** Spring Buyer's Guide **

[lawnmowermann]

My MP5 is a blank Canvas

I am now the owner of a 2003 P5 that I plan to lower. Partly I want to get rid of the 4X4 look, but mostly I want a boost in handling. After looking at the chart and reading numerous posts in this 16 page thread(bowdown) , it looks like the Eibach pro springs and some Tokico HP struts will do the trick. This begs a few questions though.

1. What about tire/wheel packages with this supension setup. I would like to move up to 16" x 7" wheels and would like to go up to 215 tires with the same diameter as the originals. Has anyone else tried this suspension wheel combo? If so, can I still pack 4 people and some luggage without wheel rub??

2. Would I need the clunk kit with this suspension setup?

I have also been looking at the Tokoco HP lowering kit that comes with Tokico springs and HP struts. It is cheaper than the HP strut and Eibach spring combination but I have not found any posts on it. Does anyone know the spring rate on the Tokico springs??

Kind regards,

Lawnmowermann

 

[hotrippr]

Sorry I cant answer all your questions, but I will tell you my experience.

My strock struts were trashed, I drive on 2 wheels so this is why they were trashed. So I put in the Eibach pro/Tokico HP. Here is what I noticed:

1.Softer ride than stock (hard to tell since I was driving on trashed stock)
2.Slightly lower than stock (this is good, for me I didnt want it too low and you dont look like a thug).
3.Handling was greatly improved. (corners like mad, I havent pushed it to a spin or dont seem to have anymore understeer either, but I really need to find a place where I can try to spin out or understeer safely.)

I do have a rear STB, I dont know if it is helping any since I installed it at the same time as the suspension.

Overall I am really glad I purchased these. You will see improved handling. And clunk fix is only needed for some after market swaybars. I wanted the Illuminas but I cant afford them, if you have the money to burn then they would be a good choice.
BTW, I got the Pro kit for 179.99 at autoanything.com after you enter the discount code, it was delivered in 1 day.

 

[red95_240sx]

getting an alignment can equal the gains in lowering springs. after i had one, my right turns felt grrreat.

 

[i'm broke]

more rotation?

ok, the tein s-techs are 179 f 145 r while the tanabe gf series is 168 f 156r. my question is would one set allow the car to rotate quicker than the other or would the difference not be enough to feel a difference. also do spring rates play that big of a role in the rotation of the car. thanx.

i'm broke=suspension noob

also, does anyone know the rates for the springs that come with the tokico kits:
http://mazda3online.web.aplus.net/product_info.php?cPath=21_31_60&products_id=598

 

[red95_240sx]

wadda ya mean rotate? ive seen a car do a 360 with no body lean. looked rather fake...

 

[lawnmowermann]

Does anyone know the spring rates for the springs that come with the Tokico kit??

http://mazda3online.web.aplus.net/pr...roducts_id=598

 

[musiclikscreams]

subbin, this is some gooood info

 

[theEZV]

here is what the falkens look like on an msp if anyone is wondering

 

[red95_240sx]

Falken?(scratch)

 

[crashkelly]

Falken?(scratch)

umm yeah Falken makes springs...check the first post of the thread...

 

[theclunk]

So.. why is it that I've just been informed that the Tein S-Tech on the Protege5 is in fact PROGRESSIVE? I bought s-techs based on the information in this guide SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THEY WERE SAID TO BE LINEAR. I had progressive springs and hated them.

I'd like to say I don't believe the guy but it's Edwin/theMan... he typically knows what he's talking about (though he's also typically a tactless asshat to anyone who isn't all-knowing).

The other reason I don't think I believe him is that.. I had progressive springs, the ride was garbage even though the springrates were roughly MSP-spec. I went to the s-techs (much stiffer) and the ride quality is significantly improved. The only logical explanation is that my struts (HP) are now better-matched to the springs since the rates are linear now.

 

[red95_240sx]

I think the rear is progressive front is linear.

 

[A louie]

Does anyone know anything about the Ground Controls? I have been looking at them for awhile now. How is the ride on them? Stiffer or Softer?

Also, I am also think about going with the Gold lines and hp struts. Would that be a good combo? Since the Gold Lines are basically Eibach, but the Gold lines give a little more drop. I have heard the ride on the Gold lines were good though and a little stiffer.

 

[red95_240sx]

Dont buy those coilover sleeve garbages, there not so good. Goldline are opinioned to be soft, and with good struts it gets overdamped. The Eibach sportlines are what you want.

 

[A louie]

Whats wrong with the Ground controls? Since they are Sleeves, you can basically use any spring and shocks with it. And it has adjustable ride height.

 

[aMaff]

the sleeves don't sit on the struts' spring perch properly and they tend to make a ton of noise b/c of that

 

[A louie]

Well that eliminates that choice. Thanks.

What about the Sprint springs. I didn't see them on the chart but Crossover sells them. Do you know anything about them? Stiffer or softer? Linear or Progressive? or are they just crap?

 

[red95_240sx]

People say both. I just sent a payment for some, so i will see. There better none the less.

 

[Simply Silver]

I believe that the msp springs are made by racing beat and a .75 inch drop for a P5

MPS springs are, and I quote "not made by Racing Beat. We only helped engineering the design of MPS springs. Racing Beat springs are 21% stiffer then a stock Protege 5 Spring", per the Racing Beat technical staff (7/3/2007). But the spring rates are almost perfectly matched. (scratch)

 

[Salmon_Rob]

People say both. I just sent a payment for some, so i will see. There better none the less.

they are progressive, end of story.