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Anonymous
Anonymous asked in Cars & TransportationCar MakesMazda · 1 year ago

What are some good mods to improve handling on a 2005 mazda tribute?

So my dad gave me this car for free as he upgraded to a mazda cx5. Recently, i put on brand new yokohama tires which did improve handling a little bit. But she still has some body roll when taking corners hard. What are some ways i can make it handle even better? atlleast until im finished with college and can afford something nicer like a bmw.

Update:

My dad brought it new in 2005 and maintained it by changing the oil every 3k miles. It currently has about 115,000 miles.

9 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    11 months ago

    Stiffer shocks(meaning new) will reduce the roll a lot.  For Cheap.   

    Now, if you got a bit of cash and access to a oxy/acetylene cutting torch (I had to get a picture of it and cut the roof behind the driver's door down to the window level for the rear passenger doors and go straight backward.  Now get a welding unit and weld on some flat plate steel and you got a flatbed truck.  All that high body weight is gone.  It rolls much less. Car value is now a couple hundred dollars as scrap metal because no body wants a chopped up car except you.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    1 year ago

    Your car is 15 years old and probably still running on original shocks and struts. Try installing new "performance" shocks and struts.

  • 1 year ago

    If you want a better handling vehicle, buy a car as your next vehicle. Good luck.     

  • Jay P
    Lv 7
    1 year ago

    It's not a sports car, don't expect it to handle even remotely close like one...

  • Anonymous
    1 year ago

    What are some ways you can make it handle better? STOP  taking corners so hard. It's not a race car and will handle better if you drive more prudently.  

  • ?
    Lv 7
    1 year ago

    It's not a sports car and will never handle like one, though the Tribute's suspension is tuned for a firmer ride than its Escape/Maverick siblings.  You may well have worn suspension etc by now , so renewing worn parts will help.

  • Anonymous
    1 year ago

    Leave it alone.  It is not a sports car.  Go slow on corners.  Put your money to maintaining it.

  • 1 year ago

    Your dad gave you a 15 year old Mazda Tribute.

    He purchased it for somewhere around $22000, if he purchased it new.

    It's worth under $2000.

    But she still has some body roll when taking corners hard = um... the car is a cheap family car.  It's not intended to take corners "hard".

    If there is truly a problem with the body roll, get the suspension repaired.

    Pimping out this car is hilariously stupid.

    In response to the comments:

    A 15y old car no matter how many miles on it needs much more than an oil change every 3K miles to "maintain" it. 

    And with 115000 miles on it, it's still worth less than $2000. 

  • 1 year ago

    Best thing to do would be to replace worn suspension components next.  Shocks (rear) and struts (front) are definitely worn out by now if they're original and replacing them will tremendously improve handling.  Worn springs may also need to be replaced.  No need to buy "upgrades" on those parts, OEM spec is fine.  Since it's a SUV/CUV it's never going to handle like a sports car, so don't waste your time trying for that.  If you want a better handling vehicle, buy a car as your next vehicle.  Good luck.     

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