50 lb stereo messing up my rear suspension

[Alexsered]

So I installed my stereo about a year ago, i would say the total weight is 50-75lbs, 2 12 inch subs and a mdf ported box.

The issue I am seeing is that the suspension in the rear seems to have dropped about .5 to 1 inch. I hate that it looks kind of saggy in the butt, if you all know what I mean, and I'm not sure if I should just take out the stereo completely, or take out the spare tire to lighten up the rear or what. Does anybody else have this issue? I'm very nitpicky with my car, so I notice these things. Any suggestions on a solution? (uhm)

 

[eg6motion]

Wow, +1 vote here for taking it out.

 

[Alexsered]

Wow, +1 vote here for taking it out.

yeah, that's what I am thinking about. it's not that heavy though, I think its the consistant weight in the back that has slowly dropped it to where it's at.

 

[NiteRunner]

That's amazing, and pretty hard t believe. I think maybe it's just the normal settling of the suspension. 50lbs is hardly anything at all really. I used to compete in IASCA sanctioned events and see much heavier systems. All but the heaviest most custom installs retained their stock suspension, and did not seem to sag. Or maybe there is another problem, but I wouldn't take it out just yet.

 

[07speed3]

mine seems to have done the same in last 40k miles and i dont have anymore then a small tool kit and a coat in the back of my car.

 

[Alexsered]

I hate how that looks, I like it being a little lower in the front than the rear, not the other way around.

And I used to compete too, I had 2 rockford fosgates power HX2's, each sub was 50lbs, plus 0 guage wiring and all my caps and amps, with an 11 cubic feet box in the back of my 200sx, and that thing slammed my suspension to the gournd, lol.

But I dont want any of that with this car, maybe i should try going to one sub. IDK.

 

[jjjxlr8]

Carbon fiber speaker boxes?

 

[BlackCherry06]

This is probably a little more spring settling than Mazda anticipated, but a 50 lb speaker box isn't causing it and likely isn't making a noticable difference. However, in order to get Mazda to even look at it, the hatch would need to be empty. But it'd be worth the effort of removing the stuff temporarily if it means Mazda might replace the springs under warranty.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Get new springs?

 

[THE Phen]

I'd blame it on settling as well. Different car, but I carried enough guitar stage equipment for my last show that it should have been on the bump stops, but nope. I maybe sagged a half inch. Keep in mind this was 4 stage monitors, 4 guitar amps and a PA.

 

[builthatch]

That's amazing, and pretty hard to believe.

x2. stereo stuff isn't going to make any appreciable changes to ride height.

the springs haven't settled. if anything, the dampers have failed in some capacity and allowing the sag (dunno what else it could be :shrugs. the springs are designed and produced by eibach for this car. they are not the pro-kit they offer, obviously, but they were designed and produced by Eibach and their springs are block set twice. they don't settle, everything around them does. keep in mind the rear dampers take alot of stress in this car because of the acceleration. the rears have to keep the front of the car down by countering the backheaded forces.

 

[BlackCherry06]

Dampers don't prevent sag. They're only there to dampen the motion of the suspension and prevent spring rebound. The best dampers in the world won't support the weight of the car if the springs are weak.

 

[truredspeed3]

Wow...umm...this is a performance car...right....take that crap out!

 

[builthatch]

Dampers don't prevent sag. They're only there to dampen the motion of the suspension and prevent spring rebound. The best dampers in the world won't support the weight of the car if the springs are weak.

did someone here say that dampers compensate for weak springs? i'm just asking because i don't see that anywhere...point it out if i missed it, i'm not being a smartass, i just didn't see it.

anyway, springs for a given car are designed for a certain damper...if you take the damper and change it's valving to be softer, the resting compression will be more and the spring is now compressed more. a change in valving will yield a very negligible change, depending on the rate of the spring, but a damaged damper that has lost most of its oil will rely alot more on the spring and in turn the spring will compress even more than a simple valving change.

Wow...umm...this is a performance car...right....take that crap out!

haha...this isn't an exige or mclaren....unless you are literally racing more than daily driving, creature comforts are more than appropriate.

 

[jon619]

You know the car sits lower in the back than the front, right? How about some pictures? Lowering springs (for the MS3) generally lower the front more than the rear to balance the car out.

 

[Alexsered]

You know the car sits lower in the back than the front, right? How about some pictures? Lowering springs (for the MS3) generally lower the front more than the rear to balance the car out.

I am seriously considering some springs. Nothing major, but something to balance out the front and rear.

 

[opt_ms3]

the eibach springs are a good choice

 

[truredspeed3]

Dude, you should of bought a regular 3 hatch if you wanna throw a 50 pound noisemaker in the back of it.

 

[Alexsered]

Dude, you should of bought a regular 3 hatch if you wanna throw a 50 pound noisemaker in the back of it.

it's not a noisemaker, I used to be into competing, now I'm into SQ, it's tuned with the system and sounds way better than stock. I'm not the kind of person to drive bumping a loud stereo anymore. And 50lbs isn't much at all, thats the difference of a 210lb driver and a 160lb driver.

 

[Circle9]

the eibach springs are a good choice

Good choice, they made my last car look good!