Best strut/$$$ option for MSP
- Thread starter livelyjay
- Start date
Yeah I know, that's why I need the springs that match up with the struts.
That's not true is it ... if I get stock P5 or Protege struts and springs I'll be fine ... right (besides the fact that I'll be at stock Protege ride height)? Remember, this is just so I can swap out my current struts and test out the theory of using the Euro spec inserts.
I agree with livelyjay. Of course being me I would pull the fronts and see the regular stock ones are the same as the MSP and if they are the same as stock I would leave the stock MSP ones on the car and cut up the regular ones. But the rears you would need to use the MSP ones.
Couldn't the spring perches be cut off the stock Protege struts and rewelded in the MSP position? I know I can use spacers to move the springs up, which adds weight. What I would like to know is where the hell can you find spring perch spacers?
Thanks for the idea moxnix. I can just pull one MSP front/rear strut out, compare it with the dimensions of the stock Protege strut (theory is only difference is perch height for rears), then use the stock Protege struts to test out the theory. Then I wouldn't need to cut up my MSP struts at all until the final installation (if the theory proves to be doable).
Thanks for the idea moxnix. I can just pull one MSP front/rear strut out, compare it with the dimensions of the stock Protege strut (theory is only difference is perch height for rears), then use the stock Protege struts to test out the theory. Then I wouldn't need to cut up my MSP struts at all until the final installation (if the theory proves to be doable).
Ok, to clear up a lot of the numbers that are flying around:
Stock
Front: Body (12.875") / Piston - Threads (7.875")
Rear: Body (14.375") / Piston - Threads (9.375")
Euro Spec Koni Inserts
Font: Body (11.46") / Piston - Threads (6.26")
Rear: Body (14.29") / Piston - Threads (7.17")
SCCA Rules:
1) Strut + Insert must be +/- 1.0" of original strut length
2) Strut + insert compressed must be equal to or shorter than compressed stock strut. Bump stops my be trimmed to achieve this.
Front Fitment:
According to the rules the front piston must be no shorter than 6.875". Since the strut insert piston is 6.26", the strut insert must be moved outwards 0.615" to conform to rule #1. This means the bump stop must be trimmed 0.615" to conform to rule #2. The body of the insert is already 1.415" too short, so the total length the insert must be raised is 2.03"
Rear fitment:
According to the rules the front piston must be no shorter than 8.375". Since the strut insert piston is 7.17", the strut insert must be moved outwards 1.205" to conform to rule #1. This means the bump stop must be trimmed 1.205" to conform to rule #2. The body of the insert is already 0.085" too short, so the total length the insert must be raised is 1.29".
Anyone know the length of the stock bump stops? If the rear is longer than 1.25" and the front is longer than .75" (I rounded up to the nearest 1/4") then I'm in business. Also, please feel free to point out anything I got wrong.
EDIT -> Added picture below to show what I am talking about:
Stock
Front: Body (12.875") / Piston - Threads (7.875")
Rear: Body (14.375") / Piston - Threads (9.375")
Euro Spec Koni Inserts
Font: Body (11.46") / Piston - Threads (6.26")
Rear: Body (14.29") / Piston - Threads (7.17")
SCCA Rules:
1) Strut + Insert must be +/- 1.0" of original strut length
2) Strut + insert compressed must be equal to or shorter than compressed stock strut. Bump stops my be trimmed to achieve this.
Front Fitment:
According to the rules the front piston must be no shorter than 6.875". Since the strut insert piston is 6.26", the strut insert must be moved outwards 0.615" to conform to rule #1. This means the bump stop must be trimmed 0.615" to conform to rule #2. The body of the insert is already 1.415" too short, so the total length the insert must be raised is 2.03"
Rear fitment:
According to the rules the front piston must be no shorter than 8.375". Since the strut insert piston is 7.17", the strut insert must be moved outwards 1.205" to conform to rule #1. This means the bump stop must be trimmed 1.205" to conform to rule #2. The body of the insert is already 0.085" too short, so the total length the insert must be raised is 1.29".
Anyone know the length of the stock bump stops? If the rear is longer than 1.25" and the front is longer than .75" (I rounded up to the nearest 1/4") then I'm in business. Also, please feel free to point out anything I got wrong.
EDIT -> Added picture below to show what I am talking about:
Last edited:
Yes to rewelding but I would not want to do that to a live shock. You could do that to one that you have the guts out of to put koni's in but even then you would need to measure it very closely to make sure you get it correct.
I don't know about finding perch spacers that would follow the contour of the stock spring perch. On my miata they are just flat perches and would not be hard to shim but the protege perches follow the spring around a bit rising up with it.
No need to cut the MSP fronts at all if the stock ones are the same. If you can get the perch rewelded on the rears and just use regular stockers all around you could keep the MSP ones just in case you ever need to go back.
Stock Protege struts and springs were shipped yesterday. Just like you said moxnix, if the fronts are the same dimensions I'll gut the stock Protege ones. Since we all know the rears have a different perch, I might be gutting the MSP ones. I'm going to call some welders in the area and see if they can raise the perch on the rear strut. I would never have them do it on a live strut. Only issue I can see is the weld being weak and the perch collapsing during an event. That would suck! The alternative isn't that bad though, putting the very used Protege struts in the rear for a few days as I work on the MSP ones.
So, since this discussion has gotten way off topic from the original post, and is more of a SCCA stock legal insert in MSP struts, should I have a mod move the insert discussion to a new thread?
So, since this discussion has gotten way off topic from the original post, and is more of a SCCA stock legal insert in MSP struts, should I have a mod move the insert discussion to a new thread?
I updated the picture a few posts before to include Gavin's suggestion of using the rear insert for the fronts. It does make it so you don't have to use spacers, but it does raise the height of the strut tube quite a bit. So if the bump stops aren't at least 1.5", then they can't be used because of the compression rule for SCCA stock class.
Bumping an old thread. I have my second car in my garage awaiting registration, licensing, etc. Once that is taken car of the MSP goes into the garage and I'll pull a front and rear strut and measure them. This will likely be within the next two weeks. Once that is done I can figure out if they will indeed be stock legal, and if they are I can start building them and hopefully get everything taken care of before our local Nat Tour event.
Fixed class. Looking forward to seeing it run at Finger Lakes in June.
You can always get on the waiting list and hope for the best. I know last year had a bunch of people drop from both events (30ish in the last 30 days before the event) so if you can go at the last minute there is a good chance of getting in.
