I'm planning on getting the car suited up for STX in either 08 or 09. Due to my budget and the vacation trips my wife and I will be making, it will likely be 2009, and also because that's when I predict my stock struts will be dead (about 75k on the clock in 09). I'm going to be buying parts over the course of the next 1.5 years, but I want to know what everyone thinks about the strut options for the MSP.
1. Tokico HP Suspension Kit
~ $500 - $550
- Part Number HPK247
- Made for the regular Protege, stiffer springs than stock MSP (~152 front, ~145 rear)
- Lowers about 1/4" lower than stock MSP
2. Tokico Illumina Suspension Kit
~ $650 - $800
- Part Number ILK248
- Made for the regular Protege, stiffer springs than stock MSP (~158 front, ~153 rear)
- Lowers about 1/4" lower than stock MSP
3. Koni European Spec Strut Inserts into Stock Housings
~ $660
- Your own elbow grease to prep these
- I'm working on sourcing some stock MSP strut housings to test this out
- Use stock springs or any variation of lowering springs available
- Investigation drawing here
4. Tokico Illuminas with Ground Control coilovers
- ~ $850
- Lowering Capability: .5-3 all around
- Spring Rates: Custom Eibach ERS race springs
- Pros: Cheap. If the struts blow, I take the sleeve off and replace the strut with an off the shelf strut for around $150. Can get springs for the coilovers in many different sizes and spring rates.
- Cons: Cheap. I have heard these struts aren't that good for use during autocross because of crummy valving and they only have rebound adjusting. No camber plates.
5. K-Sport Kontrol Pro
- ~ $850
- Spring Rates: (F) 504 (R) 280
- Pros: Cheap, coilovers built in, pretty (who cares), camber plates.
- Cons: I have read these struts blow out way too soon, aren't built very well, but are a good alternative to $1000+ kits. Can't be rebuilt from what I understand. Shadow102 reports that his rear struts blew in about 1.5 years.
6. Tein BASICS
- ~ $900
- Lowering Capability: (F) 1.4-2.2 (R) 1.3-1.9
- Spring Rates: (F) 336 (R) 280
- Pros: Brand name, coilovers built in, can be rebuilt
- Cons: No camber plates, not rebound adjustable
7. BC Coilovers
- ~$1000
- Information Coming Soon
8. Tein SS
- ~ $1200
- Lowering Capability: (F) 1.4-2.2 (R) 1.3-1.9
- Spring Rates: (F) 336 (R) 280
- Pros: Brand name, coilovers built in, rebound adjustable, can be rebuilt
- Cons: No camber plates, not bump adjustable
9. JIC Magic FLTA1
- ~ $1300
- Spring Rates: (F) 337 (R) 225
- Pros: Brand name, coilovers built in, twin tube 10 way rebound adjustable, camber plates,
- Cons: I have read these aren't built very well, not bump adjustable
10. K-Sport GT Pro
- ~$1300
- Information Coming Soon
11. KW Variant 2
- ~ $1500
- ~ $1400 from Delsing Motorsports
- Lowering capability: (F) 1.2-2.3 (R) 1.2-2.3
- Spring Rates: (F) 340 (R) Progressive
- Short review by KaliCali
- Other comments by KaliCali via PM: "I've been very pleased with the KW setup as it provides great performance on the track and is forgiving on the street. The progressive rear really helps make daily driving bearable. On the track the car absorbs bumps and keeps the car much more stable. Even with R-compound tires, body roll is suppressed, and weight transfer is smooth ... On to Cons: The KW coilovers came with helper springs, which is nice, but when adjusting ride height it was a little bit of a pain to raise the car in the rear. The helper spring would have to be compressed to adjust the collar. Which brings me to my next con: the collar used to adjust height does not use two collars to lock, instead KW put a screw to lock the collar, which is useless because the damn thing is made of plastic; but so far I haven’t had anything slip on me…"
- Pros: Made by the German's and they usually make good stuff, rebound adjustable, stainless steel housing
- Cons: No camber plates, not bump adjustable
12. JIC Magic FLTA2
- ~ $1850
- Spring Rates: (F) 337 (R) 225
- Pros: Brand name, coilovers built in, monotube 15 way rebound and compression adjustable, camber plates,
- Cons: I have read these aren't built very well
13. AWR Complete Coilover Kit
- ~ $1900
- Spring Rates: (F) 275 (R) 325
- Pros: Brand name, well known suspension company, Bilstein inserts, rebuildable, front camber plates, rear aluminum top hats, Eibach ERS race springs - so they can likely be customized. A note from AWR about these: "The bilsteins are shortened and valved per our specifications and are specific for this package. They run around 200.+ per insert because of this. They are a very durable shock and rebuilds are few and far between!"
- Cons: Not rebound or bump adjustable
14. Koni single adjustable - From Tri-Point
- ~ $2100
- Pros: Custom built by hand, Koni inserts, rebound adjustable, rebuildable, optional stock strut body used, support Mazdas247 vendor
- Cons: Long lead time, core charge
15. Koni double adjustable - From Tri-Point
- ~ $2500
- Pros: Custom built by hand, Koni inserts, rebound and bump adjustable, rebuildable, optional stock strut body used, support Mazdas247 vendor
- Cons: Long lead time, core charge
* Also feel free to correct me on anything I have stated that is incorrect or a Pro/Con that I may have missed. Mods move to other forum if not applicable here.
