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What is the easiest route to do this? Seems like parts for these are becoming impossible to find. I just bought another project to start and I'm having issues sourcing parts.
I have what I assume is the factory springs and shocks up front. I have new OEM aftermarket shocks sitting in storage I had planned on using, but wanted to address the springs. Looking at spring options now. I assume the reason the front of my car sits so low now is the original springs are sagging and tired (160k miles... that I know of).
I can get new OEM springs for $150. Has anyone found another spring that fits this application instead of trying to source OEM parts? I was leaning towards a factory style spring because every time I've put a coil over or aftermarket spring on a car it made the ride quality crap for "around town" driving. I'm looking for the smoothest ride possible and I'd like to raise the front end about 1.5-2" from where it sits now. Is the only real option a coil over? Are there any with a reasonable spring rate similar to the factory?
I had also seen that some used a spacer under the factory strut mount to gain 1/2" or so. Does anyone make these plates?
How much do you want to raise the front? The OEM spacers are simple if you only want to go about 1/2". They are available from at least Mazdatrix, but easy to make once you have the pattern. To go more than about 1/2" you need to replace the studs on the strut top mount with longer bolts. I did that on my Spec7 a long time ago, before I switched to camber plates.
Shooting for another 2". Just figured the spacer would be easy and I wouldn't give up any shock travel for it. I did order 1/2" spacers.
Def. need more to clear the wheels and tires on it. Is the cheapo 2" coil over sleeve likely the best route for this these days? I don't need/want "race suspension". This is a straight line drag/cruiser. So getting the front end to raise kinda quick with full travel is a a bonus. Or would you suggest just drilling out the studs and running some long grade 8 bolts for the total 2.5" and leaving the factory spring?
2.5" of lift is a lot for spacers on top. I would be a bit hesitant. At the same time, it is hard to imagine that stock springs have sagged 2.5". I am guessing they were cut. I could be wrong, but.....
I would imagine that you could pretty easily find some cheap stock springs from someone here, or facebook.
I left out a lot of details. Didn’t want the purists to get riled up.
Its a 25” tall tire on a 15” rim. Factory tire was 23” I believe? Want factory height or slightly more for oil pan clearance.
Has a 13:1 alum 5.3 v8 in it with ITB’s. I had read a fully dressed OEM 12A is around 400lbs. This engine is stripped down to 408lbs in its current form. So shouldn’t be too horrible nose weight wise. But the weight is likely farther FWD so may have more weight on the springs. Will have corner weights soon to see how bad it is.
Easiest rout would be these R&B springs I cut 1/2 " on pedastals that it into the factory struts... I have
rubbers that go under em before I went coil over. Have the rear r& b springs as well, as I went with ground control and ebachis
Thanks. I went with the Speedway 120# 2.5" springs and their coil over kit. Worked out well, and was dirt cheap compared to the mazda specific parts.
Front end feels a ton better. Sat a tiny bit high originally, but it has settled a little since. May cut a half inch off the spring this winter in the down season to get it just right.
05-29-24, 10:04 AM
