Lupae3s

hey everyone:
im planning on installing a few aftermarket suspension components on my 2004 Mazda 3s this weekend (havent decided yet on friday or saturday). Of course, im planning on doing the install myself to save some dough and also just to practice DIY. The parts that i will be installing are: Tein Basic CoilOver Suspension, MAZDASPEED Strut Bar, Eibach Front and Rear Swaybars, and MAZDASPEED Rear Camber Links. Also, ill be mounting a set of Falken Azenis 215/45/17's on 17x7 gunmetal Falken Torque 5 wheels.

i was just wondering if anyone had any helpful advice for the installation and/or any pertinent information that i might need. thanks for your help everyone!

Lupae3s

Update: On Saturday, two of my friends and I set up shop in my buddy's garage in Buffalo, NY and successfully installed the coil overs and the strut bar with little to no set backs. the only problem we ran into was with the control arms in the front of the car...once we got them loose they wouldnt loosen anymore to come out, and also they wouldnt tighten back up. also, the torque wrench we used was a little different than what ive come across before, so when i was torquing one of the bolts for the upper mounts in the front to 80 lb/ft, i tightened way too much and ripped the top of the bolt off. tomorrow i will bring my car to mazda for an alignment and to fix my stupid mistake (bolt). but, the cars stance appears very aggressive now, the wheels fit and look AWESOME in the wheel wells...the springs are nice and stiff and on the drive home she was just asking me to throw her into the corners.

We decided not to install the eibach sway bars and the mazdaspeed camber links due to our inexperience and the complexity of the installation. When i bring the car to mazda tomorrow ill have them finish where i left off.


but all in all, it was a great learning experience and very fun to install. and i was able to save a lot of money thanks to DIY!

Roddimus Prime

sway bars too dificult? Those sways will be one of the biggest gains in handling you can do. You should really try for them.

Lupae3s

R Prime: im not neglecting the sway bars and camber links...no worries. i just couldnt handle the installation on my own. so im going to have mazda install them when i take my car in, hopefully tomorrow, for an alignment and new top-left mount bolt.

Roddimus Prime

What did you think was too dificult about the sway bar install? Someone who can install their own coil overs typically will have no problem with something as simple as a sway bar set.

Lupae3s

on the bottom ends of the control arms the nuts would loosen on the bolts, but then not loosen all of the way to come off, and then also they would not tighten back up.

Jay Chen Mazda

Lupae3s,
I'm guessing its either stripped or opposite end nut is off of a weld?

If you could get a pic, that would help to resolve your issues. Good luck!

Lupae3s

hey jay chen: thanks for your concern, but, the mazda dealership already took care of everything. i need to talk to the mechanics who worked on my car still yet to see what the problem was. i also need to pick up my alignment specs.

Lupae3s

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2303055

results...

Jay Chen Mazda

Lupae,

So, what was the problem?
Looking good my man! That tint is pretty dark, but looks really good.

GirlieGurl

Very nice!

djserumsrq

Do you specifically recommmend the Eibach Sway bars for '06 M3 5dr?

Lupae3s

Well...Eibach sway bars for the mazda3 are a very good recommendation...Eibach actually makes MAZDASPEED's suspension components, so you know youre going to be getting a good quality product. i wouldnt have gone any other way.

Tsquad

Wow, that looks really good, iv been wanting to get tint on my 07 5door but im not sure how it would look sense its the Galexy Grey color. Im not really firmiliar with car stuff but im working on it, so what exactely did u do here?

-Removed Black Tape from Window Sills (took about six hours, but worth it)
-6" Windshield Strip

that would help if u just explained what they are and whatnot, ty.

and also, do you guys think that i should get black rims or the silver?

Lupae3s

Tsqaud:
the black framing around the windows is actually just tape ... there is paint the same as the rest of your car right underneath the tape. it just takes patience and a lot of peeling but in my opinion the end result is worth it.