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"a run of success all season long with a customized, high-performance, race-ready engine uniformly developed for the Mazda Proteges competing in the series."
here's a peek at what's under the hoods of these racing Proteges:
yes it's the rear sway bar. I replaced the stock 16mm one with the 20mm one from the MP3. I only replaced the rear sway bar, because I want to reduce the understeer tendency of my Protege. FYI, thicker rear sway bar reduces understeer, while thicker front sway bar reduces oversteer.
The effect is dramatic. The understeer has been dramatically reduced. I have yet to make the front tires squeal after I have it on. I now can take onramps at least 10mph faster than with the stock sway bar, if not more. I haven't pushed it to the limit yet, and won't until I've done it at the controlled environment of an autocross track first.
If you think the Protege handles like a dream in stock form, upgrade the rear sway bar and you'll go WOW.
have you got yourself over to www.protegeclub.com? There are tons of people on that forum that REALLY knows their Protege stuff
I have noticed now it goes over big speedbumps a bit harsher than before, but that is a trade-off I am more than willing to take!!!
Jack up the rear of the car and put it on stands. Plenty of room to maneuver once it's on stands.
I bought it used off of another guy. He installed a 21mm(!) rear sway bar from AWR racing ( http://www.awrracing.com ) and sold me his used one for $90. He also helped me install it, so it was totally worth it
a full set of MP3 sway bars (front and rear) has an MSRP of $450(!!!) according to MUSA website. If I remember correctly, AWR has a 19mm rear sway bar (including new mounting brackets so no need to trim stock rubber bushings) for like $160. I would suggest buying that if you can't find any used mp3 bar.
Remember a while back when someone (don't remember who) told us about his or her freeway on-ramp spin out in the rain. Basically whomever it was induced oversteer by applying the brake mid-turn on a slippery road. I've put the Pro into a nice neutral slide on dry pavement doing the same thing at higher speeds. You can get a similar but smaller effect just form lifting off the throttle in mid-turn. This tendency will be amplified by stiffening the rear stabilizer bar relative to the front.
Usually its no big deal, and sometimes it's quite desirable - especially for auto-x, etc. - but it can be a big deal if you're on a surface with limited traction and you aren't used to compensating for it. Just something to think about, especially for those who have to drive on snowy roads.
yup, reduced understeer = looser rear end = higher tendency to spin, if not properly controlled, of course
trust me, after that incident, I have been driving EXTRA slow in rain, don't want that to happen with other cars around me.
We will see what this winter shall bring, more slippin' & slidin' maybe? ;D
Enjoy.
And since the MP3 comes with these thick sway bars stock, are you also suggesting the MP3 is more 'sentra-like' than the stock Protege?
How hard is a front sway bar installation? I heard you have to drop the subframe to get to it, and that seems like a time-consuming thing.
I guess that goes for all coupes?
For some reason, all my girl friends (friends that happen to be girls - to avoid unnecessary posts) ask if the PRO comes in a coupe version. Why doesn't it? I would like a PRO coupe. Besides the Civil, Crapalier/Sunburn, there aren't others.
Dinu
- Less head room front and rear
- less leg room front and rear
- reduced structural rigidity
- difficult entrance/egress to back seat
- smaller windows, partial view out the side for rear seat passengers obstructed)
- oversize doors - I avoid parking next to coupes in parking lots
- absolutely no improvement in handling (reduced rigidity possible detriment)
- (on some coupes - GM's especially) seat belts for front seats latched on real odd, and possibly less safe than being on B pillar (as in Sedans)
All for a slightly more sporty "appearance" and pretensions? Surely blasphemous to even mention a coupe in the Protege forum, me thinks!
I doubt anyone in Europe, or anywhere else for that matter buys coupes!
Dinu
While I was in NJ, I had a rental...they gave me a Mitsu Lancer. (I was just soooooo glad it wasn't a Cavalier!)
Very loosey-goosey steering, no OD button. Didn't handle the turns quite as well as the Pro, seems to me.
Comfortable inside, though.
Sway bars seem to do wonders for cars. My significant other put front and rear sway bars on his car and it made the structure seem alot more solid.
Speaking of your S/O, is he still around edmunds? You never know who is who, just different names seem to pop up with a lot of prior TH knowledge.
