Strut/Shock Options

[rweatherford]

I've looked around and this is all I have found.

Koni FSD
Koni Sport (Yellow Single Adjustables)
KYB GR-2 (Excel-G or something)

My sister has just moved to Japan, anything there that would be a good option that would be cost/feature competitive by the time I get it here? If anyone living there could help out with info, etc, that would be great.

I am looking to keep the ride height stock, but don't mind firm dampeners. I might autox the car some.

At around 40K miles I think our front struts are shot. There is a klunking/rattle sound over washboards and bumps. Drivers side is leaking and makes noise, passengers side seems to only make noise. I can find no other problems that would create the noise.


Any info would be great. Adjustable would be cool, but it looks like the rear shocks are a PITA to adjust from Koni. I could not find anything from Tokico and I'm not sure if Showa makes car stuff, probably does. One thing I noticed was the part # for the Koni Yellows are the same as for the 04-07 Volvo S40/V50. Who would have guessed?

The price on the KYB's are attractive, but generally you get what you pay for and I want at LEAST as good as stock, preferably better. At $90 the factory strut may be hard to beat.

Thanks!

 

[VenomDesign]

You still under warranty ? Then go fix your troubles at your nearest dealer.

 

[rweatherford]

You still under warranty ? Then go fix your troubles at your nearest dealer.

07 with probably 45K. Original dealer is closed, Mazda now under another dealer in the same town about 80 miles away. I doubt they would be interested in warranty. What do you think? I think warranty is for 36K miles.

 

[SGT_OKINAWA]

Anything there that would be a good option that would be cost/feature competitive? If anyone living there could help out with info, etc, that would be great.

I live in Japan, and NO nothing will be as cost effective or comparable to what you get in the USA, and what, you want to keep stock height?

And weight is a concern for shipping, that will add 100's of $$

I am looking to keep the ride height stock, but don't mind firm dampeners. I might autox the car some.

At around 40K miles I think our front struts are shot. There is a klunking/rattle sound over washboards and bumps. Drivers side is leaking and makes noise, passengers side seems to only make noise. I can find no other problems that would create the noise.

You're speaking as a certified mechanic?

Any info would be great. Adjustable would be cool, but it looks like the rear shocks are a PITA to adjust from Koni. I could not find anything from Tokico and I'm not sure if Showa makes car stuff, probably does. One thing I noticed was the part # for the Koni Yellows are the same as for the 04-07 Volvo S40/V50. Who would have guessed?

Any info? Sure, so spending $4,600 for a set of 4 is okay with you? Because that is the cheapest I found here in Japan for adjustable ones, and again like you said, get what you pay for so they are really decent struts. I say again HERE IN JAPAN I WISH I could buy struts from the USA, but after shipping them it costs TONS OF CASH $$$ to get them to Okinawa Japan. *sigh*

The price on the KYB's are attractive, but generally you get what you pay for and I want at LEAST as good as stock, preferably better. At $90 the factory strut may be hard to beat.

Agree, especially if you are keeping THE VEHICLE AT STOCK HEIGHT? (pow)

Thanks!

Tell ya what, we can go out back, I'll hit ya over the head with a shovel, take the 4,600 out your pocket and replace your stock strut for free ! (nuts)

Good luck !

Peace!(rei)

 

[rweatherford]

I live in Japan, and NO nothing will be as cost effective or comparable to what you get in the USA, and what, you want to keep stock height?

Yes. Stock height.

You're speaking as a certified mechanic?

After creating my own turbo kit, and tuning the car from scratch with an aftermarket stand alone ECU (TEC2), and doing my own wrenching on my own cars (for the last 15 years) and being paid to do so at work, (farm machinery) yes. I'm not certified in any ASE programs but I have read through them and they are a joke. At least the beginner tests are open book. I've met many mechanics that wouldn't have a clue what I was talking about. I've met a few that would. Finding a good mechanic is harder than finding a good wife.

Without taking the struts out and checking the strut mounts I don't see any other problems.

Any info? Sure, so spending $4,600 for a set of 4 is okay with you? Because that is the cheapest I found here in Japan for adjustable ones, and again like you said, get what you pay for so they are really decent struts. I say again “HERE IN JAPAN” I WISH I could buy struts from the USA, but after shipping them it costs TONS OF CASH $$$ to get them to Okinawa Japan. *sigh*

Thanks for the info. I don't quite understand how Koni Sports could cost you $4600. That would be about 400% markup with extra allowed for shipping. I understand it is expensive to ship, but that seems excessive.

