those that had Front Sway installed

[Familia323]

For those of you that bought the MP3 front sway bar:

Who put it in for you, you or someone else?
How much did they charge?


I went to Mazda and they quoted me around 386 dollars to install the front sway bar they said it was around a 5.1 hour install. Does that sound fair?

 

[FlannelBoy711]

Ah ha ha Evil Monkey, from Family Guy. Classic

 

[animal9800]

I bought the complete mp3/mazdaspeed suspension setup. I had the dealer install it for me because I didn't want to spend the time installing it myself nor run the risk of messing something up since I am relatively new to doing stuff with cars. Plus, the front sway bar is absolute hell to put in.

Anyways, it cost about $500 for the whole install and that is with a good discount because I know my service manager really well. So, $386 sounds about right for a dealer quoted install price, but I wouldn't necessarily call that fair. It is still a lot for just a swaybar install.

5.1 hours to install is probably a bit much. Mine was done in like 6 hours (if not less) - and that was for the whole setup. The front swaybay is really hard to get in though because the whole engine frame/block needs to be dropped due to the swaybar position. For sure not that easy, but probably not 5 hours. More like 3 I would say, but then again I am new to working on cars and could be wrong.

Hope this helps.

 

[choke on words]

damn, that's ridiculous for a front sway bar install.

 

[mazdadan]

Yeah the front sway bar is a PITA to install on a protege. The rear goes in very easily though. The Mazdaspeed sway bar kit comes with a new rear subframe assembly too. That is pretty easy to install too.

 

[Familia323]

haha there are only a few people that have actually recognized the monkey!




and yeah I tried doing the front myself until I realized that I couldn't get the thing out without dropping the subframe and was like CRAP... so I bolted it back up and decided to see if mazda would do it.... Im gonna have to pay them to do it, unless I can find someone else that knows how...



but too bad its not as easy as the rear... I installed an AWR 21.5 rear with no problems at all.... oh well.. thanks for the comments.

 

[xelderx]

It can be done in less than 2 hours. I'll do it for you for $100 dollars. You just have to drive to NC for a day. I'll even let you sleep on my couch.

 

[Vulcanon]

I know the monkey, just didn't comment on it =)

 

[Familia323]

It can be done in less than 2 hours. I'll do it for you for $100 dollars. You just have to drive to NC for a day. I'll even let you sleep on my couch.

Hahaha... wow thats actually almost worth the trip. Is it possible to do on jack stands?

 

[Familia323]

I know the monkey, just didn't comment on it =)

(thumb)

and that looks like Aria Giovanni in your sig background.

 

[upsman]

I bought the whole MP3 suspension and installed every bit of it myself. It took me just an afternoon to do the whole install. Thats with numerous breaks to chill with my friends and for beer!!!

If I had worked straight thru it would've taken maybe 4-5 hours (front and rear) tops. You do have to drop the front subframe but its really not that hard at all. I found it to be fun and it made me learn more about my own car.

I agree 5.1 hours for the front is a bit much and $386 is too. If you've got the tools I would just set a weekend day aside and give her a shot. I never did that kinda suspension work b4 and I thought it was easy.

Good luck!

 

[xelderx]

yep...can do it on jackstands...you don't actually have to drop the whole subframe out from under the car. just need to drop the back of it. The front of the subframe doesn't have to be taken off at all. That way it can just hang there. Wait...ummm...no one else in the world can do this but me and my offer still stands...haha

 

[Familia323]

yep...can do it on jackstands...you don't actually have to drop the whole subframe out from under the car. just need to drop the back of it. The front of the subframe doesn't have to be taken off at all. That way it can just hang there. Wait...ummm...no one else in the world can do this but me and my offer still stands...haha

haahaaa... thanks

 

[micaguy]

I'll let you know how long it takes. I'm installing an MSP front swaybar myself shortly.

 

[Familia323]

yeah that would be great.. let me know any problems you run across or things to avoid..

 

[xelderx]

I'm trying to remember everything that we had a problem with doing Ghosts'. I know that you have to have two people to guide the old swaybar out of the way and insert the new one. It has to be rotated as you pull it out and it is a tight squeeze. Remember which bolts came out of which holes. There are several different length bolts that hold the front suspension to the subframe. I know that there is more, but I can't remember without looking at the car.

 

[Roywhitep5]

laserbluemp5 and i bought a racingbeat sway bar kit together recently. i think it was 280 total and i got the rear bar + some other thing for about 100

 

[Laser03pro]

where is the best place to get a sway bar kit and mp3 gfx

 

[upsman]

www.mazdaformance.com