What have you done to your Mazda5 today?

[oldpunk]

Whoops! I failed at lowering my 5 today. Pretty much impossible while taking care of a 6 month old. Lol

Can't do it for a while when the wife is home either. She wasn't so happy with me after I mentioned that I bought a bunch of stuff for the car. Double fail.

I need a bigger hammer anyway. I was going to have a hell of a time trying to remove the strut from the steering knuckle without one. That's as far as got before the baby decided enough was enough.

 

[markuszoom5]

Not as bad as getting a Playstation 4 for $400, and your wife asking you why you bought a game console at 32 years old. My answer was for blu-ray, Netflix, and hulu...then I proceeded to play need for speed rivals...hehe

 

[oldpunk]

Not as bad as getting a Playstation 4 for $400, and your wife asking you why you bought a game console at 32 years old. My answer was for blu-ray, Netflix, and hulu...then I proceeded to play need for speed rivals...hehe

I guess the wife doesn't know your standard blue ray player has that stuff built in for less than a 1/4 of the cost of the ps4. Lol

I can't believe the added expenses kids add to life. I've never had to pay someone else for suspension work before but it looks like I'm headed that way now.

 

[Kevstaarr]

Test fitted my front and rear lip today. Fits perfect with no gaps. time to send it off to paint.

 

[foxhound1979]

finally had time to get the oil change and install my Premacy badge
had a trouble with my HID's, didn't have any lights coming on DRL and Low driving lights, unpluggued and pluggued back a relay in the fuse box and everything was ok...problem came back last night...guess i'll change that little relay

 

[oldpunk]

Looks like I'm goona need some forgiveness from the wife before I can install my springs. No one in town will touch it without installing new struts all the way around. Big o wanted a whopping 1000 bucks (they only found some pricy Monroes that fit... right :/ ) I was like WUT!? Lol

Bought some spring compressors and will have to wait it out for some garage time without the baby.

On a side note, what kind of tension are the front springs under? I know some cars struts' springs are under enough pressure to do some serious damage and others just gently pop apart.

 

[Rally Man]

Treat all springs like a grenade.

 

[MR6]

Looks like I'm goona need some forgiveness from the wife before I can install my springs. No one in town will touch it without installing new struts all the way around. Big o wanted a whopping 1000 bucks (they only found some pricy Monroes that fit... right :/ ) I was like WUT!? Lol

Bought some spring compressors and will have to wait it out for some garage time without the baby.

On a side note, what kind of tension are the front springs under? I know some cars struts' springs are under enough pressure to do some serious damage and others just gently pop apart.

I'm in the middle of a BC coilover, Speed 3 sway bars and front brake conversion today and almost everyday for the last week or so.

In the front, the struts and springs come out as a single unit because the strut mount holds it all together. So don't put the spring compressor on until you have the assembly removed. MUCH easier then. Also, NO HAMMER! I used a spindle spreader tool left over from my VW days.GET ONE!!! http://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-Jetta_IV--VR6_24v/Search/SiteSearch/Spindle_Spreader/ES3894/

Also spray some PB Blaster at where the spindle and shock meet 30 minutes b4 starting. Just soak the s*** out of it. With the spindle spreader and PB, it'll just slide out with a little wobbling around and pulling. In fact, also spray every bolt involved while you're at it.

So, you won't need a spring compressor for the rear. Just disconnect BOTH top end links connection for the rear sway then remove the lone control arm bolt, with a jack supporting it (!!) and then SLOWLY lower the jack while you keep a hand on the spring. It'll just lazily fall out. reverse the process to install new spring. It's a piece of cake for the most part.

 

[oldpunk]

I watched a bunch of YouTube videos with everyone wacking the spindle down. I did notice the spot behind the bolt there where one could spread the thing open. I was just going to try and spread it with a wedge. Good call on the spindle spreader. Heck, even the korksport guys whack it out, hahaha. I've got my 3lb brass hammer ready to go if I can't dind a spreader locally.

 

[phunky.buddha]

I'll probably start a thread in the suspension sub forum with some more info and pics in the coming days, as I don't want to hijack this catch-all thread with my stuff.

