135k Stock. Bought Koni Y+Eibach kit. What else needs to be replaced?

[aDerpyPenguin]

I've been searching and reading multiple threads, but I'm still a bit stuck. I my suspension has been noisy and when I have 4 people in my car I get some rubbing. Several people recommended that I buy new struts/shocks. After some research, I bought Koni Yellows and Eibach springs, which was a package. They will be delivered tomorrow. After some further research, I may have more issues with the rubbing due to it being lowered, but it's too late now lol.

What else should I be replacing when I have someone install the Konis? From my understanding I should replace the front mounts and bearings. Ran across someone mentioning that Sachs are essentially OEM so I have those in my cart at RockAuto. For the two fronts its $72 shipped.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...42059&jsn=2521

I also have seen people mention the bump stops. Specifically the front. Would cheaper ones like this be fine or should I go with Ground Control for $20 more?

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...42059&jsn=3591

And I only need the fronts? I shouldn't have to do anything with the rear mounts or bump stops? Also, I've seen people mention replacing end links or sway bar bushings, but I have no idea what parts those would be. Should I be replacing them? I bought the car at 70k and was told its stock. In the 65k I've owned it I have not replaced anything other than brakes.

Thanks for any help and clarification.


<E> These bump stops were posted in another thread. It seems to come with rears too. Would that be better?

[Carskick]

There's a lot of info on here on this kind of stuff.

Research fender rolling, which you'll likely need with lower springs to prevent rubbing. I assume you have wider wheels/tires if you're already rubbing with 4 people in you're car.

You'll also want to research suspension mounts, top hats, camber arms, etc., all of which are recommended to replace/upgrade for what you're doing.

Correctly implemented sway bars, or Anti-Roll bars, prevent body roll. The stock bushings and end links often wear and start making clunking or rattling noises. Considering the age of the car, it definitely won't hurt to replace your end links with oem equivalent. But if you want to upgrade the bars, too, you can greatly improve handling. A mild upgrade is something a bit stiffer in the rear. A larger upgrade is stiffing up the front some and the rear a lot. Just start searching around for end link, RSB, etc. on the forum and you'll get tons of info on these topics.

More specific questions showing research will get you more helpful answers and you'll be better educated.

EDIT:
As for bump stops, yeah, there are various aftermarket solutions, which you'll likely want to replace. Coilovers will usually come with their own solution, but not this kit. Same goes for the bearings for the top hats.

[MSMS3]

Originally Posted by aDerpyPenguin I've been searching and reading multiple threads, but I'm still a bit stuck. I my suspension has been noisy and when I have 4 people in my car I get some rubbing. Several people recommended that I buy new struts/shocks. After some research, I bought Koni Yellows and Eibach springs, which was a package. They will be delivered tomorrow. After some further research, I may have more issues with the rubbing due to it being lowered, but it's too late now lol. What else should I be replacing when I have someone install the Konis? From my understanding I should replace the front mounts and bearings. Ran across someone mentioning that Sachs are essentially OEM so I have those in my cart at RockAuto. For the two fronts its $72 shipped. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...42059&jsn=2521 I also have seen people mention the bump stops. Specifically the front. Would cheaper ones like this be fine or should I go with Ground Control for $20 more? https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...42059&jsn=3591 And I only need the fronts? I shouldn't have to do anything with the rear mounts or bump stops? Also, I've seen people mention replacing end links or sway bar bushings, but I have no idea what parts those would be. Should I be replacing them? I bought the car at 70k and was told its stock. In the 65k I've owned it I have not replaced anything other than brakes. Thanks for any help and clarification. <E> These bump stops were posted in another thread. It seems to come with rears too. Would that be better?

Welcome!

Read this thread regarding the front strut bearings and top hats. Get the Ford Focus bearings mentioned here. The Sachs are junk. The new Ford parts fit perfectly, are better than Mazda OEM and cheaper:

Affordable redesigned top hats/struts mounts and bearings from FORD

Then, learn to search. This is a gold mine. The richest Mazdaspeed gold in the world. But, don't expect us to mine it for you.

[aDerpyPenguin]

Originally Posted by Carskick There's a lot of info on here on this kind of stuff. Research fender rolling, which you'll likely need with lower springs to prevent rubbing. I assume you have wider wheels/tires if you're already rubbing with 4 people in you're car. You'll also want to research suspension mounts, top hats, camber arms, etc., all of which are recommended to replace/upgrade for what you're doing. Correctly implemented sway bars, or Anti-Roll bars, prevent body roll. The stock bushings and end links often wear and start making clunking or rattling noises. Considering the age of the car, it definitely won't hurt to replace your end links with oem equivalent. But if you want to upgrade the bars, too, you can greatly improve handling. A mild upgrade is something a bit stiffer in the rear. A larger upgrade is stiffing up the front some and the rear a lot. Just start searching around for end link, RSB, etc. on the forum and you'll get tons of info on these topics. More specific questions showing research will get you more helpful answers and you'll be better educated. EDIT: As for bump stops, yeah, there are various aftermarket solutions, which you'll likely want to replace. Coilovers will usually come with their own solution, but not this kit. Same goes for the bearings for the top hats.

My car is stock, including the wheels. This will be my first modification. I think they were rubbing due to the current shocks being worn. At least thaat's what I was told.

Originally Posted by MSMS3 Welcome! Read this thread regarding the front strut bearings and top hats. Get the Ford Focus bearings mentioned here. The Sachs are junk. The new Ford parts fit perfectly, are better than Mazda OEM and cheaper: Affordable redesigned top hats/struts mounts and bearings from FORD Then, learn to search. This is a gold mine. The richest Mazdaspeed gold in the world. But, don't expect us to mine it for you.

I've been searching, which is also kinda the problem. I ran across a couple posts about the Sachs being the same as OEM, so I was hoping to save some money with those. I'll order the Fords though.

Specifically though, for the bump stops, there seems to be a lot of contradictory information. Some people say stay stock, some say replace, others say cut. Due to the volume of information, I thought it best to make a post.

[MSMS3]

Understood, regarding the bump stops.

I installed Bilstein struts and shocks. They don't use bumpstops in the front. In the rear, I simply reused the stock ones. They were fine. Same for the top mounts in the rear. They were fine.

You have quite a few miles, though. Hopefully someone else will come along with better info regarding Koni struts and shocks on OEM suspension.

FWIW, Rock Auto does a lot of things well. They don't know the difference, however, between Mazdaspeed 3 and regular Mazda 3. The suspensions are not the same. I would not trust them with suspension parts for this platform.

[Carskick]

Even if your rear shocks are blown, you shouldn't rub. The bump stop should prevent a total bottom out.

Before I went Coilover, I had the Koni SRT.R shocks with my OEM springs. They were comfortable, but too soft, especially with my wider wheels. The dampening felt fine, I think the OEM springs were just not up to what I wanted. Now, I could have just done my sway bars and bushings and left the suspension as it was, but the back was squatting quite a bit, and I wanted to really do it right.

I actually bought the Ford Transit van front bearing when I did my coilovers, only to learn my coil-overs came with their own... Live and learn.

Anyways, The Koni's with stock springs is fine, just make sure your top hats, bearings, rear strut mounts, etc. are all in good shape. Considering the age of the car, I'd just replace them all, including the bump-stop. Before I decided on coilover, I considered this: https://5xracing.com/i-20994502-5x-r...-stop-kit.html

Stock Springs and Koni's are the comfortable option, but less sporty than new springs, too.