1. Tokico HP Suspension Kit
~ $500 - $550
- Part Number HPK247
- Made for the regular Protege, stiffer springs than stock MSP (~152 front, ~145 rear)
- Lowers about 1/4" lower than stock MSP
2. Tokico Illumina Suspension Kit
~ $650 - $800
- Part Number ILK248
- Made for the regular Protege, stiffer springs than stock MSP (~158 front, ~153 rear)
- Lowers about 1/4" lower than stock MSP
3. Koni European Spec Strut Inserts into Stock Housings
~ $660
- Your own elbow grease to prep these
- I'm working on sourcing some stock MSP strut housings to test this out
- Use stock springs or any variation of lowering springs available
- Investigation drawing here
4. Tokico Illuminas with Ground Control coilovers
- ~ $850
- Lowering Capability: .5-3 all around
- Spring Rates: Custom Eibach ERS race springs
- Pros: Cheap. If the struts blow, I take the sleeve off and replace the strut with an off the shelf strut for around $150. Can get springs for the coilovers in many different sizes and spring rates.
- Cons: Cheap. I have heard these struts aren't that good for use during autocross because of crummy valving and they only have rebound adjusting. No camber plates.
5. K-Sport Kontrol Pro
- ~ $850
- Spring Rates: (F) 504 (R) 280
- Pros: Cheap, coilovers built in, pretty (who cares), camber plates.
- Cons: I have read these struts blow out way too soon, aren't built very well, but are a good alternative to $1000+ kits. Can't be rebuilt from what I understand. Shadow102 reports that his rear struts blew in about 1.5 years.
6. Tein BASICS
- ~ $900
- Lowering Capability: (F) 1.4-2.2 (R) 1.3-1.9
- Spring Rates: (F) 336 (R) 280
- Pros: Brand name, coilovers built in, can be rebuilt
- Cons: No camber plates, not rebound adjustable
7. BC Coilovers
- ~$1000
- Information Coming Soon
8. Tein SS
- ~ $1200
- Lowering Capability: (F) 1.4-2.2 (R) 1.3-1.9
- Spring Rates: (F) 336 (R) 280
- Pros: Brand name, coilovers built in, rebound adjustable, can be rebuilt
- Cons: No camber plates, not bump adjustable
9. JIC Magic FLTA1
- ~ $1300
- Spring Rates: (F) 337 (R) 225
- Pros: Brand name, coilovers built in, twin tube 10 way rebound adjustable, camber plates,
- Cons: I have read these aren't built very well, not bump adjustable
10. K-Sport GT Pro
- ~$1300
- Information Coming Soon
11. KW Variant 2
- ~ $1500
- ~ $1400 from Delsing Motorsports
- Lowering capability: (F) 1.2-2.3 (R) 1.2-2.3
- Spring Rates: (F) 340 (R) Progressive
- Short review by KaliCali
- Other comments by KaliCali via PM: "I've been very pleased with the KW setup as it provides great performance on the track and is forgiving on the street. The progressive rear really helps make daily driving bearable. On the track the car absorbs bumps and keeps the car much more stable. Even with R-compound tires, body roll is suppressed, and weight transfer is smooth ... On to Cons: The KW coilovers came with helper springs, which is nice, but when adjusting ride height it was a little bit of a pain to raise the car in the rear. The helper spring would have to be compressed to adjust the collar. Which brings me to my next con: the collar used to adjust height does not use two collars to lock, instead KW put a screw to lock the collar, which is useless because the damn thing is made of plastic; but so far I haven’t had anything slip on me…"
- Pros: Made by the German's and they usually make good stuff, rebound adjustable, stainless steel housing
- Cons: No camber plates, not bump adjustable
12. JIC Magic FLTA2
- ~ $1850
- Spring Rates: (F) 337 (R) 225
- Pros: Brand name, coilovers built in, monotube 15 way rebound and compression adjustable, camber plates,
- Cons: I have read these aren't built very well
13. AWR Complete Coilover Kit
- ~ $1900
- Spring Rates: (F) 275 (R) 325
- Pros: Brand name, well known suspension company, Bilstein inserts, rebuildable, front camber plates, rear aluminum top hats, Eibach ERS race springs - so they can likely be customized. A note from AWR about these: "The bilsteins are shortened and valved per our specifications and are specific for this package. They run around 200.+ per insert because of this. They are a very durable shock and rebuilds are few and far between!"
- Cons: Not rebound or bump adjustable
14. Koni single adjustable - From Tri-Point
- ~ $2100
- Pros: Custom built by hand, Koni inserts, rebound adjustable, rebuildable, optional stock strut body used, support Mazdas247 vendor
- Cons: Long lead time, core charge
15. Koni double adjustable - From Tri-Point
- ~ $2500
- Pros: Custom built by hand, Koni inserts, rebound and bump adjustable, rebuildable, optional stock strut body used, support Mazdas247 vendor
- Cons: Long lead time, core charge
* Also feel free to correct me on anything I have stated that is incorrect or a Pro/Con that I may have missed. Mods move to other forum if not applicable here.
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