I would agree that in an area with smooth roads, the KONIs would rock. My old Mazda3 was SOOOO fun to drive.
Lowering Kit and Rims for 2014 Mazda3
- Thread starter jadnice
- Start date
I would agree that in an area with smooth roads, the KONIs would rock. My old Mazda3 was SOOOO fun to drive.
Font Motorsports
Member
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- 2012 Mazda 2
I've been told by Standard Suspension that they would have coilovers ready for the 2014 Mazda 3 in January 2014. I've contacted them to see if they are about ready to go. I've also contacted Ksport. We'll see. Seems suspension manufacturers are taking their sweet time on getting coils and springs out for the new Mazda 3. Which seems strange to me seeing as it's a perfect car to lower. 
Font Motorsports
Member
- :
- 2012 Mazda 2
Well... Bad news.
Standard Suspension replied back with, "in a few months" and Ksport Suspension replied with, "nothing available yet". Sorry guys.
Standard Suspension replied back with, "in a few months" and Ksport Suspension replied with, "nothing available yet". Sorry guys.
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- San Diego, CA
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- 2014 Mazda3 S GT auto, 2008 MX5 6-speed
Font Motorsports
Member
- :
- 2012 Mazda 2
Font Motorsports
Member
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- 2012 Mazda 2
^^^ That would be my guess as well. Looks good to me.
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- San Diego, CA
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- 2014 Mazda3 S GT auto, 2008 MX5 6-speed
I spoke to an Eibach person, today about why the rear is lowered more than the front. Of all the lowering spring sets I have seen, every one had lowered the front more than it did the rear. Here's a good example of a set for a 2008 Mazda 3:
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...oor&autoYear=2008&autoModClar=s+Grand+Touring
Notice that the front is lowered more than the rear.
Any way, the Eibach rep explained that they needed to lower the rear more to even out the stance. Compression is increased by about 15% over the stock springs' compression.
My unanswered question is this: If the factory keeps the rear a bit higher, why change that "stance"?
Does the 2014 3 in my post, above look like it needs a lower rear?
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...oor&autoYear=2008&autoModClar=s+Grand+Touring
Notice that the front is lowered more than the rear.
Any way, the Eibach rep explained that they needed to lower the rear more to even out the stance. Compression is increased by about 15% over the stock springs' compression.
My unanswered question is this: If the factory keeps the rear a bit higher, why change that "stance"?
Does the 2014 3 in my post, above look like it needs a lower rear?
Font Motorsports
Member
- :
- 2012 Mazda 2
Seems EiBach simply just did it to even out the wheel well gaps on the fronts and rears. Although in your pic the gap seems the same if that's stock height.
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I can say that on my hatchback, the back does have noticeably more fender gap than the front. However, for me, the lowering and spring rates should be based on performance and getting the handling balance right, not looks. Having a greater drop on one end or the other will shift weight distribution a small amount, which will affect the handling balance of the car.
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- San Diego, CA
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- 2014 Mazda3 S GT auto, 2008 MX5 6-speed
This is why I'm wondering why Eibach and corksport changed the stance of the 3. Yes, it's not by much, but I always thought the rear being slightly higher than the front would compensate for heavy loads in the trunk or hatch area. If they start out as perfectly even, a trip to Home Depot for some soil bags or retaining wall blocks may make your car look goofy.
Font Motorsports
Member
- :
- 2012 Mazda 2
I'd assume that Eibach took that into account when they developed their springs for the new 3.
Font Motorsports
Member
- :
- 2012 Mazda 2
Font Motorsports
Member
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- 2012 Mazda 2
Font Motorsports
Member
- :
- 2012 Mazda 2
Standard Suspension is about to launch coilovers for the new Mazda 3. I'm waiting on them for pricing, spec and photos. Once i do i will be offering them for sale on a new thread with all the info you guys need. Standard Suspension are out of Canada and make top quality, highly adjustable coils. They have been doing it for a long while and offer coils for a wide variety of vehicle.
How many of you are interested?
How many of you are interested?
I don't see any mention of Ohlins in Font Motorsports post, but I would sure hope they would be less than Ohlins. I've been eyeing Ohlins for my RX-8, but there's no way I would spend anywhere near that kind of money for a coilover kit for my daily driver, which gets about 33,000 miles a year put on it. This company appears to be "the real deal" (reputable, perhaps good quality), although I haven't researched them much. I don't know if I've heard of them before.
