protejay

Between work, some sleep, (and not much food); i have my suspension pretty much complete.

Just finished installing the ZX2 struts/springs, Mazda Comp front upper strut mounts, ST rear sway bar, OTL (Darryl's) rear tie bar, and ES 'front' trailing link bushings.

I used a battery powered drill to modify the spring perch....man the 1st one toook FOREVER and 3 battery charges . Got more aggresive with the other one and it took maybe 1 hour max to do.

The Energy Suspension ZX2 trailing link bushings fit perfectly!! I knew the ES control arm bushings fit; but i hadn't seen anyone use the trailing link bushings....A shop had already installed the LCA bushings and the 'rear' trailing link bushing for me.

For the 'front' trailing link bushings, I went to Autozone and used their tool loaner service to get a Ball Joint Press ( OEM # 27023) The 1st trailing link bushing went on on my 1st try! The 2nd one though gave me fits!!! It kept popping out to the side as i tryed pressing it in....Prob spent an hour and half on that one

Soooo my car now feels.....well...different Actually i can't say its good OR bad just yet....it *feels* like there is NO suspension!
But...what should i xpect putting all this stiff stuff in ??!!?

The handling/steering is feeling VERY responsive....but the ride is now 'jarring' when you go over a bump; it honestly *feels* like the car has more 'motion' than before....but that's simply because the stiff stuff just doesn't really absorb anything.

This weekend i'll get an alignment and install new 15x6.5 F2's w/ Azeni 205/50/15's....i hope that might improve BOTH the handling AND the ride over my stock 180/60/14's

Well, now you know!
Its very different, just need to get used to it.

protejay

After more driving... its ALL GOOD!!! :

The steering is steady, SMOOTH, and SOLID and did i say.... SMOOTH?!! The car on the interstate at speed is ROCK SOLID...the car through sweepers is....yep... ROCK SOLID!
The car felt awesome on a 25mph freeway ramp tonight (what do you call it - you know - like a 'u-turn' ramp??).....i was doing about 50 in 3rd gear on crappy tires with NO SWEAT!

OK...the ride thing....well, its not quite as bad as i 1st thought. The suspension def transfers more 'jarring' over bumps - but its NOT unbearable.

The rear seems esp stiff. I think the ES trailing link bushings are playing a big part (along with Darryl's great bar! ).... there's a BIG diff in look/feel when comparing them to the flimsy stock(old) bushings....

Can't wait to get the new wheels on tomorrow...

And thanx to ALL the GREAT input/info from this forum and its Pro members!

I can't imagine how stiff this car would be with these parts(that i don't have): front/rear strut bars, Mazda Comp rear strut mounts and TTL's, and Darryl's front tie bar(which will be in soon).

protejay

BTY: 2 questions if anyone cares to answer....

New OEM front brake pads are on.....How do you break these in? i've always tended to take it ez on the brakes for a while (200 miles or so) after new pads.... but i've read about 'bedding' the pads: Stomping on the brakes from 60 to 0mph for 5 or 6 times in a row...Is that mainly for performance pads????

Also...i used new dust boots on the struts. They were a tight fit...and i zip tyed them both at the top(over the bump stop) AND bottom(over the strut shaft 'housing'). Any problem with that?? I've noticed that the boots are very 'bunched up' over the shaft now....Would it have been better to get a looser/bigger boot so that it would just hang freely over the stut 'housing'?

mazdaspeedwest

the dust boots on the struts shouldn't be "really" bunched up, but a little is ok. I cut mine down a little. Worse comes to worse, the strut will tear the boot and you'll know it was too bunched