2010+ Mazdaspeed3 Rear Sway Bar: NOT compatible with 2012+ Mazda5

[Orangutan]

I picked up a used MS3 rear sway bar from another member who upgraded his to an aftermarket solution, thinking that since the 5 and 3 are variations on a theme and share so many other components, both in the current generation and the previous, that it'd be a simple task to swap it out on my 2012 Mazda5. I finally got around to working on it today and lo and behold the MS3 sway bar's mounting brackets are wider than the brackets on the 5. RacingBeat mentions on their website that they had to modify their sway bar for the 2010+ generation of 3 because the brackets were widened. Apparently that same widening did not happen to the 5, which leads me to think that the previous generation of sway bars could potentially still fit the new 5. I'll get pics soon of the difference.

Anyway, long story short, don't try and fit a 2010+ Mazdaspeed3 component to a 2012+ Mazda5 without double-checking that it will actually fit. (unamused)(hand)

On a related note, anybody want to buy a 2010 Mazdaspeed3 rear sway bar? I'll throw in non-greasable bushings and brackets!

 

[MAZDASPEED MX5]

Just to note the thread, you can slide the collar by simply bumping it inward. I first pulled the M5 bar out and marked where the collars needed to be. I then put the sway bar loosely and vertical in a vice and bounced the bar to bump the collar over enough to the markings. Fits and works like a charm.