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Mazda 3 parts on a Focus.

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#64 ·
bobbydo said:
I have his new arms and have run them the entire season on grand am continentals and haven't had a problem yet. Crossing my fingers. I hate seeing pictures like this. Have you moved back to the stock arms?
Click to expand...
Yep, factory arms for me. I was on Nitto NT01's. I bought the tubular arms because Capaldi was not selling his camber plates
and I wanted to reduce camber slightly.
The arm let go in turn one at Mosport at ~70-80 mph, fun, fun, fun. It felt very similar to a hub shearing off. Except when the hub failed, it didn't ruin a new tire, the washer bottle, the fender liner and fender, like the broken control arm did.

Thankfully, I have some custom 4340 hubs from Ford specs a machinist friend and I made so that isn't an issue any longer.
For comparison, the 4340's are on the left with ARP studs and the Ford ones are on the right.

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#65 ·
Well, I got my 05-11 Focus ball joints today (I ordered them before learning they wouldn't work), and they indeed have a two-tier pin. The lower portion below the bolt is .745 and the upper is .705. .745 is 18.9mm and the Mazda lower was 17.8mm, so that's indeed a no-go. The good news is that I have other uses for these.
 
#68 ·
^^ agreed. if you really need more beef, just reinforce the stock arm if possible. but you really shoudlnt be bending arms.

any luck with the axle portion yet? jsut wondering if you managed to get somethinh along those lines. looks like everything else is pretty much figured out. if a for sure parts list can be generated i have some shopping and some subframes to dress up,
 
#71 ·
Well, two things:

Mazda 6 rear spindles have a different bolt pattern than the Focus ones. I haven't taken the time to test fit them yet.

The Mazda axle and Focus axle cannot be made to play well together. You have to go with an alternate manufacturer that uses common inner splines..... which is exactly what the Lapps said.

I kind of ran out of time, space, and money at the moment. I need to get my LeMons car back together in January so I can get back to other projects.
 
#74 ·
has anyone looked into using the front spindles of of a contour? I was doing some searching last night and will be going to my buddies parts store today to see what I can come up with, I will post what I find when I get home later tonight
 
#75 ·
How about DSS? They should be able to make something that would work. There's also a joint near Savage, MD that does specialty cv assemblies. They're one of the few places I've found locally that has MT285 axles (even the diminutive Ford dealer I work at said they couldnt get them). If you don't mind shelling out a couple hundies per side to get these things made...
 
#76 ·
Re: I'm sorry if people are sick of this topic! Mazda 3 goodies on 05 zx3

I have been contemplating a similar swap - I have an '02 ZX3 - I have '08 and '09 Mazda5s - the '09 has 292,000 miles on it and NO BEARING FAILURE YET!! I used to burn up the crappy focus bearings. Acomplete Focus upgrade kit for $700.00 from Tousley Ford Parts - up front: '05 knuckle & hub, caliper, rotor, caliper mount and brake line..rear: converts to disc and contains spindle, hub, caliper, bracket, rotor, brake line and parking brake cable (although i STILL haven't figured out how to adjust it!...) i'm pretty sure the rears use the same brake pads as the Mazdas....i did this swap 2 years ago and have only put 3,000 miles on it but the difference is night & day - it STOPS when ya hit the pedal and NO MORE JUNK DRUM BRAKES!! The suspension on the 5 looks identical to the focus as it does compared to the 3 - i've used the rear adjustable upper control arm for both the focus and mazda with success
 
#78 ·
Re: I'm sorry if people are sick of this topic! Mazda 3 goodies on 05 zx3

OmniFocus said:
You'll need a hybrid axle with a Focus inner and a MS3 outer.

I'm not sure on the strut, but if the strut mount diameter on the MS3 knuckle is the same as the 06-11 Focus, you could potentially use a Massive Omni-Kit to adapt the Focus struts... or just have some custom inserts machined.

