SVT spring swap

[Cameroon]

Sorry I haven't gotten any more pic's up. Well I did take some pics...



As you can see I've been busy with replacing my wife's ZTS. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img] I can answer the wagon question, nope the fronts would work but the rear suspension is completly different from the sedan and hatch.

SeeI told y'all the ride of the S2/SVT combo was sweet. The Eibach kit would probably have a slight performance edge at the expense of ride quality.

[sherych]

hey, anyone installed svt springs on a stock zx3 dampers?? what's the experience. Will the dampers hold, or one should get at least S2 dampers to go with SVT springs (better of course to get SVT dampers, but as far as I understand the rears are not available yet [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]
anyway, thanks in advance!

[BUR_ZX3]

I went on the stock ZX3 for now.... my mechanic said that they should hold under normal conditions for a while.... I'm looking for S2 parts for my birthday come august.....

Its nice! But I know it won't last forever...

[TboneZX3]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr> Its nice! But I know it won't last forever... <hr></blockquote>


Could you be a little more specific? How does the car look with a slight drop? Can you describe the ride and handling with the stock dampers?

Thanks! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[LEE]

hey cameroon,
Finally got the springs in and put on its great!!! You are rite I noticed the difference as soon as I pulled the car out of the driveway. The car handles incredible. Mine has no body roll/lean at all! You need to get the front and rear stress bars.
Thanks for all the input definitley worth the money and time researching....!!!!
Im glad I didnt spend money on the expensive dropsMy car feels like a little bmw. The things awsome.

[myfocuss2]

I want mine so bad! I called on Monday, and they said that the springs were comming in, but they have not got mine yet. [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

Justin

[LEE]

Dude you are going to love it I took my car to the dealer to get an alignment today and the toe was off I guess thats usual for a spring swap. the camber and caster are non adjustable in the focus The handling is absolutly incredible. I could not believe the difference. The best mod so far Mine settled so far about an 1 1/4 inches
The car is on rails in the turns I highly recommend this spring swap!!!!!
Thanks cameroon for pioneering this mod [img]graemlins/thumbup.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbup.gif[/img]

[TboneZX3]

Lee, what do you drive? A ZX3, or S2? What dampers are you using with the springs?

[Penguini66]

SVT springs, Koni's and ES bushings go on tonight. Finally! Think I can get it all done in 5 hours?

[P-51]

Penguini, not in 5 hours if you're doing the bushings for the first time. No way in hell.

Pioneering this mod? It's a spring swap... [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

[Penguini66]

P-51: Thanks. I figured I was biting off a little more than I could chew. I've got the torch ready and I don't plan on touching the front swaybar bushings. Will that help?

[LEE]

I drive an S2 [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[P-51]

Penguini, even the control arms will take some time. I guess 5 hours is not too bad... if you know what you're doing.

[mwizz]

My springs shows up today, just waiting on my polly bushings. So excited.
Mike [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Penguini66]

P-51: You were right. I just got home from doing the rear suspension. (I have to drive 1/2 hour to my dads house to use his garage.) I didn't get started 'till 7:00 and worked to 10:00. Three hours to put on rear shocks, springs and bushings. At that point I gave up because there was no way I'd get the fronts done at a reasonable hour. It was my first time doing any type of suspension work. Plus I was using floor jacks (it does help to have three) and no air tools. I guess tomorrow night I'll tackle the front suspension. And I am not looking forward to those control arm bushings.

[BUR_ZX3]

Sorry it took forever... been without net access.....


Ride Quality of SVT Springs on stock ZX3 dampers... There is a noticable increase in road noise and the overall "bumpiness" of the ride. When you go over smaller bumps that you never would notice you do this time.

Handling.... whipping on and off of freeway offramps is a breeze!!! Its amazing. I can take turns that I used to do @ 45-50 MPH with a little squealing now @ 60 easily without squealing at all.

I will definately say that I need a better rear sway bar though.... the back end is a tad bit wishy washy and could be tightened up. Probably going with the S2/SVT on that one as well.

How's it look??? Theres a guy with a stock ZX3 just down the block and theres a considerably smaller gap between the wheels and the top of the fenders. I'm thinking that its better looking on the road too because I can notice when I'm driving it that I'm sitting lower now. Small but noticable difference for me.

[FocusOnMyZeTec]

Do you mean road noise as in actual volume?

[BUR_ZX3]

yeah a little bit..... the car shakes more so it makes a little more noise..... nothing big though... just par for the course.

[fordmazdaboy]

bump&gt;&gt;

[Pzevinside]

Here are pics of FordMazdaBoys ZX3 w/ 17inch rims and the SVT Coil Springs front and back along w/ the front SVT Struts.










Now I also have the SVT Coil springs that I am going to be adding to my ZX3. I have all 4 of them already. I have had mine since April.

[fordmazdaboy]

Since these photo's I have also added the Eibach Anti-Roll kit (sway bars). Not to mention the SVT side mirrors, side skirts and painted handles. Plus volant, etc... Thanks to zetecinside for posting the pics..
Should I even bother mentioning that I did this mod back in March?? So much for being a pioneer??!! [img]graemlins/thumbup.gif[/img]

[ 07-04-2002: Message edited by: fordmazdaboy ]</p>

[fordmazdaboy]

[img]graemlins/thumbup.gif[/img]

[ 07-04-2002: Message edited by: fordmazdaboy ]</p>

[MichaelXi]

Cameroon, you may still be the first to do the swap on a US S2. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Keep us updated if you find out about the "Trend" thing.
[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Cameroon]

I gotta give fordmazdaboy props. I recall seeing a reply to post where he mentioned having put the SVT bits on. That got me looking for numbers to see what it would for my S2. I was just the first person to go on and on about it. I'd still love to find out if the SVT uses the springs from the Euro "trend" suspension. When I saw the Made in the UK tags on my set of springs it really got me wondering. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

[Penguini66]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Cameroon:

I'd still love to find out if the SVT uses the springs from the Euro "trend" suspension. When I saw the Made in the UK tags on my set of springs it really got me wondering. <hr></blockquote>

Just a thought but does the ZX3 with "trend" suspension sit lower? As we have all noticed, you get a slight drop with the SVT springs.

Just to give an update, I love this setup. I finally finished everything(bushings/dampers/springs) Saturday and got an alignment Sunday. ( I had to show up early for the auto-x and sweep the course as my work asignment. That way I could go get an alignment and come back to run the fourth heat.) With the Konis on full soft, I hardly notice the slightly stiffer SVT springs in everyday driving. The larger bumps are definately harsher but not unbearable. Also, I do notice the smaller gaps in the pavement slightly more.

On the auto-x track, I noticed a definate improvement. The past few weekends I have been running several seconds off the pace in SM(Turbo). Today I got within 1 second of first place. With the R compund Kumhos on there and the new suspension setup, I just can't believe how well the car responds to quick steering input. The slalom was incredible. After four runs, I still don't think I went through there nearly as fast as I could of. I was so used to the sloppy stock suspension and the pitiful Firestones. Now I have to learn to drive this car all over again.

[ 07-03-2002: Message edited by: Penguini66 ]</p>