Mazdaspeed 3 Alignment & Maintenance
This is Part 3 in our 3 Part series in our Suspension Guide for the Mazdaspeed 3. We will be discussing the importance of alignment and exploring suspension upgrade options for your alignment needs.
Importance of Proper Mazdaspeed 3 Alignment
After completing the installation of the coilovers or any suspension upgrades, having an alignment is mandatory after any camber that we have changed. This prevents tire wear, ensures proper safety, improves fuel economy, extends the lifespan of the coilovers, enhances responsive handling and steering, and most importantly provides a comfortable ride for your Mazdaspeed 3.
While it may be tempting to attempt a DIY installation of coilovers, the importance of professional installation cannot be overstated. Investing in professional installation ensures safety, performance, warranty coverage, and peace of mind, ultimately enhancing the overall driving experience and longevity of the coilovers.
Professional mechanics have the expertise, knowledge, and experience to properly install coilovers, adjusting critical settings such as ride height, damping, and alignment to optimize handling and ride quality. Incorrect installation can lead to handling issues, suspension failure, and safety hazards, putting both the driver and passengers at risk.
Additionally, many coilover manufacturers require professional installation to maintain warranty coverage, safeguarding against potential repairs or replacements. By entrusting coilover installation to professionals, owners can rest assured that their vehicle's suspension is installed correctly, providing enhanced performance and peace of mind on the road.
There are also other suspension components that you might want to upgrade in order to enhance the alignment and make it perfect to prevent tire wear and ensure safety, such as camber plates, control arms, tie rods, and also adjustable bushings.
Most coilover brands provide camber plates for their kits. This allows the enthusiast to adjust camber, toe, and caster, enabling them to fine-tune their camber angle. This is essential for users allowing them to have precise adjustments, enabling drivers to have better handling on the track, autocross, or even drifting depending on the driving condition or type of event.
However, in our Mazdaspeed 3 vehicles, our suspension setup in the rear is considered a divorced setup. This is where the shock and spring are separated from each other, which results in having adjustable camber arms and toe arms.
Let's dive deeper into why you should upgrade your camber arms, toe arms, or even adjustable bushings.
Once a vehicle is lowered, wheel camber may become excessively negative, meaning the top of the tire is angled inward toward the center of the vehicle. While some negative camber aids in improving traction and road adhesion, too much can result in compromised handling and accelerated tire wear. Adjustable control arms are suspension components that allow owners to correct this excessive negative camber, ensuring proper wheel alignment and maximizing tire contact with the road surface.
Toe arms, on the other hand, are similar to camber arms; however, their job is to adjust the toe angle of the wheel. This allows the enthusiasts to fine-tune their toe to ensure proper alignment, enhance handling characteristics, and {maximize} the longevity of the tire.
Some of the reputable brands that offer these types of suspension components are Massive Speed, Eibach, Whiteline, SPC, and Corksport.
Also, a lot of enthusiasts rather choose to have adjustable bushings instead. They are cost-effective and easier to install. Adjustable bushings offer flexibility in adjusting suspension geometry and alignment settings, as they prefer having their camber & toe arms as one solid unit. Powerflex Suspension Bushings provide a pivot point for suspension components and absorb vibration before it is transferred to the frame while keeping the connection points of the suspension tight. Not only does this help replace your old worn OEM bushings that {have suffered from} premature wear from excessive heat and a lot of movement over time, but replacing them with Powerflex Suspension Bushings will ensure you have precision in your alignment, which results in improvement in handling, ensures safety, and provides a comfortable ride.
We appreciate you for stopping by and taking the time to learn how the suspension system works. If you're interested in learning how to install coilovers, check out our full step-by-step on how to install them on your Mazdaspeed 3 in our installation guide.
Blog written by Ahmad Almoghraby
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