Gold Coast Automotive has done this before, but as of right now, I don't think anybody has given them money for any conversion parts, and they keep providing free advice on the topic.
Click to expand...
I am doing this on eBay now and Gold Coast Automotive website, talked with fs-werks today and will tomorrow again for other parts for suspension, but Yes! I am going to do hybird axle advice please people :), if their is any knowledge and advice i need to give my mechanic please. Reason why is my axles both are and been knocking for some time but not serious which if you are hearing clicking going forward its bad bad. Meaning its time to correct it, but i got time and good amount of driving i can have in some days, however...Firestone caught on where i get lifetime alignments for one price (gotten like 10 so far for that one time fee in the past 3 years) but its well if it is not your mechanic or trusted place so suspensions might get some unknown douche wear and tare possible and a concern) but it is good on roads trips you need a quick alignment just be mindful who knows.

I'm going to post in the trend, i am in process of setting up where to purchase and background checks on parts info and all on eBay which is not the best trusted, but also consider I am taking about the half axle using half the part is pretty good to make a hybrid and purchase the Ford from Gold Coast Automotive (cool with you all?) or Ford directly (cause if so i like to buy the ford one at a reliable place) at a affordable price and still beat anything Firestone could offer is fine with me. LOL i just also don't want to bother each time i might need that quick alignment with the axle repair call so better to get it done my way right :)

I'll post this on my trend on FSD Suspension since now this is a key factor. Now that this question was brought up I'm glad for the info as always i am from focaljet. ^_^

Buying focaljet license covers, ok ok I will do my part lol and donate err purchase ^_^

Thank ya Omnifocus ^_^

Thank you topic Starter and Thank you All ^_^
 
#79 ·
Re: I'm sorry if people are sick of this topic! Mazda 3 goodies on 05 zx3

brakedust said:
I have been contemplating a similar swap - I have an '02 ZX3 - I have '08 and '09 Mazda5s - the '09 has 292,000 miles on it and NO BEARING FAILURE YET!! I used to burn up the crappy focus bearings. Acomplete Focus upgrade kit for $700.00 from Tousley Ford Parts - up front: '05 knuckle & hub, caliper, rotor, caliper mount and brake line..rear: converts to disc and contains spindle, hub, caliper, bracket, rotor, brake line and parking brake cable (although i STILL haven't figured out how to adjust it!...) i'm pretty sure the rears use the same brake pads as the Mazdas....i did this swap 2 years ago and have only put 3,000 miles on it but the difference is night & day - it STOPS when ya hit the pedal and NO MORE JUNK DRUM BRAKES!! The suspension on the 5 looks identical to the focus as it does compared to the 3 - i've used the rear adjustable upper control arm for both the focus and mazda with success
Click to expand...
Dam this is like Destiny whoa man its like out there...

Yeah Just how awesome info this is too, thank you /bow

Your Guys Rock! I know my Last Name is Rock. Rock On my Friends ^_^
 
#80 ·
Re: I'm sorry if people are sick of this topic! Mazda 3 goodies on 05 zx3

brakedust said:
I have been contemplating a similar swap - I have an '02 ZX3 - I have '08 and '09 Mazda5s - the '09 has 292,000 miles on it and NO BEARING FAILURE YET!! I used to burn up the crappy focus bearings. Acomplete Focus upgrade kit for $700.00 from Tousley Ford Parts - up front: '05 knuckle & hub, caliper, rotor, caliper mount and brake line..rear: converts to disc and contains spindle, hub, caliper, bracket, rotor, brake line and parking brake cable (although i STILL haven't figured out how to adjust it!...) i'm pretty sure the rears use the same brake pads as the Mazdas....i did this swap 2 years ago and have only put 3,000 miles on it but the difference is night & day - it STOPS when ya hit the pedal and NO MORE JUNK DRUM BRAKES!! The suspension on the 5 looks identical to the focus as it does compared to the 3 - i've used the rear adjustable upper control arm for both the focus and mazda with success
Click to expand...
Wait, just so I understand - You are getting the full conversion kit from Tousley to upgrade to 5 lug Mazda parts and rear discs for $700? If so I'm contacting them today.
 
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