suspension

[Sonny]

Hello out there. New kid on the block

I'm look for some info on how to improve the handling on 2003/P5 and still be able to feed my kids. People tell me about lowering my car and stabilizer bars but i'm no Tech Head.

 

[rowan]

1. tires
2. mazdaspeed struts

Tires are probably going to be more expensive .. so look into the struts first.

 

[dolphin]

Sonny,
You need to tell us what you intend to do with the car. Are you going to autocross the car or just want it to be a little tighter on the street? you need to understand that many of the changes made to improve handling, will also deteriorate the ride. If you look at the things that Mazda did to the suspension when it made the MP3 or MSP, you can see the typical steps to improving the handling of a car. In addition, if you can find someone near you that has one, you can get a ride or drive one to see the result. Racing Beat used to have a decent write-up on the development of the MP3 that will give you some ideas.

Several years ago, Car and Driver magazine wrote an article on turning a stock car into a national caliber autocross car. The bottom line of their article was that timewise on an autocross course and their instrumented test the biggest single improvement was made by the tires. I don't remember the article exactly but something like 90% of the time improvement came from simply adding the tires. The tires that they used were the normal DOT "R" compound tires which few people want to of can afford to run on the street. The point is, that any change that you make to the car have to work through the four little patches of rubber that connect the car to the road.

That is all that I can think of right now. Have fun and enjoy the car.

 

[Sir Nuke]

hello sonny and Welcome to our happy little corner of the net, and to our Club. There are TWO BIG fridge'S in the corner with anything you can think of in them...help yourself...of course only take what you can LEGALLY have. (stash)

make yourself at home on one of the big fluffy couches, kick your shoes off, put your feet up on one of the tables, yes we are allowed to do that, mom don't care....and take it easy.

oh...btw....every once in a while a food fight breaks out...so you may not want to wear nice clothes here.

Welcome!! (stash)

where abouts in Tejas are you at?

 

[Sonny]

Thanks for replies, I wish I could have gotten back sonner but I went back in time this week, I went to visit my parents and can you belive it they don't even have a computer.


I'm not a racer I just play on in my head. It sound like I should just get some good performance tires and leave the suspension alone in order to keep the smooth ride and that will give me alittle better handling. Am I on the right track?

 

[dolphin]

Sonny,
If your primary use is the street and you seldom or never competite in the car, stick to the tires. Unless of course you are a "G" freak. If you try that and then want more, you can add other things and have better tires to start from.

To me, the MP3 is nearly the perfect balance between ride and handling for me. But some of my friends think the ride is too stiff. However, it does get autocrossed every month as well. The P5 is still an excellent balance.