Handling suggestions
 

what do you guys suggest i do to reduce body roll and have better handling in general, and stiffening it up a little bit? without getting to expensive.

RE: Handling suggestions
 

1.Sway bar, or bars are a good idea. I am running the Progress rear bar, set @ max. There are only two settings anyway. And it's OK. It was a good and easy first suspension mod. Another forum member upgraded to RB's and sold me his pretty cheap and w/free shipping. I too will upgrade later though.
Cost- ~$100~$150.

2. Add some air to your front tires and perhaps reduce air in the rear. W/my Falken's I'm running 38F/31R, but every tire is gonna react a little differently. I'm moving on to Kumho's and fully expect those number to go up to at least 40/32.
Cost- 0. ('Course I do have my own air compressor too.)

3. I have also reduced the amount of neg camber in the rear suspension. I must've taken out about 1.5* by now and like it much more than before.
Cost- 0 (Time and two 17mm wrenches.)

4. Look for a set of springs. Theycan be used but should be a name brand, quality name. I bought a set of used of H&R's(claimed 3K miles, but how old/bad could they be right?) from another car nut on eBay for $75. They're are $200+ springs. I have yet to install them however.
Cost- ?~$250

5. There are only 2 manufacturer's that I am aware of that currently produce "sport" shocks for the 3, Koni and Bilstein. Again, a friend was trading in his n/a 3 for a Speed3 and I bought his Koni's, "gently" used,for $400. They are $640+ normally and he had them for less than 6 months.I know his car.
Cost- ?-$650, more for the Bilstein's.

Check eBay, Craig's List and all the FS/FT sections of your favorite local Mazda forum(s)for deals. Many are upgrading or trading up/in, most have mods to sell. If you're patient, as I have been, you may find what you want at a price you can afford to live with.

BTW Nick, "to" in the instance that you used it should be spelled w/2 o's, as in "... too expensive."

RE: Handling suggestions
 

like the virgin said, sway bars are your best bet for reduced body roll (cost vs. results). im using eibach front and rear swar bars with outstanding improvements. you could also look into a sportier shock and coil setup. there are a lot of options out there...i am using tein basic coilovers. strut bars are also an option...many will deny that they have any function on the mazda3...but others acknowledge an improvement. i have mazdaspeed front strut on my 3, which i am pleased with. inflating your tires will help your handling as well. look into some stickier performance rubbers.

here are some links where you can find suspension goodies:


http://corksport.com/store/category/...uspension.html

http://corksport.com/store/category/...sion_misc.html

http://corksport.com/store/category/...uspension.html

http://www.srmotorsports.com/Mazda3_...ion_Parts.html

http://www.autoaccessorystore.com/ho...&sub_id=29

http://www.japanparts.com/db/partsli...=3&small=7

http://www.japanparts.com/db/partsli...3&small=16

http://www.japanparts.com/db/partsli...3&small=15

http://www.japanparts.com/db/partsli...=3&small=9

http://www.ptuning.com/html/category.cfm?Category=suspen&CatDesc=Suspensio ne

i hope this was of some help.

RE: Handling suggestions
 

What is "RB's"??

RE: Handling suggestions
 

nice thanks!!

RE: Handling suggestions
 

http://www.racingbeat.com/ConMazda3.htm

RE: Handling suggestions
 

Nick,
Keep in mind that if you live in snow country that some/all of these mods can affectthe car'sability to negotiate your driving in foul weather. Stiffening and adding "anti"-sway bars can often ruduce a daily driver's abilites in snowy/icy conditions.
i.e. Adding thicker anti-sway bars will not allow the body of your car to yaw in turns. Yawing is advantagious as it shifts the weight of the car where needed when conditions are slippery, adding additional weight to the outside tires in a turn for example.
Also, I would also reduced tire pressure toa better contact patch to the outside of the tire, no matter what tires you would be running.
I found this out the hard way when I modified a Volvo I used to own. Best car in the snow when it was in stock condition, but a little hard to drive after the mods (F& R sway bars, 2" drop/15% increase, stiffer shocks, and wider tires) were performed.
'Drove and handled GREAT in the dry but in the slippery stuff..... ????