Need some help choosing my suspension options..

[oakley990099]

So i have an 08.5 MS3 with 61k miles on it. I haven't done much in the mod department but am looking for a lowered look now. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a "Cheaper" but still efficient way to do so with the amount of miles i put on my shocks/struts. I don't know as much as probably half of the forum users here so this probably just seems like a dumb favor to ask.
I have been looking at springs such as H&R and Tein but been hearing that if i get springs then i would have to buy shocks as well since my car is at the milage it is on the stock ones. So i looked into all kinds of brands and found that i can not find any that are in my price range really. Basically, I'm finding that the cost of the springs and shocks together match up to a high-class brand of coilover like BC and Tein.. I mean i understand that with cars it is best to spend extra $ in the long run but is there any cheaper coilovers or spring/shock combo under $800-1,000 mark?
I have also looked at products like ground control coilovers which are relatively cheaper but i have been hearing that my shocks would go bad quickly using these or something along those lines. I thought ground control was basically the full setup???

----Just a little lost here and looking for some knowledge from people who know what they are talking about. I just want a reliable lowering setup i can install on my mazdaspeed 3 with 61k.. THAT'S ALL!(uhm)


-Thanks for your help!!!!

 

[kguittar]

bump. I'd like to hear some good options too. I'm kind of in the same boat. I've heard of koni yellows and a set of h&r springs, but thats gonna be about $900 i think.

 

[chief_wiggum]

i'm lowered on Eibach Prokit springs and Koni Yellows; I scored my springs from autoanything during a rebate from Eibach ~$175, and my Koni yellows off ebay for $629. The Prokits are a pretty conservative drop, around .6 - .7 inches. I didn't want a slammed look where i had to worry about scraping on my driveway every day. The ride is very good; not rough and if you set the koni's up on the softer side, not to bouncy. I stiffen the fronts for autocross, but day to day, they're on full soft. I originally was going to drop on stock struts/shocks, but decided against it; like you said, just best to buck up and do it right the first time. besides, it can be a PITA to take it all apart again to mount new struts/shocks once your originals blow...and they will.

here's a pic shortly after installing, they settled a little more since; http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123804386-Eibach-ProKit-amp-Koni-Yellows...&highlight=

and here it is on my winter 17" setup (post 10921); http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/show...ur-MS3-today&p=5810996&highlight=#post5810996

 

[oakley990099]

Hmmm wow that actually looks really nice. I thought anything under an inch wouldn't be enough for my liking but that Deff looks very sleek..
Thanks for that option I will look into some eBay products as log as they are new.. Did you purchase yours new??!

 

[magicka]

BC's are coilovers, but they aren't high class. I'd recommend you steer clear. You pay for what you get with coils. Upgraded shocks/struts and springs will get you where you want to be. People have had good luck with both Koni Yellows and Bilstein's, but if you're on a budget look in to SenSen shocks. People have had good luck pairing the Mazda5 SenSen's with springs.

 

[chief_wiggum]

Hmmm wow that actually looks really nice. I thought anything under an inch wouldn't be enough for my liking but that Deff looks very sleek..
Thanks for that option I will look into some eBay products as log as they are new.. Did you purchase yours new??!

I looked for lightly used koni yellows for awhile, but gave up and bought the Koni Yellows new off ebay from a reputable seller.

 

[oakley990099]

Anyone else first hand use these SenSen struts on there ms3? if so what kind of springs did you match these up to?
-I have seen one person on here have SenSen with H&R i believe and the pictures really threw me off :/ .. The car looked the same, if not higher than stock suspension. Maybe his pictures were just horrible.
--But if anyone can give me feedback on SenSen (maybe even pics of setup) that would be great.. For that price I would be a little scared to put my car on them without some good feedback and reassurance.

