Lowering Springs

[mspeedpro]

there is a little bit of talk that certain springs are not doing well with the msp suspension set up... is this true?? I have the spools and there are a few other msp owners that say the spools arent lowering the msp... does this make sense?? what are yalls opinions of this?? sorry for newb questions...

[t3ase]

This isn't solely a MSP problem. All of the Protege models have had issues with spool springs. Keep in mind, this was supposed to only be happening with the first batch made and was reportedly fixed after the issue was discovered.

Another thing to keep in mind is that while any Protege sedan springs will fit the MSP, our cars are already lowered a bit more than a regular Pro from the factory. So if someone buys some Protege springs that drop 1.5" in the back, we may only get 1" drop out of the springs since we're lowered already. Course that's just an example and those numbers are made up, but I hope that helps ya out.

[INGREXCO]

i know that theTEIN springs will be a noticable drop. A friend of mine with a 2002 ES has TEINS and when I parked my MSP next to him it was a noticible difrence

[SuperSpud]

I have examples of the prokit and of the teins.. I will have pix soon.. my friend with a MP3 has the teins and I have the pro kit... Im still waiting for mine to settle, so I'll take pix later.. I have heard the teins are softer than the pro kit.. both are softer than stock springs...

[scott42]

SuperSpud., any update on these pics? I'd like to see pics of the pro-kit installed. gracias:)

[DiscreetSpeed]

yep he posted then up like a month and a half ago, search for it.
or Eric could post some here, if hes kind?

[SPARCO3319]

Has anyone on here just put springs in the front of an MSP?? In my opinion, my MSP looks lower in the back than the front and all i was wanting to do is drop the front end about and inch or so. The back looks low enough for me.....

[Dr.Sound]

so the ride is softer with the pro kit?
what about performance, does it handle better with the pro kit?

[slug420]

http://www.mazdamp3.com/vbb230/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33993

there ya go

i put the spools on, and they lifted the rear end, which was entirely unacceptable so i had the shop swap my stock rears back in. I too had noticed the back was almost perfectly low from the start but with 35 series rubber and a dropped front its definitely too high...

i dunno what im gonna do. The only springs that seem to have the perfect drop are the Teins, but they are supposedly softer and thus could lead to slightly worse than stock handling which is not really acceptable to me so im beginning to come to grips with the fact that some JIC or some other brand of coilovers are gonna be the only way to go...

[Stealth5]

tein = teh shit, get em

[MSP Chris]

Guys, teins are the shit for our cars. There is a guy in tampa with them on his MSP. Noticeable difference, looks good too. He still has a good 3 in of clearence but the wheels are tucked nicely.

He originally had ground controls and said they were nothing but problems. Ride quality is the same, from where I was sitting.

[SuperSpud]

I would post some pix of my pro kit, but Im at home for the holidays.. the pictures are on my computer at school. if this thread is still around when I get back, I'll post some pix.

I love my pro kit. it took about a week for it to really settle, but once it did, it looks GREAT... it lowered the front a good 3 fingers, and the rear about a finger and a half.. and ignore my post above when I said that they are softer than the stock springs, b/c they are not.. they work fine. my car handles noticably better.. I cant say much for the teins, but from what I hear, they are really good to.. so its just a matter of how much you want to lower your car.. however, both look pretty muchly the same, the teins might lower the rear a bit more though...

[AutoBox]

yeh i have been tryin to figure out what i will end up doin....i would luv to see a stock msp side by side with one equip with the s tech springs......sleeve coilovers suck for our style suspension....if the s techs dont lower the car like i want and are not at leasta slightly stiffer then the stock racing beats..im gonna save up for full jic coilovers

[shaolin]

Have any of you guys had to change out your tokicos because of lowering springs. I think that they would be fine, but the tokicos are matched with the stock spring rate, which is going to be different than Tein or Eibach. Am I right?

[AutoBox]

front what i hear the tein and eibachs are not relaly that much stiffer or softer then stock....the good thing about our tokicos is that they are already tuned for a stiffer then normal stock suspension so they should be perfect....sleeve coilovers on the other handle is another story......

[Stealth5]

the tein are definitely stiffer, i drove my p5 then a stock p5 and theres a major difference in body roll

[slug420]

stiffer than p5 yea, but someone said they were softer than MSP

anyone have the specs on these and stock MSP springs?

[AutoBox]

at the very least i may just get some tein springs......i really dont think over 1 g coilovers is needed for my car.....

[slug420]

agreed.....even if its not overly noticable though, id hate to think that i had made my car handle worse than stock in the interests of appearances.....

such a quandry

[Stealth5]

the teins will not make it handle worse than stock

[slug420]

spool springs still lower the p5 and sedan right? its just the MSP whose ass wont go down cuz of stiffer struts or whatever?

it would be nice if i could offset the cost of some teins by selling my spools....

[slug420]

i just did a search....and found pics of vodapas' orange msp which has tein springs and while the back is lower, it doesnt look as low as the ion race springs or whatever which i have a pic of on a titanium msp......

maybe ion will throw in a free set of springs if i buy a bbk from them

:)

[SPARCO3319]

Anyone got 2 front Tein S lowering springs for sale?!?!?!
(rockon)

[slug420]

lol, why?! didnt u see the pics of my car with the stock height rear? it looks terrible!

