Best rear strut set up

[mazdaspeeeeed]

I want to get some new struts for the rear that will raise it up a bit. I recently put some new tires on (225/45/17) and they rub when i have a full car load and i hit a bump.

any suggestion?


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d9/calzoneboy3/231_3200.jpg

[mazdaspeeeeed]

help?

[Gobbracing]

Roll the inner lip of you fenders. It's a common fix and a lot cheaper.
Got mine done at an tire place.

[mazdaspeeeeed]

Roll the inner lip of you fenders. It's a common fix and a lot cheaper.
Got mine done at an tire place.

sounds like a good idea, but my rear shocks are gone anyway. they sqeak getting in and out of the car thats how bad they are. so i figured now that ive got 2 problems with them i might as well change em out...

[Rush]

What you want to do is get new springs in the rear, not new struts.

The stock MSP struts (which is what I'm assuming you have) actually sit higher in the rear than other struts available for our cars. This is why any lowering springs put on the stock MSP struts will give the cars a raked look -- with the front end lower than the rear.

So I'd see if you can find somewhere or someone to pick up a different set of rear springs.

[mazdaspeeeeed]

What you want to do is get new springs in the rear, not new struts.

The stock MSP struts (which is what I'm assuming you have) actually sit higher in the rear than other struts available for our cars. This is why any lowering springs put on the stock MSP struts will give the cars a raked look -- with the front end lower than the rear.

So I'd see if you can find somewhere or someone to pick up a different set of rear springs.

you are awesome! lol.

so it is the springs that are sqeaking? it might also be the rear strut bushings so i will replace that as well just to be sure.

[livelyjay]

Squeaking is likely due to blown struts, not springs. Rush tried to touch on the issue, but didn't make her point clearly enough.

The spring perch on MSP stock rear struts is higher than stock Protege struts. This means the stock MSP springs are shorter than regular Protege springs. Hence why it is such a problem finding struts and springs that work with the MSP, also why putting Protege lowering springs on MSP will give it a raked looked as Rush mentioned because the perch is like 1/2" higher. You have a few options:

1) Buy a new OEM MSP strut to replace the blown one, and roll your fender lip to get rid of the rubbing.
2) Buy two new regular Protege struts and two new regular Protege lowering springs.

[SleepyMSP]

or go get illuminas, they drop the car a bit but because they are stiffer will not give as much when people are in the back

[lasermp5]

remove your rear seats. No passengers in the rear = no worries :)

[Viralphrame]

Squeaking is likely due to blown struts, not springs. Rush tried to touch on the issue, but didn't make her point clearly enough.

The spring perch on MSP stock rear struts is higher than stock Protege struts. This means the stock MSP springs are shorter than regular Protege springs. Hence why it is such a problem finding struts and springs that work with the MSP, also why putting Protege lowering springs on MSP will give it a raked looked as Rush mentioned because the perch is like 1/2" higher. You have a few options:

1) Buy a new OEM MSP strut to replace the blown one, and roll your fender lip to get rid of the rubbing.
2) Buy two new regular Protege struts and two new regular Protege lowering springs.

Another thing to keep in mind is the natural rake in the body lines of the Protege. An even drop will give the car a raked look no matter what springs are used.

[kamon8404]

The sqeakiness could very likely be due to the rear bushings. When I moved from New Orleans to Ohio my car was loaded down. It made my bushings sqeak so bad, even after i took everything out of the car. When I (5'6'' 140 lbs) would get in and out of the car is would sqeak like hell. Going over bumps, the same thing. I got replacement bushings from SU for cheap and lubed them up and stuck them in. No more sqeaks.

[livelyjay]

Actually, I don't think your rubbing issue is the fender lip since you are using stock wheels. You're probably rubbing the inner fender liner. Take a look at your fender well and see if the rubbing is the fender lip or the fender liner. If it's the liner you can just cut out the part where it's rubbing.

[Rush]

Okay, so now that I've actually read everything ..

Are you sure your stock struts are blown? Squeaking isn't particularly a symptom of blown struts -- that's most likely the crappy bushings in the rear, like livelyjay said. I just had my suspension redone and it still squeaks -- cause I still have the icky Mazda bushings in there. I hate the damn things, I'd still love to punch Mazda for effing up the rear sway bar setup like that.

Best way to check to see if your struts are blown is to look for any abnormal build up of dirt around the struts. If they're blown, they'll start to leak -- and the fluid will catch all the dirt that your car kicks up while in motion.

