M-3000-ZX3 kit questions

[JakeTheSnake]

I have purchased the M-3000-ZX3 kit from Amazon.com, I should have it next week sometime.

I bought my 2004 Focus ZTS sedan brand new.
I am at 115,000 miles, and I can tell by the ride that it needs shocks & struts replaced. I figured I'd just get this kit and install it.

Does that make sense?

I also figure as long as I have it disassembled for this kit, I might as well replace any other suspension-related parts that don't come in the kit. Are there any such parts that could use replacement along with the kit?

Thank you!

[Sponsor]

[Geezer]

The SVT kit you're getting will have shocks, springs and rear sway. Additional parts definitely worth getting would be front strut mounts and bearings.

Seeing that you from the land of rust you'll probably have a hard time with the removal of the rear control arm bolts. If that's the case, you should plan on replacing the control arms as well. At that mileage the existing bushings are probably bad anyway and new ones come preinstalled in new arms.

I'd also consider getting new front sway bar end links. If your car doesn't presently have a rear sway bar or have the mounts for one on the cross member, you may need an aftermarket sway bar install kit (mounts, bushings and end links).

[sailor]

I used the M-3000-ZX3A kit from Tousley, that one comes with pre-assembled front struts so I didn't need the mounts & bearings that you will need. It also did NOT come with a rear SVT bar, so I'm still using the stock one.

You should use new sway bar bushings to fit the new bar, being a ZTS you SHOULD have a rear bar already...

Interesting that you have a PZEV 2.3 in Michigan, since that isn't a "California" state or next door to one, unless you count across Canada to N.Y. as being next door...

My Lower arm bolts were frozen at lower mileage, left them alone for now as the bushings weren't sacked yet when I installed the kit.

Agree with Geezer that you could use them, plan on new bolts as you'll be cutting them most likely....

I broke a sway bar link not too long after the kit went in, since you have to get one end loose anyways for the install it WOULD be a good time for replacement....

Luck!

[Geezer]

Yes, there are two differing kits. With the ZX3 the sway bar is included. In the ZX3A kit the mounts and bearings are included but it does not include the sway bar. And for some reason, the ZX3A kit usually costs a little more.

[JakeTheSnake]

Thanks a million guys!

In addition to the M-3000-ZX3, I will buy:

1. New rear control arms.
2. New rear anti-sway bar bushings.
3. New front strut mounts - kits I'm looking at come with bearings.
4. New front anti-sway bar end links.

Sound good?

[JakeTheSnake]

Originally Posted by sailor

Interesting that you have a PZEV 2.3 in Michigan, since that isn't a "California" state or next door to one, unless you count across Canada to N.Y. as being next door...

I think all 2004 ZTS sedans have the 2.3L PZEV engine.
I believe it is standard for that model & year.

[sailor]

It's been a GREAT car for me Jake, The suspension kit was a very good upgrade - nice ride & handling.

Got some SVT wheels from '04 locally from a member who took 'em off the first year he owned his SVT (it's a one year pattern, a six spoke who's appearance has "grown" on me).

An instrument cluster from the same family (dad's a Ford nut) gave me the Tach. I REALLY wanted & solved my intermittent brake warning issue as well...

It's a bit "odd" that the "High Line" cluster only came on cars with automatics, when the stick is when you really want one....

Don't forget the bolts for your new arms when you're ordering parts, I like using "stock" pieces whenever avail..

Black is the color my good condition manual trans. car came in, if I had to choose I'd pick your blue since I don't think our model came in the Focus green I like as well (seen a LOT of SPI's in that color, and a few wagons....) Can't complain, the sunroof is a "plus" I LOVE, but might not have "splurged" for if I was buying new (a bit pricey).

One other "Mod." I'd recommend is the BSD kit. I won one at the "fest" - it lets the engine rev. a bit quicker, takes 20 lbs. off the front end, and I don't notice any appreciable difference in vibration without the balancer in there. Gives an extra quart of oil capacity as well...

Take Care,

Sailor

[JakeTheSnake]

Originally Posted by Geezer

Seeing that you from the land of rust you'll probably have a hard time with the removal of the rear control arm bolts. If that's the case, you should plan on replacing the control arms as well.

Alright! I've obtained a DVD copy of Ford's Workshop manual for my car, this software is awesome!

On the Rear Suspension, I see that we have:



2. Upper Arm
3. Front Lower Arm
9. Rear Lower Arm

Geezer, you are referring to item #9 right?

[JakeTheSnake]

Originally Posted by sailor

I REALLY wanted & solved my intermittent brake warning issue as well...

Holy crap, what did you do?
Since brand-new, this thing seems to just consume brake fluid! I have no idea where it goes, but when that warning light starts flickering, I check my brake fluid, and sure enough it's down half.

I have no idea where the fluid is going - I've never been able to detect a leak or anything, it just gets disappeared somehow...

[04zts]

Originally Posted by sailor

An instrument cluster from the same family (dad's a Ford nut) gave me the Tach. I REALLY wanted & solved my intermittent brake warning issue as well...

It's a bit "odd" that the "High Line" cluster only came on cars with automatics, when the stick is when you really want one....

not true....my 04 zts with the mtx came with the "high cluster"....aka, i have the tach, and we bought the car new in june of 2004.