Back and better than ever before is the CorkSport Lowering Springs for the 2014-2017 Mazda 6. Improve both the appearance and driving characteristics of your 6, all while keeping OE fitment and good ride quality. Once installed you will gain better feedback and handling performance, so hitting the back roads will be an even more enjoyable experience. Below are more details on the specs and features of the CS Lowering Springs.
Lowering Spring Ride Height
Getting right into it, the CS lowering springs will drop the front of the Mazda 6 approximately 1.20in (30mm) and 1.75 (45mm) in the rear. This puts the 6 at a nice height that removes some of the rake that is present from the factory to provide a more level appearance. After the springs are installed, ground clearance will be reduced but there is still a good amount for the majority of obstacles that you will encounter while driving.
Lowering Springs Add Better Handling
Along with the more aggressive stance comes the addition of better handling characteristics. This is a result of the lower center of gravity and the increased spring rates. Both of these changes help reduce the amount of body roll in corners which will provide a more planted feel while driving and will inspire confidence when pushing your Mazda 6 in the backroads. The spring rates that were selected ended up at 4.6K front and 8.1K rear to provide a healthy increase over stock.
Best Quality for the Mazda 6 Springs
The CS Mazda 6 lowering springs are constructed with high tensile strength spring steel and in the rear we have added spring isolators to prevent any unwanted noises. The springs are finished in our CS blue powder coat to protect the steel from the elements and corrosion. Installation of the springs are just like OE and the only modification required is trimming the bump stops.
Well, that about wraps up the key details of the updated lowering springs for the 2014-2017 Mazda 6! Head over to the web page to check out more images and make sure to reach out if you have any questions.
Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you could have used another +100hp? As in, getting on the freeway safely or trying to beat that minivan at the red light so you don’t miss your next turn? Maybe you know a guy with a WRX with a muffler delete, and he just won’t shut up about how “fast” it is. Well, let me tell you, my 2016 Mazda6 GT will do all of that in comfort and style! I’ve been lucky to be the first person in the world to run CorkSport’s Turbo Kit on a Mazda6, which also happens to be an automatic! #ridetheunicorn
I bought the car in early May 2022, and by the 31st, the CorkSport engineers had transformed my naturally aspirated Mazda into something special with the CS Turbo Kit. Flash forward a little less than a week out, and I was on my way to @Idaho Mazda Takeover to show off the kit. It’s a 450-mile trip one-way from my house to Caldwell, ID, and does not include the +300 miles of community shenanigans I completed while I was there.
* This is Mazda 3 Manual Dynograph, with 80mm Cat Back Exhaust
As a testament to the CorkSport Mazda 6 Turbo Kit, I made the journey without a second thought. I averaged ~75 mph and snagged over 32mpg on the way there. This included spirited driving, stretching the car’s legs, and putting it through its paces, up, over, and through those difficult passes in eastern Oregon. I need you to understand this was a 100% stock Mazda6. The only thing we did was install our turnkey kit. In less than a week, I put over 1200 miles of “FUN!” on the car and have not looked back!
The CorkSport Mazda 6 Turbo Kit
The car drives as it did right off the dealership parking lot; it’s quiet and very tame, with a stock catback. You lightly press the throttle, and the car’s cab starts to fill with all the right induction noises. Hearing that turbo spool up for the first time sent chills down my arms; I couldn’t believe it. My Big turbo Mazdaspeed3 isn’t even that seductive. But that’s only part of the fun…
When you drop the hammer, the auto transmission immediately puts in the work. I was surprised at how quickly it locked up the torque converter and rocketed the car down the road the first time I drove it. I was worried about the implications of having ~80 additional whp rifling through it. After a few deep dives into how these transmissions work, I feel more confident than ever about the Mazda 6 and Turbo Kit, and the last 10K miles of beta testing have been trouble-free.
* This is Mazda 3 Manual Dynograph
I’d never driven a boosted automatic before, let alone an aftermarket one, so I didn’t know what to expect. What I’ve experienced has been more than I could bargain for. By design (of the OTS Professional Tune), you only use the boost when needed; otherwise, the car will drive like it’s not there if you want to go that route. However, if you mash the pedal to the floor, it’s “Go time!”
