Anyone having problems with shocks/struts?

[ohioan]

Got an 07 ms3 and the rear struts are def screwed. Mazda said $392 to fix. I'm at 52,000 miles. The front ones make the same noise, but not as loud yet.
My rear rotors and pads need to be replaced (do it in the spring myself). Mazda quoted me at $410 for that...
Also, two of my tires, now the rear ones, need to be replaced, tirerack has those for 189 ea. But I'm just going to go with summer ones in the summer which should be a little more then half that (but need all four)

I'm screwed!

 

[GoFast]

The factory struts blow. (pun intended) I am surprised you got that many miles out of them. I suggest getting some aftermarkets like the koni fsds.

have you replaced your front pads yet?

 

[ohioan]

I bought the car with 38,000 miles on it, so i'm assuming that the previou owner did. They seem to be meeeeeeety.

As of aftermarket, I do plan on putting that on, because like you say, stock shouldn't have to be replaced that soon. But I don't want the car to be any higher/lower-that's the springs, right? Shocks make stiffer or softer feel?

 

[ohioan]

Oh yeah! The reason that I really went to get the shocks and stuts checked was because I was trying to fill my tires up with air and one of the tpms broke! $125

sucks

 

[GoFast]

I bought the car with 38,000 miles on it, so i'm assuming that the previou owner did. They seem to be meeeeeeety.

As of aftermarket, I do plan on putting that on, because like you say, stock shouldn't have to be replaced that soon. But I don't want the car to be any higher/lower-that's the springs, right? Shocks make stiffer or softer feel?

Theoretically speaking? yes, that is correct.

However, the fsd's seem to raise the front about 1/2 an inch. I think the perch is welded a hair higher on the shock body than factory.

Between settling and just getting used to to it, I don't notice it anymore but it sort of bugged me at first.

 

[GoFast]

Oh yeah! The reason that I really went to get the shocks and stuts checked was because I was trying to fill my tires up with air and one of the tpms broke! $125

sucks

yeah that happened to me last winter too. I still haven't replaced it.

 

[ohioan]

I couldn't put any air into it after it broke, and it was down to like 20lbs or somthing like that :/ kinda had to

 

[GoFast]

I couldn't put any air into it after it broke, and it was down to like 20lbs or somthing like that :/ kinda had to

I just replaced it with a regular rubber one. Mine went completely flat in about 3 seconds after it broke. Im just happy I was filling it up at home.

 

[meicalnissyen]

Theoretically speaking? yes, that is correct.

However, the fsd's seem to raise the front about 1/2 an inch. I think the perch is welded a hair higher on the shock body than factory.

Between settling and just getting used to to it, I don't notice it anymore but it sort of bugged me at first.

another brand does that as well, I wonder if they are assuming people are using drop springs and moving the perch ?

 

[ohioan]

You pulled it out yourself? and put the rubber one in without knocking the sensor out of the way?


That's cool, didn't know you could. Mine didn't go flat, just the tip of the valve broke and was dangling

 

[meicalnissyen]

I bought the car with 38,000 miles on it, so i'm assuming that the previou owner did. They seem to be meeeeeeety.

As of aftermarket, I do plan on putting that on, because like you say, stock shouldn't have to be replaced that soon. But I don't want the car to be any higher/lower-that's the springs, right? Shocks make stiffer or softer feel?

I just turned 50K, and I have been feeling a little twitchy for a while, something in there is worn a bit, and I am sure I have at least one bad strut the way it hobby horses now on a bumpy off ramp

but the stock brakes have tons of meat the first 35K were mostly freeway, but still, they last and grab well. just SO filthy

 

[GoFast]

another brand does that as well, I wonder if they are assuming people are using drop springs and moving the perch ?

I don't know the reasoning for it. I guess that is one theory. Another guess is that they are working on trying to even out some weight distribution?

You pulled it out yourself? and put the rubber one in without knocking the sensor out of the way?


That's cool, didn't know you could. Mine didn't go flat, just the tip of the valve broke and was dangling

Well I didn't do it myself but took it to discount and had them do it. It cost me 10 bucks with a quick rebalance

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

Theoretically speaking? yes, that is correct.

However, the fsd's seem to raise the front about 1/2 an inch. I think the perch is welded a hair higher on the shock body than factory.

Between settling and just getting used to to it, I don't notice it anymore but it sort of bugged me at first.

But how are the ride and handling?

 

[GoFast]

But how are the ride and handling?

Fantastic.

The ride itself is still firm but not nearly as harsh. It feels a bit more refined than the harsh stock ride.

The handling is very much improved. Much of the bounce is gone and it generally is much more planted.

If I had to do it all over again, would I get the FSDs again? Definitely

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

Fantastic.

The ride itself is still firm but not nearly as harsh. It feels a bit more refined than the harsh stock ride.

The handling is very much improved. Much of the bounce is gone and it generally is much more planted.

If I had to do it all over again, would I get the FSDs again? Definitely

You have the stock springs, correct?

I have Cobb springs, but still have the stockers out in the shed. I`m torn between going full out for handling by putting yellows on the Cobbs or getting a little more civilized by putting the stockers back in with FSDs.

 

[GoFast]

Yeah I have the stocks still. I had that same choice to make and ended up going stock/fsd. I don't track the car enough to justify the sacrifice in comfort. The handling is plenty sufficient for the street and occasional track use. At this point my tires are really the weak link instead of the suspension.

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

I`m just about at 50,000, so I need to do something soon. They still work, but can get pretty floaty over bad bumps. I`m leading towards the FSDs myself. If for no other reason than I am sick of scaping the front of the car on every driveway.

 

[jcrystal]

I`m just about at 50,000, so I need to do something soon. They still work, but can get pretty floaty over bad bumps. I`m leading towards the FSDs myself. If for no other reason than I am sick of scaping the front of the car on every driveway.

If you decide soon you can take advantage of the group buy about to end and save a good $100.

 

[Mid_Life_Crisis]

If you decide soon you can take advantage of the group buy about to end and save a good $100.

Biggest issue is that I just don`t have the cash right now. One of our dogs had kidney failure in late October. What was I going to do, tell the wife, "No honey, you can`t spend all our cash trying to save your much loved pet`s life"? Two grand later the dog is dead and we`re rebuilding the cash account.
I`m just glad she didn`t try to tap the 401k.

What group buy? Is that on another site? I didn`t notice it.

 

[ohioan]

^ curious myself. I tried to look up more post by jcrystal and didn't see anthing about a group buy. Wondering how much this is going to cost me.

Also, I heard that the shocks in the rear are managable, but not so much on the front? Something about risking my life with the springs or something blowing threw me... true?