Lowing and Strut bar?

[05Mazda3sp23]

(hi)hey im a little new to doing suspension... so i was looking at lowing springs and front strut tower bar for my Mazda3 sp23(2.3l sedan)... 4-6 just some info.. sorry i just want to do stuff right the first time around...

1. Pros and cons of lowing?
2. Which is best springs?
3. Pros and cons of Strut tower bar?
4. Price looking to spend around $OPEN
5. looking to Lower 1" to 1.5"
6. front strut tower bar getting from corksport

Any help or info is great thank you (nana)

 

[JP0317]

Were you looking at replacing the struts as well, or just the springs?
And an ebay strut tower bar would probably be your best bet to stay in the price range you're looking for with springs (and possibly struts).
If you're looking for the better handling, I would save the money from a strut bar and invest in a set of sway bars.

 

[superdoughboy4]

If you're gonna cheap out on the strut brace, you may as well not get one.
From what I've seen, most eBay strut braces are in 3 pieces. What you want is a single piece construct brace.
Corksport and GTSpec are both great companies.
GTSpec if you want to do a whole brace setup.

 

[05Mazda3sp23]

If you're gonna cheap out on the strut brace, you may as well not get one.
From what I've seen, most eBay strut braces are in 3 pieces. What you want is a single piece construct brace.
Corksport and GTSpec are both great companies.
GTSpec if you want to do a whole brace setup.

ya im looking at corksport brace

 

[05Mazda3sp23]

Were you looking at replacing the struts as well, or just the springs?
And an ebay strut tower bar would probably be your best bet to stay in the price range you're looking for with springs (and possibly struts).
If you're looking for the better handling, I would save the money from a strut bar and invest in a set of sway bars.

Just springs unless thats a bad idea... would doing just springs would be bad for strut?

 

[superdoughboy4]

I'm pretty sure for most aftermarket springs, if not all, the stock struts/shocks will wear out much quicker than with the OEM springs.
It's a good idea to also get a decent set of struts/shocks.

 

[05Mazda3sp23]

I'm pretty sure for most aftermarket springs, if not all, the stock struts/shocks will wear out much quicker than with the OEM springs.
It's a good idea to also get a decent set of struts/shocks.

thanks.... so any good brands for strut/springs upgrade kits?... no ebay stuff please

 

[JP0317]

Depends on how low you're looking to go and how much you're looking to spend in the end. That is why I previously mentioned the eBay bar, only because of price and personally I would much rather put my own money in sway bars.
Back to your topic though. When you lower you also have to take in the possible negative camber in the rear so you would have to make an additional purchase to correct it so you don't have a ridiculous uneven wear on the tires and have a proper alignment done.

 

[05Mazda3sp23]

Depends on how low you're looking to go and how much you're looking to spend in the end. That is why I previously mentioned the eBay bar, only because of price and personally I would much rather put my own money in sway bars.
Back to your topic though. When you lower you also have to take in the possible negative camber in the rear so you would have to make an additional purchase to correct it so you don't have a ridiculous uneven wear on the tires and have a proper alignment done.

like i said before (#5) im only looking at a max drop of an 1" to 1.5".... inches
i will also be doing sway bars soon i dont got money sitting around gotta wait for pay day lol

 

[A-sher]

dont even bother with the strut tower bar. Theyre basically only purpose on 3's is for looks. The strut towers are too close to the fire wall to provide any noticable benefits

 

[JP0317]

dont even bother with the strut tower bar. Theyre basically only purpose on 3's is for looks. The strut towers are too close to the fire wall to provide any noticable benefits

+1
Thank you!

 

[05Mazda3sp23]

dont even bother with the strut tower bar. Theyre basically only purpose on 3's is for looks. The strut towers are too close to the fire wall to provide any noticable benefits

I would like to see before and after.... but i couldnt find any and im not saying you are wrong... just want hard evidence

 

[A-sher]

what do you mean see before and after. Seeing a picture of it isnt going to show you anything except how it looks. Just trust me, sway bars are where you will see an improvement in handling. It is known that the strut tower bars are basically bling bling on our cars and provide nothing much of a handling upgrade, look where your strut mounts are in the front, and see how close they are to the firewall.

 

[superdoughboy4]

what do you mean see before and after. Seeing a picture of it isnt going to show you anything except how it looks. Just trust me, sway bars are where you will see an improvement in handling. It is known that the strut tower bars are basically bling bling on our cars and provide nothing much of a handling upgrade, look where your strut mounts are in the front, and see how close they are to the firewall.

I'm pretty sure he means a video showing the handling before/after the strut brace is installed.

 

[JP0317]

But again, how will a video of you driving with a strut bar show anything. I mean someone could use a gopro, point toward the towers inside the engine bay (and I am not in anyway suggesting to actually do this because it is absolutely ridiculous) while driving around with/without it installed and record. That kind of video?
Or you can set up a camera in a parking lot, then drive around with a strut bar installed, but that is still not going to show anything. And to actually show the accurate difference between with and without you would have to drive the same degree of turn, at the same rate of speed at the same spot in the parking lot and have some type of graph and precise measurements and some kind of funky technology to prove that such little gains in suspension are shown from a strut bar on a 3. But I mean is that really what he is asking for?? Or what?
To the OP, take advise from those people who have done suspension projects before themselves, who have been there, wasted the money, and learned.
If you are looking to upgrade the handling, sway bars would be the way to go for you. You will literally be able to feel the difference in your car.
Or, go and throw 100 at something on ebay. See for yourself if you're really that set on getting one.

 

[superdoughboy4]

I've seen a video of a before/after with the camera setup in a parking lot, and if the strut brace is effective it will make a notable difference.
But really, you're right. The only real way to tell is to test it out on the track.

Regardless, there have been many reports of the swaybars being one of the best way to stiffen up the chassis, and I don't doubt it.
It's the same for many cars actually.

 

[05Mazda3sp23]

I'm pretty sure he means a video showing the handling before/after the strut brace is installed.

yes thank you... track times with video or just video...

 

[05Mazda3sp23]

but this is way i started this post to see what other people think and have to say... (aka people that haved that have done it)