** Spring Buyer's Guide **

[Reitrof]

Thanks for the info.

I'd definitly reccomend the iON springs. I just put mine in myself yesterday and I do alot of driving on some not so smooth roads, and while they do stiffen up the ride a bit (sporty, not harsh) they are stil lvery streetable. The 1.18" drop is fairly mild too, so you won't run into problems with clearance (mostly) but it still looks good. Pics attached.

Edit: Excuse the dirty car but it's been raining non stop for the past 3 days.

 

[goku4658]

Mx3ownjoo: What do you think between the Goldlines and the Eibach Sportlines for the MSP? These springs both offer the drop I'm leaning towards. Just wanted to know your opinion, or anybody else really!

 

[Maxx Mazda]

Mx3ownjoo: What do you think between the Goldlines and the Eibach Sportlines for the MSP? These springs both offer the drop I'm leaning towards. Just wanted to know your opinion, or anybody else really!

Don't jsut buy springs to lower your car. Make sure they're practical and best suited to your type of driving. If you just want the lowered look, cut the stock ones LOL!

Seriously though, if you're jsut into the look, then the Eibachs, Ground Controls, or H&R's will do fine. If you're looking for springs that will actually improve the handling of the car, then either Tien or iON is the way to go.

 

[bonesmp5]

LOL -- thats what i did was cut and reshape the stockers -- so far its great

 

[Black Majik MSP]

Seriously though, if you're jsut into the look, then the Eibachs, Ground Controls, or H&R's will do fine. If you're looking for springs that will actually improve the handling of the car, then either Tien or iON is the way to go.

WTF are you smoking?...Ground Controls just for looks? UHHH....NO! GCs will give better handling than anything you can buy unless you go with full coilovers.

 

[Black Majik MSP]

LOL -- thats what i did was cut and reshape the stockers -- so far its great

I really believed that cutting springs was a thing of the past, but you just proved me wrong. This is dangerous & I would never recommend it to anyone.

 

[goku4658]

Don't jsut buy springs to lower your car. Make sure they're practical and best suited to your type of driving. If you just want the lowered look, cut the stock ones LOL!

Seriously though, if you're jsut into the look, then the Eibachs, Ground Controls, or H&R's will do fine. If you're looking for springs that will actually improve the handling of the car, then either Tien or iON is the way to go.

Nah I'm not in it for JUST the look, but its definitely part of it. For me personally, the prokit doesn't lower enough and the tiens give the car an unbalanced look (really low in the front, virtually no drop in the rear). The Ion race springs are my number one choice, but are over $100.00 more expensive than the goldines and $60.00 more than the sportlines. I haven't heard one complaint about the goldlines and alot of ppl have them, and they have a stiffer spring rate than the MSP stock. I like the sportlines, but if they won't improve handling as much as the goldlines, then I well go with the goldlines.

1. Ion (just expensive, maybe I'll save up $260 for them)
2. Goldlines or Sportlines (somebody help me decide)
3. Pro-kit

 

[bonesmp5]

I really believed that cutting springs was a thing of the past, but you just proved me wrong. This is dangerous & I would never recommend it to anyone.

just out of curiousity -- how and/or why is it dangerous -- your right that its not done as often as it was in the past -- but if done right there is no danger -- the only time its dangerous is if someone cuts them but does not reshape them -- reshaping is the important part -- if you looked up in my wheelwell you could not tell they were cut unless i told you --- they fit perferctly into the pockets -- but this is just my 2 cents -- have a good weekend

 

[iON Performance]

goku4658 - if you want your car to handle as close to a RWD car (or the ITR) at the limit, then our springs for the MSP would be the ones to get.

Most of the other springs out there are mainly for looks. But if you want the best of both worlds, then just save your pennies

 

[Maxx Mazda]

goku4658 - if you want your car to handle as close to a RWD car (or the ITR) at the limit, then our springs for the MSP would be the ones to get.

Most of the other springs out there are mainly for looks. But if you want the best of both worlds, then just save your pennies

Maybe jsut because I'm kind of like a "salesman" for Jack, but the iON Sports DO make the car handle great. And as far as I'm concerned, the drop is perfect. It gives the car a perfect stance, without slamming it so far into the weeds that you scrape on speedbumps.

 

[low_psi]

ok guys, I finally got the CD w/ the spring rates table file on it back yeasterday. Hopefully the main page will be updated by early next week.

 

[protegeV]

sweet...good work man.

 

[low_psi]

Updated... Lots more on the chart!

 

[BlueWolfCry]

awesome man, thanks again. this is great info to help me decide

 

[Black Majik MSP]

You need to add Progress springs to the list. Also, the Goldlines need to be updated...

The front & rear springs are of variable rate design.
Front= 145 LBS
Rear= 135 LBS
Those rates are final rates. We tend not to give out the range due to proprietory issues. The overall range is the most important aspect of the design.
The "final" rates are in place from a static height (ride height) on down.

 

[low_psi]

will do. any info on the progress springs? apex motorsports has them on their site right?

 

[Black Majik MSP]

will do. any info on the progress springs? apex motorsports has them on their site right?

mazdamp3_18 should know more about them IIRC.

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=71130
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59408
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25670
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19272
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6144

(last one has spring rates)

 

[low_psi]

you take all the fun out of it. i was ready for a huge serach mission.

 

[Mashi Maro]

-Updated July 7th 2004-

Springs such as B&G, Goldline, Sprint, Progress Group, Tanabe, Evotion, Falken and Intrax, as well as coil-sleeves such as Skunk2 and Tom Motorsports should be considered "appearance springs" as the spring rates will not be performance oriented but allow for a fashionable drop height. Cornering performance will improve in most cases, but not substantially.

i have the skunk2 coil-sleeves and when i called skunk2 for the rates, they told me 8 kilos....8 kg/mm translates into almost 450 lbs/in, and yes, it is a very rough ride....the cornering, braking, acceleration performance has improved with this "appearance spring," which is good since they call themselves skunk2 "racing," and it is definately track-worthy, however on the street and at autocross, i find the rates are too high and i lose traction during bumpier corners, i wish i had something a little softer like the jic's or ground controls so that i don't catch air every time i hit a bump (it's rally style up in my car (wrc) )....sorry, i'm rambling, just basically wanted to help you fill in the spring rates on your chart and give my two cents

 

[goku4658]

dammit with these progress springs, my indecision grows even more! I wish someone could just tell me which springs to get!! This is like 3 months now that I can't decide...I like the Pro-kit's performance, but wish it looked alil lower.