Good lowering options

[aightdude]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the scene and I was looking for some ways to make my little stock Mazda 3 more tasteful. I want to lower the car, but not to the point where it's impractical to drive, especially given the kinds of winters we can have in Ontario.
Basically I'm looking for some suggestions, coilovers? lowering springs? what should I do to get rid of the weird crossover look on the mazda 3 and make it better to look at :D

[G ~ MINI]

Eibach are popular here matched with Koni dampeners
There is also corksport if you want to go lower(3/4 inch lower than the eibach)
Tien but i dont think for all Mazda 3.


.
I posted aaftermarket performance list a while ago , i copy pasted it below . Scoll down to coilovers and springs :

2010+ MZ3 Aftermarket Performance Parts List​:

Engine :

Ignition Coils :

IP Ignition Projects https://www.ignitionprojectsusa.com/...sku-ip-a130402

Intake CAI & SRI :

CORKSPORT (Available at CorkSport Mazda Performance - 360-260-CORK)
Power Series Short Ram Intake 2.5L and 2.0L versions
Cold Air Box

Simota Carbon Charger-SRI (Available at Simota USA - Simota Air filers, Simota Air intakes,Carbon fiber oil catch cans, oil filler caps)
2.5L P# CBll-658
2.0L P# CBll-657

Cosmo Racing Air Intake System-SRI (Available at Street Tuning, BMW Performance Parts, HONDA Performance Parts, Auto Parts - COSMO Racing Online)
2.5L P# M3S1025-AI
2.0L P# M3041020-AI

PRM Jet Steam-SRI (Available at Cold Air Intake Product Applications - PRM Racing)
P# MAZDA3

Takeda Attack Intake-CAI (Available at aFePower.com, Takeda Attack Cold Air Intake for 2010-2011 Mazda 3 - 2.5L - (Black) - P/N: TA-4107B)
2.5L CAI P#TA-4107B
2.0L SRI P#TR-4101P

AEM Cold Air Intake- CAI (Available at AEM Cold Air Intake - THMotorsports - Discount Performance Parts Sale | Lowest Price | Free Shipping)
2.5L only P# 21-695C

Injen CAI and SRI (Available at Injen Air Intake - SP Series Intake System - THMotorsports - Discount Performance Parts Sale | Lowest Price | Free Shipping)
2.5L CAI P# SP6064
2.5L SRI P# SP6067

K&N(Available at K&N Intake Kit - Typhoon System Cold Air MAZDA 3 GT;S 2010 - 2010 2.5 69-6013TTK)
2.5L 69 Series Cold Air Intake P# 69-6013TTK

Thespeedline Carbon Fiber Air Intake System (Available at 08+ Mazda3 Carbon Fiber Air Intake System)
2.0L and 2.5L

AutoEXE ?(Available at AUTOEXE Mazda 3 Ram Air Intake)
Carbon Fiber Ram-Air intake


Exhaust:

Catback Exhaust:

CORKSPORT Power Series Exhaust(Available at CorkSport Mazda Performance - 360-260-CORK)
2.5L and 2.0L Sedan and Hatch

Racing Beat Power Pulse Exhaust(Available at Racing Beat - Mazda Performance Specialists)
2.5L Hatch Only

Magnaflow (Available at MagnaFlow Exhaust Products - For Trucks, Suv's, American Muscle, Diesel, & Sport Compact Vehicles)

Thunder ] (Automotive Header, Muffler Manufacturer – Thunder Exhaust System Co., Ltd. contact protephile on mazda3fourms.com or email kargoboy@hotmail.com)
Mid-pipe and Axle-Back 2.5L Sedan???Hatch??? Need more info here

Axle Back Exhaust
Borla Available at (Stainless Steel Rear Section | 11786 | Mazda 3 2.3L 4cyl - BORLA - The World's Most Winning Exhaust)
MazdaSpeed 3 Stainless Steel Rear Section P# 11786

Racing Beat Power Pulse Exhaust(Available at Racing Beat - Mazda Performance Specialists)
2.5L Hatch P#71208
2.5L Sedan P#71207

HKS makes an exhaust
https://www.hks-power.co.jp/en/produ...ffler/db/11193


Header:

MSDS (Available through MSDS - Exhaust Systems)
2.0L and 2.5L Header & Skyactiv

Thunder (¹p¤O±Æ®ðºÞ - manifold¡Bexhaust¡Bmuffler¡B±Æ®ðºÞ¡BÀY¬q¡B¹D¸ô§À¬q ¡B¤¤¬q¡B´õ½üÀY¬q¡B°ª¬y¶qª÷ÄÝIJ·Ñ
or email kargoboy@hotmail.com)

