Yakima Landing pads and Mazdaspeed CAI as a short ram

[ahotrod2]

Hey everyone,

After getting tons of help from this site, I figured it was about time to give some back. I did two things to my car that perhaps aren't really that common, so I took a few photos to help everyone out.

First of all (more common), I installed the mazdaspeed CAI as a short ram instead of the CAI. This is ridiculously simple. Sorry for the dark photos (it was night), but really, it couldn't be easier. You get the nice intake sound, supposedly almost the same hp gains, but a much simpler install, no worry of hydrolock and a more accessible filter.

Secondly, I put yakima landing pads on my car. These mountings screw directly into the threads hidden under the roof rails. This lets you attach a yakima roof rack without having to use hooks under the doors. It is pretty easy, but you do need to remove the roof rails and drill a hole in them to access the mounting points. Once you do this though, you just screw the pads in and you're good to go. Now that I have the pads installed, attaching my rack takes literally 15 seconds (I timed it). No tools just snap them in and go. I would highly recommend this route if you're putting a rack on your car. it's a much more solid attachment point.

 

[Troygirl]

Landing Pads and Roof Rails

Hey There,

So Im a newbie to Mazda3. I bought a used Yakima rack with Control Tower. How must I removed the rails from the roof, and did you drill into the railings once you removed them?

I saw in another posting someone actually drilled into their roof.

 

[ahotrod2]

yeah, this is the exact reason I put those pictures up there....it's not really obvious what you have to do.

so, you have to remove the roof rails. It's really easy, just take a flat head screwdriver and pry it up starting from the rear of the car. they just pop off.

once you pop off the roof rails, you'll see the attachment points that you need to screw into.

now, just mark on the roof rails where the holes need to be and drill out the rails. this isn't super easy as you want to make sure you get the hole location right.

then, just pop the rails back on and screw in your control towers. makes for a much simpler, stronger, cleaner installation. if you're freaked out about the fact that you have to drill holes in the roof rails...don't be. they're only like $150 for a set, so if you want to replace them with virgin ones it's not the end of the world.

 

[Troygirl]

Removal

Thanks. Sounds real doable to me!

T

 

[Rotus]

landing pads

which Yakima part number did you get? I thought there were a few different models of landing pads.

 

[ahotrod2]

you get "Landing pad 11"

it comes with two sets of screws, and the instructions say to use the long screws, but personally, I had to use the short ones FWIW

 

[Rotus]

you get "Landing pad 11"

it comes with two sets of screws, and the instructions say to use the long screws, but personally, I had to use the short ones FWIW

Cool, thanks.

I just need to decide whether it's roof rack or hitch mount now.

 

[Troygirl]

i used landing pad 11 and the short screws. I didn't think there was a hitch mount for the Mazda3

 

[Rotus]

i used landing pad 11 and the short screws. I didn't think there was a hitch mount for the Mazda3

well there is, if you install the hitch. I thin kthere are 2 or 3 companies that make bolt on hitches for the 3.

 

[ahotrod2]

i say you go roof rack. it's a really simple installation, and the roof rack is more flexible if you want to carry other stuff later on.

 

[opt_ms3]

is it any cheaper to do it this way?

 

[ahotrod2]

I don't know...for the roof rack you're gonna pay something around $250 ish... i don't know how much the hitch and hitch mount will cost you.

 

[Olestra]

Subbing.

 

[Rotus]

Hitch is about a hundred and easy enough for you to install yourself. Hitch mount rack is anywhere from $150 and up depending on the features you want. Best thing is, you can pull a small trailer. Worst thing is, small trailers cost big $$.

 

[Rotus]

update

OK, so I decided to go with a roof rack. Actual MSRP of the rack with one bike tray and air deflector is around $550. I got all the parts except for the landing pads off CL for $180 and bought the landing pads (2 pair) for about $50 from REI (sale plus dividend).

Installation is pretty easy. The trickiest thing is getting the holes lined up correctly for the bolts. I also used the short M6 bolts although the instructions say to use the long ones.

If anyone is looking to get the same rig from ebay or CL, you need to look for the control towers, not the Q towers (those are used for clips), 48" load bars and LP11 landing pads.

 

[ahotrod2]

nice! you drill out the roof rails yourself? i've had mine on my car for a while now, with a big thule box on top and they're super solid.

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

I have a Thule roof rack now and am probably going to go tow rack in the future. I like roof racks but they are a pain sometimes and kill your mileage.

 

[Rotus]

nice! you drill out the roof rails yourself? i've had mine on my car for a while now, with a big thule box on top and they're super solid.

Thanks, yeah I drilled the holes in the rails. I'll probably end up buying the Canadian rails with the holes already there as I didn't do a very good job lining up holes before I drilled them. Measure once, drill twice is my motto.

I'm also thinking about putting some clearbra tape under the pads and fairing feet to keep it from getting too scratched up.

 

[SomnoSpeed3]

Anyone know a how to on the SRI conversion for the MS CAI?

 

[GoFast]

Anyone know a how to on the SRI conversion for the MS CAI?

remove lower half of cai. put filter on upper half. drive