What suspension do i have

[kevcouto]

I have a 2002 es with gt package. what is the suspension on the car. What types of springs, and shocks/struts.. I want to upgrade, but i wanna know what is there first. Do I have the same springs as the mp3 or what?

Thanks for any help

[tunersteve]

I believe you have the same as I do, which is the ES in the US. You do have a rear swaybar, but thats really about it. Check out the Protege FAQ to see exactly what you might have.

Protege FAQ (http://web2.airmail.net/theman/protegefaq/)

[kevcouto]

so the es-gt is the us version of the es

but what springs do i have

[mountjonas]

stock es or gt springs. the mp3 uses racing beat springs that are stiffer and a little lower. somewhere here i think there is a guide to all the springs and it has the rates of each type.

[tunersteve]

Here's what I gathered from the FAQ:

What's the deal with the "Protegé ES GT"?
The current 2001 Canadian spec Protegé ES is not fully equivalent to the US spec Protegé ES. The Canadian Protegé ES does not come with 16" alloy wheels (it has steel wheels stock), rear disc brakes, and spoiler. The GT package adds these missing features but also includes a moonroof, ABS, and air conditioning.

So you have the same springs, swaybars, struts that a US Protege ES has. You can upgrade to the MP3/MSP springs, or go with any of the aftermarket companies that make springs. If you choose to change your swaybar out, you will need to weld a tab on your rear struts, or risk breaking it with the addition of a stiffer swaybar, such as the Racing Beat or AWR rear. As for the strut tower brace, you can find the Mazdaspeed one at www.mazdastuff.com for $115, including everything needed to install it, even if you have cruise control. The struts can be replaced with Tokico HPs or Illuminas, with the Illuminas being 5 way adjustable. The HPs go for about $360 for a set of 4, where the Illuminas go for about $570 for a set of 4.

Hope this helps you out.

[tunersteve]

As for the Spring Guide mentioned earlier, here it is:

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showpost.php?p=852917&postcount=1

[kevcouto]

so i would be able to run mp3 springs or mazdaspeed springs on stock replacement struts, such as kybs and the ride will be a bit better than stock es right.

[anarchistchiken]

Um, if you mean handling, then yes. However, if you mean "ride" as in comfort, then the MP3/MSP springs will not help, it'll get a little rougher.

[kevcouto]

hmm... the ride cannot be that much rougher though

[kevcouto]

so the lower the lb per inch the softer and the higher the rougher but better handling

[kevcouto]

so maybe the pro-kit would be better than the mp3 springs i guess

[tunersteve]

I'm doing the MSP springs on Tokico Illumina struts. I don't want the car on the ground, but I want the improved handling, and the suspension on the MSP was so dialed in that its hard to beat. I also plan on getting the Racing Beat front and AWR rear swaybar, and either the GT Spec or Mazdaspeed front strut tower brace. All of our cars have a bit of understeer, so the rear swaybar is more essential than the front.

[ChopstickHero]

pro-kit would lower you more than the racing beat mp3 springs. the dampening would be different, unless you switch out the stock struts for soem tokico's or something similar. if you are going to switch both of them out, you might as well look for a complete coilover solution, like Tein coilovers.

[kevcouto]

i dont want to spend so much money. right now i am looking for a quality simple set-up. eithe tokicos with pro kit.. or kybs/monroes with ms springs

[kevcouto]

cut to the chase, what is the best set-up for a daily driver that wants a minner drop. no more than 1.5 inch, and still have comfort.. what shocks/struts springs should i look at