Handling:

Coilovers (Stay away from China made Coilovers Quality/$$ ratio is poor) https://www.redline360.com/garage/wh...ultimate-guide

ST suspention-made by KW Suspension (Available at ST Suspensions )
ST Coilover Kit- P# 90706

KW Suspension(Available at KW Supensions Productfinder)
Variant 1- p# 10275018
Variant 2- p# 15275018
Variant 3- p# 35275018

H&R
Street Performance Coilover P#52684

Tein
Super Street Damper coilovers P#DSM98-KUAS2 (listed as 5dr Mazda3 should work on sedan also)

BC Racing

NeoMotorsport TYPE AA Ultra Light

Fortune Auto

YellowSpeed Racing

Megan Racing Available at (Megan Racing)
Street Series- MR-CDK-MM310



Springs:

Corksport

H&R (Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels )
Sport Springs P# 52683

Eibach (Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels)
PRO-KIT P# 5553.140

Racing Beat (Available at Racing Beat - Mazda Performance Specialists )
Suspension Spring Set P# 71081

Road Magnet (Available at Mazda Lowering Springs,Mazda 3 Lowering Springs,Mazda 3,Mazda)
1.25 and 1.75 drop

Canuck Motorsports(Available at Store > Car Lowering, Import - Canuck Motorsports Online Store: Car Truck SUV lowering lift kits.)
Lowering Springs P# 5011.42100

Tein(Available at TEIN USA | ONLINE SHOP | Apparel)
S.TECH P# SKM98-AUB00
1.6" drop

Struts:
Koni (Available at Koni - THMotorsports - Lowest Price Parts HKS Exhaust Apexi World Sport Koni Seibon Carbon Fiber ACT Exedy Clutch Skunk2)
Sport Series
Front Right P# 8741-1487RSPORT
Front Left P# 8741-1487LSPORT
Rear P# 8040-1351SPORT

FSD
Full set springs and struts- P#2100-4037

STR.T
Front Right P#8750 1087R
Front Left P#8750 1087L
Rear P#8050 1108

Swaybars:

Racing Beat(Available at Racing Beat - Mazda Performance Specialists )
Front- P# 74103
Rear- P# 74104

Tri-Point (Available at TRI-POINT ENGINEERING - TRI-POINT ENGINEERING )
Rear- P# 69-1004 3-way adjustable

CorkSport (Available at http://www.corksport.com/corksport-m...e-swaybar.html)
Rear- P# Axl-3-070-10 3-way adjustable

James Barone Racing (Available at James Barone Racing)
3-way adjustable

Ultra Racing (http://www.ultraracing.my
UR-AR23-285 Rear Anti-roll Bar / Rear Sway Bar / Rear Stabilizer Bar

Strut Tower Bar:

CorkSport(Available at CorkSport Mazda Performance - 360-260-CORK)
Front Strut Bar P# Axe-3-020
Rear Strut Bar (Hatch Only) P#

Autoexe (Available at CorkSport Mazda Performance - 360-260-CORK)
Front Strut Bar P# MBL400

Thespeedline(Available at TheSpeedline)
Front Strut Tower Bar

Matsu Motorsport(Available at JDM Goodie)
Strut Tower Bar

Megan Racing
Front race spec strut tower bar P# MR-SB-M310-FU-1P

Ultra Racing (http://www.ultraracing.my/Catalog.as...=Mazda&Model=3 BL (2009)&page=1) Available for purchase on Ebay
UR-TW2-1224 Front Strut Bar / Front Tower Bar

Suspension Reinforcement Braces:


Autoexe (Available at CorkSport Mazda Performance - 360-260-CORK)
Front Lower Arm Brace P# MBL460
Rear Swaybar Reinforcement Brace P# MBL400
Rear Floor Brace P# MBL450

WERKSracing (Available at The Home of WERKSracing products!)
WERKSracing Stage 1 chassis brace system


Thespeedline(Available at 08+ Mazda3 \ Mazdaspeed3 Rear End Lower Strut Bar)
Rear End Lower Strut Bar P#M0059-08BL
Double Rear Cross Floor Bar P#M0112-08BL5D
Rear Tower Strut Cross Floor Bar P#M0168R-08BL
Front Lower Strut Bar P#M0176R-09BL

GTSPEC (Available at 2010 + Mazda 3 | www.gtspec.com)

