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-   3rd gen Suspension/Brakes (https://www.mazda3club.com/3rd-gen-suspension-brakes-62/)
-   -   adding rear sway bar (https://www.mazda3club.com/3rd-gen-suspension-brakes-62/adding-rear-sway-bar-40995/)

Buck November-2nd-2005 05:08 PM

adding rear sway bar
 
Hey guys, I am looking into also getting a progress rear sway bar to go along with my springs. I have heard through some other posts that doing this may cause over steer without a front sway? If this is true then could this possibly be partially offset by installing a strut brace? I am trying to avoid going with a front sway bar cuz I heard its a pain to install! Also, the rear sway bar is 22mm. Will the shear ginormousness of this bar become an issue with stock struts??

macdaddyslomo November-2nd-2005 05:24 PM

Need more info....need Year and Trim Level...No offense, but honestly it sounds like you have no clue when it comes to suspension dynamics....bigger rear sway bar MAY help induce oversteer....Strut bat will do nothing to help this...a strut bar will help increase the stiffness of the frame, and help with steering response....the only thing I would worry about with the 22MM bar on the stock struts is shearing off the puny mounts on earlier DX-LX models....

I only have the rear Racing beat installed and it DOES increase oversteer, but it takes quite a bit of steering input to do so.....unless you are autocrossing i wouldnt be concerned with "offsetting" it

pass the peas November-2nd-2005 06:22 PM

I'm going to have to say it again: Go ahead and shell out for some kind of performance struts first. Reusing your stock struts with uprated springs is going to be disappointing, especially if you put a really stiff sway bar on it. Stiff springs and underdamped struts is going to be bouncy, throw a stiff bar in the rear, and it's going to be an uncontrollable, tail happy disaster. If you're lowering just for looks, (be honest),it will probably be okay putting around town (if the springs are progressive wound as the name "progress technology" implies), but if you're serious about upgrading the performance of your suspension (that fat sway bar implies you are) do not skimp on dampening.

macdaddyslomo November-2nd-2005 06:30 PM


Originally Posted by pass the peas
I'm going to have to say it again: Go ahead and shell out for some kind of performance struts first. Reusing your stock struts with uprated springs is going to be disappointing, especially if you put a really stiff sway bar on it. Stiff springs and underdamped struts is going to be bouncy, throw a stiff bar in the rear, and it's going to be an uncontrollable, tail happy disaster. If you're lowering just for looks, (be honest),it will probably be okay putting around town (if the springs are progressive wound as the name "progress technology" implies), but if you're serious about upgrading the performance of your suspension (that fat sway bar implies you are) do not skimp on dampening.

didnt even catch the part at the beginning about the springs ????

WHY would you change out springs, and sways, but not struts ??? It's no extra work ???

Just cheap ??

Buck November-2nd-2005 10:25 PM


Originally Posted by macdaddyslomo
Need more info....need Year and Trim Level...No offense, but honestly it sounds like you have no clue when it comes to suspension dynamics....bigger rear sway bar MAY help induce oversteer....Strut bat will do nothing to help this...a strut bar will help increase the stiffness of the frame, and help with steering response....the only thing I would worry about with the 22MM bar on the stock struts is shearing off the puny mounts on earlier DX-LX models....

I only have the rear Racing beat installed and it DOES increase oversteer, but it takes quite a bit of steering input to do so.....unless you are autocrossing i wouldnt be concerned with "offsetting" it


My car is an 03 LX. And yes you are right I don't have a whole lot of knowledge when it comes to supension, at least on cars, otherwise I wouldn't be on the forum asking these questions. Now throw a four wheel drive in front of me and you would be asking me the questions :evilgrin: . This whole sport compact tuning thing is quite new to me believe it or not. Now, would shearing off the mounts be an issue on newer LX?

Buck November-2nd-2005 10:31 PM


Originally Posted by macdaddyslomo
didnt even catch the part at the beginning about the springs ????

WHY would you change out springs, and sways, but not struts ??? It's no extra work ???

Just cheap ??

I previously posted about my springs. Im not worried about the work, and I kinda have to be cheap in my situation. After all I am a full time student that only works part time. But at the same time I don't want to do anything that is going to sacrifice my cars value and reliabilty. So, FOR NOW, I am just looking to give my car a little bit more aggressive look and moderately better handling all while going easy on the wallet

macdaddyslomo November-3rd-2005 08:42 AM

save your money...I have seen the struts on ebay for around $300....

chiefmg November-3rd-2005 10:54 AM

I got a Tokico HP suspension kit off eBay for a little over $400 shipped (this was 6 months ago so probably a bit more now) from JDM Werks. It included all four struts and springs matched to them. Drop is around an inch, the ride isn't objectionable and the handling is great. I can recommend this kit as a relatively inexpensive to improve your car.

LEADfoot November-3rd-2005 04:56 PM

to be redundant....

struts and spings and tires
i'm a huge fan of tockico/teins because of the price
and performance (teins are progressive rate...butter)

but don't forget to upgrade your rubber
not just low profile, i mean good compounds
that effects the handling and ride so much, but it's usualy over-looked

Buck November-4th-2005 08:54 PM

I have decided to wait and save my money and go with some eibachs with performance struts. I found some KYB struts in Summit that are about 50 bucks a piece. With some eibach pros and those the price would be a little cheaper than I have found the Tokico struts and springs on ebay. Going through Summit saves me from having to pay shipping cuz they have a huge warehouse here in Reno :boink: Would this be a good setup? or are the Tokico struts better than the KYBs?

LEADfoot November-4th-2005 09:15 PM

KYB+eibach is nice...just more on the stiff/aggressive side of things
so very little low speed "comfort"
at higher speeds, is when that combo will more in it's
element
on an "all season" tire like the oem tire and size
it might be a tad harsh

macdaddyslomo November-5th-2005 07:18 AM

Tokico's are better than KYB's

chiefmg November-5th-2005 10:47 AM

KYB aka Keeps Ya Bouncin'.


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