MS3 spring install 6/2/12

[TORQUERULES]

I am going to install a set of MS3 Gen 2 springs on my car. The spring rates are (Gen 1/Gen 2) 188/153 for the front and 171/170 for the rear. This vs. the stock MK3 Focus rates of 114 front and 143 rear.

Thus the MS3 springs fall about in the middle of the Eibach Pro-Kit's progressive rates.

The MS3 springs are shorter than those on the Focus as well, but because of the front weight differences (the MS3 engine is heavy due to the top mount IC, turbo, etc.) the front may not drop and might raise (very possible).

I know that people who have put MS3 springs on Gen 1 Mazda 3s have seen about a +3mm-+10mm rise in the front but about a half inch drop in the rear. On the Gen 2 Mazda 3 they are seeing no drop in the front and a half inch drop in the rear which levels the car.

The issue for me is that Gen 2 Mazda 3s weigh between 3000+ lbs for a manual and 3100+lbs for an automatic. The Gen 2 MS3 is around 3200+ lbs.

The MK3 Focus weighs a little over 2900 lbs, with the DCT only weighing 28 lbs more than the manual.

Thus I am going to cut 1/8-1/4 of a coil off the front of the MS3 springs before I install them (band saw=minimal heat). This is okay since they are linear rate springs and every coil is an active coil. There will be very little change in rate.

I am taking a chance with maybe getting too low in the front, but it makes since with what experinces Mazda 3 owners have had with these springs. We will see...

[Sponsor]

[frinesi2]

Cool stuff, I'm excited to see the results. Are they constant diameter springs or are they tapered?

[andcool69]

Can I ask what the point of this is? There seems to be a decent offering of springs and coilovers for the mk3... Of course if it because you just want to then go for it! I am just curious!

And either way I am interested to see how it goes!


Sent from my iPhone 4S

[amoosenamedhank]

For completely selfish reasons I wish you were installing the springs as is... But I'm still very interested for the results!

[TORQUERULES]

Originally Posted by andcool69

Can I ask what the point of this is? There seems to be a decent offering of springs and coilovers for the mk3... Of course if it because you just want to then go for it! I am just curious!

And either way I am interested to see how it goes!


Sent from my iPhone 4S

BECAUSE...

No, seriously, I used to own an MS3 and from experience I know that the cars have ideal spring rates for high performance daily driving. Mine was a Gen 1, but I drove a Gen 2 that I wanted to get before I got the Focus (the Mazda dealer was trying to screw me on my trade...) and I can say that the Gen 2 springs give up nothing to the Gen 1s and the dampers seem to be able to handle them better.

[TORQUERULES]

Originally Posted by frinesi2

Cool stuff, I'm excited to see the results. Are they constant diameter springs or are they tapered?

The rear are constant, and the front have a slight taper.

[TORQUERULES]

Originally Posted by amoosenamedhank

For completely selfish reasons I wish you were installing the springs as is... But I'm still very interested for the results!

I might. I have the tools to change them quickly.

Gonna do a lot of measuring...

I'll take plenty of pics too.

[_RED_]

Watching this thread

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by zx3matt

BECAUSE...

No, seriously, I used to own an MS3 and from experience I know that the cars have ideal spring rates for high performance daily driving. Mine was a Gen 1, but I drove a Gen 2 that I wanted to get before I got the Focus (the Mazda dealer was trying to screw me on my trade...) and I can say that the Gen 2 springs give up nothing to the Gen 1s and the dampers seem to be able to handle them better.

I guess I don't see how being ideal on a totally different car translates to being ideal on this car? If you want a modest bump in spring rates, there are plenty of solutions out there in the $200 range that won't require cutting. Hell, the FRPP kit gives you OEM fitment and a conservative drop (and you get new bump stops, too). Probably very close to these spring rates (just guessing that Ford isn't going super aggressive).

Now, if you just happen to have these on hand and like to tinker, I get that. But I don't really see why someone would seek these out?

[Bimmer-Bob]

By the way, I know the Mazda and Focus used to share platforms, but do they still?