GTS-SUS-1428 Complete Trunk Cage for 2010+ Mazda 3/Mazdaspeed 3 - Hatch Only
GTS-SUS-1190 Front 4 Point Brace - Mazda 3/MS3 (2004~2009)
GTS-SUS-1158 Mid Chassis Brace for Mazda 3/MS3
GTS-SUS-1135 4 Points Ladder Brace for Mazda 3/MS3
GTS-SUS-1129 Trunk Reinforcement Brace for Mazda 3
GTS-SUS-1126 Rear Lower Tie Brace for Mazda3/MS
GTS-SUS-1125 Front Lower Tie Brace for Mazda Speed 3
GTS-SUS-1124 Front Strut Brace - Mazda 3 (2004~2010)

Megan Racing Front Lower brace

Ultra Racing (http://www.ultraracing.my/Catalog.as...=Mazda&Model=3 BL (2009)&page=1) Available for purchase on Ebay

UR-LA2-994 Front Lower Bar / Front Member Brace
UR-LA4-148 Rear Lower Bar / Rear Member Brace
UR-RL2-124 Front Lower Bar / Front Member Brace
UR-RT4-1313 Rear Torsion Bar / Rear Frame Brace
UR-ML4-949 Middle Lower Bar / Middle Member Brace
UR-RO2-1119 Room Bars / Rear Cross Bar
UR-RL3-1314 Rear Lower Bar / Rear Member Brace
UR-RLS4-1312P Rear Lower Bar / Rear Member Brace
UR-RE4-1120 Rear Strut Bar / Rear Tower Bar (Sedan Only)
UR-SD8-948 Side Lower Bar / Side Floor Bar

Progress makes a rear sway bar:
https://www.progressauto.com/product...el=3&x=12&y=17

Scale suspension makes coilovers:
https://scalesuspension.com/shop/en/49-mazda


Suspension Bushings:

SuperPro Polyurethane Bushings (available at TEIN USA | HUMAN RESOURCE |)
Part#'s available here- http://203.31.191.243/fulcrumCat/


PSB Bushings (Polyurethane) These are not race specs but much much better than OEM:
https://psbushings.co.uk/product-category/mazda/3/

PowerFlex USA : Polyurethane / stock / street / race
https://www.powerflexusa.com/shop/category/mazda-1038


Drivetrain:

Flywheel:

EXEDY Race Flywheel

Fidanza (Available at UtraRev.com)
6spd 2.5L only P# 161251

SPEC (http://www.specclutch.com/cars/Mazda/3/2010/Single)
2.5L P#SZ35A

Ralco RZ (http://thmotorsports.com/ralco_rz/ra.../i-531140.aspx)
2.5L P# RZ61251

Clutch
SPEC Stages 1-5 for 2.0L And 2.5L (http://www.specclutch.com/cars/Mazda/3/2010/Single)

EXEDY Stage 1 / 2 / 3

Shifter:

TWM Performance (Available at Short Shifters by TWM Performance)
Short Shift Plate 5spd and 6spd
Solid Shifter Bushings
Weighted Shift Knobs
Full Replacement Short Shifter for 5 and 6spd (Mazda 3 Gateway Short Shifter - TWM Performance Gateway Short Shifters)
James Barone Racing (Available at James Barone Racing )
Short Shift Plate 5spd and 6spd
Solid Shifter Bushings

Engine/Transmission Mounts:

CorkSport(Available at CorkSport Mazda Performance - 360-260-CORK )
Motor Mount Insert

SURE Motorsports (Available at Mazda Motor Mounts)
SURE Torq R3 Rear Motor Mounts

TRZ Motorsports(Available at TRZ Motorsports )
Rear Motor Mount Dogbone
Drivers Side Trans Mount

AWR (Available at Engine Mount - Mazda3 MS3 Mazda5- Rear - AWR Racing Store)
Rear Engine Mount P# MZAWR
Passenger engine mount

Damond Motorsport https://damondmotorsports.com/produc...ant=1072184388

James Barone Racing (Available at James Barone Racing)
Rear Engine Mount-
Chrome-Molly Steel (88a Durameter urethane)
Billet Aluminum (70A or 80a) Durameter

Torque Solution(Available at MAZDASPEED3 Mazda3 Rear Engine Mount)
Rear Engine Mount-70a Durameter P#TS-MS-002

Brakes:

Big Brake Kits:
Brembo (Available at Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels)
Brembo GT 330mm Big Brake Kit
P# 1A4.6004A1- black
P# 1A4.6004A2- red
P# 1A4.6004A3- silver

NeoMotorsports F400 front 330mm 4piston street / track brake pads

YellowSpeed Racing USA BBK

Brakes Pads:

GLOC Brake pads : http://www.g-locbrakes.com/products/...ch/?make=Mazda
I know a few guys tracking their car who use GLOC brake pads with their OEM Rotors.

