Suspension Check List

[oakley990099]

I posted a couple threads lately about suspension because i am preparing to upgrade mine due to the fact that i want a lower stance and i feel like my suspension is blown (my ride is SUPER bouncy. to the point where i actually hit my head on the roof one time.) Is this a symptom of shocks being blown?? (sorry this is a extremely noob thread I'm just making sure i hit all the stops). So before putting anything in i wanted to make sure i have everything i need, part wise, to change my suspension correctly. So far I have purchased Koni yellow shocks (all 4). I have also purchased H&R springs which came to my door but were for a VW i found out after looking at the part number so they are in the process of a exchange because autoplicity.com is horrible and messed up my order..

But anyway, i have the shocks and springs. What else should i be changing along with these at 61,000 miles. My friend who works as a mazda tech told me i should buy new strut mounts and bushings; so unless someone convinces me otherwise,i will be ordering two front strut mounts and bushings. if anyone could point out brands of these that are good i would really appreciate it.

So my list so far is short:
shocks
springs
(2) front strut mounts {no idea if i need back ones or if they even have them in the back so help would be nice}
(2) bushings {same applies for these(dunno) }



Do i need bumpstops? if so how many. Basically i am pretty stupid and paranoid when it comes to this subject so any input is good input

-thanks guys

 

[Russm]

Yes you will need bump stops for the front, "they will be trashed" and you can get newer shorter ones for the rear as well( if there still in good shape you can just cut them), there are several third party companies that make kits for our cars.
Fat Cat Motorsports is one and I don't recall the other.
You may need rear camber arms if your springs drop you too much and a lot of people replace the FSB bushing because there about to go out if they haven't already.

There are several threads here and other MS3 forums that talk about it extensively.

 

[oakley990099]

@russm
thank you. so I'm going to goahead and buy bump stops as well as strut mounts and bushings i suppose.. anybody have more info on the rear camber arm he mentions? H&R is only 1.3/1.2 drop so idk if that is classified as "too much" lol

and is there any website that i can knock all of this out (bum stops,strut mounts and bushings)

also i see fat cat motorsports is located over seas; anyone order from them and if so how long was the wait?

 

[magicka]

I went with Ground Control for the front bumpstops. Cheaper than FCM by quite a bit. Your rear stops should be fine. At most, you may need to remove the lowest ring.

For the rest, I've had good luck with Rosenthal Mazda.

 

[oakley990099]

perfect so:

(2) front bushings- $38.64 x2= $77.28
(2) front strut mounts- $33.34 x2= $66.68

And which (2) bump stops do i buy from the G.C website you have (what size/stiffness) ??
and if i were to buy the rears just incase which are those as well?


That should be it right??


And i heard you have to buy some washer with the GC bumpstops and glue them in the rear or something/? is this true

 

[oakley990099]

is it possible to check the status of my bumpstops with the car on the ground ?

 

[WillD]

is it possible to check the status of my bumpstops with the car on the ground ?

You can probably see the rear bump stop but it would be easier with the car off the ground and the wheels removed. Some of the bump stop is hidden behind a shield for the shock and even more of the bumpstop is inside the shock mount. The fronts you won't be able to see at all unless you remove the shield (very carefully) that covers the shaft of the shock.

I also installed Koni Yellows and H&R springs and I didn't buy new bump stops, I just cut the stock ones down. After 88,000 miles they were deteriorating slightly but it's not like they were totally destroyed.

You can see here looking up into the wheel well with the wheel removed that some of the bumpstop is visible:

This is what it looked like when I got it off my car after 88k miles:

Clearly not destoryed. So I decided just to cut it.

Here it is cut:

And then I shaved one of the "rings" so I could fit the dust cover back on the bump stop:

When I looked at my front bump stops they were a little more worse for wear... One of the rings had started to break apart. But because I was cutting this part off anyways I just decided to leave it. (I don't have any pictures of this unfortunately.)

Now all that said, if money was no object I would go with the FCM setup. I use their bumpstops on my Miata and they are fantastic.

