new here

[susamafone]

im new here. i want to eventually get the eibach pro springs kit that will give me a 1.8" drop for my red '03 protege5. what is the largest wheel size i can put on, without fender mods and what offset do i need?

[RaiderMP5]

http://www.msprotege.com/vbb230/showthread.php?t=9129

Welcome to the forum! The Search is your friend.

[jmv]

you should get some 18x7.5" WORK emotion cr wheels in gunmetal.... assuming of course they would fit with the drop, which i have no idea.

[RicesP5]

the for sale area is a good place too... just watch it so you dont get burned

[MP3Architect]

always great to see another texas guy on the boards! you must be the guy jmv pm'd me about. i have 18" on my mazdaspeed which is lowered on tein s-tech springs and it will rub if anyone sits in the back seat. when i had the same rims on my mp3 it would rub if i hit any bump at all. so yeah.........18's look great but they aren't very practical. keeping 17's is keeping it safe. welcome to the boards and maybe ill see ya around!
http://www.msprotege.com/members/MP3Architect/msp/5zigen2.jpg

[GordonJ]

Do you plan on installing the springs yourself?

[MP3Architect]

Do you plan on installing the springs yourself?
whats with that q? i did. so did everyone here in houston.

[GordonJ]

whats with that q? i did. so did everyone here in houston.

Dude, it's just a question. I've been planning on getting some springs for awhile, but have been getting asinine quotes from a few shops around here.
If the OP does get a shop to do it, I'd be curious to know how much they charge him.

[P-Funk!]

It can be done yourself - but it is an 'advanced shadetree mechanic' task. Not like brakes or tune up. Do the struts at the same time. I should have. Double the labor. :(

[MP3Architect]

Dude, it's just a question. I've been planning on getting some springs for awhile, but have been getting asinine quotes from a few shops around here.
If the OP does get a shop to do it, I'd be curious to know how much they charge him.
no i was just wandering why you had asked because i thought you were going to give a reason why someone shouldn't do it themselves. its all good. but yeah, i priced a few shops to do it for me and i think they wanted $100+. its a VERY simple job. never worth $100.

[susamafone]

whats with that q? i did. so did everyone here in houston.
im probably going to get it done for me. im not quite the most mechanically advanced person in the world and i dont really trust myself. what struts would you suggest to go along with the springs?

[aMaff]

I say round up some of the texas peeps (make a thread in the TX forum), and have a meet / install springs and struts day. That way, u get it done for free (ok, you may have to buy a round ;)), and u learn something about your car.

It depends, I think tokico's are just about universally accepted as some of the best struts for the protege's. If ur gonna be doing serious racing, I say get the illuminas (5 adjustable settings), but if ur not, just get the HPs (Blues). However, if u plan on racing, read up on rules for the class / series u'll be racing in, and see what they allow. Sometimes a minor mod can bump you to a higher class (example, in SoloII, a short shifter bumps you from stock to STS, and for no real performance increase)

[MP3Architect]

im probably going to get it done for me. im not quite the most mechanically advanced person in the world and i dont really trust myself. what struts would you suggest to go along with the springs?
i agree with amaff. come down to houston and we'll help you out. just buy us a pizza or some beer. i never knew how to install mine when i had the mp3 but another member on here pretty much did it for me and show'd me how to do it in the process., now i can do it to anyones car. its super easy. tokico blue's would prolly be easy to pick up on these boards for cheap and they are a very nice set of struts.

[Robot Romeo]

install them yourself, its fun.

(thumb) YOU CAN DO IT! (thumb)

[susamafone]

ok, i can get a set (4) of tokico blues for 390, includes shipping. i dont plan on racing very aggressive, so im going to go with the blues. is that a good price? now for the springs, the 1.8" drop may be a bit aggresive for me. which leaves the following options: INTRAX Lowering springs (1.5" drop), H&R Lowering springs (1.3" drop), B&G Lowering Springs (1.5" drop), or should i still go with the Eibach Sport Line springs 1.8' drop? im just concered with the way the car will look with 17's and the near 2" drop.

[jmv]

slammed is hot, i promise.

But don't forget the Tien S-tech springs. I think those are 2" in the front, but less in the back, for a different sort of stance, with the back a lil higher.

[aMaff]

ok, i can get a set (4) of tokico blues for 390, includes shipping. i dont plan on racing very aggressive, so im going to go with the blues. is that a good price? now for the springs, the 1.8" drop may be a bit aggresive for me. which leaves the following options: INTRAX Lowering springs (1.5" drop), H&R Lowering springs (1.3" drop), B&G Lowering Springs (1.5" drop), or should i still go with the Eibach Sport Line springs 1.8' drop? im just concered with the way the car will look with 17's and the near 2" drop.
I'm gonna say eibach. It'll look good on 17's

[Kansei]

slammed is hot, i promise.

But don't forget the Tien S-tech springs. I think those are 2" in the front, but less in the back, for a different sort of stance, with the back a lil higher.

I wish I had that stance. I tuck a tiny bit of tire in the rear but none at all in the front. It looks like there's junk in the trunk and there most definitely isn't other than the infinity basslink.

[susamafone]

I wish I had that stance. I tuck a tiny bit of tire in the rear but none at all in the front. It looks like there's junk in the trunk and there most definitely isn't other than the infinity basslink.

i noticed the reflectors on the front fender are painted. looks really good. how did you do that?

[Captain KRM P5]

ok, i can get a set (4) of tokico blues for 390, includes shipping. i dont plan on racing very aggressive, so im going to go with the blues. is that a good price? now for the springs, the 1.8" drop may be a bit aggresive for me. which leaves the following options: INTRAX Lowering springs (1.5" drop), H&R Lowering springs (1.3" drop), B&G Lowering Springs (1.5" drop), or should i still go with the Eibach Sport Line springs 1.8' drop? im just concered with the way the car will look with 17's and the near 2" drop.

where did you get your tokico and spring price? contact me and i'll see if i can beat it.

welcome to the forums.

[susamafone]

where did you get your tokico and spring price? contact me and i'll see if i can beat it.

welcome to the forums.

i havent bought them yet. im saving up some money before i do. i found the tokico's at protege5online.com for 390, includes shipping. eibach sports line springs from corksport.com for 207 plus 25 for shipping. that is unless somebody can give me a place where i can get them for less.

[Captain KRM P5]

sportlines i can do for 209 shipped and tokicos for about 375-380

[MP3Architect]

trust the captain. his name is ken and his store can be found at protegegarage.com
hes not just some creepy guy thats trying to take your money. he's some creepy guy whose sucessfull at taking all of our money. but he is a good vendor and fast shipper.

[Kansei]

i noticed the reflectors on the front fender are painted. looks really good. how did you do that?

It was simple. Spray paint :D It just happens to be a perfect match. In that pic you can also see the top strip of the front grille (usually black) and the front emblem (usually chrome) were also painted with the same spraypaint.