[SPARCO3319]

nope......show me the pic

[gjmoreo]

Originally posted by slug420
i just did a search....and found pics of vodapas' orange msp which has tein springs and while the back is lower, it doesnt look as low as the ion race springs or whatever which i have a pic of on a titanium msp......

maybe ion will throw in a free set of springs if i buy a bbk from them

:)

can u post these pics too?

[Notorious]

Originally posted by Stealth5
the teins will not make it handle worse than stock

on the msp it might. Especially if the spring rates are softer than stock.

[slug420]

spool in front, stock in rear
(hah)http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/slug420/drop-mine.jpg


ion race-spec all 4
http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/slug420/drop-ion.jpg


tein all 4
http://www.mazdamp3.com/members/slug420/drop-tein.jpg

[gjmoreo]

so the Tein and Ions look dope .... who is lower? the Ions?

[www.03msp.com]

I had the Teins on my P5. The front was lower than the rear. I believe the front would be good on the MSP, but the rear doesn't seem like it would do that much. I like an evened-out appearance - what is all this talk about this ION stuff? Do they really have 4 springs for the MSP, what is the spring rate compared to stock, how much, and availability?

[pluto316]

Just cut like 3 loops off your stock springs man! That's how the PROS do it!!

Or..


Maybe you should put a bunch of sandbags in the back to weigh it down?

[gjmoreo]

zmzmp5,

just buy my spool springs and get that drop you are looking for ... spools are a better drop for Mp5's do to the softer hocks. I even have brand new rear springs sent from Terry.

[AutoBox]

i wonder if there are wheel well gap pics of the ion's and tein's? cant really tell which is lower by lookin at those pics.....

[gjmoreo]

yeah I know ... I know ... I'll just go out and get the Infamous "DROP ZONE" springs

[Notorious]

why buy springs when you could just take a saw to them????

[gjmoreo]

u are not serious r u?

[Dr.Sound]

peter is teh n00b :D

[Notorious]

hahah of course im serious! you don't even need to measure it, just do it by sight!

[gjmoreo]

ok now I know your not ... "by sight" LOL

[Stealth5]

Originally posted by zmzmp5
I like an evened-out appearance

the teins were perfect for me because i like a slightly raked, more aggressive look

[MSBlueP]

hey, wouldn't lowering our MSP will just mess with the cars already very nice handling?? .. just a thought.

[t3ase]

Originally posted by MSBlueP
hey, wouldn't lowering our MSP will just mess with the cars already very nice handling?? .. just a thought.
...someone that realizes what the car's actually all about? OMG.. DEXTER WHERE ARE YOU?@#

[MSBlueP]

Originally posted by t3ase
...someone that realizes what the car's actually all about? OMG.. DEXTER WHERE ARE YOU?@#


hmm.. don't know how to take dat sarcastic comment.. but oh well.


I guess it all depends on the person eh? ..
To look good or to handle well.. choices.. choices..

[slug420]

not all springs will hurt the handling. Some could, for example if they are softer. which is why as i have stated in this thread, i am hesitant to go with teins.

[luvsd619]

how about da Eibach Sportlines? Are those good to use on the msp. I had them on my talon with koni's. It handled well but it was stiff. I think it would be good on the MSP.

[Notorious]

I think even the sportlines have a slightly less stiff spring rate. Someone should double check this though.

[STLBLKMSP]

Originally posted by MSBlueP
hey, wouldn't lowering our MSP will just mess with the cars already very nice handling?? .. just a thought.

I put the eibach sportline springs on my msp and it hasn't hurt the handling of the car at all. the ride is a little rougher, that is also due to me putting 18's on.
/members/STLBLKMSP/jeremy2.jpg

[KyRaceFan]

I found that tein s techs lower a regular protege 1.8in in the front, anf 1.4in in the rear.
http://www.apexr1.com/testesp.html

It doesnt mention the spring rates, but im sure theyre a bit stiffer than stock, for a little rougher ride, but it will not hurt the handling of the car, it may also help it a bit.

[luvsd619]

SLTBLKMSP i like ur drop. Where did u get ur sportline or where can i buy them?

[Notorious]

I just picked up some goldline springs from spd racing. Suppose to be 20 percent stiffer and still lower the car 1.3 inches. I'll post before and after pics as soon as I install them this weekend.

[Notorious]

Btw the spring rates for the goldlines are 142 up front and 135 in back.

[srd555]

The Stock MSP Spring Rates are:
Front: 2.59kg/mm (145 lbs/in)
Rear: 2.10kg/mm (117.5 lbs/in)

And the Tein S-Tech spring Rates:
Front: 3.20 kg/mm (179 lbs/in)
Rear: 2.59 kg/mm (145 lbs/in)
http://www.tein.com/stech.html

That, in my limited knowledge means that the Teins are slightly stiffer.

The MP3 had stiffer springs than the MSP (my own experience taken from the 3 different MP3 I have driven back to back with my car) and I think this is what lead to the opinion that the Teins are softer than stock. i.e maybe they are softer than the MP3 stock springs.

ION spring rate:
Sport Spec:
(Front-linear) 162lbs/in
(Rear-progressive) 95-145lb/in

Race Spec:
(Front-linear) 195lbs/in
(Rear-progressive) 100-165lb/in