Mazdaspeed3 OEM springs on Mazda3

[huyzel]

There was some confusion with this setup due to the lack of information and most of what's out there being hearsay.
So I'm starting a thread for folks to share their first hand experiences with this setup and to compare with stock & aftermarket springs.

I'll start off:
I was looking for a sportier factory feel. So I opted to get the MS3 OEM springs (thanks to UOU).
I just got them installed (thanks to Jimmy's GB) and took a boot around some highway ramps, and I thought it felt pretty good. regular driving around seems a bit firmer over bumps also, but certainly not "harsh".
I haven't had experience with the mazda3 on aftermarket springs, but I did have a lowered vehicle before (apex springs on 40 profile tires, and let me tell ya... I know what harsh is.)
I'm comparing to what I remember from the first 1000 km of owning my car.
I'll try to take back to back test drive in my car and the wife's stock '06 to really compare, and post back up.

As for the drop:
From just looking at it, I think it did drop... very little... definately wouldn't be able to tell if you didn't know they weren't from the factory.
I didn't get a chance to measure, but hopefully someone else will be posting that info after this weekend

Tech info (Thanks to RedRaptors post):
The official Mazdaspeed 3 Spring Rates are:
Front: 188.298 lb/in (3.365064 kg/mm)
Rear: 171.180 lb/in (3.059149 kg/mm)
Source:http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=77093.0
Stocks springs are around 150 lb/in. as a comparison.

I think I saw rates for the road magnets (progressive) on M3F: over 300 lb/in
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=108757.0

Here is a crappy cellphone picture of the springs
(stock on top, MS3 on the bottom)

[mEtH]

I want to see the drop! Overall great analysis but I am sure most want to see the look of the drop.

[huyzel]

I want to see the drop! Overall great analysis but I am sure most want to see the look of the drop.

... I know, I know... poor planning on my part for not getting very good before shots...
Here's a pic I took last night.
I think it is just shy of a 1cm drop (I compared to my wife's stock '06 in my garage)
Pretty much looks stock:

[Fobio]

Eventhough MOST ppl get *lowering* springs to slam their car as a cosmetic upgrade, I'd say the MS3 OEM springs is a performance upgrade with very little cosmetic effects.

Improved handling without sacrificing ride height...how does that sound?

[mEtH]

It sounds great for a lot of people, just an overall look of it all is nice to show people who are considering this option. Who needs before pictures when you can just go to a dealer and get one

Again, great write up!

[Unoriginalusername]

Glad to hear that you're happy with the small drop but improved performance

[mit-gee-mui]

Another picture

Source: http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/sh...1&postcount=23

[theurgy]

I'm not quite convinced of the upgrade aspect of this.
The reality is that the spring rates on the Speed3 springs are gauged for the increase in weight from the MZR DISI, and the 6 Speed Tranny, then they provide a mild drop.
The whole weight makeup is different on the Speed3 to the Regular 3.
I would much prefer to make the investment and install proper springs for this car.

[huyzel]

In case anyone is interested:
1,340kg (MT)/ 1,364kg (AT) - Sport GT models (other models are lighter)
1,432 kg - Mazdaspeed 3
Spring rates as listed in the first post. Other curb weights can be found on mazda.ca

Now, if we consider the spring rate vs curb weight this could mean that if the ratios were off by a great enough amount, the lighter weight of the NON-speed versions might not be enough to depress the springs and cause the car to actually LIFT - Jimmy from Street Performance did indeed tell me that he had experienced this in the past when installing it on a Sedan. (of course he warned me of this when I called to have mine installed - I wan't concerned about the height, I wanted a very subtle stiffness)

On the flip side of this, ignoring the lowering/lifting aspect, a lighter car would mean that the relatively small increase in stiffness would equate to a greated overall effect of the stiffer springs because more inertial force will be required to depress the springs, thus making it feel stiffer than the same increase in spring rate on a heavier car.... (did that make any sense???)

I agree with this not being a full fledged "lowering mod"
A couple years ago, I would have thought this was ridiculous and went with Eibachs or Tiens.
But staying "stock/OEM" and "improving handling" or gaining a "factory sport suspension" were my main concerns this time around.

Plus, the price was right

Hope that anyone thinking about this option finds both sides of the debate informative.

[Donutz]

I didn't get a chance to measure, but hopefully someone else will be posting that info after this weekend

I believe that would be me!

To start, props to; Kid Icarus for the springs and the wicked price; KenYork for responding to my PM's (being the first person I've heard of installing these springs); Huyzel for keeping in touch with me as I became aware we were both pursuing this mod, and for starting this thread; and last but not least, Jimmy and team at Street Performance.

Here are the facts:

Springs: OEM MSP3 springs, 16K km on them at the time I bought them. I don't know how long they had been off the car when I purchased them.
My car: 2005 2.3L Hatchback, 36K km
My Wheels/Tires: 17", 215/45/17

* All ride height measurements were taken at the wheel well *

Measurements - Before Install:
Gas = 4.5 bars
Front tire pressure = 33 psi
Rear tire pressure = 32.5 psi
Front ride height = 26 5/16 or 668 mm
Rear ride height = 26 7/8 or 683 mm

Measurements - After Install:
Gas = 1 bar (gas light on)
Front Tire Pressure = 33.5 psi (I'm not sure what the diff in .5 psi makes to the ride height)
Rear Tire Pressure = 32.5 psi
Front ride height = 26 9/16 or 675 mm
Rear ride height = 26 3/8 or 670 mm (measured again 1/2 tank of gas, is 665 mm)

Update after 2 weeks with springs on:

Gas = couple bars over half tank
Tire pressure: same as post-install above
Front ride height = 673 mm
Rear ride height = 662 mm

Change in ride height immediately after install:
Front: +7 mm (increased ride height)
Rear: -13 mm (decreased ride hieight with 1/2 tank of gas)

Change in ride height after 2 weeks:
Front: + 5 mm
Rear: - 22 mm

After 4 weeks
Front is now: 671mm
Rear has not dropped any further.