Brakeline Kit:
Goodridge (Available at Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels)
G-Stop Stainless Steel Brake Lines- P#25048 4 LINE

Braided Brake/Clutch Lines:

HEL Performance:
https://auto.helperformance.com/car/...ke-lines/mazda



Tuning:

OVTUNE PH

DRtune

Haltech Elite 1500


Forced Induction
Turbo Kit
Tri-Point Engineering (http://tripointengineering.com/produ...bab8c7769d0e85)
Turbo Kit



Engine Balance Shaft Delete:

Massive Speed ( Massive Speed Balance Shaft Delete Kit - Massive Hardcore Racing Performance Parts - Massive Speed System - Ford Focus Specialists)

CFM ( CFM Balance Shaft Delete BSD for '03-07 2.3L Duratec Focus)

Cosworth (Cosworth Balance Shaft Delete Kit Ford Duratec / Mazda MZR 2.3L 01-11)

Ebay (Duratec Balance Shaft Delete Kit BSD 2.3L & 2.5L | eBay)

Protege Garage (http://www.protegegarage.com/1768-ba...elete-kit.html) (expansion plug style)

SURE Motorsports (http://www.suremotorsports.com/produ...-shaft-delete/)

Light Weight/ Underdrive Pulleys:

SR Motorsports (Available at Company Information about SR Motorsports - SR Motorsports.com.) call (925) 516-7382 to order
2.5L P# M3-12134-10
2.0L P#?

Ground Wire Kit:
NRG (Available at Revolution Performance Motorsports - Online Store)
P# GK-100

[Diflexster12]

What year is your 3? I drive a 2014 and decided to go with Eibach Prokit springs (1" drop front and 1.25" rear) paired with new struts and shocks (in my case I got Koni Red but most people go with Koni Yellow)

In my opinion it's perfect to clean up the fender gap while improving handling and not totally ruining ride quality. I was in the same boat as you because this is my daily driver and we have some pretty crap roads especially in Toronto. I avoided coilovers because they are $$$ and are more performance oriented so your ride quality won't be as good. With the Eibach springs I think the drop is just right and will be perfectly fine on Ontario roads.

[G ~ MINI]

What year is your 3? I drive a 2014 and decided to go with Eibach Prokit springs (1" drop front and 1.25" rear) paired with new struts and shocks (in my case I got Koni Red but most people go with Koni Yellow)

In my opinion it's perfect to clean up the fender gap while improving handling and not totally ruining ride quality. I was in the same boat as you because this is my daily driver and we have some pretty crap roads especially in Toronto. I avoided coilovers because they are $$$ and are more performance oriented so your ride quality won't be as good. With the Eibach springs I think the drop is just right and will be perfectly fine on Ontario roads.

Coilovers are designed to be more performance oriented but do give you more options , like a more adjustable height on all 4 corners. For example : In winter you can lift car to oem height. You decide you want to do autocross and track this year ...you can lower it . Coilovers , as for ride quality , depending on the price point , can be adjusted to oem dampening or to extra sporty/track. They can be harsh if they are dialed up to max setting. I was on corksport lowering springs and dampeners and i found that set up too harsh and bouncy. I would suggest you take a ride in car with eibachs and koni to see what it is like.

Ask yourself , What are striving to gain besides a lowered look? "How do you measure your ride quality" ?
Straight line at highway speeds .
Over neighborhood roads at slow (40 KPH)
Over bumpy roads at speed limit.
No nose drop when hard braking.
No car roll on curves at highway ramp.

[Dubcee]

If your car will be winter driven then I'd shy away from coilovers or anything adjustable. The salt will seize the adjustment mechanisms. Absolute pain in the ass. Wish I knew that before I put them on my C30, went back to shocks/springs after just a year because I didn't want to deal with it.

I'd highly recommend Eibach pro-kit, paired with Koni Reds. The reds replaced the FSD and do a wonderful job of being lively without being harsh. Tried this personally on my Dad's C30 and it would be my go-to if it was my money. I currently have the pro-kit's on my C30 paired with Bilstein B8 which is a little harsh for DD but nice for autocross/track.

God speed!

[G ~ MINI]

If your car will be winter driven then I'd shy away from coilovers or anything adjustable. The salt will seize the adjustment mechanisms. Absolute pain in the ass. Wish I knew that before I put them on my C30, went back to shocks/springs after just a year because I didn't want to deal with it.

I'd highly recommend Eibach pro-kit, paired with Koni Reds. The reds replaced the FSD and do a wonderful job of being lively without being harsh. Tried this personally on my Dad's C30 and it would be my go-to if it was my money. I currently have the pro-kit's on my C30 paired with Bilstein B8 which is a little harsh for DD but nice for autocross/track.

God speed!

Not an issue if you have the cars under body sprayed with Krown every year ... everything stays lubed and rust free