P5/ES/MP3 suspension differences?

[dmitrik4]

question for all you Protege experts...

i've had several people telling me recently that the P5 and MP3 suspensions are identical. true? i had bene under the impression that the ES and P5 were (basically) mechanically the same car, and the MP3 suspension was unique to that model. in the Mazda Motorsports 2001 parts catalog, there is a "Sport Suspension" and an "MP5 Suspension"...

 

[chuyler1]

Once there was this girl named Goldilocks who wanted a new car. She tried an ES but the suspension was just too soft and not sporty enough. So then she saw this special edition MP3 and gave that a try, but the suspension was way too stiff and it hurt her little neck when she went over bumps. Then she found the P5 and its suspension wasn't soft around the corners, but it didn't sacrifice the ride comfort the way the MP3 did. In fact it was juuuust right. So that day she drove home in a brand new P5!

 

[MarkSpark]

You are right. MP3 and Protege 5 suspensions are different.

 

[dmitrik4]

Once there was this girl named Goldilocks who wanted a new car. She tried an ES but the suspension was just too soft and not sporty enough. So then she saw this special edition MP3 and gave that a try, but the suspension was way too stiff and it hurt her little neck when she went over bumps. Then she found the P5 and its suspension wasn't soft around the corners, but it didn't sacrifice the ride comfort the way the MP3 did. In fact it was juuuust right. So that day she drove home in a brand new P5!

thanks for the answers...i knew i wasn't crazy. and no, the '02 ES suspension is far from soft. just seems that way with r-compounds.

email from Mazda Motorsports:

"That actually says MPS not MP5. MPS stands for Mazda Performance Series, which is the MP3. MPS was the code name, before they named the car the MP3.

So, ES (and Protege5) = "Hard" suspension
MP3 = "MPS" suspension

Mazda has never called the Protege5 an MP5. That is just the name that the public has kind of 'adopted' for it. The ES and Protege5 do have identical suspensions. The MP3 is a suspension all by itself, but it will fit on the ES or Protege5."

 

[MarkSpark]

The Protege 5 has the strut tower bar, whereas the Protege does not. So they ARE different.

 

[dmitrik4]

yes, i know.

although that's not so much suspension as chassis/structural. shocks, springs, swaybars, etc are identical as i've found out...

 

[MarkSpark]

Yep AGreed, but it is suspension-related.

 

[mazdadan]

The ES and Protege5 do have identical suspensions. The MP3 is a suspension all by itself, but it will fit on the ES or Protege5."

Couldn't have said it better myself. If you add a strut tower bar to an ES, everything is identical between the Protege 5 and the ES. Since the P5 is a wagon, it does not have the structural reinforcement in the rear like the sedan does. But component-wise, all parts between the two are identical.

 

[ArkosP5]

Don't they have different size sway bars?

 

[MarkSpark]

I am a moron when it comes to cars, but I dont think Protege/5 have sway bars. Only MP3 and MSP do.

 

[dmitrik4]

yes they do. or at least my ES does.

 

[MarkSpark]

#444 HS ??

what does that mean, and did you buy your car used? wtf

Maybe you had a cool ass dealership if they put it on for you.

 

[MarkSpark]

Im sorry, but theres no way the Protege or Protege 5 comes with sway bars. Someone disprove that contention.

 

[Mackdaddy]

Sorry bro, wrong

Im sorry, but theres no way the Protege or Protege 5 comes with sway bars. Someone disprove that contention.

Both the ES, and P5 have front and rear sway bars from the factory. Trust me, this I know is fact.

Here's my "upgraded" rear 19mm rear AWR bar I just installed...

 

[MarkSpark]

I am a moron when it comes to cars..

The moron stands corrected.

 

[Mackdaddy]

The moron stands corrected.

learn something new every day....

It's all good my friend.

 

[dmitrik4]

#444 HS ??

what does that mean, and did you buy your car used? wtf

Maybe you had a cool ass dealership if they put it on for you.

444 is my AutoX number, H Stock is the class in which i run.