Suspension advice

[Jaysanooch]

I want to lower my speed....mainly for looks but my situation is that I often have atleast 2 passengers in back and the roads here are terrible. I want keep the ride quality like stock...nothing stiffer. I'm just about to order tokico illuminas with ion race spec springs.....will this be a good for my situation?

 

[Oxygen]

As in quebec we probably have the worst roads in North America because of our painful winter, I've seen a few guys here with those and no problems

There's also Tein SS but I'm not sure if they're stiffer or not

 

[Oxygen]

Oh and by the way, the best thing to do if you drop your MSP in our "wonderful" province is to keep your car inside for the winter. Because outside montreal by a snow storm it can be REALLY painful

Message from a guy with no neighbor in a 5km range on the back of his house

 

[Jaysanooch]

Ya i know man....I hardly take it out as it is. I slap on the winter rims just in case though. When the weather is really bad, i just take my winter beater.

I'm still hesitant.....so illuminas and ion race spec springs??? yes?...no?...yes? I think I'll just go ahead and do it!

 

[Oxygen]

I would say yes on a 100% basis if you have a winterbeater

 

[apocman]

Man my best friend has a MSP with tokico illuminas and a set of ION springs and his car will rock your teeth out on regular roads. I love the way the car feels and can handle any type of cornering, but I don't think those springs should be used for people wanting stock ride. other things to consider is he has the shocks set at 5 and he has the AWR rear swaybar wih endlinks. Car is perfect for autocross.

I also suggest avoiding Eibachs and would suggest Goldlines. That is wht I have and they feel just like stock until you hit a corner or swerve real quick then they tighten up. I have tokico blues and the Progress 22mm rear swaybar and AWR endlinks.

I got the springs for free from a friend....

BTW ION makes the best stuff in my opinion, I got their exhuast and my other friend has thier intercooler and CAI....

 

[mp3moose]

don't get illuminas if you are looking for better ride quality. Stick with stockers and get eibach goldlines or something.

 

[Jaysanooch]

Thanks

Hey....did you sign up to Mazdatuning? So I get the feeling you not going to touch your suspension eh.....I didn't want to at first but this tuning thing is getting really addictive. It's got to stop! I got a bunch of parts sitting at home, I'm just waiting to install after the holidays. Anyway, Happy Holidays...later!

 

[Jaysanooch]

Thanks Mp3moose, that's exactly what I was afraid of.

 

[Jaysanooch]

Thanks Apocman.....I guess the answer for me is stick with stock struts and go with Ion or goldlines. Who's got the Goldlines for sale....just haven't noticed.

 

[apocman]

I don't know who sells them, but I would have to think you should be able to get them for a good price...

 

[FlyinMSP]

I'm also from Montreal and I confirm the state of our roads (the worst in NA). I've been looking hard at pros and cons about lowering. I've done all the maths (spring rate, frequency, leverage and so on), I've checked what's available (mostly progressive springs), and I've come to the conclusion that stock suspension is probably the best to have over here at least. Even if the gap up front bothers me a bit, I'll stick to it. But if I ever decide to change I'll prolly opt for the Espelir springs as they offer very good characteristrics and they are linear in the front.

 

[Jaysanooch]

Flyinmsp....doesn't it just suck! The roads are so bad that my rear struts are almost finished....I got only 27k! I've read up on Espelir and I think Ion race spec are linear/progressive as well. Ion is from Calgary....considering them cause I'm tired of getting ***** with customs and taxes and exchange rates and UPS fee's.....it just never ends! Thanks though...

 

[daedalus]

ion race spec spring... lol... good luck with that.

 

[Pretzellogic]

I've heard good things about Tein SS if you're trying to keep it close to stock as far as ride quality is concerned. I know that the Eibachs will lower about the same height, but are stiffer.

 

[Oxygen]

Yes I'm on mazdatuning also. Same nickname. I also have a lots of parts sitting in my house waiting for next summer

And for suspension, only coils will be replaced for Tein-S, I'll keep the stock suspension until it dies

 

[FlyinMSP]

Flyinmsp....doesn't it just suck! The roads are so bad that my rear struts are almost finished....I got only 27k! I've read up on Espelir and I think Ion race spec are linear/progressive as well. Ion is from Calgary....considering them cause I'm tired of getting ***** with customs and taxes and exchange rates and UPS fee's.....it just never ends! Thanks though...

Yeah, you're right! I'm now at 26K so I'm probably next! Isn't this covered under warranty?
On the matter of springs, the Teins get good rep. and on eBay they are very cheap (check shipping though). Or if you find a seller willing to write "Return/Warranty" on the shipping slip, you'll avoid the usual Custom Duties ripoff.
As far as Ion goes, they have two different specs of springs. One is better for regular driving and, yes, it's linear on the front

 

[Jaysanooch]

The warranty covers it but I refuse to go there....I can't stand them, the service is awful and they always make me feel like it's my fault with all our Msp issues. I solved alot of our problems myself...I just wished I hadn't purchased the extented warranty. Thanks for the tip about shipping, I usually ask suppliers to reduce the value of package.

The other reason I don't go for my strut warranty work, is because i installed the Delsing "klunk fix" brakets so i know they will find any excuse. They wanted to void my warranty because I told them I'd be putting synthetic oil.

If i didn't love the car so much, I would of driven it through the show room window a long time ago! Later man.

 

[FlyinMSP]

They sound like a bunch of lunatic idiots!!
My dealer is not as bad but not that great either. I also have installed the Delsing bracket (so there are at least 2 in MTL!) and they charged me when I ask them to grease them, even when I mentioned that they will never see me again for a change of bushings on warranty!! Cheap bastards!

 

[Jaysanooch]

I appreciate all your help everyone....but to be honest I'm even more unsure as to what to get. I think I'm leaning towards keeping it stock now. I'd love to have the perfect stance but realize it might be a headache. Everyone has their experiences and preferences...I guess there no real answer for my situation, except leave it as is. If only the Montreal roads were half decent then maybe. I'd pay anything to have the stance I want...don't think they make a suspension set up to go over 4 inch deep pot holes though.