From Mechanical Database
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The 1990-1994 Protege and 323 are basically the same car, using the same chassis and unibody. The 1991-1996 Escorts and the 1997-present escorts and ZX2's use the SAME chassis as the Protege/323 (known as the BG chassis). Thus most every suspension part will interchange with a few minor exceptions. The Mazda MX-3 uses the same unibody as the Protege/323/ZX2/Escort/Tracer hence why so many suspension parts interchange. The MX-3, however uses a different chassis known as the "EC" chassis. The main differences between this chassis and the BG chassis is the different swaybar design that uses droplinks instead of endlinks. The control arms and trailing arms are of a different design and the rear disc brakes on GS models use different style calipers.
Strut Tower Bars
It is easiest to find MX3 strut tower bars on ebay or online. All MX3 strut tower bars fit the 90-94 Protege, 2nd gen escort, 323, and the 3rd gen Escort and ZX2. The 3rd gens may require some re-location of various brackets as there are more systems (like ABS) and stuff. The rear bar does fit, but require trimming of your trunk interior to fit in the 97+ Escort sedan or ZX2 hatchback.
Tie Bars
All rear tie bars fit all cars. MX3 tie bars are easier to find than escort or protege tie bars. Front Tie bars from the Protege, will fit the 2nd gen escort. I don't know of anyone who fitted one to a 3rd gen Escort/ZX2, but it probably fits. I have a MX3 rear tie bar on my car, and it fit great.
Swaybars
All front swaybars interchange between the Protege/323/Escort/ZX2, as does the rear bars. The MX3's bars WILL NOT fit any of these models. This is because they utilize horizontally mounted droplinks rather than the vertically mounted endlinks found on BG chassis cars.
Bushings
Control arm, Trailing arm, Steering rack and swaybar endlink kits will interchange between the Protege/323/Escort/ZX2, and possibly the MX-3 (no one has tested them). Shift stabilizer bushings are the same between all Protege's, 323's, MX3's and 2nd gen Escorts and Tracers (1991-1996). The 97+ Escort and ZX2 use larger in diameter bushings which will not fit.
Motor Mounts
The engine mounts for the Protege, 323, 1991-1996 Escort & Tracer, and 4 cylinder MX-3 RS are the same. The 97+ Escort and ZX2 may use the same mounts, but no one has yet to test this. The #1 and #2 lower transmission mounts for the ZX2 will interchange as the Protege/323/2nd gen Escort&Tracer and MX-3 RS however. (this has been tested). Since the MX-3 GS uses a V6, none of the enigne mounts are the same and will not interchange with the exception of the #4 mount located under the battery tray (upper transmission mount).
Struts
All MX3, Protege, 323, ZX2, and Escort struts will fit one another, but the ZX2 SR (and maybe all 3rd gens) use a larger diameter strut shaft. so you will need to use ZX2 thrust bearings (also known as strut bearings) if you want to use the ZX2 SR Tokicos. These are easiy modified into the MX3, Protege, 323 or 2nd gen Escorts upper hat. Please note that the ZX2 SR struts are .5" shorter in legnth.
Springs & Coilovers
All spring will interchange but each spring is designed with the cars weight in mind, so if you put MX3 springs on your Escort, the spring rates aren't going to be correct, so keep that in mind.
Coilovers seem to fit, but Let it be known that most won't fit the ZX2 SR Tokico struts without having to shave down the shaft (which is too fat to slip the sleeve over). All otehr struts will accept the coilovers fine.
Strut Mounts
All strut mounts are identical for all of the forementioned cars (Protege, 323, Tracer, Escort, ZX2 and MX3).
Wheels
All of the forementioned cars use the same 4x100mm bolt pattern and use similar offsets. All of their wheels will interchange. All of these models tire and rims sizes are listed below:
- 90-91 Mazda Protege 4WD: 185/65R14
- 90-94 Mazda Protege SE/DX: 175/70R13
- 90-94 Mazda Protege LX: 185/60R14
- 92-95 Mazda MX-3 RS: 185/65R14
- 92-94 Mazda MX-3 GS: 205/55R15
- 91-93 Ford Escort Pony, LX and Wagon: P175/70r13
- 94-96 Ford Escort Base, LX and Wagon: P175/65r14
- 91-93 Mercury Tracer Base and Wagon: P175/70r13
- 94-96 Mercury Tracer Base and Wagon: P175/65r14
- 91-96 Tracer LTS: P185/60r14
- 91-96 Escort GT: P185/60r15
- 91-93 Ford Escort LX-E: P185/60r15
- 97-03 Ford Escort & some ZX2's: 185/65R14
- 97-04 Ford ZX2 w/wheel option: 185/60R15
- 97-99 Ford ZX2 SR: 205/55ZR15 with a unique wheel style
Hubs, Rotors and Calipers
There are two different diameters of drive-axles used in the BG and EC chassis cars. There is the F-series transmission and G-series transmission found in these vehicles. All of these cars have identical wheel bearings, hubs and brake calipers and rotors/drums, and use the same brakepads and shoes. I will break down the cars in terms of which use F-series transmission and which use G-series transmissions:
F-Series transmissions
- 90-94 Mazda Protege DX and Mazda 323
- 91-96 Ford Escort Pony, LX 3 and 5 door hatchbacks and 4-door sedans and Mercury Tracer (base)
- 92-95 Mazda MX-3 RS
G-Series Transmissions
- 90-94 Mazda Protege LX
- 91-96 Ford Escort GT, LX-E and Mercury Tracer LTS and Ford Escort Wagon
- 92-94 Mazda MX-3 GS
- 97-03 Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer with 2.0 SPI engine
- 97-04 Ford ZX2
Also see
- Ford Escort & ZX2 section for the entire index of all Ford Escort and ZX2 related articles.