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Sav's '15 Mazda 6

9K views 40 replies 13 participants last post by  Archerfish 
#1 · (Edited)
I decided to make a "build thread" about my car. I put quotations around build thread because although I am going to do stuff to the car, I'm not going to be posting daily/weekly/install pics or whatever, just occasional update pics after something gets done and I get the chance to take them.

I don't plan to do too much stuff, but I will continuously update the OP as needed.

Interior:
2 12" Pioneer subs and amp
Husky Liners
OVTune - 92 Octane (in progress)

Exterior:
Tint strip and 20% tints on sides and back
20x10 Vossen CVT silver w/ 245/35/20 Toyo Proxes 4+
Tanabe lowering springs
Muffler delete - MagnaFlow Y-Pipe/4" Vibrant SS Tips
Roof Spoiler

Future(! doing|? maybe):
BC coilovers !
Window deflectors !
Diffuser/skirts/lip !
New head unit ?
AutoExe bumper ?
ETC.
 
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#5 ·
Everything is going to look great. Just need a better camera to show them off. <img src="http://forum.mazda6club.com/images/Mazda6Club_2014/smilies/tango_face_grin.png" border="0" alt="" title="Big Grin" class="inlineimg" />
Yea, I actually bought a Canon Rebel T6-supposed to be one of the best starter cameras-not too long ago, but I don't really use it much; probably due to the fact that it was at my brothers house for months. But now I have it and am ready to use it, I just forgot the charger and SD card at his place. Also, those pictures were taken on my iPhone X, which if you ask me, takes great pictures; but I uploaded them as "attached images" which dropped their quality a ton. Anyone know how to fix this? Or another way of uploading pics and have them keep their quality? Because regardless of how good of a camera I use, they're going to get their quality dropped if I keep uploading this way.
 
#9 ·
Wheels are on.

Vossen CVT 20x10 with 245/35/20 Toyo Proxes 4+


-Definitely needs a drop; ordered the Tanabe springs (haven't recieved them yet) but I was thinking of holding off on putting them on until I eventually bought struts because I saw people were saying that the springs will ruin the stock struts quickly. I think I'd rather just drop it when I get the springs rather than wait until I order struts which is idk when.. Thoughts?
-Front sticks out a little more than the rear does.
-Was a little worried that the stretch was going to be too much; nope, imo it's perfect.


Edit: Finally able to upload through my PC. These were quickies taken on my phone, I'll try to get better pics soon.




 
#10 ·
Also have an appointment on July 5th to go get a tint strip. Minor, but it'll make a difference. Got all my windows tinted by these guys but wasn't thinking of a tint strip at the time, oh well, they said they'll give me a discount.
 
#14 ·
Put the springs on. Between the look and the ride you'll be glad you did.

Have never heard the springs will mess with the stock struts. I'd need proof not hearsay to believe it. Anyway I call BS.

Wheels look great.
You should do more digging then. Not all lowering springs are designed to work optimally with your stock struts - it should be specifically stated. Tanabe's don't offer a very aggressive drop and they specify it will work fine, but a more aggressively dropped/stiffer spring will not play nice with the dampening rates of the OEM struts and will wear them out quicker than if you were to use your OEM springs.
@sav, nice car! the build is coming along nicely. you can use the Tanabe's on factory struts no problem if you want to, but I would suggest upgrading your struts to Bilstein B6 and put some corksport sway bars in there while you have the suspension taken apart.

Great choice on the wheels! Funny enough I was looking at those exact same Vossen's for my car. Currently debating between those or Rohana RFX7's.



I think deleting your second cat and adding an axle-back muffler would sound better than a muffler delete. or at least adding two resonators behind your exhaust tips to help filter the sound a bit.

To further clean up your car aesthetically, I would suggest the following:



 
#12 ·
I got the delete done on Tuesday (7/3) and my tint strip on Thursday (7/5), I still need to get some pics, which I'm not sure when I will, lol.

Still waiting on my springs, they said ETA was 7/3 and I since I got no email or nothing from them on 7-3/4/5/6 I emailed them and asked what the ETA was (on 7/6) and they said, "Hello, let me check for you!" and I still haven't gotten a reply, so I'm just waiting atm :).
 
