Mazdaspeed Sport Spring Consensus?
 

Awhile back speeddemon32 tested the Mazdaspeed sport springs and found them to be at a rate that was something like 180/100. https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=100 Of course, the rate that was previously agreed upon here was 280/190 and some people continue to believe that rate. In addition, I e-mailed a vendor and he told me the Mazdaspeed coilover spring rates are 40% stiffer than the sport springs. Since the coilovers are 400/275, 280/190 for the sport springs would make sense. So with so much conflicting information, does anyone actually know what the Mazdaspeed sport springs are?

they were measured on a spring compressor. how do you argue against that?

Just Wondering where you got those numbers from? I have not seen any published numbers on the coilovers other than about 90% stiffer than stock. This is from the Mazdaspeed catalog as well as Eibach (The manufacturer). I have never seen any official numbers on the Springs either. Based on my calculations:

Stock as tested by speeddemon:
~160 Fronts
~110 Rears

Mazdaspeed as tested by speeddemon:
~180 Fronts
~100 Rears

Mazdaspeed Coilovers (Using 90% up from stock)
~295 Fronts
~205 Rears

These numbers also coincide with what that vendor says about the springs being about 40% less stiff then the coilovers. The rears are a little off on the Coilover calculations as compared to the MS Springs. But I suspect that the coilovers are the 280/190 as stated pretty much everywhere as the rates for the MS Springs.

Just my 2 cents, you can decide for yourself.

Anyone want to buy the coilovers and test my theories? probably not.

My 400/275 number comes from a vendor who e-mailed Mazdaspeed about their coilovers. This vendor (bagman1) is for Online Mazda Parts and is on miata.net. I don't think he's here.

Ok, thanks for the info.

I have to disagree with these #’s
Mazdaspeed as tested by speeddemon:
~180 Fronts
~100 Rears
The reason is that I have the MS springs and the ride after the install was way stiffer and the car felt great on the track. I can’t believe that a 20 increase in the front and 10 decrease in the rear would feel that much different. It has to be more, now how much more I have no idea. All I can say is that from my personal experience they are much stiffer.

Could the extra stiffness be attributable to the shocks?

Yeah, I have heard many reviews on the springs saying they were much stiffer, I have not tested or used them myself though. I am just posting what speeddemon tested them as. Since he confirmed other spring rates I have no reason not to believe him or his methods of testing.

As far as the shocks making the springs feel stiffer, that could definitely be true. If the mazdaspeed shocks are running much stiffer dampening then that would make everything seem stiffer. BUT, the dampening on the shocks wouldn't have any effect on the actual spring rates. It would NOT actually make the springs stiffer but it can make the entire suspension FEEL stiffer. Just ride in any adjustable shock setup and you will feel the difference between the soft/hard settings, but it doesn't actually change the spring rates.

I just wan't to say that I am not attacking the Mazdaspeed components and I have no doubt that they are quality pieces. Its just that there is so little actually published about them that the only way to come to your own conclusions is to test them yourself which not many people are willing to do.

You know what you are right. I forgot all about that part. So in short the MS suspension combo feels great, it may be more then some other combos but they work well together. I would like to know the actual spring rates.

I have heard that the springs were stiffer than stock even from someone running Koni's, which are softer than stock on the softest setting I believe.

Koni Yellows are stiffer than stock on all settings.

I'd like to see the technique used

unlike a coilover spring, the OE type springs are not flat on one end

it would take a special sloped perch to be carried out properly ...

My bad. I swear I read that somewhere on here. I really hope someone is able to get a definitive answer on all the mazdaspeed stuff.

interesting development! How big of a difference in the reading do you think it could make?

How does one go about finding a local place to test spring rates? I have Mazdaspeed sport springs & Tein S-techs in a box... would be interesting to throw them on a tester.

Maybe a speed shop or a suspension shop. Lety us know what you find out.

I am looking at purchasing the MS springs to lower the ride height and eliminate wheel gap a bit. Will I be satisfied. I am purchasing the entire MS kit and with the cost of the springs I thought that would be a good addition as well. I have yet to consider autox which is why I dont think coilovers are a good fit for me at this time. Any suggestions

My question would be if that were the case, why did the OE spring rates come out exactly where they should be?

As well as some random springs with the rates stamped on them...??

I'm just trying to rid some gap as well. Don't AutoX it at all and I've gotten used to the factory ride feel. I would like to keep the factory shocks too. Only 18k on them. Just wanna drop the car an inch....

i like them alot. I will be updating my sig soon ;)

There's no way that the MS springs are softer than stock in the rear. They are pretty damn stiff, I ran a set with my Konis and I thought I was going to jar my teeth out for the first few days. They are progressive rates rather than linear so if you press on them out of the car they do seem initially softer.

speed's family has been involved with racing for years.
he has the means to find out about the springs..

I wonder if perhaps the Mazdaspeed springs are purposely soft in the beginning of the travel to accommodate a ride height. How much travel is in the spring?

You'd have to load a progressive spring to it's compressed ride height dimension before beginning the test to get an accurate indication of it's rate

Ahhh probably why we have some "false" numbers floating around then....