Agree, especially if you are keeping THE VEHICLE AT STOCK HEIGHT? (pow)

I've read where you don't understand anything with stock wheels so I'm sure you can't possibly understand my reasons. One is that SCCA rules for stock class is stock ride hieght. Two I don't live in an area with excellent roads. Three, the rear camber is already negative enough and my car rides with 6 passengers almost all the time.

Tell ya what, we can go out back, I'll hit ya over the head with a shovel, take the 4,600 out your pocket and replace your stock strut for free ! (nuts)

How about I fly to Japan, bring Koni Sports and your choice of springs as carry on luggage and I'll install them for free. You pay $4600. (hah) I may just fix mine for about $180 for new stock fronts (which are decent) and install them myself. (thumb) Otherwise I'll probably spring for the Koni FSD's for about $700. I may save the money and buy a separate set of wheels.

 

[mazdadude]

I am loving the Koni FSD's!!!

I decided to go with them instead of OE because the OE's are undersized and only last about 40k miles. The FSD's are designed for the 5, and in addition, have a lifetime warranty. (naughty)

 

[rweatherford]

I am loving the Koni FSD's!!!

I decided to go with them instead of OE because the OE's are undersized and only last about 40k miles. The FSD's are designed for the 5, and in addition, have a lifetime warranty. (naughty)

You said the magic word. I did not know that they had a lifetime warranty.

One more reason for stock ride height. We are supposed to be getting 5-7 inches of snow tomorrow.

 

[changsta]

I recently replaced both rear struts with Monroe Sensatracs. These have given me slightly better performance compared to the OEM struts, and they also come with a lifetime warranty. They were also cheaper than the OEM struts!


If interested, read about the many suspension problems I had with my 2006 Mazda5 GT here,

http://www.mymazda5lemon.blogspot.com/

 

[SGT_OKINAWA]

How about I fly to Japan, bring Koni Sports and your choice of springs as carry on luggage and I'll install them for free. You pay $4600. (hah) I may just fix mine for about $180 for new stock fronts (which are decent) and install them myself. (thumb) Otherwise I'll probably spring for the Koni FSD's for about $700. I may save the money and buy a separate set of wheels.

Sorry I sounded a bit rude and trite there, but I was just half way poking fun, we get a lot of single posts from folks that say Hey how do I. and never come back.

Wow, with all your experience, why ask us, Id think youd have that done and more
All great points, and some more data on the above quote.
It's truly sad, both for the USA if were headed in that direction (I know no politics.) anyhow I feel firsthand the cost effects of a socialist government here.
Things made here in Japan cost more here than they do in the USA. No lie.

Japan business models in a socialist government, requires by law that all products go through no less than 7 peoples hands before it hit the consumer shelves. i.e. Manufacturer to delivery to company that warehouses all brands of toilet paper (Some would call it a government warehouse) to delivery company to distributer to delivery company to store warehouse to delivery company to store. After all that you get
a. Almost every person in Japan has a job, most likely a suck arse one, but you have a job.
b. The cost of everything is high.

So please, bring a new set of great quality adjustable struts that fit a Mazda PREMACY to Okinawa and install them for free, it'd be worth about $3,000.00. (sorry I cant pay for your $1,800.00 plane tickets.)

Peace!(rei)

 

[KBrian]

Thanks both to Rex and to the Sarge for always posting interesting topics and not being afraid to be contraversial.

I never fail to read anything you two post

 

[rweatherford]

I did appreciate your input about Japan and understand that I have not been around for a little while so you would not recognise my username. I have been stuck in crop harvest hell for about 4 months. We still have 40 acres of soybeans and it rained, snowed, iced, and now we have 7 degrees F and 30 MPH winds. Perhaps if the ground freezes we can finish. We finished our corn harvest Monday night (tuesday morning) at 4 AM.

I don't mind doing the work on the car, but find that there are usually some good opinions from other owners. Some opinions come from other areas with other requirements and we all have to weigh those ideas against each others needs. I greatly respect experiences expressed here.