Regarding the "custom" comment:

AST is awesome. Thanks for the custom note! And for sure I could do the job in 3 hours with space available and the right tools all on hand.

I was going through phunky's BC how-to and saw he too has the lip! Since he is '09, I'm going to say this is a MT vs. Auto factor. Like how MT have a niffy button to release the ignition key (dumb).

Also, unless Phunky has an aftermarket wheel liner, it seems '09s lost the air diffusers (cooling?) in the liner!?.. Undocumented changes FTL.
My former '08 MT

I'll have to check on the vents- mine are factory though. I also seriously doubt that the brake shield difference is MT vs AT.

My '09 has those air vents in the liner, but only on the driver's side.

I'll check.

Treat all springs like a grenade.

Absolutely. Flying springs = lost fingers.

 

[Vasy]

Added a glove box light.

 

[oldpunk]

Installed some new kicks and a corksport rear sway.

 

[hibern8r]

I like that look!

 

[rodslinger]

I watched a bunch of YouTube videos with everyone wacking the spindle down. I did notice the spot behind the bolt there where one could spread the thing open. I was just going to try and spread it with a wedge. Good call on the spindle spreader. Heck, even the korksport guys whack it out, hahaha. I've got my 3lb brass hammer ready to go if I can't dind a spreader locally.

Tip for the day....

After you remove the spindle/strut bolt, stick a thick washer or quarter in the slot on the back of the knuckle lining it up with the bolt hole. Now stick the spindle bolt back in on the threaded side and tighten it down. It will bottom out on the washer or quarter in the slot and spread the knuckle enough for the strut to slide right out. At least it does MOST of the time. Should save you a bunch of whacking.

 

[oldpunk]

Thanks! It looks better in person. It's hard to pic up on the black part of the rim in a picture. I can't wait to get some time to install my h&r springs.

The rear sway was super easy to get in there. Took about a half hour from start to finish. I have it set to the softer setting which according to corksport is 94% stiffer. The other set of holes is a little stiffer than the ms3 bar. I'm gonna switch over to that when I lower it. I think the soft setting is where mazda should have set it from the factory for a better daily driver.

 

[oldpunk]

Tip for the day....

After you remove the spindle/strut bolt, stick a thick washer or quarter in the slot on the back of the knuckle lining it up with the bolt hole. Now stick the spindle bolt back in on the threaded side and tighten it down. It will bottom out on the washer or quarter in the slot and spread the knuckle enough for the strut to slide right out. At least it does MOST of the time. Should save you a bunch of whacking.

Great advice! Thanks. I just didn't understand why the need for knocking it out with sledge.

 

[Silentnoise713]

Wow, already 70K and due for an oil change. I love being able to drain it out while it is hot and it took ~10 mins. I had Darwin moment and forgot I am using a larger filter and was wondering why the recommend oil quantity was not showing as full on the dip stick –doh!..

 

[TonyC]

finally paired the BT with the iphones. couldn't do it through the HU, had to use the voice command. have to say, out of all my cars, and the rentals, this was the hardest pairing. the HU just didn't stay in pairing mode long enough for the iphones to find them. really awkward setup.

 

[Indelibility]

Fitted some rubber O-rings around my JBR shift knob, goodbye slippery shifts!

 

[sweatervestswag]

Friday, I took the 5 back to the dealer where we purchased it from, in an effort to figure out WHY we haven't had heat at all for around a week (in under 30 degree weather.) Needless to say, with only 18,000 on the clock, there had to be something wrong. After around an hour, the dealership mechanic came back and informed me that the coolant overflow tank was DRY and there was little coolant left in the radiator. They then went on to run pressure tests and a bevy of others, or so I'm told. After only an hour or so of waiting, I got a 2013 Mazda6 Grand Touring with the 2.5 as my "loaner" vehicle, and plan on getting my 5 back tomorrow. I got a call from the dealership that said the wait could be attributed to the fact that they're replacing the thermostat, water pump, and a few other odds and ends for good measure. I have NEVER before received such quality service from a dealer, and would hands-down recommend them and Mazda to anybody else.