Eibach or Mazdaspeed Springs on a P5

[mooS mooS]

Just wanted to get opinions

if you had a choice between the Mazdaspeed Springs or Eibachs ... which would you choose ?

I've seen people choose Eibachs on the other threads when compared with H&Rs etc, but I'm more inclined towards getting genuine Mazdaspeed .... only problem with that is that apparently, I would need to change my struts to the Mazdaspeed ones as well . Would I need to change them if using Eibachs or can I keep the stocks ?

any help or opinions would be appreciated and taken into consideration, so please try to be more informative than just saying " this sucks, so go for this...." or " That's more expensive.. so go for this " ... I don't really mind the price difference, what matters to me is the balance of Ride Stiffness (better handling) Vs. Comfort ( not too "springy" ) , and longevity ( what would be better for the car in the long run ) .... Thanks all

 

[drumsbeloud]

i have no experience with the mazdaspeed springs, so i can't offer any info there. but, i have the eibach pro-kit on my p5 and i love it. my main concern before getting them was ride quality, but i can honestly say, that the ride is only slightly more harsh....very slightly, and not at all uncomfortable or unbearable.

obviously, they look great, but the handling is where they pay off big time. all the posts i've read about people's experience with eibachs are true, the handling improvements are amazing! i thought the stock suspension was good in the twisties (which it is), but with the eibachs, the car stays a lot flatter in turns and gives you a confident feel at higher speeds.

i'm going to stick with the stock struts, because they're relatively new, and eibach claims that the springs are designed to work with the stockies. i also talked to my dealership, and was told that the warranty is not affected by the eibachs (although i'm hesitant to believe that).

i highly recommend the eibachs (in case you couldn't tell).

 

[Micah]

yeah, I think I am going to pick up the Eibach Pro Kit in a few months. Nobody seems to have had any problems. I had their springs on my 94 escort, and they were a huge improvement. Besides, I don't think the drop will be noticable enough to take away from my cars sleeper look anyway.

 

[mooS mooS]

2 for Eibach so far ..... has anyone had any experience using Genuine MS Springs and Struts on their P5 ?

 

[Sir Nuke]

moo moo...one other thing to consider...how much do you want to lower your car? you see....just like the springs that came on the MP3....the Speed springs are only going to lower you about 3/4" from stock. the Eibach springs...which I also have and LOVE, will do two things...it will lower the car over all by about 1.4 inches...but it lowers the front a little more than the back and it LEVELS the car....so that there is nearly exaclty the same wheel gap in the front and the rear. ..... I put them on with the stock sturts as well....it rides nice...only slightly stiffer than stock ride...and it handles like a slot car!

Eibach's would be my vote.....and were my choice due to the amount of drop.

 

[Natey]

This guy's had experience with MSP springs...
http://protege5.com/vbb225/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24099

I'm not sure what to think...

 

[NegatiZE]

Um...I have the Racing Beat "Mazdaspeed Protege" springs/Tokico Blues struts on my 99 LX and have no problems...

 

[mooS mooS]

hmm... good opinions, everyone... and Captain KRM's story there just scared the living shizzle outta my nizzle ..... and now that I think about it .. the parts guy that I was talking to didn't even mention that there's two different sets of springs ... Eibachs are starting to look better and better ..... thanks everyone .. time for me to shop around

 

[MotegiMazdA]

yeah, I think I am going to pick up the Eibach Pro Kit in a few months. Nobody seems to have had any problems. I had their springs on my 94 escort, and they were a huge improvement. Besides, I don't think the drop will be noticable enough to take away from my cars sleeper look anyway.

You're right. The drop is nice but not enough to really notice it IF you don't know what to look for.

 

[sundevilMP5]

so are you talking about the actual mazdaspeed springs from japan or the "mazdaspeed" springs off an mp3/msp...

according to some others that i've talked to eibachs (which i've dealt with) are made to work with the stock struts...however...in many cases (even my own experience) some stock struts didn't last very long without upgrading...so no matter which springs you choose it's probably a good idea to change out the struts...

now as for the mazdaspeed thing...there is a set of actual mazdaspeed springs from japan...corksport.com sells them and says they are actually made by eibach...but i believe the drop is different then that of the eibach springs...i wouldn't recommend the springs off an mp3/msp after kaptins experience...

 

[Dimitrios]

Eibach manufactures a lot of springs for alot of other "brands" as they have some of the best CNC wire winding technology out there.

This is a good thread and it answered some of my own questions, except:

Camber: Going with an Eibach kit, how much adjustment does the OEM suspension allow and when/how do you determine if camber plates are nessary?

 

[Racing_Extreme]

Eibach manufactures a lot of springs for alot of other "brands" as they have some of the best CNC wire winding technology out there.

This is a good thread and it answered some of my own questions, except:

Camber: Going with an Eibach kit, how much adjustment does the OEM suspension allow and when/how do you determine if camber plates are nessary?

autospecialty products manufactuer eibachs camber kits. Save yourself some money.

 

[Dimitrios]

Is there anything TRW doesn't make...sheesh...

 

[Alexatwork]

Camber adjustment isn't neccessary with the prokit, since it only drops 1.4f/1.2r. If you go with something that does more than an inch and a half, you'll need an alignment and new struts, sooner than usual.

I put the prokit on my car last nite, and its a night and day difference. It turns in a lot quicker, and feels a lot more stable at high speed. There is a lot less body roll over stock as well.

 

[Dimitrios]

nice....looks like my next mod. I want to be able to blow away people that tail me on the offramps that think they can keep up.....grrrrrr.....

 

[Captain KRM P5]

just got the Racing Beat springs on my Protege5 - looks great, handles great, feels very very solid. For those that care, the springs - especially the front ones - are coiled COMPLETELY different from the MSP springs. I was also told they sit and fit much better in the rear than my MSP springs did. the drop is not too severe, for those looking for that. My car rode much much lower on the MSP springs, but that would do me no good if the setup kept breaking my end links

 

[mooS mooS]

just as a reference, would you happen to know which MS Springs they were, Cap ?

apparently, there are two different sets

 

[Captain KRM P5]

there are indeed two different sets;

There are MAZDASPEED brand springs, which are JDM parts availiable from Cork Sport.

The ones I bought (and am selling) are the springs designed, by Racing Beat, for the Mazdaspeed Protege. To work properly on a Protege5, they would have to be mated with the stabilizer upgrade kit sold in the Protege aftermarket brochure at the dealer - so I am told. I am told that the springs will work on the sedan with less or no modification. Confusing? Yes.

The ones I own now - which I must say are very nice - are the Racing Beat springs designed for the Protege5. They require no other parts to fit - literally plug and play.

Hope that helps you out.

 

[Eclipse_21]

Well, I have mp3 springs on my car right now (P5). Everything seems to be ok. However, I do notice a clunk now and then during hard cornering over uneven roads, or going over pretty big bumps when I carry a few extra passengers in the car. I'm not sure what the clunking is, and I'm not sure if it's related to rubbing. I'm rubbing on the passenger rear because tires are a little too wide. That story scared me though and I think I'm gonna go get the car checked out soon.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

That story scared me though and I think I'm gonna go get the car checked out soon.

A wise choice - I had a "clunk" too, and it turned out to be that the swaybars were banging around, disconnected with broken endlinks. go check it out!