My modification lists of late are very short. I am possibly the only owner on here with 4 kids and this as my primary family car. I have currently sold all my "toys". Lately I have been eyeballing Miatas for a "fun" car. Probalby a 90-95 model to become my latest turbo conversion. The Mazda 5 interested me for modifications, but the auto tranny for the wife, and durability issues really turn me off to the idea. As I write and my wife reads I'm sure she is thinking "Yea right!" on the Miata.... (dunno) Time will tell....

 

[mpvue]

You said the magic word. I did not know that they had a lifetime warranty.

One more reason for stock ride height. We are supposed to be getting 5-7 inches of snow tomorrow.

agreed on the stock height. in my view, the Mazda5 is already low; I eyeball wheelwell gap, not rocker panel to ground. as it is, in my neighborhood the front lip comes pretty close to the ground (very hilly street). to me, nothing looks as foolish as some guy in a lowered car who has to crawl over and around every speed bump. I need to be able to drive it normally.

 

[KBrian]

Too right, mpvue. I have scraped the front lip of my stock GT 5 on steep driveways and too-high parking bumpers grrrr.

 

[SGT_OKINAWA]

in my neighborhood the front lip comes pretty close to the ground (very hilly street). I need to be able to drive it normally.

This I = did not know + not everyone lives in paradise = me idiot (wedge) sorry.

So all is cool, best of luck on the harvest, was born and rised in NE,
I've done my share of late harvest, it sucks and when you're school
age, makes ya wanna not grow up. (lol2)

Peace!(rei)

P.S. I love the level of respect and understanding this section of Mazdaforums has, so cool. (2thumbs)

 

[JFRCross]

Yes. Stock height.



After creating my own turbo kit, and tuning the car from scratch with an aftermarket stand alone ECU (TEC2), and doing my own wrenching on my own cars (for the last 15 years) and being paid to do so at work, (farm machinery) yes. I'm not certified in any ASE programs but I have read through them and they are a joke. At least the beginner tests are open book. I've met many mechanics that wouldn't have a clue what I was talking about. I've met a few that would. Finding a good mechanic is harder than finding a good wife.

Without taking the struts out and checking the strut mounts I don't see any other problems.



Thanks for the info. I don't quite understand how Koni Sports could cost you $4600. That would be about 400% markup with extra allowed for shipping. I understand it is expensive to ship, but that seems excessive.




I've read where you don't understand anything with stock wheels so I'm sure you can't possibly understand my reasons. One is that SCCA rules for stock class is stock ride hieght. Two I don't live in an area with excellent roads. Three, the rear camber is already negative enough and my car rides with 6 passengers almost all the time.



How about I fly to Japan, bring Koni Sports and your choice of springs as carry on luggage and I'll install them for free. You pay $4600. (hah) I may just fix mine for about $180 for new stock fronts (which are decent) and install them myself. (thumb) Otherwise I'll probably spring for the Koni FSD's for about $700. I may save the money and buy a separate set of wheels.

Thanks for adding the real world perspective. Well written. As a former PRO Rally racer, SCCA road racer and sometime Solo II competitor living in a place with less than perfect roads, I agree with keeping ride height stock, and keeping with 17" wheels. I have a MS3 rear anti-roll bar to install and in the spring I will be looking to add Koni FSD struts/shocks also. As my OE all-seasons wear, I will replace them with higher performance summer tires. Based on my experience and other's reports, I think this will be a great handling and riding combination for real roads.

 

[babelbox]

Anybody knows what company makes the OEM shocks for the Mazda5? I see a Ford logo in the plastic cover but I don't think Ford makes it. I want to replace mine. Just don't want to buy the same brand shocks.

 

[rweatherford]

Just as a note... I ordered the FSD kit through Summit Racing. I used our PRO account which is like a wholesale account. I got them for $635, but I am still waiting on them. Hopefully they will come in a week or so. Normal price is somewhere near $750 at Summit.

 

[JFRCross]

Summit is only showing the FSD for the Mazda3. Are they ordering the 5 version for you? Also, what PRO account are you referring to?

 

[rweatherford]

Yep they are special ordering them for me. Now the update is to ship on 3-31-10 because Koni has not even made my set yet.....

So I wait and drive around on 2 blown front struts... rattle,, rattle, rattle...

I think the PRO account is like a business account. If you put the part number in they will show up.

 

[MD5]

I decided to go with them instead of OE because the OE's are undersized and only last about 40k miles.

Really? I'm at 93,000 miles and mine are still fine.