Can someone please help me with regards to a MK 3.5 MX-5, I'm booked in at wheels in motion tomorrow

[Stressed]

Hi I have a mk3.5 mx-5 roadster coupe. A Mazda dealer supplied and fitted a mazda lowering kit.

 

However the front sits much higher than the rear, the rear is extremely low.

 

After research I am reading conflicting information, some people are saying that Mazda supply different springs for the soft top and hard top version, however there appears to only one part number for 2008 onwards mx-5 cars which is 4100-77-779. These are the Mazda (eibach) springs fitted to my vehicle.

 

I'm booked in to wheels in motion tomorrow for a geometry, however if I've got the wrong springs it's going to be pointless.

 

I've also read by Tony (who I'd love to do the geometry on my car due to his expertise) mention that if the suspension is not fitted correctly, it can cause the bushings to bend/twist which can affect ride height.

 

In the thread where he mentioned this after he corrected it the front dropped by 20mm.

 

So as it stands I'm confused as to what's wrong, is it the wrong springs I have, or have they been fitted incorrectly? I don't really have money to waste on a geometry if the springs are wrong.

 

I've contacted Mazda but they are clueless.

 

Thanks for any help

[Tony]

Hello and welcome to wim

 

A few issues there so let's try to place them in order...

 

1: The guys will not perform a geometry calibration if there's a visible issue with the suspension, they will investigate the reason at £0 cost to you and offer a solution in house or the reason for it to take back to the dealership.

 

2: + 2009 Eibach released different coils for the hard top thanks in part to me since the < 2009 coils didn't account for the top and motor. We stock both versions.

 

3: The front/ rear should be at 345mm measured from here>

 

If the rear is 345mm +- 5mm and the front higher then the front bushings are pre-loaded. Releasing the pre-load on the day costs you £0.

 

Trust me your situation is not uncommon and we know how to deal with it eyes shut.... When you go in ask for Joe and mention the forum link and he will take you under his wing explaining what's right and wrong along the way

 

 

 

[Stressed]

Thanks for your comprehensive reply.

 

Can I ask whether Mazda themselves account for the difference in between the hardtop and softtopbwhen buying springs direct for them? When I asked Mazda they simply said they order the springs on registration so it would be impossible to get wrong.

 

Even on the Mazda website it simply shows one part number for 2008 onwards which is 4100-77-779.

[Stressed]

Ok I've just measured the front and rear.

 

Rears read around 335mm and front around 360mm

 

Now on the cars where you released the pre loading on the front bushings, were the rears lower than 345mm?

 

I'm just wondering if it could be front bush pre loading on mine and after releasing it, whether the front would lower and cause the rear to raise so everything evens out?

 

Or whether the fact my rears are at 335mm simply means the wrong springs are on my car

[adam_r]

Sounds like the pre-loading on the front bushes are exaggerating your situation here.

Sounds like because they are pre loaded they are forcing the rear down more than they should be

[Tony]

Eibach list> 05><09 http://www.eibachdirect.com/p/5690222/pro-kit-.html

 

                    09> http://www.eibachdirect.com/p/5690223/pro-kit-.html

 

335mm at the rear is wrong without question.... It may be due to a really bad camber position but i suspect it's the wrong coils.

[Stressed]

Just thought I should update the thread.

 

Just been to wheels in motion to get my geometry and very happy with the result. Joe who dealt with me was very efficient, and answered all my queries.

 

First things first, as expected the bushes front and rear were twisted, by removing the preload the fronts dropped and after Joe measured it, it came up as 335mm all the way round. It's apparently lower than normal and on the edge of what they'd advise but I'm only going to keep them on for maybe 12 months or so, and luckily don't have many speed bumps to contend with.

 

Now the springs that Mazda now supply are designed around the Roadster coupe and are fitted to both soft top and roadster coupe, as opposed to before when they had different parts for soft top and coupe.

 

I set out today to get wheels in motion to supply and fit springs had there been an issue, but after speaking to Joe he simply advised that their springs would simply give less of a drop and the car would sit about 10mm higher so around 345mm all over. He said provided the car at 335mm won't cause me issues with the roads near me that it wasn't necessary for me to change them.

 

I can't fault the service, Joe was polite, helpful and very efficient, and that's the reason I'd rather driver 1hr30 minutes to know that I'm going to get that sort of service and peace of mind that things are done correctly. Rather than go somewhere local 5mins away, pay 40 quid and be left with a mess.

 

Joe used fast road settings for my alignment and I'm not exaggerating when I say that the handling is transformed.

 

Bare in mind that my car went in with twisted bushes, a speedboat rake, camber etc way out and psi all over the place. The car now feels totally different.

 

Thanks to Tony again for the assistance behind the scenes.

[Rich]

Great feedback mate

[Funky]

Good job again WIM!

Mazda did the same when they fitted springs to my Mx5. I was amazed how far the car dropped when the bushes were released. I also drove an hour and a half or more for the WIM treatment but the drive home was awesome.

[Stressed]

Good job again WIM!

Mazda did the same when they fitted springs to my Mx5. I was amazed how far the car dropped when the bushes were released. I also drove an hour and a half or more for the WIM treatment but the drive home was awesome.

 

I appreciate that obviously I can't generalise, but it's reasons like that which is why I actually avoid main dealers when I can, as having a manufacturer badge on the front isn't a guarantee of quality or even that work is done correctly.

 

It's my fault for using them to supply and fit them, but as I was purchasing the car from them I thought it would be nice to have the car lowered for when I picked it up. When I asked if the geometry had been done, the salesman said "of course sir, we make sure everything is within spec". When I asked for a report I was told that it can't be given to the public lol.

 

I tend to stick with specialists for servicing etc too, as some of them provide a much better service, and it's generally more personal too, as opposed to a main dealer where you give the service desk the keys, and the work gets done and then they give you your keys back.

 

I had a bad experience with a main dealer years ago where I paid for a service but certain items that they said they had changed actually hadn't been changed at all. I obviously can't say that all main dealers are bad, as they're probably not, but I've had more bad experiences with main dealers than good.

[Tony]

Good to read Joe was thorough but with the experience he and the team have mapping the problem and solution should be simple.... Word of warning about those geometry printouts. Most dealers don't have the machine so it's done out of house if at all but they are reluctant to give the customer a printout that says "Fred's tyres" on the top of it.... In my opinion no printout no payment because there's no proof.