 

[oakley990099]

Anyone.?.please

 

[JonShar]

i'm lowered on Eibach Prokit springs and Koni Yellows; I scored my springs from autoanything during a rebate from Eibach ~$175, and my Koni yellows off ebay for $629. The Prokits are a pretty conservative drop, around .6 - .7 inches. I didn't want a slammed look where i had to worry about scraping on my driveway every day. The ride is very good; not rough and if you set the koni's up on the softer side, not to bouncy. I stiffen the fronts for autocross, but day to day, they're on full soft. I originally was going to drop on stock struts/shocks, but decided against it; like you said, just best to buck up and do it right the first time. besides, it can be a PITA to take it all apart again to mount new struts/shocks once your originals blow...and they will.

here's a pic shortly after installing, they settled a little more since; http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123804386-Eibach-ProKit-amp-Koni-Yellows...&highlight=

and here it is on my winter 17" setup (post 10921); http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/show...ur-MS3-today&p=5810996&highlight=#post5810996

Probably a stupid question, but can I get the Prokit springs without having to get Konis?

 

[chief_wiggum]

Probably a stupid question, but can I get the Prokit springs without having to get Konis?

you can; but the stock struts/shocks will eventually blow out requiring new ones anyway. the idea is to get a set of struts/shocks that are better suited to coping with the reduced suspension travel due to the lower ride height. some people have had decent luck riding out their stock set for awhile -- i didn't want to go through the pain of tearing everything apart again to replace struts i could have replaced when installing the springs.

 

[JonShar]

you can; but the stock struts/shocks will eventually blow out requiring new ones anyway. the idea is to get a set of struts/shocks that are better suited to coping with the reduced suspension travel due to the lower ride height. some people have had decent luck riding out their stock set for awhile -- i didn't want to go through the pain of tearing everything apart again to replace struts i could have replaced when installing the springs.

Good point. I guess I'd end up going with a normal setup rather than the coilovers, any recommendations to pair with the Eibach Prokit springs?

 

[oakley990099]

you can; but the stock struts/shocks will eventually blow out requiring new ones anyway. the idea is to get a set of struts/shocks that are better suited to coping with the reduced suspension travel due to the lower ride height. some people have had decent luck riding out their stock set for awhile -- i didn't want to go through the pain of tearing everything apart again to replace struts i could have replaced when installing the springs.

Good point. I guess I'd end up going with a normal setup rather than the coilovers, any recommendations to pair with the Eibach Prokit springs?

Besides koni yellows .. That's all I hear; I know they are great, but are there any others that are good and CHEAPER

 

[zoomzoomMSP]

i noticed that tirerack is offering a koni deal 20% off, they have the koni yellows for around $520 and the fsd's for $577. good prices i think its good until may??

 

[oakley990099]

Good looks ZoomZoom

 

[chief_wiggum]

i noticed that tirerack is offering a koni deal 20% off, they have the koni yellows for around $520 and the fsd's for $577. good prices i think its good until may??

that would be a great price on yellows.

 

[JonShar]

i noticed that tirerack is offering a koni deal 20% off, they have the koni yellows for around $520 and the fsd's for $577. good prices i think its good until may??

Good heads-up!

 

[oakley990099]

If that deal does end May that would be great. I'd have plenty of time to set aside money for them an springs

 

[oakley990099]

Question: probably a stupid one I know but;
Is there a lifespan difference between buying say koni yellows and lowering springs and buying some kind of coilovers like yellow speed...

Since the strut/spring combo would probably come to a total of about 200-300$ cheaper than buying coilovers; I was just wondering if that 300$ more for coilovers would mean that they would last more miles

 

[chief_wiggum]

link to Koni's warranty page;

http://www.koni-na.com/warranty.cfm

...KONI Inc. warrants all new KONI shock absorbers (purchased after 5/1/80) and suspension kits (purchased after 1995) to the original retail purchaser against defects in material and workmanship, excluding mounting rubbers, washers and bushings, when used under normal operating conditions for as long as such purchaser owns the vehicle on which the KONI shock absorbers were originally installed.

 

[spdjnke]

If you don't want any bounce, my recommendation is stick with the koni Yellows but go with Eibach springs and NOT H&R as it tends to ride to bouncy...and just fyi if your wondering if you would need to change the rear camber links, well you don't. I did but it was not needed even with H&R's.

coilovers for DD use is not worth it. if your going to race it then by all means go for it.