But yeah, the Illuminas are definitely the best way to go for a replacement strut. I have them and I love them -- you can adjust how they ride to your own personal preference.

If you do get the Illuminas, though, you don't have to worry about that overly pronounced raked look. Whoever said it (I'm sorry, I can't remember) was right in that the lines of the MSP do give the car a rake -- but you really DO get uneven lowering with most aftermarket springs.

[mazdaspeeeeed]

true... thanks for all your help. i think i am going to replace the sway bar bushings and go from there.

[livelyjay]

One thing you can try before replacing the bushings, which is something I have done in the past. Disconnect the rear sway bar end links. This will let you know if the squeaking is coming from the sway bar or something else.

[mazdaspeeeeed]

can i just remove the sway bar completely? or does it play an important role for daily driving... i don't exactly corner turns at over 40 MPH.

[livelyjay]

You can, but it's better to have than have-not. Just disconnect the end links and see if the squeaking is still there. If it isn't, replace the bushings and grease the crap out of them. If it is, then it's a strut or something else.

[mazdaspeeeeed]

You can, but it's better to have than have-not. Just disconnect the end links and see if the squeaking is still there. If it isn't, replace the bushings and grease the crap out of them. If it is, then it's a strut or something else.

alrighty then i will do that. thanks for your help

as for the rubbing i'm not too worried about it. i rarely ever have a full car load. plus i can't be spending all this money i have to pay for college..

[Firewired]

ok... so my question is ... are 225/45/17 going to rub on stock MSP suspension ?

mazdaspeeeeed, are you still on stock suspensions ?


I was looking at those.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/tires/nitto/product/submitProductSize.do?tmn=Invo&pc=40338&typ=Passenger%2FPerformance

[mazdaspeeeeed]

ok... so my question is ... are 225/45/17 going to rub on stock MSP suspension ?

mazdaspeeeeed, are you still on stock suspensions ?


I was looking at those.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/tires/nitto/product/submitProductSize.do?tmn=Invo&pc=40338&typ=Passenger%2FPerformance

im still on 100% stock suspension. and it only rubs in the rear when i have at least 2 ppl on the back seat (roughly 220lbs or so) and only when i hit small or large bumps.

[livelyjay]

If any of you plan on replacing the stock MSP rear struts let me know. I want to buy some blown ones on the cheap.

[mazdaspeeeeed]

If any of you plan on replacing the stock MSP rear struts let me know. I want to buy some blown ones on the cheap.

sounds like a plan except i dont think my struts are blown... the sqeaking is now temporaily fixed with some WD40 spray on the bushings. i am still looking to fix the clunk with AWR brackets and then roll the fender in to stop the rubbing.

[livelyjay]

sounds like a plan except i dont think my struts are blown... the sqeaking is now temporaily fixed with some WD40 spray on the bushings. i am still looking to fix the clunk with AWR brackets and then roll the fender in to stop the rubbing.

Ummmmm, WD40 is not going to work. Go to AutoZone and get some proper automotive grease and a grease gun and make sure the grease is water resistant. Water spray gets into the grease and decreases its effectiveness. Amsoil makes a good option, but I have yet to find it in a retail store.

[mazdaspeeeeed]

Ummmmm, WD40 is not going to work. Go to AutoZone and get some proper automotive grease and a grease gun and make sure the grease is water resistant. Water spray gets into the grease and decreases its effectiveness. Amsoil makes a good option, but I have yet to find it in a retail store.

yea i know. the WD40 was just to test and make sure it was the bushings b4 i went out and spent any money. but it hasnt sqeaked in about 4 days now since i put the WD40 on it.

[Firewired]

im still on 100% stock suspension. and it only rubs in the rear when i have at least 2 ppl on the back seat (roughly 220lbs or so) and only when i hit small or large bumps.


Do you know where it is rubbing ?

Sorry if im asking too much questions... i just want to make sure before i fork out the cash. Maybe I should make my own thread.

[mazdaspeeeeed]

Do you know where it is rubbing ?

Sorry if im asking too much questions... i just want to make sure before i fork out the cash. Maybe I should make my own thread.

nah it's cool. it is actually rubbing on the inside lip of the fender. if you run your hand on the bottom of the fender you will feel a little half inch lip that sticks out. I've heard of ppl 'rolling' it so that it wont rub. I may try that out.

[livelyjay]

I rolled mine just barely and it worked fine, but now I rub on the fender liner when going over big bumps. I do run a +45 offset with 225/45-17 tires, so I'm a bit wider than I should be. With a +48 with the same tires or +45 and 215 tires I would be fine.