This is my first post and apologize if this is a stupid question. I have a stock M3SPD 2007. I bought it used with two sets of wheels/tires. I recently took it to a tire shop to put a set of winter tires on, and was told that the summer tires have the wear pattern on the inner edge that indicates aggressive alignment /\ . I took it to a dealer for a different reason today and they also suggested an alignment, but said that the alignment spec is the same as for regular Mazda3. Is it true, does Mazdaspeed3 have the same alignment spec as regular Mazda3?
Does Mazdaspeed3 have the same alignment spec as non-speed version?
- Thread starter finix
- Start date
No!! The MS3 has lower stance and has bigger wheels. The dealer's alignment software should have atleast the 07 MS3's specs. If not, take to an aligment shop that has updated software with 07-present MS3 Specs.
Thanks, I am surprised the service consultant did not know that or ignored me even though I asked him about it specifically. I will call them and check what spec they used. Is it normal for the Mazda dealerships to be ignorant about MS3 nuances? I should have taken it to a recommended alignment shop, but decided to do it all at once, because it was more convenient.
Yes, actually. I've noticed that when I take my car to any shop, I have to constantly remind them that it's not a regular 3 hatch and doesn't share every part and configuration with it. The speed3 is a completely different car from a service standpoint.
Some Mazda dealers are Mazdaspeed qualified and some are not. There is additonal training for the 'speed techs.
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- 2010 Mazda5 GT
I was also wondering this recently - if regular tire shops/service centeres would have different alignment specs for the Speed3. I'm afraid to get an alignment done and them dial in regular Mazda3 specs. I guess I could ask them to confirm that they have separate specs for the two different trim models?
backpacker6
Member
Do any of you know how much negative camber a stock setup will allow?
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- 13 MX-5
With stock suspension and adjusting the top hat with the 3 bolts closer inside, I believe someone said like -1.3 or .4?
Well the stock specs are for Front:-057' Rear:-143' with a full tank.
backpacker6
Member
BTW...I brought my MS3 in to the dealer when it was only 2 months old because it was pulling to the left and they said they had to do alignment to fix the issue. About 10 months later I noticed that the front tires are worn out unevenly...so i called the dealer about a possible alignment problem because of the uneven tire wear but they said alignment warranty is only covered for 1 year or 12000 miles. So I bought new tires for the front and had my favorite shop do the alignment. The alignment tech smartly made sure and confirmed to me that my car is a MS3 and not a regular 3 so he utilized 07 MS3 align. specs. The tech later found out that my MS3 alignment is way off had excessive toe and caster on the front. So I called the dealer and asked them what align. specs they use for the MS3 and the tech advisor told me that its the same as the reg 3 hatch and indeed when I checked my service paperworks, they ******* used the 2.3 reg 3 hatch specs to align my speed3!!
So moral of my experience is never trust Mazda dealer to align your speed3!!
So moral of my experience is never trust Mazda dealer to align your speed3!!
Nliiitend1
Member
I don't ever get my car aligned to the "specs" in the machine.
I go in knowing what I want, and requesting specific settings. If the shop won't accommodate me, I go somewhere else...
I go in knowing what I want, and requesting specific settings. If the shop won't accommodate me, I go somewhere else...
I know everyone loves to hate on dealerships, but unless you're holding a copy of a MZ3 alignment next to a MS3 alignment, there's no way to know if the specs are the same. Lower stance and bigger wheels are no reason to assume anything. If I had to guess, I'd say that the two cars more than likely do have the same specs. Why wouldn't they?
Also, excessive toe is excessive toe. If your tire wear is to be blamed on that, then it would be just as excessive on the MZ3 and wear tires on that car too. The thing to do is find someone with an alignment sheet marked Mazda3 and compare it to one marked Mazdaspeed3.
so what are exact specs for ms3??
Nliiitend1
Member
According to the FSM, with the car unloaded and with a full tank of gas:
Front Camber (both sides): -0 55' (-0.9167)
Front Caster (both sides): 3 8' (3.1333)
Front Toe: 0 11' 0 22' (measurement in mm or inches depends on whether you're using the center of the tire as the reference or inner rim as the reference)
Rear Camber: -1 42' (-1.7)
Rear Toe: 0 11' 0 22' (measurement in mm or inches depends on whether you're using the center of the tire as the reference or inner rim as the reference)
Note that the above is a very conservative setup, and specifies toe-in in the front and rear and more negative rear camber than negative front camber (likely all for purpose of stability/safeness at the expense of handling prowess).
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QFT.
It's not like the MS3 is set up from the factory for track/autox. Mazda has to set up the car for safety. That's why I'd be pretty sure the MZ3 has the same specs, or at least falls within roughly the same tolerance range.
Thanks for the good info Nliiitend
Nliiitend1
Member
The regular MZ3 specifications are indeed different, but basically it boils down to a little less negative camber and positive caster in the front, and a little less negative camber in the rear. Toe settings are identical. It's quite possible that the differences are entirely a product of the MS3's lower ride height:
Front Camber (both sides): -0 41' (-0.6833)
Front Caster (both sides): 3 2' (3.0333)
Front Toe: 0 11' 0 22' (measurement in mm or inches depends on whether you're using the center of the tire as the reference or inner rim as the reference)
Rear Camber: -1 27' (-1.45)
Rear Toe: 0 11' 0 22' (measurement in mm or inches depends on whether you're using the center of the tire as the reference or inner rim as the reference)
Front Camber (both sides): -0 41' (-0.6833)
Front Caster (both sides): 3 2' (3.0333)
Front Toe: 0 11' 0 22' (measurement in mm or inches depends on whether you're using the center of the tire as the reference or inner rim as the reference)
Rear Camber: -1 27' (-1.45)
Rear Toe: 0 11' 0 22' (measurement in mm or inches depends on whether you're using the center of the tire as the reference or inner rim as the reference)
