BC coilovers Installed.

[NYSP33D3]

Just Finished the coilover, Dog bone mount and yellow fog light bulb install on my MazdaSpeed3 last night around 5-6am after starting at around 12, not to shabby if you ask me.

Im a little disappointed in the BC coilover kit, the fronts are as low as they can go & the back..well coilovers that aren't coil-on-spring suck to work with. Shes got a slight rake but still not low enough for my standards..the springs still have to settle so i figure itll drop another 1/4-1/2 inch. I see the collars getting cut out in the near future.
The dog bone took..15min? they say you have to remove the bracket on the tranny to get the mount in and out, but the stock mounts are soft enough to tilt the whole thing enough out of the way to slide the old mount out and the new one in with ease.

 

[logik816]

looks good, how she ride? smooth/ruff?

 

[NYSP33D3]

It rides like a proformance car should.. Nice and stiff but not to stiff,I can feel my engine now with that SU MM and alot more calm and confodeint about high speed turns and cornering

 

[SHAGwagn]

Ive been riding 13F and 15R...perfect happy place for me..12/14 was too soft and 14/16 is GREAT...just not for everyday driving...dont know why anyone would need to go higher than 14/16...try it out and let me know O and btw...just my 2cents...prob not a great idea to cut the collars off, ur not driving an indy car and local roads have inperfections...good luck

 

[NYSP33D3]

ive got the two front set 2 click before hardest and the rear 4 clicks before hardest..rides like a champ.

florida roads are nice and flat, it should be fine.

 

[SHAGwagn]

ive got the two front set 2 click before hardest and the rear 4 clicks before hardest..rides like a champ.

florida roads are nice and flat, it should be fine.

I live in Florida, roads arent perfect. Be careful, if u are measuring right...clockwise = stiffer, then that is really really hard and u could blow them out on the wrong bump.

 

[SHAGwagn]

Also your rear should be stiffer. SU confirmed this for me.

 

[ericrapp]

I like this. Run it up there a couple times and see how it feels, that probably is low enough. Add some anti sway bar upgrades and find a little more down force in front and maybe a touch more chassis bracing and then advise me.

 

[Double Dspeed]

did you need wheel spacers to clear the coilover in the front?

 

[haberdashery]

it always amazes me how much of a difference a 2 inch drop makes on these cars

 

[NYSP33D3]

did you need wheel spacers to clear the coilover in the front?

not at all, the bracket on the strut for the brake line touched the lip of the rim so the car wouldn't move, just a few light taps with a hammer and she was fine.

 

[NYSP33D3]

Also your rear should be stiffer. SU confirmed this for me.

My buddy that did all the work has been doing coilovers for a while. The rears should be a little softer to give you a little squat and accel.

P.S i would recommend camber arms for the rear, unless its just me but i cant find any factory camber adjustments in the back of this car, just toe.

P.P.S what dealership do you go to? have they said anything about your mods?

 

[SHAGwagn]

My buddy that did all the work has been doing coilovers for a while. The rears should be a little softer to give you a little squat and accel.

P.S i would recommend camber arms for the rear, unless its just me but i cant find any factory camber adjustments in the back of this car, just toe.

P.P.S what dealership do you go to? have they said anything about your mods?

I have the mazdaspeed rear camber kit, had my alignment done and am happy with it. There is no factory adjustment, just toe.

That sqaut that you talk about is what you dont want, all these inserts, dog bones and motor mounts attempt to keep the engine/inertia from rocking back...u want your front wheels to stay planted to the ground thus the traction bars on all high powered front wheel drive drag cars. By making the rear softer you are actually contributing the weight being shifted to the rear of the car and and off of the front drive wheels that supply the power to the pavement. In any event its ur ride, i knew this prior to purchasing the kit as i have had coilovers before. The vendor i bought it from, street unit, just confirmed what i already knew. Try it out, u might like what you feel. I do however still feel that your settings, both in the 20 range out of 30 based on your description, is too harsh for local streets and you run the risk of blowing them out.

Haven't brought it to a dealer yet for work.

 

[ericrapp]

I have the mazdaspeed rear camber kit, had my alignment done and am happy with it. There is no factory adjustment, just toe.

That sqaut that you talk about is what you dont want, all these inserts, dog bones and motor mounts attempt to keep the engine/inertia from rocking back...u want your front wheels to stay planted to the ground thus the traction bars on all high powered front wheel drive drag cars. By making the rear softer you are actually contributing the weight being shifted to the rear of the car and and off of the front drive wheels that supply the power to the pavement. In any event its ur ride, i knew this prior to purchasing the kit as i have had coilovers before. The vendor i bought it from, street unit, just confirmed what i already knew. Try it out, u might like what you feel. I do however still feel that your settings, both in the 20 range out of 30 based on your description, is too harsh for local streets and you run the risk of blowing them out.

Haven't brought it to a dealer yet for work.

That is true for a straight line car. But for balance in the turns there are a number of adjustments to find the place between understeer and oversteer. I bet you know this just pointing it for out for others.

 

[SHAGwagn]

I was responding to his point about acceleration. The way i have my car set up it actually oversteers with the coilover/sway bar set up I'm running the rear sway bar is at max setting. Dont know if you can imagine a car that swings its ass like a juiced up stang, which ive also owned, but gives you front wheel controls to aim your power and straighten up...its awesome and i was really surprised. Anyways, to each their own...u spent the money, ride it how you like it

 

[NYSP33D3]

I was responding to his point about acceleration. The way i have my car set up it actually oversteers with the coilover/sway bar set up I'm running the rear sway bar is at max setting. Dont know if you can imagine a car that swings its ass like a juiced up stang, which ive also owned, but gives you front wheel controls to aim your power and straighten up...its awesome and i was really surprised. Anyways, to each their own...u spent the money, ride it how you like it

i wasnt talking about straightline accel either, entering and exiting a turn under accel also keep all for tires on the gound.

 

[iredremix]

i wish i could have coilovers here in NY hahaha

 

[ericrapp]

I was responding to his point about acceleration. The way i have my car set up it actually oversteers with the coilover/sway bar set up I'm running the rear sway bar is at max setting. Dont know if you can imagine a car that swings its ass like a juiced up stang, which ive also owned, but gives you front wheel controls to aim your power and straighten up...its awesome and i was really surprised. Anyways, to each their own...u spent the money, ride it how you like it

That sounds awesome, must be nice yo, point and shoot. Especially with a front heavy car. You guys really have my attention.

 

[supergoose]

Looks good, but lose the side moldings!!!

 

[jodacoto]

what if he doesn't want to lose the side moldings, lol...