Leather

[Jman136]

I noticed today that when I got out of the car, the leather on the side bolster (left) has almost like creases in it. I am guessing this is due to the weight put on the seat getting in and out of the car. Do you guys have this as well?

Also, I just drove a friends 16.5 GT. It is bumpier than my 17GT, but it handles really well. I love my 17 GT, but damn it has a lot of body roll around corners. I know it's not a sports car, but I thought it would be a little better.

Is there mods I can do to firm it up?

 

[Unobtanium]

I noticed today that when I got out of the car, the leather on the side bolster (left) has almost like creases in it. I am guessing this is due to the weight put on the seat getting in and out of the car. Do you guys have this as well?

Also, I just drove a friends 16.5 GT. It is bumpier than my 17GT, but it handles really well. I love my 17 GT, but damn it has a lot of body roll around corners. I know it's not a sports car, but I thought it would be a little better.

Is there mods I can do to firm it up?

The '17's are just softer. I wouldn't muck with it. As to the leather-faced cloth seats...that's normal. I would clean them with water and a rag, and not worry about it. Little micro-cracks will develop in 5-15 years. It is what it is, basically.

 

[GJ-Molestor]

install some sway bars if you want tighter handling

 

[Unobtanium]

install some sway bars if you want tighter handling

Have to balance a stiffer sway bar with the rest of the suspension, though. Can't change just one thing unless you want some bad manners, typically.

 

[Anchorman]

There is a TSB which details how to use a steam iron to get rid of creases but my seats are all creased and they are staying that way. I must admit, they actually look a bit shabby for new seats. If had the bolsters softened professionally in mine as I found they had a hard spine at the base of the bolster which was uncomfortable.

 

[Nelson de Leon]

If it doesn't have creases, then it wouldn't look like leather. Hehe!

 

[GJ-Molestor]

Have to balance a stiffer sway bar with the rest of the suspension, though. Can't change just one thing unless you want some bad manners, typically.

Yes, Performance struts have to be paired with performance springs, and then lastly you can start looking at sway Bars.

As long as the sway bars are not too aggressive, you arent going to get any sort of unbalanced handling behaviour if the rest of the suspension is stock. Its easily the most effective handling upgrade for the money and much more effective while causing less damage then installing lowering springs on factory struts (which seems to be quite popular amongst the clueless modders around here)

 

[7eregrine]

Agree with GJ. You can easily add a sway bar and see a minor improvement without having to replace the entire suspension. At least a quality one anyway. Moot point though, don't think there is a sway bar for the 17 yet.

 

[GJ-Molestor]

Agree with GJ. You can easily add a sway bar and see a minor improvement without having to replace the entire suspension. At least a quality one anyway. Moot point though, don't think there is a sway bar for the 17 yet.

It would actually be a very note-worthy improvement. The suspension flop/body roll will be better kept in check and considerably improve chassis/steering response.

I doubt that the 2017 version needs different sway bars from a 2016, but I doubt anyone is going to want to test this. Its Just something for anyone to consider, not just the 2017 cx5 owners.

 

[7eregrine]

https://thmotorsports.com/i-2110729...jn1UaWKCjX4qZU2kmWc2dxZzop7PzzZMaAj8IEALw_wcB

Someone try it.

 

[GJ-Molestor]

https://thmotorsports.com/i-2110729...jn1UaWKCjX4qZU2kmWc2dxZzop7PzzZMaAj8IEALw_wcB

Someone try it.

Thats a good sway bar and the price is fair. However I doubt that the typical cx5 owner needs added performance like that, so maybe we could try the Mazda 3/6 forums, but not enough people commenting and using those forums like the cx5 section lol.

Let me just say that with all the right hardware, a Mazda 3/6 would be one insanely capable car. With coilovers, sway bars, a limited slip differential, an ECU tune to make the 2.5L compatible with 91 octane fuel, and a primary cat delete thats releasticslly the most car any enthusiast would ever need and itll be tons of fun if you have a manual transmission.

Now other then coilovers or sway bars, if youre looking to improve over front axle grip youre gonna want to either pop your front camber alignment pins (gives you roughly -0.5 camber on each side for the front axle) or just buy some camber plates if you can find ones that dont affect ride quality. A properly tuned performance oriented alignment would make a huge difference with overall handling Behaviour.

Currently, our cars are all set up with a modest amount of negative camber on the rear axle, but the front purposely has less for safety reasons to induce understeer at the limkt. So with properly tuned camber, the car will be less prone to understeer resulting in a more neutral, tail happy rotation if you hit the corner right. Its good stuff if you know how to drive properly at the limit. (The average alignment is tuned for people who cant control oversteer)

 

[Unobtanium]

It would actually be a very note-worthy improvement. The suspension flop/body roll will be better kept in check and considerably improve chassis/steering response.

