DELSING
Motorsport will
strive to bring new products to the market as needs and applications arise.
Let us know
about your thoughts and ideas!
COMING SOON: SHORT SHIFT KIT, FRONT SPRINGS, FRONT ADJUSTABLE CAMBER PLATES, AND MORE!
Mazda
DELSING Motorsport is proud to offer a line of improved components for the Mazdaspeed Protege'
Our suspension kits will bring a new level of performance
to you previously unavailable on the retail market. Our components require
no modifications. They simply bolt on. Photos and descriptions of our race-bred
performance products will be up soon - check back for updates!!
COMING SOON: Big
Brake Kits
| DELSING
MOTORSPORT PROJECT "STX" SUSPENSION DEVELOPMENT OF THE MAZDASPEED PROTEGE |
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| Delsing Motorsport has utilized what Mazda provided and taken it to a higher level. In stock form, the Mazdaspeed Protege is a great handling car. I felt this the first time I test drove it. Quite adequate for most drivers, being predictable and progressive. This
page chronologically presents the evolution of the Delsing
Motorsport project STX. The project is named so after the
hot street tire SCCA class which has specific allowances for modifications.
Initially we did not want to go all out, but drive the car with progressive
mods to see how it responds, evaluate then advance. A goal was to
keep the car a daily driver, but shoot to be a viable contestant at
the SCCA Solo 2 nationals 2004. Below is how it has developed to date. I consider this a "live" page which will be edited as the project progresses. Use this as a great source for your mods, I will tell the good, the bad, the truth.
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ROTATION OF THE STOCK UPPER STRUT BEARINGS |
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You might not have noticed, but your stock upper strut bearings are adjustable for a small amount of negative camber and increased caster. There is a small green paint dot (see pic) near the bearing portion which you can locate as shown to give the camber and caster change. This is a no cost (except for alignment) mod which does help. |
| Results : Increased steering feel , less understeer. | Procedure : Car on jack stands, remove front wheels, disconnect front sway bar end link from strut, remove four upper strut bearing nuts, push down on top of strut assy, rotate bearing as shown, (mirror other side), button it all back, get alignment. |
| Note: Here I should point out that even small changes as the above, do affect the alignment. Read more about alignment settings later. | |
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CAMBER BOLTS |
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While
rotating the upper bearing does provide additional negative camber,
for the weekend racer or daily performance driver, more negative is
desired. At this point we wanted to retain the stock upper bearing.
It is quite stiff and does isolate shock loads to this car which may
be desireable to some owners. The K-MAC strut mounting bolt adjuster shown is the best of the "bolt" type we have used. It allows for almost 2.2 degrees negative but more important, it is easy to adjust and stays where you adjust it. This is vital. We have had simple slot arrangements slip during hard cornering. Not Good! The kit comes complete with a cutting tool that works great. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to install both sides. This mod and our billet end links are great street upgrades. |
| Results:
With a performance alignment, it transforms the car. You can begin to
get on the power much sooner. |
Procedure:
Instructions included in kit, alignment a must. |
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DELSING "KLUNK FIX’ REAR BAR BRACKET |
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 Stock bushings shown. Revised bushing on Left. 
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Even used
as a simple "Klunk" Fix, this provides additional handling
benefits from an increase in rear roll stiffness. Quite simply, it allow
the bar to work more in tension as it is intended to. The stock location
of the bushings creates a bending moment at the clamp. |
| Results: Hold on! You are now going to "drive" through most turns. You will re-learn your carving of familiar turns! Brake early, set and drive through(with above camber and alignment). | Procedure:
Simple bolt on, no welding or cutting; all hardware and instructions included. |
CAUTION
! Only experienced drivers allowed after this point.
