SenSen shocks

Another advocate of these shocks here, and especially APX Auto Parts since I switched the backs one weekend and everything was great. Switch fronts the next weekend and got some rattling from the right front shock. Contacted APX on Monday morning and they had a new one shipped out and arrived on Wednesday. Installed it the following weekend and rides like a dream again. I love it when a vendor stands behind their product.
 
hey guys/girls
bringing this back from the dead.
the right rear is leaking. instead of paying $200 for OEM. I'm thinking of doing just these for the rear.
the question is, if I do just the rear shocks, will that lead to off handling behavior since front are OEM ?

how many hours of labor do you all think all four will be if I let a shop handle it ?

thanks
 
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I just ordered my new set of 4 for $136 for my 3 (not a speed3 ) a few days ago and received them last night. I went with the Mazda5 shocks with part number 1460-2. They are listed for 2006-2007 but they all fit the same. I will shave the brake line bracket before installing them so it should be breeze. Will report back after I install these babies over the weekend.

http://apxautoparts.com/apx/2006-2007-mazda-5-shocks-struts-full-set.html
 
I have a little more than a week with the front shocks on and it's definitely an improvement. Slightly stiffer than stock. The only issues i had were grinding down the brake line bracket where i couldnt get the dremel to fit and grind the inside but i was able to pry the bracket open slightly to fit the line and squeeze the pin that holds it in place.

The other issue was fitting the shock back to the wheel. You have shimmy a lot, then shimmy some more, and when you think you're done, down a beer and shimmy a whole lot more until its slightly in place and use a jack to lift the wheel up to where it needs to be, then shimmy some more (careful, the back bracket is supposed to squeeze between two plates) until it just slides into place like nothing then you wonder if you really had to go through that.

After the first try, i had a better understanding and thought the 2nd should be easier. Well it still took as much shimmying around to get that damn thing in place. All in all, 4 hrs for both which i had plenty of beer breaks in between.

The back shocks look easier and will be replacing them this weekend.

Best purchase ever!
 
Just a heads up to those advocating getting Mazda 5 parts. The part number and the SKU are the same for both shocks (2006-2007 Mazda 5 vs. a 2008 Mazda 3). This is true at APX (which is out of stock) and at Autoanything (which is currently in stock). I'm going to go ahead and conclude that they are the same, and you can just specify a Mazda 3. neither site offered a MS3 submodel option. Also, big caveat, I'm only ordering the rear pair, and only checked that.
 

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