Iwas changing my front brake pads today and was looking at my struts and noticed that they are KYBs.I thought they came with Tokicos from the factory.I saw some where that KYB was a big OEM supplier in Japan so I guess it could have came that way but they aren't wore out so they may not be the original ones since the car has about 170k miles on it.Any info would be appreciated.Thanks.

 

Looks like Mazda changed suppliers somewhere...
I've seen "KYB" stamped on stock struts, and I've seen "TOKICO" stamped on others...


-Ted

 

Every where I've read before, it said McPhearson Struts (SP?)

 

LOL, kyb = brand. mcphearson = type of suspension setup. like double wishbone ect.

that would be like saying my RWD rx7 is made by RWD

 

I Knew that, HONESTLY, I did

 

I went to Mazdatrix's site and looked at thier part #s cause alot of the time thier part# is just the Mazda part# re-arranged.Their part#s includes all the numbers that are on my struts.Wierd thing is when I replaced my rear shocks the ones that came off the back were Tokicos.One rear was broken from where my muffler hit it in the accident(I was rear ended) the other one was about shot and the broken one was looked like it may have been leaking before it broke in the wreck.I think they are replacements and that maybe Mazda's replacment supplier is KYB.Maybe that would explain what RETed has saw as well.

 

I've seen both KYB and Tokico on original cars(not together.

 

KYB (short for Kayaba) don't just make aftermarket stuff, they're also the largest supplier of OEM shocks in Japan. I dunno about now, but not long ago about 50% of all new cars in Japan rolled out of the factory on KYB's.