2014 Mazda 3

[oliverS]

+1 on Mast3r Geo's advice. If you don't track the car, the HTechs are great for daily street use & gives you that balance of drive, comfort & looks. Don't forget to cut the ftont bumpstops upon installing these.

Tein Htech bro if you do not have funds for the coilovers. Mild drop but almost the same as ride comfort of the stock springs. Many can attest that here. Hehe. If you want with slightly lower stance, H&R.

thanks for the input. Already have a figure for Tein Htech. I'll post it once dropped is done

Can you show a pic of the bumpstops need to be cut?

[travajante]

Just curious, what are the front bump stops and why the need to cut them when installing HTechs? Wouldn't the installer know to cut them?

thanks for the input. Already have a figure for Tein Htech. I'll post it once dropped is done

Can you show a pic of the bumpstops need to be cut?

Lowering springs will have shorter suspension travel than stock. To retain stock travel, cut around 30mm off your stock front bumpstops before buttoning the front back up. If you don't, you'll risk riding on bumpstops....& killing your stock struts prematurely.
Here's a documentation of Christian Grey's molestation of his Geisha, Sylvia....
Warning: it's extremely GRAPHIC, some here might be offended. The bumpstops are the ones in the circumcision scene.
Sit back, relax & enjoy the **** here....:D
My Buddy, Christian Grey's New Fling - 2004 to 2016 Mazda 3 Forum and Mazdaspeed 3 Forums

I hope the mods won't ban me.:D

[Hot Hatch!]

Drop it! =)

[travajante]

Guys, I'll be having my spring insulators installed this week. Aside from that, I remember the tech crew who assessed my car saying some welding will be done for the lower control arm? (Mazda Pasig's brainchild for fixing the squeaking noises). Should there be any concerns regarding the welding part of the fix? Any feedback from those who went with this fix?

TIA,
The clueless hobo

Huh???? What are your symptoms???

[travajante]

Drop it! =)

Perfection....featuring
Dash, the Artist formerly known as Ava...👌👍💪👏

[oliverS]

Drop it! =)

nice drop! one of my inspiration to drop

[lsdgenie]

Drop it! =)

Beautiful. Coilies or Springs?

[Hot Hatch!]

Beautiful. Coilies or Springs?

Springs bro.

[kirito]

Huh???? What are your symptoms???

Creaking sounds when going over humps at low speed & "tok" noise when making a full turn. The tech guy seems pretty confident with their control arm mod that will allow greater flexibility in terms of swaying? This apparently appeased early Mown3rs with the same symptoms. Just wondering if there's a TSB for this, or a pure product of noypi ingenuity :what:

[travajante]

Creaking sounds when going over humps at low speed & "tok" noise when making a full turn. The tech guy seems pretty confident with their control arm mod that will allow greater flexibility in terms of swaying? This apparently appeased early Mown3rs with the same symptoms. Just wondering if there's a TSB for this, or a pure product of noypi ingenuity :what:

Do the spring protectors 1st. Drive away & observe before letting em do whatever that welding fix is....Best of luck, fellow hobo.

[bhybhoy]

Creaking sounds when going over humps at low speed & "tok" noise when making a full turn. The tech guy seems pretty confident with their control arm mod that will allow greater flexibility in terms of swaying? This apparently appeased early Mown3rs with the same symptoms. Just wondering if there's a TSB for this, or a pure product of noypi ingenuity :what:

Sir,
Mine also have "tok" sound when making a full turn,
Please let us know if the problem solved
Thanks

[c_cube]

Sir,
Mine also have "tok" sound when making a full turn,
Please let us know if the problem solved
Thanks

probably same with the problem of cx5s. just bring it to the casa, it's an easy fix, they need to tighten a few bolts only. though berjaya knows very well the issue with the cx5s, not sure with the m3s

[travajante]

Sir,
Mine also have "tok" sound when making a full turn,
Please let us know if the problem solved
Thanks

If yours is the thump upon turning FULL LEFT, below is the TSB w/ fix procedure pics & the list of stricken M3, M6 CX5 VINs:
Thumping Noise from Under Front – 2013-2015 Mazda | - OEMDTC

This is a totally different issue from the spring protectors that Mazda already solved...
Happy Indie Day, guys!

[kirito]

Do the spring protectors 1st. Drive away & observe before letting em do whatever that welding fix is....Best of luck, fellow hobo.

Sound advice Travs, I will clarify first with dealership if it involves parts replacement (for example: inner ball joint assembly) or just some workaround.

Sir,
Mine also have "tok" sound when making a full turn,
Please let us know if the problem solved
Thanks

I'll get back to you guys once done, for the benefit of Mown3rs

[go-to-guy]

Lowering springs will have shorter suspension travel than stock. To retain stock travel, cut around 30mm off your stock front bumpstops before buttoning the front back up. If you don't, you'll risk riding on bumpstops....& killing your stock struts prematurely.
Here's a documentation of Christian Grey's molestation of his Geisha, Sylvia....
Warning: it's extremely GRAPHIC, some here might be offended. The bumpstops are the ones in the circumcision scene.
Sit back, relax & enjoy the **** here....:D
My Buddy, Christian Grey's New Fling - 2004 to 2016 Mazda 3 Forum and Mazdaspeed 3 Forums

I hope the mods won't ban me.:D

This was what i was afraid of regarding dropping. Is the 2.0L lowered compared to the 1.5?

[vinrem]

This was what i was afraid of regarding dropping. Is the 2.0L lowered compared to the 1.5?

Hehehe but if you have the budget, coilies is the way to go.

[travajante]

This was what i was afraid of regarding dropping. Is the 2.0L lowered compared to the 1.5?

The 2.0, having a heavier engine, would slightly rake more than a 1.5. Springs like the HTechs are mild drop 1s that are meant to reduce that wheel gap, retain the stock ride comfort & lessen body roll. There are those that concerningly drop more, reducing further the suspension travel. I personally won't recommend em. To significantly drop beyond 45mm on our cars, I'd say going coilies would be the ideal option.

Hehehe but if you have the budget, coilies is the way to go.

Please note most coilovers available for the gen3 M3 have double the stock spring rates. However you adjust those dampers, expect a firmer ride. Ask those on them. For custom springs, there are quality companies out there like Swift. I'm just not sure who'd be tracking 3s seriously to go out & get em.
Not all coilies are created equal & not all can be better than a good set of springs & dampers.

[kirito]

Regarding my warranty claim, here's the description on the repair order:
*Install left/right front insulators.
*Replace left/right lower control arm bushing.

Service crew advised that this may take whole day because the bushing part will be done by external machine shop. This got me thinking if this was strictly replacement, is the machine shop really needed? Or the bushing will actually just be repaired there? Your thoughts fellow Mown3rs?

Tia,
The doubtful hobo

[JohnM]

Lower arm bushings are usually pressed in and out by a hydraulic press. It looks like the casa does not have one hence the machine shop.

[kirito]

Lower arm bushings are usually pressed in and out by a hydraulic press. It looks like the casa does not have one hence the machine shop.

Thanks JohnM3, "oracle" of cars