Mazdaspeed 3 Suspension & Coilover Upgrades
Welcome to Part 2 of our 3-Part Suspension Guide for the Mazdaspeed 3. In this installment, we'll delve into the significance of upgrading your suspension components, explore various options for suspension upgrades tailored to your needs, and provide an installation guide for coilovers.
If you're a proud Mazdaspeed Owner, you know how addictive it is to put that pedal to the metal with the combination of turbocharged power and agile handling.
But the real question is, how is it possible for a car to handle so much power and torque, keeping it steady and glued to the asphalt with an exhilarating driving experience? What's underneath the car that's supporting it from a launch and has that Zoom-Zoom character? Let's explore the other parts within the suspension system: shocks, struts, springs, and for performance-oriented enthusiasts, coilovers.
Why it's important upgrading your shocks, struts, and springs ?
Upgrading your shocks, struts, and springs to higher-quality components for the Mazdaspeed 3 can significantly enhance its performance and driving experience. When you combine shocks, struts, and springs in a vehicle's suspension system, you create a network of components that work together seamlessly to provide an optimal driving experience for daily and track use. Let's delve deeper into each component and its role in the suspension system.
Shocks vs Struts: What's the difference?
Shocks and struts are part of your suspension system that work behind the scenes to make your driving experience smoother and more controlled. Shocks, also known as shock absorbers, are responsible for absorbing the bumps and jolts that you encounter on the road, ensuring that your ride feels comfortable even on rough surfaces. When you upgrade to high-performance shocks, you're essentially giving your Mazdaspeed 3 a smoother, more stable ride, especially when driving fast or tackling uneven terrain.
Struts, on the other hand, are like the backbone of your car's suspension system. They serve a dual role, helping absorb bumps like shocks and providing essential support to your vehicle's structure. Upgraded struts do more than just smooth out your ride; they also improve your car's handling, making it feel more responsive and agile, particularly when navigating tight corners or sharp twisty roads.
By upgrading both your shocks and struts, you're essentially giving your Mazdaspeed 3 a complete makeover, transforming it into a vehicle that not only rides better but also handles like a dream. Whether cruising down the highway or tearing up the track, these upgrades make every drive more enjoyable and exhilarating, ensuring that your Mazdaspeed 3 delivers performance and excitement in equal measure.
What brands offer upgraded shocks & struts ?
There are several brands that we offer here at Damond Motorsports. But how to choose which type of driving experience you'd want. Here's the list of what we recommend when choosing upgraded struts & shocks :
- Bilstein B6: if you want to retain factory springs/height but want better control and ride quality, then choosing the Bilstein B6 is a great option for daily driving and having a sporty feel, while retaining factory ride height.
- Bilstein B8: Bilstein B8s are intended for use with lowering springs, if you want better control and ride quality while still being great for daily driving, light track, & auto cross, then this is an excellent option.
- Koni Orange: Koni orange has the exact same features of the Koni Yellows minus the damping adjustment. If you want a sportier feel and you're on a budget, then choosing the Koni Orange is great for a sporty drive while still comfortable for daily driving.
- Koni Yellow: if you want a sportier ride and some rebound damping adjustment, allowing you to firm up the dampers when needed, then choosing the Koni Yellows is an amazing choice for daily driving, light track, & auto cross.
Springs
In the Mazdaspeed 3 suspension system, springs play a crucial role in supporting the weight of the vehicle and providing the necessary compression and rebound characteristics to absorb bumps and maintain tire contact with the road. These springs work with other suspension components, such as shocks and struts, to ensure a balanced and controlled ride. By absorbing and distributing the forces encountered during driving, springs help to minimize body roll, maintain stability, and improve overall handling dynamics. Additionally, springs contribute to determining the vehicle's ride height and stance, which helps the car with its aerodynamics and visual appearance. Upgrading to performance springs in the Mazdaspeed 3 suspension system can further enhance handling precision, reduce body roll, and optimize the vehicle's center of gravity for improved agility and responsiveness, especially during spirited driving maneuvers.
When choosing an aftermarket spring, you want to make sure what the spring rate is in order to have optimal performance and a great driving experience. Spring rates are essentially measurements of how stiff or soft a spring is. They indicate the amount of force required to compress the spring by a certain distance. This measurement is crucial in determining the overall handling and ride characteristics of a vehicle's suspension system. A higher spring rate means the spring is stiffer and requires more force to compress, resulting in less body roll during cornering and more responsive handling. On the other hand, a lower spring rate indicates a softer spring, providing a smoother ride over bumps and uneven road surfaces. Spring rates are carefully chosen based on factors such as vehicle weight, intended use (street driving, track racing), and driver preferences to achieve the desired balance between comfort and performance.
What's brands offer upgraded springs ?
Choosing a good quality spring is essential to provide comfort for daily driving yet enhances the handling characteristics, performance, and the aesthetics of the vehicle. Some of the reputable brands that offer upgraded springs are Eibach and H&R. When paired with the upgraded struts & shocks that we mentioned before, it will give you the ultimate driving experiencing for controlled ride, minimizing body roll, improvement in overall ride quality, while still maintaining a comfortable ride for everyday driving. Bilstein also offer their Shocks & Struts with a combination of Eibach springs as a great kit which is the Bilstein B12 for a lower cost with great performance. As well as Koni which they also offer them as a package paired with the Eibach springs which are the Koni Orange 1125 & the Koni Yellow 1145.
