Struts on the MSP.... looking for the facts

[Tommy1005]

KYB's website lists GR2's, but say they will not fit the MSP. However, the MSP uses the same springs as the regular sedan and the other shocks I have found have the same part number for the MSP and for the regular sedan, so I'm 99% sure they will work. For $65 a piece, they are definitely the best deal on the market if they fit.

 

[UnNaturalinc]

KYB makes the GR2's for the standard protege, so yes they make them for our car, atleast in the rear. The guy at advanced auto parts is still trying to figure out why they list a part number for the fronts, but they don't give him a price. I'll let you know what I find out.

GR2's are not performance struts, and would probably be worse than what the MSP has from the factory.

 

[smo0f]

ben is a piece of s***, don't listen to anything he says. p.s. i'm ordering from you on wednesday.

 

[UnNaturalinc]

ben is a piece of s***, don't listen to anything he says. p.s. i'm ordering from you on wednesday.

And a piece of s*** is exactly what you'll get in your order beeeehootch.

 

[smo0f]

cream on top please

 

[Tommy1005]

the GR2's will work perfectly fine for what I need them for.....I have had them on trucks in the past and they made them handle just fine, lasted forever, and didn't break the bank, which is what I'm looking for in a shock......atleast I'm not putting Monroe's on the thing

 

[MrDiggler]

To clarify, I know the Goldines work ok on the stock "blues", but I guess I'm really wondering what the differences are between our tweaked factory HP's and the standard HP's, and if the standard HP's would be an acceptable match for my springs.

Coilovers are not an option right now because of the much higher spring rates and the ride that results from that.

 

[UnNaturalinc]

Yeah, all springs work on MSP sturts.... But it's a matter of how it sits is the issue.

 

[livelyjay]

the GR2's will work perfectly fine for what I need them for.....I have had them on trucks in the past and they made them handle just fine, lasted forever, and didn't break the bank, which is what I'm looking for in a shock......atleast I'm not putting Monroe's on the thing

The GR2's will not work in a lowered application. If you were putting these on a stock/regular Protege, then I would say it would be a great OEM replacement choice. As for an application like the MSP, they would not work. My friend put these on his Maxima with Tein S-tech springs and his brand new GR2's blew in 6 months.

 

[livelyjay]

Oh, you can get Tein BASICS for just over $800, so don't count out that option.

 

[UnNaturalinc]

The GR2's will not work in a lowered application. If you were putting these on a stock/regular Protege, then I would say it would be a great OEM replacement choice. As for an application like the MSP, they would not work. My friend put these on his Maxima with Tein S-tech springs and his brand new GR2's blew in 6 months.

The MSP is not lowered very much with those stock springs so I really don't think there would be a problem really. However, I see more of a problem in spending all that extra money on the Mazdaspeed model and making it perform worse by putting lower grade suspension on then what it came with.

Yes, if you are putting lowering springs on the car you should definitely not use something like a GR2.

 

[Tommy1005]

I've got them on a 95 Chevy ex. cab with a 3/5 drop and they've been on there for about 100,000 miles of towing and hard use with no problems. I'll trust the KYB's for my application

 

[UnNaturalinc]

Well I think I'm just going to order some Tokico Blues....

 

[Firewired]

Here are some pics of the Illuminas vs the stock MSP blues.(rears only, the fronts are the same)

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2129357&postcount=33

I also happen to know that the off the shelf Blues are the same as the Illuminas.

Bringing a thread back to life !


I am planning on buying Illuminas for my P5 but it looks like I would have a sagging rear end , which I want to stay away from.


The MSP shocks and the RB springs I have on right now are PERFECT in terms of height. It will annoy the s*** out of me if the car sags.

I want Illumina's for solo2 stuff. Anybody have some info and/or solutions ?


Maybe my only solution will be to get some new MSP shocks from the dealer or maybe I could be brave enough to take the guts out of some brand new Illuminas or HP and put them in the MSP perch I have.

Any suspension pros with some good advise in here ?

 

[livelyjay]

Bringing a thread back to life !


I am planning on buying Illuminas for my P5 but it looks like I would have a sagging rear end , which I want to stay away from.


The MSP shocks and the RB springs I have on right now are PERFECT in terms of height. It will annoy the s*** out of me if the car sags.

I want Illumina's for solo2 stuff. Anybody have some info and/or solutions ?


Maybe my only solution will be to get some new MSP shocks from the dealer or maybe I could be brave enough to take the guts out of some brand new Illuminas or HP and put them in the MSP perch I have.

Any suspension pros with some good advise in here ?

Illuminas and RB springs will make your car sag. The MSP struts have a higher spring perch, which annoys the crap out of us MSP owners because we can't buy off the shelf struts and be stock legal for SCCA.

You have two options:
1) New MSP struts from the dealership or onlinemazdaparts.com and continue using the RB springs. The struts aren't cheap, and will run you over $700 shipped.
2) New Tokico Illumias and new springs. There is a spring comparison thread on here, you can just compare the drop of the RB springs to others and find the one that is the closest. Tokico also sells a "ILK" kit that has both struts and springs in one box. Not sure about the drop for the springs though.

 

[Firewired]

Illuminas and RB springs will make your car sag. The MSP struts have a higher spring perch, which annoys the crap out of us MSP owners because we can't buy off the shelf struts and be stock legal for SCCA.

You have two options:
1) New MSP struts from the dealership or onlinemazdaparts.com and continue using the RB springs. The struts aren't cheap, and will run you over $700 shipped.
2) New Tokico Illumias and new springs. There is a spring comparison thread on here, you can just compare the drop of the RB springs to others and find the one that is the closest. Tokico also sells a "ILK" kit that has both struts and springs in one box. Not sure about the drop for the springs though.

Cool.. so im not the only one with that "problem".


I really like the RB's. I would rather keep them and figure out something with the shocks. Thinking of gutting out the MSP ones and putting Illumnas in. Nissan guys are doing it for Konis on B13s.

 

[Firewired]

Looking around, I just found this.


http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123651640&highlight=Koni


Ill have to speak to Jeff at Tri-Point about it.


Here is another example.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1219607

 

[mazda03maniac]

can't there just be something easy for our cars i swear.

 

[toMMy_O]

subscibble...i love how car rides...gonna need new strut one day

 

[jhillzoom]

I want to lower my P5 and just installed KYB GR2s. Whats the best spring to use? I don't want to go lower than 1 inch so would the KYB's work?