On topic, I love both my 2000 PRO-ES's. The twins are now 30 months old with a tick over 41,500 miles, that averages to about 16,600 miles a year. They really are holding up very nicely.
-larry
Meade
Had a Dodge Stratus for a week. What a junker. Bouncy, non-communicative and non-confidence-inspiring is all I can say about that car's suspension. Oh, and poor visibility out of the car, much like the Neon. For a car of that size, it feels smaller than my Pro. I could also fit the same amout of luggage into either (and that's with the "toolkit" I keep in my Pro's trunk all the time).
Too bad I didn't have my Pro. It would've enjoyed PCH and CA2. Man, did I miss my car.
I put different tires on my 1999 Protege DX. I lost a tire at 9500 miles, and replaced it with another brand, but the same speed rating. Never had adverse affects, up to 38K when I traded the car. Maybe it was because the speed rating was different...
The tire is actually pretty good for its cost, I think. No trouble with performance or traction at all. And it handles just as well as the Michelins do, for less than half the price.
"I'm not going to say these are the best tyres you can get because obviously they are not, however I had them fitted as a `package deal` on some 15" OZ alloys and did not expect much from them as they were cheap, they suprised me. I have a MK1 Supercharger conversion with oversized pulley and often give some right foot - these tyres so far haev been fine (in the dry) with NO scary moments - the grip seems great for such a budget tyre. In the wet there is a little `wheel spin` when planting the throttle (but that happens anyway) also the grip is not as good in the wet and I do not feel as safe to go fast.
To Sum up Very Good dry tyre (for the price) average wet tyre - also they don`t seem to wear that fast!"
They're manufactured by Kumho, introduced in 1995. Here's a link to their site:
http://www.michelinkorea.com/kuho/power-racer2.htm
They are sold as Marshall tires by the well-known brand "Hercules" in the U.S.:
http://www.herculestire.com/marshal/#
I would recommend calling someone who stocks Kumho tires and asking if they can order them.
Meade
Thanks for the links. I called Firestone here in MD (the company that I dealt with when I was in NC), and they said they never heard of the brand (dummies). I thought they would sell the same brand in all stores, but I guess not.
I was just lucky in NC, they only had one of these tires in the store and I bought it (maybe not so, though).
So the only way to get one, I presume, is to drive back to NC and get one at the same place. It will be a cold day in Hell before I do that though. I will just replace the left front tire soon, because it will be worn soon anyway (I have 20K now).
BTW, how much did you pay for that tire? And, have you considered calling that Firestone in North Carolina and asking THEM where you can get one up in Maryland? Or who their supplier is and then contact the supplier yourself?
And BTW, what does this have to do with Proteges? I'm answering because I'm a friend and I want to help, but I suggest you go over to one of the tire discussions. You'll probably get better results asking in the proper discussion.
Meade
I paid $100 for the tire that I got. Comparable tires were 2-3 times MORE, including Michelin.
And this conversation started about Proteges when someone said about putting mismatched tires on their Protege. Then I asked a question about it, and everyone started responding.
800-677-9535
It's Hercules Tire Distribution Services. Maybe they can offer a suggestion.
Meade
Meade
P.S. Please check your e-mail. Thanks.
Dinu
OK here's the deal, we are going to set up a meet/BBQ on September 14th, at one of these parks in Falls Church, VA:
http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/parks/picnics/fallnics.htm
we are going to reserve either Olney Park or Roundtree Park, depending on availability. Both are a short drive off the DC beltway (I-495) and I-66.
We welcome ALL Mazda Protege drivers/owners, heck, we even welcome other Mazda cars!
post here if you are interested in attending
oh yeah, there WILL be food at the meet. Gotta meet the high standard Meade has set for all future Mid-Atlantic Protege meets!!! :-D
Meade
Just look behind the rear of a CR-V and you will see what I mean.
It does not have a sway bar(aka beam axle).
It has tie rods that ties the body of the car to the lower suspension arms. The distance between the lower arms and the body can be decreased but not increased. This prevents sway in either direction, but still allows for great bump soaking travel.
Check it out.
Meade
An anti-sway bar is not a beam axle. Two different things.
if you make it thick enough, it is as good as a beam axle.