Since installing the turbo kit, I’ve supplemented this turbo kit with our 2014-2017 Mazda6 Catback. The stainless T-304 has enhanced this whole experience. The 90mm tips look great with those shiny resonators behind the rear bumper. It is starting to dial back on the sleeper, sleek and numb daily, and gearing more towards a fun, fast and capable 4-door sedan. The exhaust added around another 30whp and has me sitting comfortably near 260whp to the front wheels.
Undercarriage with Cat Back Exhaust
It didn’t take long for the numbness of the stock mounts to get to me. With this big bump in power, I wanted to do everything I could to help this car out. I installed the CorkSport transmission and rear motor mount, further evolving the turbo Mazda 6. Power delivery is now immediate and linear vs. the OEM mounts allowing the engine to bounce around.
A lot of us have very similar ambitions for our cars. We tend to create this inseparable bond between ourselves and the machine we’re driving. Having an OTS turnkey turbo kit that does precisely that is nothing short of spectacular. CorkSport has done an outstanding job offering a turbo kit that includes EVERYTHING you need, including a professional tune, battery, boost gauge, and boost controller. Heck, you even get Unicorn swag too!
Mazda 6 Turbo Kit Manifold
I’ve created a new sense of ownership by taking this project on; it’s changed my view on what I wanted from a car. This kit checks all the boxes in my book and has surprised me almost daily. My whole experience with the Skyactiv-G + CorkSport Turbo Kit has been rewarding. I cannot wait to push this car to its limits and beyond to see what these engines are truly capable of.
If you have a 2.5L naturally aspirated 3rd Generation Mazda 3 or Mazda 6 sporting a manual or automatic transmission and want to get the most out of your ride – don’t hesitate to grab one of these turbo kits – the results are unthinkable!
If you are a car enthusiast, own a new Mazda utilizing the awesome SkyActiv-G Turbo Engine, and have been searching the internet for performance parts then you probably know that CorkSport has been deep in development for this new Mazda platform. Specifically, CorkSport has been working on the last piece of the intake system puzzle, the Turbo Inlet Pipe.
This is the black plastic “tube/pipe” that connects the Short Ram Intake System to the turbocharger inlet. While the SRI System adds some great turbo noises and power gains to the Sky-Activ Turbo, there is still more opportunity for additional performance and sound improvements. This is where the new CorkSport Turbo Inlet Pipe steps in.
The time has FINALLY come…years in the making! Thousands of hours have gone into the development of the only turnkey turbocharger kit for the Mazda 3. From air filter to downpipe and everything in between, the Turbo Kit for the 3rd generation Mazda 3 has finally come full circle and IT IS AWESOME!
Are you ready for an extra 115-125whp and 80-90wtq?
Many have asked “Why So Long?” and the truth is because we, the Team at CorkSport, would not allow ourselves to put out a kit that was not complete, was not turnkey, and was not proven to be daily and track ready. We have put thousands of miles on out test vehicles; both on the track…
Boosted Mazda 3 TC America Race Car
And on the street…
Boosted Mazda 3 Street Test Mule with Turbo Kit
So what is involved in developing a turnkey turbo kit for the originally naturally aspirated vehicle? Well, basically everything., Let’s get more into the details.
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The turbo is a big one, spec’ing the size, style, & location is a significant aspect of the kit. In fact, we tested multiple sizes before deciding on the turbo for the kit. Finding the right balance of spool/response, boost operating pressure, and even sound was a consideration (hey we all like turbo noises right?) With that we are using an MHI based turbo that utilizes journal bearings and liquid cooled CHRA. Our current CST4 and CST5 turbochargers for the Mazdaspeed use the same MHI CHRA and have proven very reliable and robust.
The turbo in the Mazda 3 Kit is also uniquely a twin-scroll internally wastegated design. This helped with spool and response while using a larger wheel spec and the internal wastegate keeps overall costs down and quiet.
On each end of the turbo is the next major design challenge, the exhaust manifold and downpipe. Now, in most kits you would expect to see a fabricated manifold and downpipe. While that is not necessarily bad, there are more robust methods of manufacturing that can perform equal if not better. This method is casting, which is what we have done. The exhaust manifold is a cast stainless steel 304 twin-scroll design. This one-piece design means there are no welds, seams or connections that could fail and the wall thickness is thicker (5mm vs 3mm) when compared to standard fabricated manifolds.
The downpipe utilizes a cast bellmouth which is then welded to a 3-inch pipe and flex section. This downpipe then aligns with the OEM location exhaust so you can run a stock exhaust (don’t be silly though), a 60mm or 80mm exhaust with your turbo kit.
