as the old parts were oriented before disassembly. You can definitely do this repair yourself, which will save ya big bucks and the first time you do it successfully, you will say YAY, tho I walk thru the valley of death I shall fear NO EVIL, cuz today, surely, I AM the baddest MOFO in the valley! At least I remember feeling that way my 1st time thru it.

Disclaimer: This advice/post is worth no more the price paid for it...

Jovian2k · Post by **Jovian2k** » April 9th, 2007, 12:12 pm

Dang the price went up to $160.60 for the Struts (M18000Z2), I'm mad I waited this long! Oh well, its still a good deal and I'll just order the boots and bearings with em... lets see how it goes.

Jovian2k · Post by **Jovian2k** » April 12th, 2007, 5:33 pm

Does anyone know the part numbers for the Front & Rear Boots and Metal ZX2 Thrust Bearings, I tried to order them but the guy at John Bleakley said he needs the part number... any help? Or am I better off going to Advance for these parts?