Spring Strut Problemo

Vanished · Post by **Vanished** » January 4th, 2006, 3:17 pm

Ok well I've researched this for quite abit the last coupel of weeks. The deal is, my struts need replacement. So, custom suspension set up right?
Well not quite. See I live in saskatoon saskatchewan canada...nuff said. (Takes them forever to plow the roads, and fix the potholes in summer...by the time the roads are good...its snows)

So the deal is I'm getting KYB-gr2 struts (200USD). I think this is a good choice, because the price tag is nice, and they're good struts from what i hear. Now i don't want lowering springs, because i hear that they dont' work well with the KYB and mostly because, I dont' want to lower my car.

So What kind of replacement spring are there that don't lower the car (.5 woudl be acceptable, but no more than that) I can't find any. maybe i'm just not tryign hard enough.

I'm getting a ze real soon, so will the suspension setup (KYB-gr2 with replaced springs) be ok for the power that the ZE has? Will it squat to much? Woudl i be better off getting mazda speed stuts with B+G springs and lower the car?

Mazdaracer · Post by **Mazdaracer** » January 4th, 2006, 4:02 pm

you are correct, the KYBs are a stock replacement strut.

but as for springs, since you don't want performance springs, are you looking for other stock springs that fit the MX3?

Other springs that fit are:

90-94 Protege/323 (slightly softer)
91-96 Escort/Tracer (slightly stiffer than the Protege/323, but not as stiff as MX3)(Wagon's may have slightly stiffer springs)
97-03 Escort/ZX2/Tracer (probably as stiff as the MX3)(Wagon's may have slightly stiffer springs)

I'm going on aftermarket springs when i say slightly stiffer, so i am assuming the stock springs would somewhat follow suit.

Vanished · Post by **Vanished** » January 4th, 2006, 5:02 pm

well...i want a performance spring that doesnt' lower the car. Thats basically it. But if there was such thing, would the stiffness of the spring be hard on the KYB strut?

Mazdaracer · Post by **Mazdaracer** » January 4th, 2006, 6:46 pm

ok, well the easy way is to go with coilovers. They offer you the choice of any spring rate you desire and can be set at stock height. A spring rate slightly higher than stock wouldn't kill the KYBs but they would reduce their lifespan. Otherwise, the next option is to get a spring that has the least drop, typically .75" to 1". But again, the lifespan will be reduced, as the strut will be constatly overloaded.

May i suggest:
ZX2 S/R struts. Stiffer than stock, but nothing *harsh* These will handle the higher spring rates easily. Ground Control sleve kit with maybe a 180# front spring and a 150# rear spring. Those are relatively soft. The H&R pigtail springs are 220#/180# for comparison. Maybe use 7" or even 6" springs. You don't want to have to preload the spring too much, if any to get it to stock(ish) height. You could even go with an ebay sleve kit, and use Eibach or Hypercoil or H&R race springs.

Vanished · Post by **Vanished** » January 4th, 2006, 7:59 pm

I dunno about the ZX2 stuts...i've heard some iffy things about them blowing. Thanks for the info tho. One quick question, I've seen you suggest the ZX2's in almost everythread in the suspension forum lol...why is that?

Oh and doesnt' anybody know of hwat kind of springs there are that have 1 inch or less drop? The "highest" spring i can find is the B+G springs.

And nobody's answered my questiona bout if I'll need stiffer springs to control the ZE's power.

Mazdaracer · Post by **Mazdaracer** » January 4th, 2006, 10:01 pm

lol...ya, cause i feel the ZX2 struts are much better and you save cash.

Dunno whos blowing em up, but i used the ZX2's for autox for 2 years, abused the crapola out of them and they still run duty on a buddys autox car today. The ppl that i know using them for autox and some track runs, have been pleased with them and haven't had any issues.

Eibachs are typically a 1" drop, sorry, not familiar with the specs for the EC chassis.

The 2.5 does not weigh much more than the 1.8, stock GS springs would still work fine. Although you may want to look into a brake system refresh/upgrade.

Vanished · Post by **Vanished** » January 5th, 2006, 12:20 am

I was more thinking of the squatting and wheel hop.

93_mx3_gs · Post by **93_mx3_gs** » January 5th, 2006, 1:28 am

A stiffer spring is an ideal way to go for rough like driving because you want the fastest reacting suspension set up as possible for things like gravel style racing or autoX and all that junk. If you are just going to cruz n what not a softer set up offers a very hypnotic and comfortable ride if you don't mind the wheel hop every once in a while.

Living in Salt lake city sucks because we have a crap load of pot holes and man covers everywhere and they are at least 2"s deep if not more and everytime I hit one, it sounds like I just jumped a curve with my stock GS springs which is ghey. I would totally pick stiffness over softness for harsh conditions.

PATDIESEL · Post by **PATDIESEL** » January 5th, 2006, 1:35 am

MS or filled motor mounts and some new or SRD suspension bushings will help if not completely stop any wheel hop. Good tires are a major factor in wheel hop too.

As for springs I'd go with a coil over kit so that you can choose a slightly stiffer than stock spring rate. (as said above)

For shocks I'd go with the ZX2 struts. I've not heard of them having many problems. Remember that the ZX2 struts have to be modified to fit the MX-3. So that perhaps the "problems" that people have experienced were caused by poor craftmaship of the mod.???

As for the ZE, any MX-3 spring/shock, aftermarket or stock, will work. The ZE only weighs about 50 pounds more than the K8. The power of a car is not affected by the springs/struts. (unless you plan on some really aggressive driving in all that snow.)

Mazdaracer · Post by **Mazdaracer** » January 5th, 2006, 11:49 am

PATDIESEL wrote:For shocks I'd go with the ZX2 struts. I've not heard of them having many problems. Remember that the ZX2 struts have to be modified to fit the MX-3. So that perhaps the "problems" that people have experienced were caused by poor craftmaship of the mod.???

right, in the early days, you had to modify the upper perches. But then it was found out that any of the 97+ escort perches can be used. So in essence, no mods are needed.

i wrote this how to many years ago, but it all still applies today. I think i added the update about just swapping perches.

http://www.mazdaracer.clubprotege.com/ZX2struts.html

Vanished · Post by **Vanished** » January 5th, 2006, 4:41 pm

Hmmm good stuff guys thanks. I'm still leary about the ZX2 i dunno why. I'll defantly look into them tho. I'm talkin to some guys on the sask forum about what the roads are like if you lower the car or not...

If I lower the car, what are the tokicos like? I'd probably pair them with B+G springs (heard good things, not exremmly low, 1.3front/1.0back) I'm not going to be doing much hardcore racing, just autox a coupel times durring the summer and a couple passes at SIR (drag).

Mazdaracer · Post by **Mazdaracer** » January 5th, 2006, 5:52 pm

FYI: The ZX2 struts are also made by Tokico.

B+G are good quality springs, should do ya just fine.

93_4Banger · Post by **93_4Banger** » January 5th, 2006, 7:56 pm

well man i just bought me a brand new set of KYB GR-2 so will see how they work, for the price i got them you can really lose. I mite put some B&G or some Eibachs on them in the future. but first i gotta finish the body work.

Vanished · Post by **Vanished** » January 5th, 2006, 8:55 pm

yay...i'm acculy exited for you tell me how they work out! how much was shipping? Kurt from Performance Plus said he can get me some i dunno how much tho yet. Good luck

Mazdaracer

good to know about the struts. I'll defantly be looking into them