Suspension questions

[NeilBey]

Just got myself this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...STRK:MEWN:IT&viewitem=&item=140156556675&rd=1

Now what else do I need to put this on a stock '02 Protege LX?

 

[NCZ13]

i would suggest new struts, tokico blues would be a great addition

 

[patmaz]

i am going the same way,tokico blue...

if you put that kit with the stock struts,its not worth it,youre going to change everything back in less than a year..so do the job right the first time,you wont regret it...dont forget to change the bump stop!

 

[TheMAN]

that's not really a "kit" as it's missing crucial parts
look forward to spending another 150-200 bucks

 

[JoshP5]

Neil will need MSP struts, too. More like $700 to do it right.

 

[NeilBey]

Oh damn. Well, looks like I've got a lot ahead of me. Do I absolutely have to have the MSP struts in order for this to work? I was looking at putting just the front sway bar (is that it's proper name? and springs on for now - and then once I've upgraded to some better struts, putting the rear sway bar on.

Does anyone know where I can get some 'competitively priced' struts?

 

[NCZ13]

most people on here run tokico blues
decently priced on protegegarage.com

 

[NeilBey]

Just checked it out on Protegegarage.com. Pretty well priced. I'll look into purchasing some come next payday. Unless someone has another suggestion?

 

[NeilBey]

Is it possible to put the springs on the stock struts?

 

[NCZ13]

im thinking im gonna put my eibachs on stock struts, but im just gonna take the jump and do it all at once.

 

[JoshP5]

Is it possible to put the springs on the stock struts?

Yes, but the MSP springs are particular. The MSP's rear springs are a little shorter than the standard Protege's spring length, which corresponds to the uniquely different spring perch location on MSP struts. Together they work fine, but mounting MSP springs on anything other than MSP struts will result in the rear of your car being about 1" lower than intended.

You may also risk the springs not fitting tightly between the perch/cap, in which case the spring may fall out of its location when the suspension is fully extended.

If you really want to lower your car on stock struts, Tanabe NF, Eibach Prokit, Racing Beat, and Tein H-Tech springs are probably best.

 

[D-rock240]

I drove around on stock struts with MSP springs for two years and it was nice, except for the uneven wheel gap. I got new springs when I got Tokicos and the RB kit.

For the strut bar, you need the stock MP3/MSP/P5 mounting brackets. The front swaybar is a b**** to install, it took my friend and I 5 hours of removing the subframe, cursing at parts that wouldn't come off, etc...

For the rear sway, you need the MP3/MSP endlinks and there is a slightly updated crossmember. When I say slight, it looks almost identical to the stock sedan one. I got the complete RB swaybar kit so it came with everything I needed and I used the updated one.

I'm waiting on the new pads and rotors so I can do the 5 lug swap. As soon as its done, I'll pm you about the wheels.

 

[dloeper2391]

skunk2's

I'm looking at skunk2 lowering springs, and I'd like to know if anyone has any constructive input on them, or if there are springs you would recomend over them. Also, not sure what struts to get with them but i was concidering tokico illumina struts?

 

[NeilBey]

I drove around on stock struts with MSP springs for two years and it was nice, except for the uneven wheel gap. I got new springs when I got Tokicos and the RB kit.

For the strut bar, you need the stock MP3/MSP/P5 mounting brackets. The front swaybar is a b**** to install, it took my friend and I 5 hours of removing the subframe, cursing at parts that wouldn't come off, etc...

For the rear sway, you need the MP3/MSP endlinks and there is a slightly updated crossmember. When I say slight, it looks almost identical to the stock sedan one. I got the complete RB swaybar kit so it came with everything I needed and I used the updated one.

I'm waiting on the new pads and rotors so I can do the 5 lug swap. As soon as its done, I'll pm you about the wheels.

Cool. Keep us updated on the swap. Now what do you mean by wheel gap? I've managed to find some Tokico HP's for pretty cheap so I might just buy the set. what else would I need other than the link in the first post and new struts?

 

[NCZ13]

Cool. Keep us updated on the swap. Now what do you mean by wheel gap? I've managed to find some Tokico HP's for pretty cheap so I might just buy the set. what else would I need other than the link in the first post and new struts?

wheel gap, is the gap between the fender and the tire.

 

[NeilBey]

That's what I figured. That'll look ugly. Better get the struts then.

 

[NeilBey]

I've been looking around the forums and see that the HP's are a pretty stiff set up. I don't want anything that's going to have me jumping around inside the car whenever I go over a bumpy road. I want good road holding and something that'll give me a reasonably comfortable ride. Any suggestions guys?

 

[JoshP5]

Probably the most effective thing you can do to improve roadholding is get a good set of tires.

Sway bars have less of an impact on ride quality than springs do, so you could leave the stock springs and struts and install only the MSP sway bars.

If you still want to lower the car you could get Tanabe NF springs--they'll drop it about an inch but are no stiffer than stock.

 

[D-rock240]

This is what I mean by uneven wheel gap.

MSP springs and stock suspension:

New struts, springs and the RB sway kit:

 

[JoshP5]

Hey D-rock, did you install your MSP springs yourself?