Well it is not a MX5 but is a Mazda and it does have an X in its name

Penguin · Postby **Penguin** » Wed Sep 05, 2018 6:44 pm

Hi Luminaries

As well as the MX5 we have added a new shopping trolley to the family, a 2018 CX3 FWD Maxx.

It is a great little car. We have had it for six months and it is doing exactly what we bought it for. The other two cars, the MX5 and the LC200, have had after market suspension changes. I was surprised on the weekend when spouse, the major driver of the CX3, asked if it were possible to have firmer suspension on the afore mentioned shopping trolley like the other two cars.

I have done a quick search of the web, there is eve a CX3 forum, and I was not very surprised to find that there are not a whole lot of manufacturers offering suspension kits for the CX3. I was wondering whether anybody had any thoughts as to where would be a good place for me to start. The car is in Tassie but will be having a few sojourns in Melbourne in the foreseeable future.

P

Odd · Postby **Odd** » Wed Sep 05, 2018 7:36 pm

Sorry to be a wet blanket....but...WHY?

Firm suspension might work for those who like to spend time on a track....but for a road car???
just a waste of cash....best to spend money on a top of the range model?

btw my wife has a CX5....

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Wed Sep 05, 2018 7:47 pm

Not looking hard enough
Google aftermarket cx3 suspension
https://www.carid.com/mazda-cx-3-suspension-systems/

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bruce · Postby **bruce** » Wed Sep 05, 2018 8:40 pm

It was designed to be a softly sprung car. I bet you try firming up the suspension it will ride like crap and your partner will be the first to complain.

pie5 · Postby **pie5** » Wed Sep 05, 2018 8:53 pm

My wife has a CX3 Akari. The bigger 18” rims make a difference.
The 16s on the Maxx have a taller profile and will feel softer.

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manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 9:32 am

My local Monroe suspension shop does a lot of spring upgrade work for day-to-day family cars like yours. Soft suspensions are OK for the city but rolling and wallowing at country speeds and winding roads can get pretty uncomfortable for the passengers. It's tiring hanging on and the Kids get carsick, etc.

If your CX3 is on ordinary coil springs then it's not a big deal for a decent suspension workshop to specify and fit a more appropriate setup for your needs. There are heaps of spring suppliers about but it needs a specialist to know the right spring rate/free length/diameter/end configuration and to be able to source them. Fitting is not easy without a hoist and specialised tools too.

I'd just check around your local area for suspension specialists.

As an example increasing the spring rates 2x on an MX5 from 3F/1.5R to around 5/3 makes it a much more comfortable car for country driving for both driver and passenger. Race setups increase spring rate by 3x to 5x and, while those rates are horrible in the city, it's only towards the top end of that range that the car gets too hard for reasonable comfort on fast roads.

Penguin · Postby **Penguin** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 3:12 pm

manga_blue wrote:My local Monroe suspension shop does a lot of spring upgrade work for day-to-day family cars like yours. Soft suspensions are OK for the city but rolling and wallowing at country speeds and winding roads can get pretty uncomfortable for the passengers. It's tiring hanging on and the Kids get carsick, etc.....

As an example increasing the spring rates 2x on an MX5 from 3F/1.5R to around 5/3 makes it a much more comfortable car for country driving for both driver and passenger. Race setups increase spring rate by 3x to 5x and, while those rates are horrible in the city, it's only towards the top end of that range that the car gets too hard for reasonable comfort on fast roads.

Thanks MB - you echo my thoughts. The Cruiser has enhanced suspension travel but with uprated springs and shockers that can take the heat. Much more comfortable to drive in the country that the old softly sprung OEM set up. fortunately there are an number of aftermarket suppliers who have a range of options to suit need. The NC has what many people may consider a harsh ride, but I love it. Should have gone for Ohlins in hindsight but I am very happy with the spring/shocker/swaybar set up I have.

The little basic CX3 is a great car. We don't mind the lack of gewgaws. Hey I have a NC1 - how few gewgaws do you want. The Cruiser we have been able to add fruit as we need and the aftermarket stuff so much better than the expensive OEM bolt ons. It is the body roll and rebound that I would like to reduce. I take the point that lower profile tyres would help but will talk to some suspension people to see what cost/benefit equation they can offer me.

Then I will need to attack the headers.........

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Thu Sep 06, 2018 5:09 pm

Penguin wrote:Then I will need to attack the headers.........

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that the same engine used in the ND MX5. I thought about an ND and then I drove one and found the engine so breathless and wheezy that I couldn't bring myself to do it. It desperately needed proper headers and cams - something I think they fixed with the latest upgrade. If the CX3 is the same then I commiserate.

StuwieP · Postby **StuwieP** » Fri Sep 07, 2018 6:47 pm

My experience with the CX3 is that the suspension felt too tight over bumps and too wallowy/boatlike at speed.

How they managed to achieve that combo is beyond me...