MX-3 vs. 323 front and rear LCAs

[Rayman]

does anyone know if the MX-3 front and rear LCAs are interchangeable with the ones from a 90-94 323/protege?

i ask b/c i have a 323 that has the subframe swapped from a MX-3. well i didn't know that when i ordered the rear sway bar, and now the new endlinks won't/can't bolt to the MX-3 LCA, b/c the opening for the endlinks to slide through is much bigger. I cross referenced a picture of the 323 rear LCA and the same hole is just a smaller circle. so w/o having to spend another 140 bucks on the MX-3 sway bar, i wanted to see if i can just change over the LCAs which looks similar enough in photos to make me investigate.


same issue for the front, i have not yet bought a front sway bar, but i have bought the bushing kit for a 90-94 323/protege/escort/neon. same issue, the end flanges of the bar is vertical where the new upgrade endlinks require it to be horizontal, and in addition, there is no mounting point on the current MX-3 front LCAs. not to mention i haven't been able to find a MX-3 front sway bar upgrade, but there is a 323/protege one, so i'm wondering if the front LCAs can be swapped back over to the 323.

can anyone shed any light on this?


ps. i will post pics soon to show what i'm talking about if it seems confusing, but if u know the solution, im sure u know what im talking about.

[yunvmyegt]

search for the junkyard jems....

[Rayman]

i saw that thread, it doesnt answer my question. i already have the mx-3 subframe under the 323, i know that fits. i know the whole thing is 30mm (wider) difference in width/track. but im talking about putting the 323 LCAs back into the mx-3 subframe.

[yunvmyegt]

theres a link in the thread, that goes to the mx3 forums saying its an upgrade due to the diffenent style sway bar you car run..... unless its the other arms... but thats just the rears...

[ftjandra]

Yes, the MX-3 and 323/Protege arms interchange. But, there are two major differences:

1. As you already noted, the swaybar endlinks mount differently.

2. The MX-3 arms are longer and widen the track by a total of ~30mm. Most guys (me included) swap MX-3 arms into their 323/Protege because of this.

--Ferdi

[Rayman]

well here's a new question....say i keep the FRONT mx-3 set up, subframe and LCAs and all, will the ZX2 sway bar and endlinks work with that? (i know that the zx2 set up will fit the 323/protege....)

[yunvmyegt]

it will if you want to shorten the rear stance of the car....i could be wrong but if your on a track that might actually help with faster turns, depending what your looking for....

[ftjandra]

well here's a new question....say i keep the FRONT mx-3 set up, subframe and LCAs and all, will the ZX2 sway bar and endlinks work with that? (i know that the zx2 set up will fit the 323/protege....)

I believe Ryan (bpt323) ran that setup at one point. I think all he did was bend the bracket on the MX-3 lca out of the way because the washer on the endlink was hitting it.

--Ferdi

[FE3-323]

^ as ferdi said..... for the rear you use the protege/323 swaybar with a hiemjoint/bolt combo i had sold a pair of them awhile back for $30

the front i reccomend the zx2 swaybar

[Rayman]

it will if you want to shorten the rear stance of the car....i could be wrong but if your on a track that might actually help with faster turns, depending what your looking for....

well it really doesnt make that much of a difference, its a street car. though pulling the wheels in a bit might lessen the amount of rubbing i get w/ the 17" wheels...


my only other solution (to the rear) is to weld a plate to close the openings on the mx-3 LCAs, and redrill a smaller round hole though that plate so i can use the 323 endlinks can mount to instead.....

[Rayman]

as for the front, i guess i can just leave it alone....and not do anything w/ the sway bars and endlinks.....