Mazda 3 suspension on Mazdaspeed 3

[Sp15shak]

hello everyone im new to speed's and ive searched for info but i cant find any, is it possible to put second gen mazda 3 coilovers on a mazdaspeed 3? Ive found a good deal and i want to know if i should pull the trigger

[Nliiitend1]

Possible? Yes.

Advisable? Not really.

[Sp15shak]

Originally Posted by Nliiitend1 Possible? Yes. Advisable? Not really.

Why not?

[ryguy 3]

Originally Posted by Sp15shak Why not?

the Spring ranges are not the same for both cars, The mazda 3 coilovers will be geared for the lighter front end vs the slightly heavier nose of the mazdaspeed 3. they might bolt in but they won't perform as they should.

[SofaKingAwesome]

Originally Posted by Nliiitend1 Possible? Yes. Advisable? Not really.

This would be the guy you want to listen to.

[Sp15shak]

Originally Posted by ryguy 3 the Spring ranges are not the same for both cars, The mazda 3 coilovers will be geared for the lighter front end vs the slightly heavier nose of the mazdaspeed 3. they might bolt in but they won't perform as they should.

Oh ok got it, what if i change the springs tho, like going to swift springs? Or is the dampening for the 3 different than the speed

[Nliiitend1]

Originally Posted by Sp15shak Oh ok got it, what if i change the springs tho, like going to swift springs? Or is the dampening for the 3 different than the speed

Damping needs are dictated by largely by spring rate...

Depending on the particular setup, there may not be enough adjustability to handle the increased rates.

What specific setup are you considering?

[mituc]

The mazdaspeed 3 is like 180-200kg (that's about 400 pounds) heavier than the regular mazda 3. So the coilovers are designed for that weight and the reduction in height is also engineered from the height of a regular 3 to take into account the bushings twisting angle and everything.

If you put a regular mazda 3 suspension on a speed3 what you'll have will be a suspension that will bottom out every time the wheels go over a chewing gum, will be under damped and the ride will have quite a bit of floppiness even on normal/good roads.

[Sp15shak]

Originally Posted by Nliiitend1 Damping needs are dictated by spring rate... Depending on the particular setup, there may not be enough adjustability to handle the increased rates. What specific setup are you considering?

They are st coilovers

[Nliiitend1]

Originally Posted by Sp15shak They are st coilovers

I'd pass if I were you.

[Sp15shak]

Ok well im glad i asked u guys cause if i didnt i wouldve been assed out. Thanks guys ill keep looking for mazdaspeed coilovers and i know that gen 1 suspension will work on gen 2 with little modifications so ill maybe look into those aswell.

[ryguy 3]

There a potential group buy for some yellow speed coilovers here:

Group buy!

[mituc]

Originally Posted by Sp15shak Ok well im glad i asked u guys cause if i didnt i wouldve been assed out. Thanks guys ill keep looking for mazdaspeed coilovers and i know that gen 1 suspension will work on gen 2 with little modifications so ill maybe look into those aswell.

Gen1 works on gen2 and the other way around with 0 modification. I know that because I sold my Bilstein B14 kit to a gen2 owner.

[Nliiitend1]

Originally Posted by mituc Gen1 works on gen2 and the other way around with 0 modification. I know that because I sold my Bilstein B14 kit to a gen2 owner.

Not exactly...

The bottoms of the rear shocks are different, and require at the very least some additional parts to make work.

Gen 1 has a wider shock eye bushing, and uses a longer bolt. If putting Gen 1 shocks on a Gen 2 you need a longer bolt. If putting Gen 2 shocks on a Gen 1 you need washers or some sort of spacer.

gen 1 to gen 2 suspension

gen 1 to gen 2 suspension