If you want to have a better quality suspension components, comfortable ride, responsive handling, transform your Mazdaspeed 3 into the ultimate driving mean machine and unleash its full potential on the road and track with the combination of Bilstein or Koni shocks/struts and Eibach or H&R Springs. Check out our Damond Motorsports Store as we offer them on our website.
What are Coilovers & why upgrade ?
A coilover is basically in short term "coil-over-shock" or "coil spring over shock absorber," combine a coil spring and shock absorber into a single unit. Unlike the OEM Mazdaspeed 3 suspension setup where the spring and shock/strut absorber are separate components, the advantage of having coilovers over stock suspension is that it integrates both functions into a compact design and adjustable assembly. It's commonly used in performance-oriented vehicles and aftermarket upgrades. This compact design reduces weight and provides a more direct and responsive connection between the wheels and the chassis. And the adjustability allows users to fine-tune the suspension system to their preferences and driving conditions. Let's talk about the the main things you should consider switching your suspension system to coilovers.
Ride Height Adjustments
What are the pros of having a lowered vehicle on coilovers ?
Ride height adjustments are often made by rotating threaded collars on the coilover body, allowing users to raise or lower the vehicle's stance.
Lowering the vehicle have a lot of benefits for enthusiasts such as improvement in handling which lowers the center of gravity. This results in reducing body roll when driving through those tight corners. Another benefit in lowering your vehicle's ride height is enhanced aerodynamics, this can result in having less drag which improves your fuel efficiency. Enhancing the look of the vehicle is one of the top reasons why enthusiasts lower their cars. It allows them to personalize their vehicle's and stand out from the crowd. Coilovers also have another benefit that allows the vehicle to have improvement in performance such as braking which will have a higher response rate due to the decrease in suspension travel.
What are the cons of having a lowered vehicle on coilovers ?
Having all of these benefits are great for the enthusiasts, however, lowering your vehicle's ride height too low can have consequences such as "Lower Ground Clearance", it can result damaging some of your components such as exhaust systems, suspension parts, or even your oil pan. "Reduces Ride Comfort" when upgrading to a coilover setup, it is nice making improvements in handling and having a responsive steering, but you'll most likely will have a stiffer ride which can be uncomfortable when going through those bumpy roads. "Increase Exterior Damage", often times you'll end up scraping and damaging your front/rear bumper, side skirts, having trouble going on those speed bumps or even putting it on a trailer. Modifying your vehicles ride too low can be costly and affect the ride quality if not done properly.
what are the pros of having a raised vehicle on coilovers ?
Raising the vehicle's ride height can also have benefits as well, mainly, improvement in ground clearance. It's one of the most significant advantages of having a raised vehicle. This can reduce the risk of scarping the bottom parts of your vehicle such as oil pans, exhaust system, and suspension components.
Having a raised vehicle allows you to drive on those muddy roads if you are looking to discover places with rough terrain, such as rocks and logs. Plus, adding big tires to your raised vehicle allows you to have better traction on those muddy roads if you're stuck, or even on the snow and sandy places. It even offers a better visibility allows the driver to see over obstacles more easily, which improves awareness and reducing the risk of accidents. So, if you are looking for a rugged and aggressive look, then look no further than upgrading your suspension and raise your vehicle's ride height.
What are the cons of having a raised vehicle on coilovers ?
Raising a vehicle may also have some drawbacks, such as a higher center of gravity, which can affect stability and handling, especially during high-speed maneuvers. Additionally, lifting a vehicle can alter its suspension geometry and may require additional modifications to maintain optimal performance and safety.
Therefore, it's essential to carefully consider the intended use and potential trade-offs before deciding to raise a vehicle.
Damping
Coilovers allow for adjustable damping settings, which controls the rate at which the suspension compresses and rebounds in response to road bumps. In coilover suspension systems, damping refers to the control of the movement of the suspension through shock absorbers, also known as dampers. These dampers use hydraulic or pneumatic mechanisms to regulate the compression and rebound of the suspension when encountering bumps or irregularities on the road.
Compression damping controls how quickly the suspension compresses, while rebound damping controls the rate at which it rebounds. By adjusting the damping characteristics, drivers can fine-tune the handling, comfort, and performance of their vehicles to suit their preferences and driving conditions, ensuring a smoother, more controlled driving experience. Damping adjustments can be made using external knobs or dials on the coilover body, providing users with the flexibility to tune suspension stiffness for different driving scenarios. Whether it's adjusting for comfort during daily commuting or optimizing for performance on the track.
And finally, coilovers offer the ability to select custom spring rates to match specific vehicle weights, driving styles, and performance goals. By choosing the appropriate spring rates, users can optimize handling, traction, and ride comfort for their particular application.