Are the dampers individually dyno-tested and matched? Not many manufacturers do this. One of the main issues with inexpensive dampers is that you will often get poorly matched dampers, resulting in worse and possibly unpredictable and even dangerous handling compared to OEM. Most people are only able to distinguish "stiffer" and "lower," so they don't notice.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I would be interested (in a couple years after I've gotten some good use out of the OEM dampers) if the price is reasonable (say, $1500 or less), but they offer a reasonable quality. I know I'm not going to get Ohlins for that price, but if they're at least comparable to, say, Koni Sport dampers with good springs, I'd be interested. They also have to not lower the car too much at the highest setting. I'm looking for no more than 1" of lowering, probably more like 0.5" to 0.75". Oh, and they have to have a tolerable ride quality on the softest setting. Koni Sports were pretty brutal (with Racing Beat springs) on my 2005 Mazda3 on the horrible roads here in mid-Michigan.
Are the dampers individually dyno-tested and matched? Not many manufacturers do this. One of the main issues with inexpensive dampers is that you will often get poorly matched dampers, resulting in worse and possibly unpredictable and even dangerous handling compared to OEM. Most people are only able to distinguish "stiffer" and "lower," so they don't notice.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I would be interested (in a couple years after I've gotten some good use out of the OEM dampers) if the price is reasonable (say, $1500 or less), but they offer a reasonable quality. I know I'm not going to get Ohlins for that price, but if they're at least comparable to, say, Koni Sport dampers with good springs, I'd be interested. They also have to not lower the car too much at the highest setting. I'm looking for no more than 1" of lowering, probably more like 0.5" to 0.75". Oh, and they have to have a tolerable ride quality on the softest setting. Koni Sports were pretty brutal (with Racing Beat springs) on my 2005 Mazda3 on the horrible roads here in mid-Michigan.
Font Motorsports
Member
- :
- 2012 Mazda 2
Although I don't have the full info yet I do have some answers to your questions.
Standard Suspension offer a high quality, race proven product from what I know. I've sold a set to two Mazda 2 owners and I've had zero complaints. I know they are a serious company, very active in the race community, have been around for a while and constantly improver their product. I've listed the retail prices for two of their coilover systems for the new Mazda 3. Keep in mind that these are only retail prices and that my final quote would be better.
I encourage you to follow the links below to read more about the coilovers and about the company. They have photos and videos.
R1 Suspension System - Retail: $1349.00
The R1 is the best choice to keep the comfort on a car driven every day. You can lower the ride height of your vehicle without affecting the travel of the suspension. Moreover you can easily adjust the damping force to increase the performance of the suspension in order to deal with different road types and conditions. This suspension system provides performance without sacrificing comfort; it provides everything you need to enjoy driving your car in the street and on the track.
R3 Suspension System - Retail: $1499.00
The R3 suspension system has an enhanced forged front pillow-ball top mount to increase steering response. The R3 suspension system also includes an adjustable top mount camber plate for McPherson vehicles. This suspension system is perfect to use on the road and on the track for time attack or drifting and can even be used on a real race car.
Standard Suspension offer a high quality, race proven product from what I know. I've sold a set to two Mazda 2 owners and I've had zero complaints. I know they are a serious company, very active in the race community, have been around for a while and constantly improver their product. I've listed the retail prices for two of their coilover systems for the new Mazda 3. Keep in mind that these are only retail prices and that my final quote would be better.
I encourage you to follow the links below to read more about the coilovers and about the company. They have photos and videos.
R1 Suspension System - Retail: $1349.00
The R1 is the best choice to keep the comfort on a car driven every day. You can lower the ride height of your vehicle without affecting the travel of the suspension. Moreover you can easily adjust the damping force to increase the performance of the suspension in order to deal with different road types and conditions. This suspension system provides performance without sacrificing comfort; it provides everything you need to enjoy driving your car in the street and on the track.
R3 Suspension System - Retail: $1499.00
The R3 suspension system has an enhanced forged front pillow-ball top mount to increase steering response. The R3 suspension system also includes an adjustable top mount camber plate for McPherson vehicles. This suspension system is perfect to use on the road and on the track for time attack or drifting and can even be used on a real race car.
