Another rear spring source...
Being unwilling to pay exorbitant shipping charges to source springs out of Australia or Europe, I have put several hours into hunting down what I hope is a suitable spring from US market sources.
Based on the King Springs documentation, the KFFS90 rear lift spring for the Pajero iO is also a replacement for the standard height Mazda 323 spring (this has been tried & proven by several Pajerio members) and based on the KYB Europe documentation, the KYB offering for the Mazda is the RD1430, replacing OE part number B01A34011 - a search of the US Mazda parts database shows this as fitting the 1998 Protege 1.8 ES, and that has led me to the Moog Chassis Parts CC882.
The OE spring dimensions are as follows (taken from the FSM) - 306mm free length, 131mm outside diameter, 11mm wire diameter
The KYB RD 1430 dimensions are (taken from KYB's catalogue) - 340mm free length, 147mm outside diameter, 12mm wire diameter
The Moog CC882 dimensions are (taken from Moog literature) - 286mm free length, 143mm inside diameter, 14mm wire diameter.
It should be noted that the Moog is a progressive or variable rate spring - the coils at one end are wound closer than at the other - supposedly providing a smoother ride when lightly loaded, whilst still having the ability to handle an increased load.
I have not yet tested these springs, but I am tempted to try them, given the fact that I can source a pair at around 1/6 of what it would cost me to get either the King springs (out of Australia), or the KYB (out of the UK), my one misgiving is the fact that they are roughly 20mm shorter than the OE spring, which I suppose will be offset by the thicker wire.
I'm putting together a box of assorted car parts which will ship from the US in the next few weeks, so once I have verified the diameter of the spring seats on the vehicle itself, I might take the chance.
Thanks for the offer Claude
Based on ebay estimates - AUD$150 to post a pair of the King springs to Guyana - about USD$108.
IF the Moog springs for the Protege are correct - it's going to cost me USD$42, including shipping to my daughter - I'm counting the shipping from there to Guyana as "no cost" because the box I'm shipping with the other parts is going to cost me the same amount, whether I get the springs or not.
I'm going to explore the possbility of return the springs if they turn out to be the wrong part and also see if I can find any more details on them, before I make up my mind.
Hey Claude ...
Could you make some measurements for me please ...
The Mazda springs that you have - what is the inside diameter at each end? The Moog springs supposedly have on end smaller than the other, and when I look at NZIO's pictures, it's kind of hard to be sure - the OE rear springs appear to have both ends the same size.
On a different note - I stopped by one of the local "used part" places on my way home today - they had no Mazda springs, (for any model Mazda), but they did have 1-1/2" rubber spacers that looked pretty good against a tape measure, so I might use those with stock springs. The guy who bought them was going to use them on a Toyota Carina (AT212) so that might also be a possible source of springs.
Thanks a million Claude ...
That ID matches what I measured on the stock rear springs - and is signficantly different from what Moog reports for their springs, so even though the application guide says this Moog spring replaces the Mazda spring, I have my doubts.
We know the Mazda spring replaces the Mitsubishi spring, but I doubt that the Moog will replace the Mazda, and so far, I have found no evidence to convince me. I have about a week more before it will be too late to order - if at that point I am still not convinced, I will go with the spring spacers.
Syndicate
There's quite a big discrepancy
in the coil diameters of the springs that supposely fit.
I measured th OE spring as having a wire diameter of 12mm, and an outer diameter of roughly 145mm - if the Moog dimensons are correct, the outside diameter will be 171mm and that is not going to fit - there is quite a bit of "room to play with" - but not that much.
Do I want to buy them & measure them myself before I ship them home - I'm not sure I do...