Rookie, swapping out my stock struts and springs for Tokico's and H&R sport springs.

Questions:

Do I need to retain the rubber spring seats? They are in bad shape, cracked and brittle. Same question for the upper boot ("bound stopper assemblies"). They are in *very* bad shape. (Is that the "bump stop")?

If these rubber pieces are required, is a Mazda dealer the place to get replacements, or are there substitutes available (stiffer? more durable? etc)

 

The large rubber parts you speak of are in fact the bump stops. Mazda is the only place to get them and if your are really poor I highly recommend replacing them when you install your struts. The rubber spring seats help ensure there is no squaking. As long as they are not in several pieces I would reuse those.

 

The lower spring seats are, in fact, in brittle pieces. The bump stops are split and crumbling.

I ordered upper and lower replacement parts from Malloy for $200 and some - ugh. A couple rubber rings/donuts... somebody's rakin' in some profit!