Learned that in my searching too - swoope would be proud!

It's too bad my mechanic doesn't do alignments.

Thanks again.

 

and your struts/shocks will last longer the closer the new spring rate is to stock. The further away from the stock spring rate, the more work the strut/shock will be under....and will relate to the shorter lifespan of your strut. But, out of the box...it will work.

 

Right. Ideally I'd do both, but $$$ dictates my path. If I push the shock replacement up a bit b/c of the new springs - so be it. It's a little less spent now, and the shocks will have to be replaced eventually regardless.

 

just an FYI i went to the Swift Springs website and got

Front
Rate: 3.7kg/mm, 207lb/In
Drop: .8"
Rear
Rate: 1.6-2.3kg/mm, 90-129lb/in
Drop: .8"
MSRP: $369

 

i have an 04 sport with 16's so its somewhat low already
how much do you think i should lower it? i am looking for an aggressive look, a smaller gap and some good handling but i'm not sure how low is too low to make it uncomfortable and not good to drive daily ....... what do you think about 1.2/1.25?

 

....... you cont put anything smaller then 17's on a 6 speed (sport) car. you sure you dont have an auto?.... or 17's


....... wait, I vaugely remember when I got my car something about in 04 the non sport models ahving smaller brakes. but that was never confirmed. after never hearing about it, I started to think it was not true. either way though if you have a sport you would have the big brakes.

 

ya i have an auto

 

oh ok Just an FYI, I dont htink they call aluto Sport. the Sport package was a package that came on the 6 spped car. (thats what I have) . of course I could be wrong since I odnt know a whole lot about Autos.

as far as sprigs, go with a medium drop spring and you will be happy with it

 

What is medium? how much?
but ya thats just what i was told it was like if you go on mazda's website you can pick sport, touring, or gt.
my friend has a gt and i can tell that my car is lower it might just be because of the wheels but there is a differnce, and i have some huge brake discs.

 

hmmmmm.... like I said, I dont knwo all that much about the auto and the packages they come in.

somehting right around 1" drop maybe a tad more. some of those springs that say it is a .8 drop or so just really dont lower the car a lot. they are used more for there highre spring rates. somehting right around an inch should make you happy.

 

alright thanks

 

Most people go with the Tein-S techs. Seems to offer the same ride quality as stock, and drops the front and rear so that the wheel well gaps remain equal.

A 1.2-1.25 inch drop is maybe more than you would want.

 

The Tein H-techs are pretty good as well, with a more modest drop. They drop about .3 in the rear and 1.0 in the front. Equates to a little less than 2 fingers gap in the front and a little more than 2 fingers gap in the rear. Evens the car up nicely. Seems the S-techs are more popular, but that drop is a little too much for me.

 

The Tein H- techs are considered the "stylish" drop....the S-techs are more of a "performance" drop. At least that what is says on the boxes.

here's pics of a drop with S-techs

 

tein s are good but the front is lower then the back by a noticeable amount

 

Actually, the S-techs are the "Stylish Spec - Dress Up Master", whereas the H-tech are the "Guarantee Spec - Luxury Master" to be specific Either way, I think they are a good upgrade over stock. After putting on the H-techs a couple of weeks ago, the gap just looks right. It even began to look stock again to me, until I saw some pictures of actual stock RX-8's on here. The drop is subtle, but looks MUCH better than stock, IMHO.

 

yes, that is right....forgot the exact names, but yes dress up master and luxury master.

 

I have the Mazdaspeed springs and love the height and performance feel.

Before:


After:

 

Can some1 could tell me sth about Intrax springs?? Some1 has got them??

 

Sweeeettt - finally got the new stuff on. Check it out!


Thanks again to Speeddemon & kwescott for the help!

 

:d:

 

Just wanted to let you all know that I got boared today (yeah right) and I checked the spring rate of my stock prings. they pretty much came back with what I have listed on the front page.

the front rated at 160 (give or take)
and the rears were 100 and 110 (again give or take.)

I will be checking the sprint springs when I pull them off, and I will check the Mazdaspeed springs when I put those on. (should be in a couple weeks or so.)

Just a friendly FYI

 

ROFL

 

HAHAHAH damn casey! your pictures is HILARIOUS man!!! HAHAHAH

 

................ ok, so I am a little pissed off. Of all the spring companies out there I would trust Mazdaspeed the most. But Noooooooooo.

I just tested the new Mazdaspeed springs that came in the mail today to see if the spring rates are the same as what I have on the front page. (which I need to find out where I got those figures from)

anyways the front page says:

Mazdaspeed
Front drop .8 "
Front rate 280 lb
Rear Drop .8 "
Rear rate 190 lb


But my numbers were

Front rate more like 180
Rear rate more like 100

WTF!?!?!?!?

no keep in mind that I just tested my stock springs (few post up) and they were right on. I also tested some springs I have laying around the garage from my dads old race car that have ratings stamped on them from the manafacture. all springs tested as they should. I even tested the Mazdaspeeds twice just because I could not belive what I was seeing.

****** details ******

Just so you know I do not count the first inch as it is hard and inaccurate to measure. the first rating is the first measurable inch, the second number is the second measurable inch, and the third number is the third measurable inch.

Front Spring 1
170 lb
180 lb
180 lb

Front Spring 2
170 lb
180 lb
190 lb

Rear spring 1
70 lb
100 lb
90 lb

Rear spring 2
70 lb
100 lb
90 lb

SERIOUSLY WTF!?!?!?

The whole reason I got these were because they are supposed to be a LOT stiffer then my Sprints. now I want to test my sprints to see what they are at......