M5 with MS3 springs - before & after picts

[mazdaspeedster3]

Aw man after I promised my wife that I wouldn't mod the Mazda 5 if we got it and now I see this. Must... resist... temptation...

I'll probably just get a front tower strut bar.

Nice ride btw! Where did you get the springs from?

Lower rear sway bar would be more advantageous that a top.

Putting a pro kit on my speed3 Tuesday and putting my MS3 springs on the mazda5 the following Tuesday. Wife doesnt like the body roll on the 5. Anyone know if the speed3 rear swat is a direct swap to the 5? Have the stocker sitting in my buddys garage.

 

[BLACKOUT]

Anyone know if the speed3 rear swat is a direct swap to the 5? Have the stocker sitting in my buddys garage.

should work

 

[red headz]

Wife doesnt like the body roll on the 5. Anyone know if the speed3 rear swat is a direct swap to the 5?

Yes, it should work and I've been considering doing the same.(iagree)

 

[Lee MD]

These are probably more expensive than the MS3 springs, but they look to be made specifically for the 5/Premacy so the spring rates and length would be optimized (http://www.japanparts.com/db/partslist.php?dealer=6&car=154&middle=3&small=9).

 

[tillyspeed81]

yeah,but thats gonna be over$400US besides shipping. I'd probably go with H&Rs in that case and save $200. 22mm would be almost an inch drop right? I know, when I started I wanted 5 specific stuff too, but besides being difficult to find most of the parts were pretty pricey. The MS3 suspension was good bang for the buck.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

Would like to eventually even look for a totalled out MS3 and swap out the front brakes. Sway bar will go on tomorrow and MS3 springs the following week. Need to pick up those spacers I guess to eh?

 

[tillyspeed81]

Red did you ever get spacers? I'm thinking about going with air bags, so I might not be needing my spacers.

 

[red headz]

Red did you ever get spacers?

Nope - never got spacers. If you are getting rid of yours, LMK. I have no need, but wouldn't mind trying them out to see how it looks. I'd still prefer to take the front down another 1/2" versus raising the rear.
michael.

I'm thinking about going with air bags...

(breakn)

 

[tillyspeed81]

I'll let you know as soon as I order the air bags, waiting til this weekend...(drinks)

 

[BLACKOUT]

I'll let you know as soon as I order the air bags, waiting til this weekend...(drinks)

hey tilly where you getting the air bags from? Are they for our car or is a custom project you trying to do?

 

[tillyspeed81]

it gonna have to be a custom job, there's a shop out here in Santa Ana that's gonna put one together for my car, gonna get it priced out and most likely have them install it, I don't want to mess with installation on one of those....but its also gonna depend on the cost, they originally said it would be like 1500 installed, but I think that was just to get me to go in....if it comes up over $1,500 (which is very likely) I might just go with coilovers and save $$, that way I can install myself...which was my first choice a year ago...haha..I'm a little confused....but I'll know for sure saturday...I like the ride of the MS3 suspension...but I'm still nagged by the urge to go lower....
I bought the car in Dec 06 with the intent it be my wife's DD...then I ordered all the aftermarket parts...had a few different setups and kits...then swapped them around over the next year and a half...now finally got it mostly put together, but I'm still not satisfied with three things...suspension...engine...sound (stereo)...(confused) wish I still had my Q, then my wifes ride would have been left mostly alone...sigh

 

[Kojack]

can I get a long term update on the MS3 springs on the 5? those spacers stay in place or do they move around after a while. I may do this if they are working good for people, as I want 18", but with stock ride height it would look goofy!

 

[red headz]

UPDATE as of April 2012.

I removed the MS3 rear springs, instead running stock M5 springs in the rear. So the photos below are on Mazda RX8 rims, stock M5 dampers but MS3 front springs and M5 stock rear springs.

With all four MS3 springs, the rear sagged... and sagged, and sagged. It got bad. When carrying kids or loads, the we would bottom out over small bumps.

Again, MS3 front springs and M5 stock rear springs.

Another view

Now perhaps the rear was sagging so much because I sound-deadened the entire rear of the Mazda5. The entire floor and roof were 'dynamatted' about a year ago. And that stuff is heavy. We added easily an extra 50ish pounds into the floor/roof of the M5.

michael.

 

[red headz]

And I never tried those spacers.

 

[Silentnoise713]

Did the rears rub? Just a random though but perhaps you can cut a coil or two from the front springs to offset the rake? The spring rates act differently when you shift the weight of the chassis. I had aftermarket spring that that did not give a level drop bc rears were were a tad high. Had a rear coil cut off and presto, problem fix, 2" drop all around. Looked nice but rode like arse (not stock shocks):/. Still, if you are gunning for cheap or looks, cutting a coil or two is fine. On second thought, you have to make sure the spring has enough compression to hold the shock top hat in place. Other than that, cheapest way to go low.