What is the difference and what do you recommend?

[knowledge007]

AutoExe Member Brace Set - Mazdaspeed?

AutoExe Tower Brace Set - Mazdaspeed3?

Cobb Swaybars - Mazdaspeed3 ?

Which one will be the best choice to stiffen up the suspension and traction in turns and so forth?

Have a some money to spend and don't know what to spend it on. Would like to beef up the suspension.

 

[Rotus8]

AutoExe Member Brace Set - Mazdaspeed?

AutoExe Tower Brace Set - Mazdaspeed3?

Cobb Swaybars - Mazdaspeed3 ?

Which one will be the best choice to stiffen up the suspension and traction in turns and so forth?

Have a some money to spend and don't know what to spend it on. Would like to beef up the suspension.

The swaybars will give you a much better bang for your buck. Tower braces are at best a second order effect, likely not felt at all.

However, unless you are well set up with shop tools, you need to budget for the install of the sways, at least the front. It is a significant job, not to be taken lightly.

 

[njaremka]

the tower brace set ties together all the upper suspension mounting points
the member brace set ties together all the lower suspension mounting points
the sway bars help limit body roll in the corners, and help in improving turning response

if you have the money, do all three - if you want all three, and can only afford one right now, i would go with the member brace set, then the tower brace set, then the sway bars, then springs and struts.

 

[6262MS3]

I would go for the sway bar kit, the car will roll less in corners and turn-in will be way sharper. At least this is what I noticed on my old 626 when I put an addco rear sway bar on it. I can't see a tower brace doing much as mazda already added bracing to the front towers on the ms3 and the chassis is pretty stiff as is. A member brace might help down the road if you get stiffer springs but again it's not like our chassis is a wet noodle (like, say, a 93 626...).

 

[SPEED305]

are you autox the car?, because ive taken some serious turns with the baby and she can hold for a good while before it starts to understeer. i would look for a nice brake kit upgrade or a nice. but if you want, i would got with what njaremka said, at least in that order. for me, the roll is what i bothers me a bit, sway bars will solve that. holla so we can chill!

 

[knowledge007]

Sweet thanks guys. I appreciate all your input. Thanks Najremka, but as you mentioned I would like to work on cornering for right now, so the sway bars would be first. Considering what Rotus mentioned, what exactly does the install involve.

 

[Rotus8]

Sweet thanks guys. I appreciate all your input. Thanks Najremka, but as you mentioned I would like to work on cornering for right now, so the sway bars would be first. Considering what Rotus mentioned, what exactly does the install involve.

The rear is dead easy. 45 minutes if you take your time.

The front requires dropping the whole front subframe and getting way inside with tools to remove the bar brackets. Then snaking the old bar out and the new in. A couple of the bolts are torqued to 115 ft lbs so you have to have a high capacity torque wrench. I'm not saying you can't do it, just to allocate several hours and have a good set of tools.

Tip: be sure the front bar brackets are installed as far back as possible.

The sway bars make a huge difference in the handling of this car. You won't be disappointed. I have the Hotchkis bars; the Cobb bars are very similar.