Streetable autocross suspension for the Mazda

[Justin]

I've been trying to make up my mind between a few options for suspension set ups for my Mazda 3 that will still be streetable and preferably without replacing my factory struts. I've mainly been considering Eibach Pro Kit lowering springs which drop it ~1.3" up front in and .8" in the back and Eibach Sportline which is ~2" drop. I'm also considering some aftermarket sway bars but I'm not sure what to go with. Keeping in mind this is my daily driver so I'd like to avoid complications as much as possible, Any suggestions?

A second set of wheels and tires will soon follow and suggestions for that are welcome.

[humjaba]

I'd avoid pro kit springs... Those are what I have on my Mustang, and while the progressive rate is nice for ride and looks, it's not so good for handling (nose dive and roll). And you're not going to get a car that handles well if you just get springs - you need to get shocks that complement the springs. Why are you thinking about modifying the car to begin with? What are you trying to improve or eliminate? Tires and can alignment go a long way to change a car's attitude.

[Justin]

(11-08-2011 05:53 PM)humjaba Wrote:  Why are you thinking about modifying the car to begin with? What are you trying to improve or eliminate? Tires and can alignment go a long way to change a car's attitude.

I'd like to eliminate some body roll and dive as a main point and it wouldn't hurt to have it look a little better.

[Clemsons2k]

I love modding cars as much as the next guy Justin but take a look at your signature: "It isn't the car. It's the driver."

Learn to drive the car to its limits and get more seat time before upgrading suspension. You will become a better driver doing it this way. We all have the mod bug after our first couple autocrosses but you have to fight the urge (atleast for a little while ).

[Justin]

Or upgrade early on so that the seat time put in with the car is more relevant to how the car drives in its current state rather than having to re-adjust to the modifications and how the car behaves.

[jedimario]

If you can drive a slow car fast, you can learn to drive a fast car fast much quicker. You plan on running a 3 with springs and swaybars forever? Really though, the most important part of the equation right now is tires. Cheap tires talk to you and emphasize your mistakes, and once you learn them graduating to more serious rubber is not really an issue.

Also, any suspension that isn't broke is streetable. You just have to figure out what you want to put up with and how scared of potholes/speedbumps you want to be

[zps2004]

I agree with Robbie and Ryan. Learn to drive the car stock. In the long run it will be the best. Thats how I did it when I had my Civic back in the day. Doing the same with my Girlfriend, and she is learning really quickly.

In the meantime you can save up for good suspension. I don't recommend lowering springs.

[straight four]

(11-08-2011 07:13 PM)zps2004 Wrote:  I agree with Robbie and Ryan. Learn to drive the car stock. In the long run it will be the best. Thats how I did it when I had my Civic back in the day. Doing the same with my Girlfriend, and she is learning really quickly.

In the meantime you can save up for good suspension. I don't recommend lowering springs.

I like my wife without any mods too!

beit as it may that you just want to improve things or just want to spend some cash. lowering springs dont really help as much as you pay for. I know a lot of members have rocked the ground control setup. (new shocks and springs.) sway bars might help. The problem with suspension is you can spend an unholy amount of money for not an actual real improvement.

[Justin]

I appreciate the advice guys, and I understand what you're getting at, I just was more interested in opinions on brands and set ups for my car and what would make the car itself better in the long run for autocross/mountain driving without sacrificing ride quality. If that is litterally something you feel isn't a possible trade off then let me know. I'm not looking for super smooth ride quality. I understand that by lowering a car you are going to feel bumps and potholes more than you would with factory suspension. I have owned multiple lowered cars in the past ranging in heights and know the results of lowering, I just am not familiar with Mazdas just yet. Thanks for your help guys

[zps2004]

Usually for Mazdas Racing beat has the best compromise for a performance suspension which is still comfortable on the street. I would highly recommend good shocks though.

[Chill2008]

I second Zach about Racing Beat and getting shocks. Shocks are tuned and constructed to handle a precise spring rate range, as well as travel (compression) differential. When putting on any type of lowering springs (especially stiffer ones), the stock shocks are now operating outside of the range they were built for...performance and life suffer. I think it's okay to run a pro kit on stock shocks, but you will wish you had saved the money for something better. I started with just tires (225/45/17 Star Specs) and then added sway bars (Hotchkis) and tore it up autocrossing...ran that setup for a year with great results...won F class with it.

Setup target - Brands
Mild - Racing Beat springs and sways, Koni FSD shocks
Medium - Mazdaspeed Acc. springs, Cobb sways, and Koni Yellow shocks
Hot - Tein S-Tech springs, Hotchkis sways, and Bilstein shocks
Hotter - BC coilovers, JBR sways
Wild - Mazdaspeed Acc./KW3 coilovers, Tri-point sways
Racecar - super high spring rates (600-1000 lbs.), no front bar and huge rear bar, AWR strut housings, custom valved Koni SAs

[wrc_fan]

If the mazda 3 eibach kit springs are anything like the ones for the focus, they are way to soft for the drop they give you. I would not recommend them. I would move dedicated wheels and tires to the top of your list.

Dampers are always good. A mild increase in rear sway bar size will help the car rotate a bit more too, and will most likely be legal in stock class next year.

[98nismo]

get coilovers and call it a day...................they are adjustable and just get a good spring rating and u can adjust the height for daily then slam it for autcross
springs will blow especially if u daily it all the time

[jedimario]

Another thing to consider: if you want to get serious about autocrossing...and I'm sorry if you do ...you'll want to look into how these changes will affect your SCCA class. They don't simply add points like NASA does. You can do one near meaningless thing and get bumped out of stock into a class with significantly modified cars, or another thing that actually has some meaning and stay in stock.

[zps2004]

All coilovers consist of are dampers with springs. You can get any damper and put any spring rate on them. Coilovers just come with both.

I also DO NOT recommend changing any suspension settings from the street to the track. Having the car handle different from the street to the track won't help.