How To: Lowering Spring Install!
- Thread starter jeg0024
- Start date
99 Pro said:
I'm not sure of the stock sedan bumpstops - but here are the bumpstops for the P5 and the MSP. Originally, I did not cut the bumpstops on my HP / Espelir install on my P5 and quickly determined I was literally just about riding around on the bumpstops (harsh ride / almost no suspension travel). I swapped the P5 front bumpstops with stock MSP bumpstops and put the stock front P5 bumpstops in the rear. Turns out this is a little too extreme for the rear and the tires will tuck with heavy loads over big bumps and slightly rub (deep, deep in the fender well). I'm still experimenting, but I think adding about 3/8" of material should give me the most rear travel with no bottoming out in the rear - I'm going to cut down the rear P5 bumpstops or even may add a urethane spacer from energy suspension.
The ones above listed as P5 bumpstops were the same as the ones on my car. I cut the front, I think I have a pic, so it looked like the MSP bumpstop, just cut off the top notch. And if I remeber correctly I didnt touch the rear stop.
Cutting the stops just allows for more travel in the strut. You dont wanna be sitting on just the stops but you still need to make sure you dont fully compress your struts either. Notice how the MSP stop is already shorter than the P5 one? Well its because the MSP comes a bit lower stock than the P5. Cut the stops acording to how far your gonna drop the car. Having the MSP heigth stops is good for a drop like mine, I probably should have cut the rear stop some but the rear strut doenst compress as much as the front and it seems to be getting enough travel in the rear.
Cutting the stops just allows for more travel in the strut. You dont wanna be sitting on just the stops but you still need to make sure you dont fully compress your struts either. Notice how the MSP stop is already shorter than the P5 one? Well its because the MSP comes a bit lower stock than the P5. Cut the stops acording to how far your gonna drop the car. Having the MSP heigth stops is good for a drop like mine, I probably should have cut the rear stop some but the rear strut doenst compress as much as the front and it seems to be getting enough travel in the rear.
So since I am on Teins, then the bump stops should have been cut down like 1.5" or so? Do the bump stops affect the ride height at all? Just curious cause my Teins seem to sit a bit higher than I think is normal.
can someone post a pic of the bump stop installed?
can someone post a pic of the bump stop installed?
99 Pro said:
You may bve riding on the stops ... Here: http://protege5.ugly.net/#susp
Sections 02-13 snd 02-14 (bound stoppers). The stops have the final say as to how far the suspension compresses.
red95_240sx
Member
ive never seen/touched/heard my bumpstops
- :
- 2001 Mazda MP3
great write up jeg. how much and where did u get the smaller bumpstops?
also, i am in NO way saying anything about your write up or how you did it, i could never take them time to make an how to as good as this, but i just wanted to share how i changed mine... could be completely wrong but... we placed the car on jack stands, removed wheels, then placed a jack under the strut where it bolts to the spindle, and removed the top center nut, and lowered the jack to decompress the spring, didn't have to remove it as an assembly. i think we disconnected the sway bar links, but that was about it.
but like i said, great write up and good job, and sweet looking stance.
also, i am in NO way saying anything about your write up or how you did it, i could never take them time to make an how to as good as this, but i just wanted to share how i changed mine... could be completely wrong but... we placed the car on jack stands, removed wheels, then placed a jack under the strut where it bolts to the spindle, and removed the top center nut, and lowered the jack to decompress the spring, didn't have to remove it as an assembly. i think we disconnected the sway bar links, but that was about it.
but like i said, great write up and good job, and sweet looking stance.
red95_240sx
Member
when you do it that way, how did you, or did you have to compress the spring to put it back on. ive put on springs that were short enough to compress with your hand and tighten the top center bolt up.
Thanks, and yes, it is possible to take the springs off without removing the strut, but why not just remove 2 more bolts per strut and be able to work standing up and away from the car instead of crapmed up under the wheel well. Also I think its kinda a tight fit to do it that way on the front, I cant reacall though, but on either the front or the back there wasnt much room to lean the strut over to take the spring off. Anyting that gets the job done works though. And thanks for the comments on the write-up 
Well I didnt cut the rears because they kinda funny shape and theres really no notches to cut off, if you want you can go with the MSP rear stops but I know im not riding on my rear stops because I drove with a few people in the back and it still rode right. The rear strut just doesnt compess as much as the front and thats why you can get away with having a larger stop.
