New driver, Used MS3 '07; Need advice.

Hello all!

I'd usually receive help from my friends who are in the car culture but aren't too versed about Mazdas.

I just purchased one in good condition, needs new suspensions and brakes.

Don't really know too much but am trying to just the car optimally running; I can worry about the other stuff later.
Looking around for find good reliable swaybars/etc but the Proven Parts page doesn't have one for bars.

For brakes I've decided to go with Stoptech slotted fronts and Centric plain rears; Hawks all around.

What would you guys recommend for suspensions, and whatever else I may require for just stable driving.
Upping the HP and stuff is out of budget at the moment, just mandatory stuff; I'm going with a friend to a shop tomorrow change all fluids and things.

The other stuff, I'm using the Proven Parts List as a template to help guide me; on-top of real-time trolling from friends on Discord.

Budget between 1,200 - 2,200.

Thanks!

 

get a rear sway bar first if you looking to improve handling. A Progress or Hotchkis one is a good start

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Performance-Part/61-0707.html?gclid=CPC10ZuWptQCFYFXfgodBV8Anw

 

Something like this

JBR Tru -Torsion rear sway bar

is excellent sway bar from what i hear. As for suspension koni yellows are pretty much all hear about when it comes to suspension.

I have not tired either these products but have head nothing but good things.

 

Koni or Bilstein for shocks. New springs help too but aren't necessary. You'll have a number of options for rear swaybar and, for the most part, deciding on which one you want comes down to personal preference -- CorkSport, JBR, Hotchkis, Whiteline (I think?), etc.

 

I just picked a 08 used too a few weeks ago... I went with Bilstein B8 in rear shocks. New Moog Swaybar rubber bushings. New Moog Front lower control arms complete. Going to pickup some front struts too I might mix match and run koni yellows in the front.. Keeping stock springs, cars low enough for me.. How many miles are on MS3??

The koni FSDs look nice too.

 

I went cheap ass and got the sachs brand from rockauto. Both for struts and shocks. No complaints for about 5k miles. Ride is good with the reused stock springs.

 

You can definitely find deals on suspension set up here too. Know that you are most likely going to need new endlinks if they're still OEM. Cut them right up as the allen key slot will likely to strip. Moogs are my weapon of choice.

You don't really need fancy brake rotors at this point. Save yourself some money and go with centric blanks all around.

 

I absolutely hated the Moog endlinks I had, they started clicking 500 miles after I installed them them. Yes, they were properly torqued and greased

 

Hmm that is weird,

I had them installed on my genpu and they've been doing good for almost idk, 20k miles now?

 

My front/rear Moogs are going strong. They seem to be hit or miss.

 

I wonder if I got a Friday batch, the threads were all gacked up as well. I like the OEMs the best TBH, mine lasted 65K and IIRC they are cheaper than the moogs

 

This was a few years ago, but I put hotchkis sway bars front and back, bilstein shocks and struts, vw bump stops on the back, ac delco rear camber arms, and cobb springs. I loved the way it rode and drove.