O.K. Well sort of kidding here but............................................ |
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DELSING MOTORSPORT CAMBER PLATE |
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You could
display these jewels on your coffee table, but they are better off on
your car, here's why; The DELSING MOTORSPORT adjustable camber plates have been designed to work specifically with either the stock or KW SUSPENSION top spring hats. These camber plates safely allow precise camber adjustment and provide additional caster , while eliminating unwanted flex from the standard rubber encased mounts. Increased negative camber up front dramatically improves handling and steering response. DELSING MOTORSPORT utilizes billet 6061 t6 aluminum and stainless steel construction with high grade hardware included. Spring/vehicle load is well dispersed to the strut towers. Damper rod attachment is through a very high quality replaceable, Teflon lined, self lubricating, spherical bearing. Under wheel well elements, are kept away from the spherical bearing and engine compartment. Adjustment and installation is straight forward with our included detailed instructions. Toe is affected by any camber change, therefore an accurate alignment is required after installation. $325.00 US plus shipping |
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PRECISION WHEEL SPACERS |
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Wheel spacers have a bad rap most of the time. The precision spacers shown her are vehicle specific units which require lug stud replacement(easy) increasing track and lowering C.G. are two definates in raising handling levels. No they do not change C.G. (that’s next), but do increase track. With stock wheels and suspension(increased front negative camber) you can go +15 mm front (with increased negative camber) and +10 mm rear without rolling the lips. It is close and manufacture tolerance may affect this, but it works. Looks cool too. While I am on "looks" check out the light weight alloy lug nuts! |
| Results:
More stick, looks cool. |
Procedure:
Remove wheel, brake disks, knock out stock studs, draw in new longer studs as illustrated. |
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LUG STUDS AND NUTS |
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These
anodized alloy lug nuts are a neat addition which saves weight! Only
us bike racers drool over this kind of stuff. They must be used with
caution. Only with additional thread engagement should these be considered.
Additional thread engagement is provided with longer lug studs. delsing
Motorsport has sourced the correct length , knurl diameter, head style
and thread for the Protege. They are simple to install. The open end
of the alloy lug nuts are needed with the longer studs if spacers are
not used. Use of the alloy lug nuts requires a bit more care than the steely kind. Care must be taken when removing or tightening them, never use an impact ! |
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BILLET REAR SWAY BAR END LINKS |
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Billet,
anodized with all hardware! These end links actually increase rear roll
stiffness simply by not bending. The stock ones do flex, those who are
into this stuff may recall the "slenderness" ratio calcs!
Increased response, easy install. Order stock length if your car is
not lowered, order long set for lowered cars. This sets the bar in a
flat neutral position. |
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COIL OVERS, LOWERING CENTER OF GRAVITY |
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we do the really fun stuff. Lower the C.G. This has a big affect on
handling. As shown in the photo we have height adjustability among
other things. KW is "the set up". We looked hard, and all
over the world. This is it. KW suspensions is storming the European and British touring car series. Their unique valving, spring rate selection and material of construction(stainless) is second to none. The S.S. threaded bodies utilize a unique thread pattern which allows easy adjustment and carries the load more effectivly. Shown here is the "variant 2" with rebound adjustment. Awesome is a quick way to describe the mod. Well worth the money. No other "coilover" manufacturer was able to provide the detailed engineering data I requested. KW supplied me with the info I needed to make my selection. To date we have installed the kit with stock supper strut bearings/mounts.  
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Variant
2 front spring rate is 342lb/in, rear is a unique variable rate. This
is what sold me for our STX application where the car is used on a
daily commute basis. Aproperly spec'd variable rate spring in the
light rear of teh protege allows the suspension to follow irregularities
in the road instead of hopping over them and unsettling the car. We
increased rear roll stiffness with our Rear Bar Barackets and Three
Piece Rear Bar. |
| Results:
I am now getting "on boost" through and between turns. Enough said. |
Procedure:
Allow 3-4 hours install and adjustment of ride height, Re-alignment required. |
| Note:
Our longer(for lowered cars) billet end links are recommended to allow
horizontal position of bar ends in the neutral position of a lowered
car. |
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HOLLOW, SPLINED THREE PIECE REAR BAR |
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| (Picture soon!) | The stock
bars are great, especially with the KW’s and other camber mods.
The Delsing sway bar bracket significantly increase the effectiveness
of the stock rear bar. Our three piece rear bar is hollow, one inch
diameter splined piece. This is the ticket(after other mods) to touring
car handling. These bars are manufactured of spring steel, polished,
double heat treated and coated. Available in stock diameter, special
order. |
| Results: Brake in a straight line! Throttle through turns! | Procedure: Mounts only with our rear bar bracket for hollow bar, instructions with kit. |
Testing various alignment and Baseline of
Mazdaspeed Protege' Summer 2003
Field Testing November
2003 of
Delsing Motorsport Rear Sway-bar Mounts
COMING SOON: Big
Brake Kits