I doubt that the 2017 version needs different sway bars from a 2016, but I doubt anyone is going to want to test this. It’s Just something for anyone to consider, not just the 2017 cx5 owners.

Well, it's a lot stiffer and uses different bushings and...so why wouldn't a different SB be indicated?

 

[batmancx]

.........Also, I just drove a friends 16.5 GT. It is bumpier than my 17GT, but it handles really well. I love my 17 GT, but damn it has a lot of body roll around corners. I know it's not a sports car, but I thought it would be a little better.

aww man, why did you have to go and tell me this, I was going to give the '16 CX-5 to my wife and start looking at '17 for myself, i like the exterior styling and noise reduction but not going to sacrifice handling, that sucks... Mazda niche is handling, why did they go and mess with that.....

 

[Nelson de Leon]

aww man, why did you have to go and tell me this, I was going to give the '16 CX-5 to my wife and start looking at '17 for myself, i like the exterior styling and noise reduction but not going to sacrifice handling, that sucks... Mazda niche is handling, why did they go and mess with that.....

Why don't you jump in and give it a test drive. Unless you haven't tried it, what maybe softer for the TS might suffice for you. Your preference might not always be the same with the TS preference.

 

[Unobtanium]

aww man, why did you have to go and tell me this, I was going to give the '16 CX-5 to my wife and start looking at '17 for myself, i like the exterior styling and noise reduction but not going to sacrifice handling, that sucks... Mazda niche is handling, why did they go and mess with that.....

Because it's a family hauler, and handling doesn't sell family haulers, the CX5 is one of Mazda's highest selling vehicles, and Mazda is trying to make money, which means they need to stop sucking at selling family haulers, since it's one of the best things they have going for them, and they suck at it anyway.

http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2017/04/usa-march-2017-suv-crossover-sales-by-model.html

 

[bamirault]

I'm with GJ as well. Have never had the desire to suspension upgrade my '13 CX-5. Dissatisfied with the handling of my '10 MX-5 when compared to the '01 it replaced, I contacted Flyin Miata. They proposed a list of upgrades to improve the situation, but suggested implementing them singly until achieving the performance appropriate for my driving. The recommended first upgrade was front/rear sway bars; being easiest and cheapest. Adjustable bars at the middle setting was all I needed.

If you're unhappy, try this first.

Brian

 

[fdew]

Because it's a family hauler, and handling doesn't sell family haulers, the CX5 is one of Mazda's highest selling vehicles, and Mazda is trying to make money, which means they need to stop sucking at selling family haulers, since it's one of the best things they have going for them, and they suck at it anyway.
/QUOTE]

It CAN be used as a famely hauler. I am one of many who don't need to haul more then two people and chose it for the handeling. Now I have a upgrade limit of a 2016.

 

[Anchorman]

Don't forget the headlights and all the iactive sense are linked to the factory suspension settings.

 

[GJ-Molestor]

Don't forget the headlights and all the iactive sense are linked to the factory suspension settings.

Lets not also forget that lowering springs arent even designed for factory struts and will destroy them.

Not to mention the bad, bouncy not-optimal ride quality and handling.

If youre going to mess with your suspension, youre best off doing it right the first time or youre best off not doing anything to it at all. If your budget only allows for lowering springs, BUY sway bars.

 

[GJ-Molestor]

I'm with GJ as well. Have never had the desire to suspension upgrade my '13 CX-5. Dissatisfied with the handling of my '10 MX-5 when compared to the '01 it replaced, I contacted Flyin Miata. They proposed a list of upgrades to improve the situation, but suggested implementing them singly until achieving the performance appropriate for my driving. The recommended first upgrade was front/rear sway bars; being easiest and cheapest. Adjustable bars at the middle setting was all I needed.

If you're unhappy, try this first.

Brian

Good advice. This, in my opinion are the 3 things (or 4) which holds back the Mazda from being an incredibly capable track machine.

1. Driver. Many do not know how to properly trail brake and apply throttle after the apex.

2. Differential. (applies more to us FWD owners) its not very well designed and holds the car back from applying power at the limit. Also, again keeping in mind that these cars are daily drivers, the gearing is really wonderful at keeping the car in the meaty torque-band of the 2.5L, but the gearing feels too far spaced and sluggish at full throttle. A shorter final drive LSD would improve acceleration times considerably without hurting fuel efficiency (around town at least)

3. Replacing the somewhat soft, but otherwise well tuned suspension with coilovers. Its grest for everyday driving and feels sharp if you dont push the car too hard, but its too soft and lets the body roll too much during hard cornering. Again, its well tuned and the dampening is really quite excellent so I wouldnt bother unless you corner hard.

4. Lastly, sway bars might be an effective upgrade especially if you do decide to keep the soft suspension.

To finish this list, tires. I would go for Yokohama 245/45/r18 all around (for the 6 sedan) Mazdas are super well tuned to Yokohamas performance tires and they work brilliant together.