As long as you have everything apart I think it is a good idea to replace the front bushings: BBM2-34-38X (Qty: 2) http://parts.arlingtonmazda.com/products/BUSHING,MTG.-RUBBER-(BBM2%2d34%2d38X).html
There is no reason you couldn't re-use the front strut mounts.

As far as the camber arms, I would wait until you have everything installed and get an alignment then if your shop can't get the settings where you want then get the arms. Mazdaspeed makes some: GRMS-8M-L07 (Qty. 1) - http://parts.arlingtonmazda.com/products/REAR-CAMBER-LINK-KIT-(GRMS%2d8M%2dL07).html
But there are other places that make and sell these.

This is a good thread about the bump stops on the MS3: http://www.mazdaspeed forums.org/forum/f12/mazdaspeed-3-rear-suspension-0-5-rear-bump-stops-before-you-even-get-car-fronts-only-have-1-till-bump-stop-45695/

And there are instructions on how to install the FCM bumpstops linked from this page on their website: http://fatcatmotorsports.com/FCM_Koni_products_MS3.htm

And here's what you need if you want to go with GC for bumps: http://www.ground-control-store.com/products/description.php/II=10
(Firm strut for the front and just re-use OE rears cut-down).

 

[oakley990099]

extremely helpful thank you

 

[WillD]

Happy to help. Post some pictures once you get everything all finished.

 

[oakley990099]

I'm going to get 2 front bushings, 2 firm GC bumpstops and i believe thats all. Any reason to get strut boots or sleeves? i believe they are the same thing but if not correct me. and inform me if they are in a need of a possible change

 

[oakley990099]

oh i will i will. Do you have the same username on mazda speed forum?? i just go here for my more noob questions (boom06)

 

[WillD]

I'm going to get 2 front bushings, 2 firm GC bumpstops and i believe thats all. Any reason to get strut boots or sleeves? i believe they are the same thing but if not correct me. and inform me if they are in a need of a possible change

I would pass on the boots/sleeves unless they are broken/ripped for some reason.

oh i will i will. Do you have the same username on mazda speed forum?? i just go here for my more noob questions (boom06)

I'm WDodd on that forum, but I only go there for information as needed I don't really post there. I'm on too many forums as-is and I hardly ever get any work done

 

[oakley990099]

gottcha gottcha.. regardless you 08 looks great. what is around your wheel wells?? do they prevent rust by any chance because i have an on going problem with rust in my mazdas in the wheel well. luckily this car is JUST starting.. check it out :

http://www.mazdaspeed forums.org/forum/f301/rust-inside-wheel-well-108823/


Connect the space between mazda speed and forums in the url bar... this forum blocks all their sites for some reason

 

[WillD]

I was going to suggest exactly what the guy in the first post said. But to me it looks like you had something cause those dents/nicks and from there rust started in the areas where the paint chipped from those dents. But good thing you are on top of it before it gets too bad!

I have no idea what those plastic things are they were on the car when I bought it. I actually removed them last summer along with the side molding.

 

[oakley990099]

yeah i guess ill take a whack at it with that $30 paint that I'm only going to use a 1/10 of hahhahah.. i removed mine last week actually... looks a whole lot more sleek. did you wax the spots after you took them off? i heard you should but i haven't gotten around to washing it in while so i didn't

also is that pic^^ with the koni/hr in ?? if so what size rims are those

 

[WillD]

No the Koni/H&R combination isn't in yet in that picture. I put the Konis on last fall and am in the process of putting the H&R's on right now actually.

I removed the side molding right before I polished and waxed the car (I do it every year in the Spring), so I went over the area with a clay bar, orbital polisher, and wax after they were removed. The wheels are Enkei PF01 18x8 +40.

 

[oakley990099]

gottcha. yeah the ride height looked stock so i was confused

 

[ericrapp]

bouncing is blown shocks. only the spring is working. period. not all the other do dads.

 

[oakley990099]

yup. konis will solve that

 

[WillD]

The rears also leak when they're blown: