Dropping your ride.

[Karma_hunden]

Ok, so I read/asked a few things about this and I have been told that the only problem so far about dropping is that the rear goes too negative.

I found this on ebay. Does this include the springs AND the rear camber links (that are needed to fix this neg. issue)? Or is it just the rear camber links?

Here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-...33582QQitemZ8048695111QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

[goldwing2000]

Up for auction is a brand new set of Mazdaspeed springs and Camber links for the Mazda3...

I'd have to say both.

Decent price, too.

 

[Karma_hunden]

Im thinking on buying a new ride, possibly the new 3, sometime around january (maybe...), so for now i dont want to put things on the car that are permanent or hard to get off. So im just buying some rims and maybe this kit. Are the springs/camber links hard to get off? or is it as hard as changing a tire? (same question about putting them on)

EDIT: I also found these for 116$ FREE SHIPPING. Which I thought was to good to be true and I thought there has to be some kind of catch. Are these the camber links for the m3? http://www.drivewire.com/PerformanceParts/eibach/mazda3alignmentkit.html

Found the eibach lowering springs at 165$ on ebay, plus 35$ shippin.

btw, is it a good idea to lower your car if you have 225/45/17s?

also, is the mazda (3) the only car that needs the camber links because of this issue?

thanks for your help!!!

 

[goldwing2000]

Questions, questions, questions...

All of your answers are on this board already but I'm feeling generous this morning so I'll condense them down for you.

~Rear springs are easy.
~Front springs are more difficult but not impossible. It's a standard MacPherson strut, so if you know how to change a Mac strut spring, you're golden.
~Left rear camber link is easy, right rear camber link is a b**** because the carbon canister blocks one of the bolts.
~That link is not the Mazdaspeed rear camber links. It's the Eibach rear camber adjustment kit and it's a pink elephant. It doesn't exist. Eibach had it in their catalog for just about a year, they never actually made it and now it's out of the catalog. If you call that place, I'm sure they'll tell you that they don't have any in stock but are expecting them "in a couple months".
~That's an average price for the Eibach springs.
~As long as you have the right offset on your wheels, you can lower the car with 225s.
~many cars require camber adjustments when lowering, the Mazda3 is just more difficult than most. Both because of the suspension design and because there is little aftermarket support.

Now... go forth, be fruitful and modify!

 

[Karma_hunden]

My offset is 45mm. (225/45/17). Is it good?

So you have to allign/rotate your tires after you put the springs? Is there a way I could kill two birds with one stone if I have to put new tires/wheels soon/anyways?

Thank you for your patience!!! I do research but its hard because everything is spread out and I dont have too much time to look for it due to work and spring break ...ya know, cant spend too much time on the computer when there's chicks with low selfesteem out there waiting for me!

 

[Gambino]

My offset is 45mm. (225/45/17). Is it good?

That may be pushing it. I have 47 offset and 225/40/18 with sportlines. I do not rub, but if I were to correct my camber, it would more than likely hit the rear fender

So you have to allign/rotate your tires after you put the springs? Is there a way I could kill two birds with one stone if I have to put new tires/wheels soon/anyways?

As for alignment, it is pretty much necessary. Everyone always said that once I dropped my car, my rear tires would go fast. I never got my car aligned and my rear tires are holding up fine, my front tires are going downhill quickly though.

Thank you for your patience!!! I do research but its hard because everything is spread out and I dont have too much time to look for it due to work and spring break ...ya know, cant spend too much time on the computer when there's chicks with low selfesteem out there waiting for me!

(godown)

 

[goldwing2000]

I do research but its hard because everything is spread out and I dont have too much time to look for it due to work and spring break

That's why we have this:
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/search.php?



Oh... and what Phil said about the rest of it.

 

[goldwing2000]

~That link is not the Mazdaspeed rear camber links. It's the Eibach rear camber adjustment kit and it's a pink elephant. It doesn't exist. Eibach had it in their catalog for just about a year, they never actually made it and now it's out of the catalog. If you call that place, I'm sure they'll tell you that they don't have any in stock but are expecting them "in a couple months".

I retract my previous statement and provide this link instead.
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119870

Never let it be said that I don't admit when I'm wrong!!

I'm calling Drivewire right now to see if they have them in stock.

edit: they do.

 

[Karma_hunden]

So it's a bad idea to drop it if I have 225/45/17s (45mm)?

GW, what were you wrong about? Im confused.

 

[goldwing2000]

Anybody ever tell you that you're easily confused? You need to lay off the (cheers) and the (godown) for a while.

Did you click the link?? I was wrong that the Eibach alignment kit is a pink elephant. It seems that it does, in fact, exist.


45mm would be tight on the offset. Phil has a Sportline kit, so his drop is about a 1/2" lower than a Pro Kit. 45mm might be ok with a ProKit but there's no way to know until you try!
Personally, I'm going to try to find 48mm offset wheels when I buy mine but there aren't many of those around.

It IS possible to adjust the offset on a set of wheels, btw. If you can find a shop to do it, they just have to mill off material from the wheel mounting surface.

 

[Gambino]

Personally, I'm going to try to find 48mm offset wheels when I buy mine but there aren't many of those around.

that is key. I have 47 and often wish I had 48-50. every little bit helps

It IS possible to adjust the offset on a set of wheels, btw. If you can find a shop to do it, they just have to mill off material from the wheel mounting surface.

this was done to my wheels from 42 to 47

 

[Karma_hunden]

I see. so mine aint good nor bad--just ok? Yeah a friend told me the pro kit would be better, but why? Sorry I dont know s*** about all this as you can see.

EDIT: Does that driverwire kit i posted work as the camber links for mazda 3s? Or is it something else (I ask it again cuz since you said you were wrong...)? Cuz they dont look like the camber links i saw (some hooks).

 

[goldwing2000]

this was done to my wheels from 42 to 47

Yup. I knew dat. Dat's how I knewed it wuz possible.

Does that driverwire kit i posted work as the camber links for mazda 3s? Or is it something else (I ask it again cuz since you said you were wrong...)? Cuz they dont look like the camber links i saw (some hooks).

Ignore the pic on that page. It's just a generic picture. Yes, it's the right kit. It better be... I just ordered one. (thumb)

This link is the company that makes the parts for Eibach. Look at the part number on this page and then look at the part number on Drivewire. Notice any similarities?

 

[Karma_hunden]

Where did you buy them? I went to buy them just now (on driverwire) and saw it said on Quantity "2" (232$)...2 what (a four pack?)? Isnt it 1?

 

[goldwing2000]

You probably added it to your cart twice. I had three of them in there before I checked out. I had to remove two of them.

 

[Karma_hunden]

Yeah, I didnt even touch it, just hit add to car and it marked me two. Sneaky lil' fkers...hehe...their slogan should be..."free shippin + but we sneak extra s*** on your package to compensate!"

 

[goldwing2000]

Yeah, I didnt even touch it, just hit add to car and it marked me two. Sneaky lil' fkers...hehe...their slogan should be..."free shippin + but we sneak extra s*** on your package to compensate!"

You sure you didn't add it to your cart a couple days ago? Their site saves a cookie on your 'puter, so anything added to your cart in the past would probably still be there.

 

[Karma_hunden]

oh. yah i clicked it before...

 

[ag bullet]

FWIW,

I just installed the Tein h-tech springs. I love the ride and the look. I have 17x7.5 wheels with a 48mm offset and 225/45R17 rubber with no rubbing issues whatsoever. I agree that 45 is close but depending on the drop you will probably be ok unless it is a tight turn or if your car is loaded down.

 

[Karma_hunden]

unless it is a tight turn or if your car is loaded down.

hmmm....why? how low is your car???? damn. The only problem I can see with that is IF the tires were 40R; not 45R.

Are the Tein h-tech springs of good quality?