Which suspension upgrade first

[SilentSno]

Currently have my stock MP3 suspension, springs, struts, sway/stablizer bars, etc...

To help improve my AutoX times which would be best to upgrade to first:

Illuminas
Eibach SportLines
AWR 21.5mm swar bar

or something else?

[greendragon]

If you just started auto crossing leave the car the way it is and play with tire pressures and make lots of runs , if you have been at it awhile just swap out the rear bar but beware as the rear bar could bump you up a class

[daedalus]

Sway bar definatly... that will give you the most dynamic boost in performance for autoX, and really made my car feel more planted in turns...

[SilentSno]

Sway bar it is then, unless someone chimes in with more suggestions.

This will be my 3rd full year, and as far as classes go, doesn't matter to me as i don't race anything but local and we barely have more than 1 or 2 cars per class anyway.

[BRIAN MP5T]

Save $$$ and Get Tein-SS

[SilentSno]

On AWR's site they have 2 versions, one for regular Protege and one with special endlinks for MSP's and MP3's, anyone know the difference?

Also anyone have any knowledge of the Progress bars?

[daedalus]

The MSP/MP3's require different legnth endlinks because the subframe is different than on the P5/LX/DX proteges.

[SilentSno]

The MSP/MP3's require different legnth endlinks because the subframe is different than on the P5/LX/DX proteges.

Thanks!

[tekkie]

the first cheap mod = rear sway bar bushings :p

[vindication]

instead of getting the illuminas and springs, why not spend an extra $100 or so and get the k-sport coilovers? It's what I would have done if they were out about 2 years ago. But I do love my illuminas and spool spring combo. Along with my awr rear swaybar, it is a killer combo.

[anarchistchiken]

Yeah I would say go with the coilovers too if you're willing to drop the cash on Illuminas. It might be a little bit more, but it's worth it, I wish I had done that. Unless of course you care about ride quality, but if that's the case I wouldn't spend the money on Illuminas anyway, just go with the blues.

And yeah DEFINATELY buy a rear sway bar. Best mod I've done to my car by a longshot.

[TheMAN]

eibach sportlines are shit, they suck for competition use

the BEST upgrade for an autocrossing car is to upgrade the struts, it'll not only increase your competitiveness, but it'll also allow you to remain in stock class

the other shit will just put you into STX

[Myk]

Poly bushings for sure!

Tein springs w/ Illumina struts.

Then upgrade the sway bars and end links.

Are you allowd to run any tires you want. 'Cause if you are, track tires on light smaller diam. rims would probably be your best investment!

[SilentSno]

I'm already in STS, and as far as my local racing, i don't care what class i'm in. I already have a Intake and Header, Azenis on P5 16" wheels.

Sway bar upgrade its first.
Followed by Full Coilovers, probably K-Sports...

So does anyone have any influence on the Progress 22mm bar compared to the AWR 21.5mm ?

[Mr.Win]

Sweet then sell me your struts LOL

[Tiwing]

have you taken a driving course? It's not something you can point to and say, "I have a XXX on my car", but a good driving course will probably do more for your times (and every day driving for that matter) than most mods will. I totally don't regret taking the course I took (but have yet to autoX after it)

[TheMAN]

I agree.... throwing more shit on your car without really knowing its stock limits just limits your driving skills, and you never get to know your car well

upgrade the tires and struts, and the MSP will be damn good.... in stock class too! the competitiveness and massive participation of stock class lets you gauge your skill level and also challenges you a lot more

[SilentSno]

Put it this way...
I'm definately not a noob to this AutoX thing. All the local directors point the new guys to watch me drive. I've raced semi-professional before.

Also, people may of not realized this, but i have an MP3, not a MSP. :)

The stock suspension on an MP3 is very, very nice, for a production car granted.

I have people who don't know have to drive STi's and WRXs not beat me, in autox of course. Its not hard to drive in a straight line.

Mr.Win aren't the MP3 struts the same or similar to the Tokico Blue HPs? Make an offer, i'd be willing to maybe part early. The car and struts have just barely over 60k miles on it.

Would anyone recommend going to the larger 22mm Progessive Bar over the AWR? And how adjustiable is the Progressive bar, if anyone knows.

[anarchistchiken]

Also, people may of not realized this, but i have an MP3, not a MSP. :)

Yeah you only have it four times in your sig and avatar, lol.

