MX3 rear subframe the same?????

[Gro Harlem]

MX3 unibody = Protege unibody = 323 unibody = Ford Escort unibody = Ford ZX2 unibody = Mercury tracer unibody

Make more sense now?

[SgtRauksauff]

talk about resurrecting an old post.... yikes!!

I've been doing some searching, but haven't found any concrete information to a couple of questions. If it actually is somewhere, please point me in the right direction!

My question on the whole deal, is whether the wider track is because of the tire size difference, or if it's actually wider, say hub-mounting-surface to hub-mounting-surface.

And if it is actually wider in that manner, then I've got some other questions:

Front-
Is it the spindles that differ in depth, and the LCA/subframes are the same? Or are the LCA's longer and the spindles the same? If it's the spindles, then different tie rods will be needed, because the knuckle is most likely different, correct? Or, are the spindles AND LCA sizes different?

Rear-
1) is the crossmember itself wider between lateral link mounting points, or are the links themselves longer? Or, are the rear links and crossmember the same, and the rear spindle making up the difference in width?

Those are some things I'd really love to know! However, as there are never any MX3's in the junkyards or the streets around here (been looking for like 3 years, have yet to find one), it's hard for me to go take measurements.

In the rear, if it's actually wider, that'll really tag in some great negative camber since the strut mounts will be in the same location on my car. I was hoping to get some rear camber plates to add some negative, but maybe if this works out well, I'll have to get some to keep the car from chewing up the tires on the road as much. Plus, it might make the tire-to-strut clearance issue that I have right now moot, and I won't have to run the 15mm spacers. Of course, I could run the 15mm spacers anyway, and fit some nice 15x8's on there with maybe a 235 or 245, and stick like superglue....

But now I'm rambling. If anyone knows the answers to my questions, please, feel free to post them.

--sarge

[MazdaRacer]

back from the dead!

the front subframe, i beleive is completely different, as far as length. My lower tie bars do not fit the MX3 because the LCA bolts that it mounts to are further apart. So while it looks identical, the measurements are different.

the rear, as i beleive it to be, are just longer arms, as the rear tie bars fit both the Pro and MX3. There could be other differences, like spindles, TTL, etc, but for the why it's wider question, i think thats ^^^ why.

[D323]

1stgensupercar on here has a set of MX-3 rear discs on his DX he bolted up. We even changed the speedo cable to work. I think hes using the MX rear sway... I cant remember @ this moment... I'll look when I see him @ the thursday meet.

[viper_707]

ok lets get this straight. from spindle nut to spindle nut (front or rear) is longer on the mx3 than it is on the protege. tires don't make the difference. mike_moss has the v6 setup in the front and it is much wider (he is still runing the same stock rims and tire size as factory) i beleive he is gonna do the rear too

[mike_moss]

Yep. 30mm front + rear.

It's not much on its own, but side by side it's pretty huge...here's an example of the front/rear difference. This was taken after my MX-3 front end swap (I swapped everything on the front over.) Rear remains stock (swapping after the ZE is in.)

[naprotejay]

nice pic

I'll add to the questions...... is it just the V6/GS model that is different - or ALL MX-3's?? For that matter, what happened when they dropped the V6 and were just selling the B6 DOHC?

[mike_moss]

Thanks.

Just the V6/GS model had the different subframes.

[FE3-323]

now the question is, how would the entire mx3 v6 subframe work with a BP system???

[SgtRauksauff]

That 30mm means longer drive axles, then, right?

[mike_moss]

now the question is, how would the entire mx3 v6 subframe work with a BP system???

Seeing as I've seen KLZE's swapped into Protegés & 323s while still retaining the stock BG subframe, I'd say it's possible...I'd do it if I was running a BPT. The steering rack ratio is quicker, too.

That 30mm means longer drive axles, then, right?

I'd presume so. How much longer would depend on transmission placement and length of intermediate shaft.

[SgtRauksauff]

hrm, that's too bad for me then. Because I've got a fairly pricey custom driver side axle and intermediate shaft to be able to use the MSP diff in my G-box. Can't really change the tranny placement much, though, because it's bolted to the engine, which is bolted to the passenger side inner fender mount.

Too bad it wasn't just deeper spindles, that would be a nice bolt-on bit with no bothersome drivetrain mods....

I'll have to just deal with the front as it is. I am working on getting a better rack, though, when I've got the time.

Of course, if my pipe-dream of getting a nice Getrag 6-speed box in there ever comes to fruition, it's going to be a whole lot more custom anyway, so the wider bits will come in handy, then.


--sarge

[mike_moss]

I wouldn't be so quick to pass judgement without trying it out.

[D323]

I got LX axles in my GS spindles no problem...

[mike_moss]

I wonder if the extra 15mm will negitively affect the axle.