MX-3.com

yeah, you can get em for ford or a parts place. I'd bring one strut and spring in with you to make sure they all match up. Can't wait to see the finished product

stepchyld wrote:Hey guys! They have arrived. I thought these were off a normal zx2, as the auction said nothing about the car being an SR. I'm surprised that the struts are Tokico and the part numbers nearly match the tokiko's from the SR. (maybe the listed part number is the number for the entire set, while the struts have their own individual part numbers?) The springs also have close numbers to the eibach springs for the SR, but say nothing else on them. Anyone know anything on this?
Can I get the thrust bearings and new upper strut perches for a zx2 from any ford dealership?
Conversion begins Sunday!

could also be the stock parts are just normal tokicos and being from teh same car the springs be listed as similar numbers

well, sunday was too cold, and I've decided to replace other things I've yet to purchase, so it may be another week.
I thought the normal struts wouldn't be tokico, though I could easily be wrong about that. Does anyone know for sure? I'll be ordering parts from ford soon, so I'll be sure to find out.

Found out they are stock xz2 struts, for sure. I didn't know they were tokico, what brand are our factory struts? I've yet to look for a name on mine.
Still obtaining other parts to replace while I'm at it.
what signs of metal fatigue should I be looking for on the mounts themselves?

Finally got to install them. I used the struts and the springs, so I replaced everything. Got an alignment today, but haven't drove it much yet. Just wanted to follow up on my posts here. They work! didn't lower the car, I've suspicions the front may be 1/2 inch higher than before, but still looks fine. the rear struts and springs are identical, so that was cake. the front was a pain, especially modifying the upper spring seat for the zx2 strut bearing, and getting the spring compressed enough to install. The zx2 front springs are coiled 5 times, the mx3-4 times, so I'm hoping they'll be a little more stiff on the road. I'll see, later guys!

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

that post should clear some lil thingy
u should be able to do the swap but witch springs ull use with it ?

No. This link doesn't clear anything up. Why do we need new dust boots? Why do we need new bearings? The old ones won't work?

And what's 'upper pearch mounts'??? The piece that the manual calls an 'upper spring seat'???

Why are the camber bolts on the list? Is this required just for the ZX2 struts on stock springs, or becuase he's loweing his car anyways ...... in which case the camber bolts are of course necessary for OEM alignment.

I skipped the ZX2 struts for eBay Protege Gabriel struts because I assumed all the crap he listed in that FAQ was required for ZX2 struts to fit. Being that I paid $150 anyways for Gabriels, I would have much rather had the Tokiko's at $150. But I didn't want to be nickel and dimed jsut to get the things to adapt.

parts needed:

ZX2 struts ~$150
ZX2 upper bearings ~$35 a pair (there are 2 types, plastic and metal, get the metal ones)
ZX2 or any 97+ Escort upper perches (aka, upper spring seats) ~$20 at a junkyard.

or

modify your current upper perches. Just grind the whole a LITTLE larger.

Still way cheaper than HP Blues and way better than KYBs or OEM replacements.

Camber bolts are not needed, unless you want more camber. The ZX2 strut shafts are shorter for the lowered springs, but do not lower the car any more than the springs would. The lower perches (welded to the strut body) are still in the same place.

The thrust bearings (aka upper strut bearings) are different. The stock strut shaft is 20mm, the ZX2 strut shaft is 22mm. So the bearing and perch holes are different, hence the reason to mod or swap.

With the plastic vs. metal bearing issue ...... I was pissed that the Monroe mounts I bought had plastic bearings originally. Installed the one side. I bought the other side last week and actually took the plastic bearing apart. It's encapsulated with metal washers inside anyways, so I think the arguement is moot. It seems it would be just as durable with metal on all sides. If anything, that should insulate it from making rude noises. Also, if you're only getting new bearings for a 2mm shaft difference, I'd think we could bore out the MX3 bearing hole a milimeter on each side.

Obviously, it's good to replace them anyways if they're old, but if you're like me and have brand new bearings, why waste money?

I would also just modify the stock upper perches. That's shrouded with plastic if memory serves, no? So it sounds like all you'd really NEED for this swap is a 22mm drill bit. Guess I just wasted $150. I hope the Gabriel struts don't turn out as unreliable as all the reviews online are. I hope that was for the base Gabriel Guardian struts, whereas I ordered the top of the line ones.

It would be nice if someone put together, or reposted a series of pics showing the how-to.

This question seems to come up a lot.

Maybe links to online retailers with part #'s?

http://www.zx2racing.com/store/closeup. ... 4&offset=0
This site has a great price on the struts and also sells the thrust bearing and the upper perches as a kit for about $70.00. The link for this kit is on the page linked.

http://www.johnbleakleyford.com/partsse ... SUSPENSION


ZX2-R STRUT SET OF 4 137.50

Custommx3 wrote:It would be nice if someone put together, or reposted a series of pics showing the how-to.

This question seems to come up a lot.

Maybe links to online retailers with part #'s?

my how-to does show everything involved. It just so happens my site is down right now.

lakersfan1 wrote:With the plastic vs. metal bearing issue ...... I was pissed that the Monroe mounts I bought had plastic bearings originally. Installed the one side. I bought the other side last week and actually took the plastic bearing apart. It's encapsulated with metal washers inside anyways, so I think the arguement is moot. It seems it would be just as durable with metal on all sides. If anything, that should insulate it from making rude noises. Also, if you're only getting new bearings for a 2mm shaft difference, I'd think we could bore out the MX3 bearing hole a milimeter on each side.

Obviously, it's good to replace them anyways if they're old, but if you're like me and have brand new bearings, why waste money?

I would also just modify the stock upper perches. That's shrouded with plastic if memory serves, no? So it sounds like all you'd really NEED for this swap is a 22mm drill bit. Guess I just wasted $150. I hope the Gabriel struts don't turn out as unreliable as all the reviews online are. I hope that was for the base Gabriel Guardian struts, whereas I ordered the top of the line ones.

it's those plastic covers that tend to crack. Especially with a much stiffer than stock suspension. and IIRC, the price for the bearings are the same, metal or plastic.

no, the upper perches are metal, not plastic. and by dremeling the plastic bearings, your just asking for premature failure. I know from experience.

I also know from experience that the Gabriels are for stock suspension, nothing more.

lol...why buy stock ZX2 struts & springs. its like buying a set of stock MX3 strut/springs.


If the springs ARE NOT red, they aren't eibachs. I bought my ZX2 SR stuff from a 00' model for 68 dollars. Came with KYB mounts, the tokico struts & eibachs....everything.

And yes, the factory ZX2 struts are tokico's regardless of whether its a SR or not

Mazdaracer wrote: I also know from experience that the Gabriels are for stock suspension, nothing more.

And the stock suspension is all I'll ever use. I find enough stuff to hit my stock lip on at stock height, without lowering. If they last, I'm sure I'll be content. My main concern is longevity and tolerable city road performance. My main reason for replacing my struts is because the rebound is so bad when I hit a small bump, my back end tries changing ends. Though I do plan on doing a little autocross this year, a little body roll is acceptable.

But it would have been nice to have slightly firmer shocks.

OK. The plastic housings can crack. Noted. I'll know that for next time I lay out cash for bearings.