Would anyone recommend going to the larger 22mm Progessive Bar over the AWR? And how adjustiable is the Progressive bar, if anyone knows.

I've heard of some fitment problems with the Progress bar, but I would (and have) personally go with the AWR setup, mainly because it's guarenteed to fit and there are hundreds of people on the boards who have helped with an instalation, but also because AWR makes a lot of protege specific parts and did a lot to bring new parts to the market for us before anyone else did.

[TheMAN]

there's no big difference between the MP3 and MSP's suspension anyway... some differences, but not enough to really matter :)

[SilentSno]

there's no big difference between the MP3 and MSP's suspension anyway... some differences, but not enough to really matter :)

Yeah, just the lil' extra HP doesn't hurt. :)

I'll probably go with AWR, my plan all along, just wanted to mention the Progress in case someone had good experiences with it.

[MyZmZm]

Can someone fill me in on how the AWR differs from the RB rear sway bar? I know the AWR is a bit thicker, but other than that, what are the differences?

[SilentSno]

Can someone fill me in on how the AWR differs from the RB rear sway bar? I know the AWR is a bit thicker, but other than that, what are the differences?

Adjustiable endlinks and slightly different mounting onto the chassis of the car. Its adjustiable to be just as soft as the RB bar and yet can be stiffened for race day.

[TheMAN]

I've heard good things about the progress sway bar.... I'd get it over the AWR

[jrodhotrod]

If you decide to do to struts and swaybar first followed by springs, I highly recommend the espelir springs over anything else.

I <3 my combination of espelir springs and Tokico Illuminas.

The springs are unique in that they are linear up front and progressive in the rear. A very nice combo and a drop that is just perfect.

[BRIAN MP5T]

Can someone fill me in on how the AWR differs from the RB rear sway bar? I know the AWR is a bit thicker, but other than that, what are the differences?

If you have seen the RB Bar you can compare it to these pictures. The bar in the Picture is the stock on as a reference.

You will see how the AWR bar hangs down a bit.

http://www.msprotege.com/members/Brian%20MP5T/AWR%20-%20(4).jpg

http://www.msprotege.com/members/Brian%20MP5T/AWR%20-%20(2).jpg

http://www.msprotege.com/members/Brian%20MP5T/AWR%20-%20(5).jpg

[SilentSno]

Does the AWR come with adjustment instructions, like when doing x with the endlinks it does x to the suspension, etc..

[MyZmZm]

If you decide to do to struts and swaybar first followed by springs, I highly recommend the espelir springs over anything else.

I <3 my combination of espelir springs and Tokico Illuminas.

The springs are unique in that they are linear up front and progressive in the rear. A very nice combo and a drop that is just perfect.
What's the drop on the espelirs? Price? My Ion springs (sitting in a buddies garage waiting for warmer weather so they can be installed) are also linear front, progressive rear, one reason I decided to go for them over the eibachs.

[BRIAN MP5T]

Does the AWR come with adjustment instructions, like when doing x with the endlinks it does x to the suspension, etc..


No

[jrodhotrod]

What's the drop on the espelirs? Price? My Ion springs (sitting in a buddies garage waiting for warmer weather so they can be installed) are also linear front, progressive rear, one reason I decided to go for them over the eibachs.

On the standard Protege I believe it's something like 1.5" and less on the MSP because of the ride height difference to start with, but I could be wrong. The picture in my sig is of my car riding on Espelirs and Illuminas. It should be noted that I have lots of heavy stereo equipment in the trunk and that drops the rear just a little more.

I was originally going to get the ION springs before Jack went AWOL, then Rishie introduced the Espelirs for the community and it had everything I wanted in the ION springs but from a local vendor so I went with the Espelirs from Rishie. I love them.

[MyZmZm]

On the standard Protege I believe it's something like 1.5" and less on the MSP because of the ride height difference to start with, but I could be wrong. The picture in my sig is of my car riding on Espelirs and Illuminas. It should be noted that I have lots of heavy stereo equipment in the trunk and that drops the rear just a little more.

I was originally going to get the ION springs before Jack went AWOL, then Rishie introduced the Espelirs for the community and it had everything I wanted in the ION springs but from a local vendor so I went with the Espelirs from Rishie. I love them.
Yeah, I got the last set from him - they're about a 1.2" drop all around (another reason I went with them over the eibachs - too raked for my liking). Thanks for the info.

[yunwawa]

all very helpful~