Installed CorkSport preassembled springs/struts/camber plates

So, my friends at CorkSport came up with a new package which includes their springs with struts and camber plates already assembled in front, and the springs and shocks for the rear. Good price and my excellent Mazda tech Drew installed them and aligned all 4 wheels without breaking a sweat....which in Arizona in August is saying something.

The ride is awesome and with my other mods it handles like a go-kart. Here I was ready to spring for a turbo-back exhaust system and CS dangles this package in front of me. As my Speed has 90,000 miles on it, the struts/shocks were a bigger priority than sounding cool. The springs were something I said I wouldn't do, but they were already assembles, so hey, why not?

 

I wish they offered a stock height option. I would totally order a set. Having to deal with the spring compressor and and all that makes the installation job a PITA compared to just just bolting them on.


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They come preassembled so you won’t need a spring compressor to install them.


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Coming assembled is definitely a plus. I have the combo minus the camber plates. My car sits a tad higher in the front. Do you have that issue @PadreDave;

 

Yes, it looks like that to me, though I thought I would let it settle in before taking some better pics....probably tomorrow... Thanks!


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Here is the “after” pic of my car with the Corksport package installed.


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Oh, here is the “before” pic for comparison


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I did the front springs and struts a couple times. I used a spring compressor at first. Then i realized I didn't need it -especially with lowering springs.

 

FWIW i still have my car on stock springs. The front has had more gap than the rear since new. This is a car issue, it just becomes more obvious when the car is lowered.

Also i went to 235/45/18 sized tires at the last swap and ended up with about the same gap as the lowered picture plus a much more reasonable sidewall.

 

I’d like to go up to that size next time too...but I don’t know if I will have enough room. I don’t want to get into fender rolling and stuff, just get the largest and widest tire I can fit on the wheel and under the fenders.


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don't know if second gen has the same kind of thing going on (in reverse effect?) but on first gens the fender wells are cut to different heights, which gives the illusion of the front end sitting higher than the rear when they're actually the same.

 

Interesting....


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I ended up putting Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06 at the 235/40R 18 to get a little more sidewall and there is plenty of room...in fact it looks like there is actually more space between tire and fender.

 

I have noticed some rattling in the right front suspension, so last time I had it over at Cardinale Way Mazda, I asked my super tech Drew what it was. He pointed out to me that the preassembled CorkSport springs and struts I bought a couple of months ago were really compressed and at rest the springs were actually almost touching each other with each loop in the spring. Did we do something wrong in the install? I expected that the springs would have some compressibility under load, but not at rest. Any thoughts? Drew didn’t seem phased by the situation at all, but I’m a little freaked out by the news. Thoughts?


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When I installed my CS I took the spring insulator off the oem and put them on the CS springs. It’s a rubber piece that goes between the spring near the bottom. Without a picture it’s hard to say how many springs are resting on each other. Anyway, did swap the insulator from the oem? Springs rubbing on each other could be the source of the rattle


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It was easier to see when he had it on the lift but you can see the resting compression.



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It actually looks pretty normal to my eyes. Hmmmm....


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