High-quality coilovers are often engineered to withstand the demands of aggressive driving and performance applications. They're constructed with durable materials and precision engineering to provide consistent performance and reliability, even under challenging conditions. Investing in quality coilovers can contribute to long-term durability and resilience of the Mazdaspeed 3's suspension system, ensuring optimal performance and safety over time.
Here are some reputable brands that offer quality coilovers for the Mazdaspeed Platform:
Bilstein: Bilstein's B14 coilovers provide a balance of performance and comfort for the Mazdaspeed 3. With monotube shock design and adjustable ride height, these coilovers offer improved handling characteristics while maintaining ride quality. Choosing the Bilstein's B16 will have all of the quality features that the Bilstein B14 offers, with the addition of allowing the driver to adjust their damping by using the knob from comfort whenever the driver wants to drive normally all the way to track mode. Choosing the Bilstein B14/B16 coilovers are a great option that a lot of enthusiasts choose for its ease of installation.
KW Suspensions: KW is a well-known brand for its high-performance coilovers. They offer a wide range of choices to enhance the handling and performance of the enthusiast's vehicle. There are 3 Variants that you can choose from, KW's Variant 1 coilovers are designed to provide a balance of sporty handling and comfort for daily driving. They feature fixed damping rates optimized for a combination of performance and ride quality.
The Variant 2 coilovers have the same height adjustment feature as Variant 1 with the addition of adjustable rebound damping. This allows Mazdaspeed 3 owners to fine-tune the suspension's response to varying road conditions and driving styles. KW's Variant 3 coilovers are designed for drivers who demand the ultimate in performance and adjustability. They feature separate adjustments for compression and rebound damping, allowing for precise tuning of the suspension characteristics. Variant 3 coilovers offer a wide range of adjustability, making them suitable for aggressive street driving, track days, or autocross events.
Fortune Auto: Fortune Auto coilovers are hand-built and hand-assembled in the USA at Fortune Auto's facility in Virginia. The company takes pride in its craftsmanship and attention to detail, ensuring that each coilover meets their high standards of quality and performance. Fortune Auto is known for producing high-quality suspension components for performance applications, including coilover kits that provide improved handling, adjustability, and ride quality.
Each coilover that they have manufactured goes into a deep inspection to verify fitment and function before being packed and shipped to their customers. Their 500 Series coilovers feature custom spring rates and damping settings, ensuring optimal performance and comfort for the Mazdaspeed 3. Fortune Auto coilovers are %100 rebuildable.
BC Racing: BC Racing coilovers are designed to enhance the handling, performance, and aesthetics for the Mazdaspeed 3. Making them a popular choice for enthusiasts, they are extremely known for offering a balance of high quality coilovers with the combination of performance and affordability.
They are typically designed for a straightforward installation for anyone who wants to have a feeling of performance and sharp handling. Whether it's for daily driving, track days, or even spirited driving through those canyons, BC Racing is a popular choice for those who want improvement in handling and a more engaging driving experience.
ISC Coilovers: ISC Coilovers is a manufacturer that produces high-quality coilovers for the Mazdaspeed 3. They offer a wide range of customization to choose from daily driving or track mode. Enthusiasts can choose either the ISC N1 version or the ISC Basic version.
The ISC Basic Coilover system is all about adjustability combined with affordability. The ISC Basic has all the same great features of the ISC N1 coilover, including 32-way adjustable damping, full height adjustability , monotube dampers, premium hardware and more, with the exception of adjustable top camber plates. The ISC Basic & N1 coilovers will come with a gold anodized aluminum top plate featuring a rubber top mount designed for comfort. ISC coilovers are also 100% rebuildable and backed up with a limited lifetime warranty.
These are just a few examples of coilover brands available for the Mazdaspeed 3. When choosing coilovers for your car, it's essential to consider factors such as your budget, intended use (street driving, track days, etc.), adjustability preferences, and desired level of performance. Additionally, ensure that the coilovers you select are compatible with your Mazdaspeed 3's specific model year and configuration.
The real question is, is it worth putting coilovers on your Mazdaspeed 3?
It really depends on your driving goals, if you're passionate about performance driving, turning into those sharp corners through the canyons, and having a comfortable ride, it is recommended to upgrade you suspension system to an upgraded shock, strut, and spring setup for daily driving. And if you're taking your Mazdaspeed 3 to the next level, you'll have the adjustability to raise or lower the car for better aesthetics, improvement in responsive steering and handling, improvement in overall performance. The amount of engineering that manufacturers have developed designing the coilovers are getting better from comfort and overall drivability than the OEM suspension setups.
It also depends on your budget, some prefer going with upgrading their OEM springs to lowering springs alone for vehicles aesthetics. Others go with a budget, ease of installation shock & strut setup for experiencing the handling performance. And some would upgrade to a high quality coilover to gain all of the features that a coilover truly offers.
We appreciate you for stopping by and taking the time to learn how suspension system works. Check out our full step-by-step on how to install them on your Mazdaspeed 3 in our installation guide.
Check out our Part 3 of our Suspension Guide series to learn about how important it is to do an Alignment after installing your suspension upgrades and how to maintain it.
Blog written by Ahmad Almoghraby
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