#16 ·
Anytime you go "AFTER MARKET" it should be obvious that you are altering the OEM equipment. While different springs may possibly shorten the life of a strut they do not "mess" with them and there is still NO proof that they do.
Yes there is. Stiff springs with an aggressive drop dramatically lower the lifespan of OEM struts. I've seen it more times than you can ever imagine. Every single person with experience on suspension says it.

Over at the BMW forums, H&R lowering springs are, quite literally a popular "downgrade". blows your struts in no time not to mention the shitty stiff, bouncy ride. They are too stiff for OEM damper rates meaning they don't work well together at all.
 
#19 · (Edited)
1. How am I still ignorant about coilovers?

2. How does the fundamental concept of shocks/struts on a Mazda differ from any other vehicle?

3. You can easily look it up yourself. It's all over the internet.

Hate to admit it, but GI is right...
If you hate to admit it... Don't.

I've never done it myself, but I've seen literally dozens of other owners on this forum lower their rides, only to replace the struts/shocks almost immediately due to them failing. That's if they weren't swapped out to new ones at the time the springs were installed.
Immediately is probably worst case scenario, but your struts sure as hell won't last very long. Regardless you can get much better performance and a suspension that articulates bumps and rough roads far better than OEM by upgrading your struts to good sh*t such as Bilstein.

If I was to lower my 6, I would budget for new ones anyway, so it gets done with the car on a lift or in a shop just once...
... And that's a great idea. I would also install some sway-bars front/rear and probably some camber plates on the front axle while i'm at it too. Will completely transform this cars handling and make it very capable. Mazda's G chassis is incredibly capable but with stock suspension and the not so good stock differential there is tons of potential left to exploit so long as the driver is good.

If I'm wrong, then I apologize, but I don't think my memory has failed me just yet... lol
No need to apologize, because you're 100% right.
 
#18 ·
Hate to admit it, but GI is right... [emoji12]

When lowering the car, it's recommended to replace the struts/shocks at the same time. I've never done it myself, but I've seen literally dozens of other owners on this forum lower their rides, only to replace the struts/shocks almost immediately due to them failing. That's if they weren't swapped out to new ones at the time the springs were installed.

If I was to lower my 6, I would budget for new ones anyway, so it gets done with the car on a lift or in a shop just once...

I'd link up some older threads in the suspension sections, but I'm on my cell. But I know they do exist here. If I'm wrong, then I apologize, but I don't think my memory has failed me just yet... lol

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk
 
#24 ·
Thanks. So you can't have any tint in NY? We don't have inspections here and my tint is a little below legal limit but they don't really enforce the tint laws here. IMO, tinted windows look good and help with the sun; so if you have the money/are willing to pay twice a year for tints, then it's worth it.
 
#28 ·
Yea the springs definitely made a difference, but tbh I'd like it to be a bit lower. Not sure if I'm going to try and sell the Tanabe's and get some different springs/coilovers, or just use the Tanabe's for a while then get some new ones, idk lol.
 
#29 ·
Not the update I would've liked to have made, but it is what it is. Front and back passenger side; this is after about 5 months of them being on :/
This happened Sunday night, after my car was borrowed to go out of town to do something, but I didn't notice until last night (Monday) when changing wheels back to my oem ones for the winter..

Front



Back


 
#33 ·
I contacted a place about 3 hours away who said something like $170 per wheel, but they want pics of the damage, so I'm not sure if the price might increase depending on how bad they think my damage is or maybe increase because they're Vossens? Not sure, I haven't sent the pics or told them the brand yet.
 
#37 ·
So, you decided to go for OVT instead of DRT...
Yup, I did.

What happened to your rim? Was it repaired?
The person who borrowed my car said someone was going into their lane so they had to try and avoid them and in the process scraped the wheels on the curb. Not repaired, I haven't decided on what I'm going to do yet.
 
#39 · (Edited)
One of my friends bought recently a Mazda 6. Incredible car. Interesting investment. I know that now we have some hard moments but making a good investment is really important. I would like to make such an investment too. I even started to read more about this and found this site themoneymix.com. There I read everything about investment and even how to receive a passive income. You know it is not so easy to find the correct way to make an investment. I guess that this will be my next goal.
 
#40 ·
One of my friends bought recently a Mazda 6. Incredible car. Very good investment.
Resurrecting a thread from a year and a half ago to post something with broken english and completely off topic - A bot I sense.
 
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