Change in ride height after 4 weeks
Front: +3 mm
Rear: -22 mm

Why did I do this? Partly becase I could not find any first hand posts on the common forums about this mod; specifically the change in ride height. I wanted to post my first hand experience about the facts of my mod. And I mainly did this mod because I wanted a stiffer spring rate with minimal drop. Oh, and the price was right too!

My initial comments: the stiffer spring rate is definitely noticable. I went out and took some of my local low speed and higher speed turns; body roll is reduced; I sense a better feeling of the road; less bounce over bumps (to me it seems that the car settles faster now). Comparitively, my experience with lowered cars is isolated to a DC5 that I had recently driven for 2 weeks; slammed on RSX specific springs and Koni yellows.

Esthetically, while I don't necessarily like the uneven drop, I'm usually looking out the windshield

An outstanding question that I have is 'do I need an alignment'? If there is enough interest in this fact I will eat the cost and go get an alignment so we know the full scope of this mod.

I will post up in about two weeks with new measurements as I'm not clear if my car will settle on these springs any more than it has today.

Finally; I have pics of my meaurements at the wheel well (if there is interest I will post them); however, here are pics of my car:

Before:


After:

[Airman Jack]

Hey guys, I haven't posted here in a LONG time but it appears that my login is still valid

I've got a chance to buy a friend's MS3 suspension here in Edmonton, but I'm somewhat concerned about Jason's experience that it actually raised his front end. Was there a problem with installation? Did the springs not seat properly? Did they settle once you drove on them for a little while?

[huyzel]

Both jason & I just installed them last month... so probably no settling yet.
I would attribute the raising in the front to the fact that the stiffer springs are meant for the added weight of the turbo/tranny etc of the MS3... so when you put it on a lighter car, you won't get as much compression of the springs.
the rear probably was lower because the rear ends are basically the same.

the MS3 springs themselves are shorter and the rates are stiffer

[RX9]

i just do a little adjust for the picture, now we can clearly see whats the different between before and after.

BEFORE


AFTER

[Donutz]

Hey guys, I haven't posted here in a LONG time but it appears that my login is still valid

I've got a chance to buy a friend's MS3 suspension here in Edmonton, but I'm somewhat concerned about Jason's experience that it actually raised his front end. Was there a problem with installation? Did the springs not seat properly? Did they settle once you drove on them for a little while?

There is definitely no problem with the install Jimmy did make me aware that this install actually raised a sedan based on his experience. So I supose this mod was a calculated decision on my part.

This weekend will be 2 weeks since my install. I'm not clear if I can expect the springs to settle further, however, I will take new measurements and update my post by next week.

I will say that the performance of these springs far outweighs the fact that the front of my hatch was raised a mere 7 mm. Cornering is far more stable than it was on stock springs, and nose dive under braking is significantly decreased. If you're solely interested in the increased spring rate, there is definitely good cost/benefit to this mod.

As a caveat, I would have to give this mod further thought if I owned a sedan, or if the springs had minimal mileage on them.

[FLIPDADY]

This type of mod would be the equivilent of putting heavy duty springs on your car. From those pics it's hard to tell the difference.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Racing Beat springs offer a 0.70-0.75" drop all around and are ~20% stiffer than stock.

[huyzel]

Racing Beat springs offer a 0.70-0.75" drop all around and are ~20% stiffer than stock.

hmmm... this does look like an interesting option.
Does anyone have these springs?
More info on them: http://www.racingbeat.com/resultset....rtnumber=71080

[MajesticBlueNTO]

hmmm... this does look like an interesting option.
Does anyone have these springs?
More info on them: http://www.racingbeat.com/resultset....rtnumber=71080

if anyone is interested, steve at nsn motorsports is a great guy to buy from.

[Donutz]

Updated my original post above with new measurements, 2 weeks after install.

[Gods Son]

I was actually thinking of getting a set to install on my 3 but after seeing this i think i won't bother.

[Donutz]

^^ All depends on what you are looking for. Performance only; it's a very decent mod. Personally, I was hoping for an even drop, although it's difficult to see the difference in the unevenness. There are a lot of inaccuracies on the net about this mod, so I wanted to put some definition to it.

I've now invested in Prokits because I didn't like the idea of the front being higher than the rear. I guess it's all personal preference really, but at least you could see for yourself and make an educated decision!

[Donutz]

I took final measurements today. All in all a good mod for the price. It appears the springs were still settling, and as of today, the total raise/drop is +3 mm in the front, and -22 mm in the rear.

I'm taking final measurements today bc my Mazdaspeed accessory struts and Prokits are going on the car tomorrow morning

For anyone interested in this mod, it's has been a decent performance increase for my hb. However, it does appear to take time for the car to settle on these springs. Overall I was quite happy with it.

[monstar]

if anyone is interested, steve at nsn motorsports is a great guy to buy from.

the prices look good too. are these guys in toronto?

[huyzel]

NSN seems to be American.

Canada and International:
We will ship to Canada and Puerto Rico and limited other countries. Shipping costs for Canada and Puerto Rico will be calculated in the checkout. All duties and brokerage is extra. Other countries must email for pricing quotes. Please see our return and stocking policies before ordering

[Fuman]

NSN seems to be American.

yup
they ship via USPS
NSN review thread
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/sh...ad.php?t=21472