Front upper strut mounts
 

Is there going to be a huge difference in quality or performance if I replace the mounts with non-Mazda oem? Such as gabriel or monroe or whatever the parts stores have? I've been eyeing the pillow-ball mounts but this is a street-driven car, it will only be lowered 1 inch in front, and I'd like to keep all my teeth :D . Are all replacement mounts slightly adjustable like the original parts, and will they handle stiffer spring rates without breaking? I'm also wondering if the alignment will be able to remain similar to stock after a 1" drop. Anyone with some info for me?

A 1" inch drop is right on the borderline of changing/retaining stock-like geometry. So, its a tough call there. I would say that front camber plates are not the first thing you should be upgrading if you are a begginer to suspension tuning. Go with dampners/springs first. Then, you can do camber plates.

Also, the stock plates are strong, so there is no real reason to change them up if they are not broken.

Springs are what lower cars...read up on Eibachs, Racing beats, Intrax, and Suspension Techniques(?) - those (i think) are the major 4 companies that make springs for our cars.

racing beat offers new upper strut mounts that lower the front of the car 3/4ins. i have them on my car i really like them it helps with the gap in the fender when you use aftermarket wheels and tires. but i also have hks springs and kyb agx struts. i would recomand those if you need new upper strut mounts.

travis

Hmm... not exactly what I was attempting to find out, so I'll try explain a little better. I'm planning on installing new springs (HKS 1" drop front and 1/2" drop in rear) with some KYB AGX's. I've done all this before on another vehicle and with only a one inch drop caused some extra camber even after being re-aligned. So my question on camber is, will it be close enough to stock to not wear my tires goofy? About the upper mounts, mine are looking pretty rough. The inner circle where its like the bottom of the cup looks cracked the whole way around, and the rubber is a bit mushy there(my oem AAS strut leaked from the top and shock oil has been sitting there in the cup). So the related question here is, is there a big difference between Mazda strut tops and replacements made by other manufacturers? I've seen the RB strut mounts and don't want those :eek: , 1" is more than I wanted to drop in the first place.

Just get adjustable camber plates such as the Cuscos. If you are spending money on that part, then get the one that will give you the most adjustability and tunability. You can find used sets on ebay frequently.

The stock mazda cups or the RB cups are not adjustable.

The FSM says they are. :confused: Someone just posted about their alignment and was seeing which way to move/rotate them for correct specs. Aren't the replacements based on the same slight wedge shape?

The strut top, you mean the mounting block? On the stock mazda mounting blocks the camber is adjustable. I dont bother messing with it though, they always seem to break on me. What you do is unbolt the strut/blokc assembly, and turn the block and re-bolt it back on in a different position, thus adjusting the strut angle and the camber.

But after taking a load at a particular angle for a while, the block becomes weak, and changing that angle usually breaks the block. I would go for aftermarket camber adjusting kits if i were you.

you actually want a little negative camber, it will make the car handle better

I do mean the mounting block. I know about turning it to adjust the alignment. All I want to know is, are generic replacements ok to use or are they junk compared to Mazda ones. Also, are the generic ones exactly the same as the original blocks, able to turn for adjustment. I'm asking this becuase mine look to be broken already and I don't want to re-use broken parts with new springs/struts/control arm bushings and upgraded sway bars and strut tower bracing.