Since we are talking about the cat-back exhaust let us just say that for peak performance you will want the 80mm exhaust system on your Mazda 3. Moving down to the 60mm you will lose a tad bit of power. Note: In the instructions there are specific boost controller settings for each exhaust setup.
Now we have all the plumbing to get that boost from the turbo to the engine. When we approached this we wanted a kit that was stupidly simple and clean in the engine bay. The result was ONLY two pieces of charge piping and four pieces of charge piping silicone. This keeps the possible boost leaks to a minimum and the install process simple. With that being said, the “hotside” charge piping runs alongside the passenger side of the engine and the “coldside” runs right up from the intercooler and to the throttle body.
To complete the charge air system we have the intercooler. The intercooler is no off-the-shelf generic unit either, we custom designed the cast aluminum endtanks to fit with the Mazda 3 chassis WITHOUT cutting and maximized the intercooler size to perform great with the power goals of the Turbo Kit, again without cutting your Mazda 3. Good to 400 horsepower, the intercooler will easily cover the current power and future growth in power of the kit for quite some time.
Because of the custom fit and lack of cutting, the intercooler nearly disappears in the OEM bumper for a stealth look. The black finish performs and looks great through the seasons. If you want to a customized stand out look, you could paint the core a nice bright silver finish without issue.
So we’ve covered the obvious parts of a “turbo kit” but what makes the kit turnkey? It’s the little things, like clamps, hardware, and connection like the turbo cooling, and the oil feed and oil drain. For the oil feed and drain we have provided perfect length stainless steel braided lines and all the needed fittings. The oil drain is extra special because on a non-factory turbo there is NO spot for the oil drain in the engine. So install of requiring you to drill a hole in your oil pan and risk causing a leak, we do the work for you with a new OEM oil pan. We complete the drilling, the drain fitting install and sealing. All you have to do is remove your oil pan and install the new oil pan with the drain fitting installed.
Lastly, to make all the big parts fit in the engine bay and look good, we had to create some clearance for the intake by using a smaller AGM battery vs the huge lead acid battery. To do that we designed a SS battery mount and ECU relocation bracket along with a new 550ca/450cca AGM motorsport battery which is included for ground shipping customers. If you are international and the kit has to air ship to you then you will need to source the battery locally.
Now to really round off the “turnkey” aspect of the kit we have the boost control system which includes a TurboSmart E-Boost controller which allows us to dictate and control the boost curve for optimal power delivery and reliability. No manual boost controller here that does whatever it wants. To monitor boost we provide a CorkSport boost gauge that you can mount anywhere inside the cabin for easy readout. Also, with a boosted setup and high compression ratio a set of 1-step colder spark plugs are required for safe operation, these are also included and future replacements can be purchased at CorkSport.
Most important is the tuning, and this is where we have spent hundreds of hours alone getting the car to perform consistently and reliably for you. The turbo kit had to feel fun, fast, and repeatable all while being safe to drive every day on a stock engine. With the CorkSport Turbo Kit, you will get a calibration license to your vehicle and Mazdaedit license designed to operate on premium grade gasoline (91-93octane).
Now to the numbers you want to know about! POWER like you’ve never seen from a 3rd Gen Mazda 3 with the Turbo Kit. Many said the high compression Sky-Activ couldn’t handle boost…many said they are “glass” engines”…we are here to tell you they are wrong.
How about 9.5psi of boost and gains of 115-125whp/80-90wtq? All on the stock fuel system and simple premium pump gas?
In this dynograph you can see four dyno runs. The two lower runs are from our 2018 Mazda 3 2.5L MT. This is a 100% stock car with no tuning changes. The much nicer two runs are the final result of 9.5psi for the CorkSport Turbo Kit.
Power is not just about a peak number, power (and a resulting fast/fun car) is about the power under the curve. Our goal was to develop a kit that made a fast and fun car throughout the rpm range of the 2.5L SkyActiv. With a huge increase in torque across the rpm range, you have a car that will be fun from 3500rpm to 6000rpm before power starts to fall off. This is the 3rd Generation Mazdaspeed that Mazda never gave us.
How does the powertrain handle this? We have only used OEM stock engines, clutches, and manual transmissions in our in-house testing. This goes for our street can and track-only racecar.
However, our in-house testing has been successful with OEM components, our beta tester did have an OEM clutch slippage early on in their testing. Our review of the clutch and the history of the clutch showed us that we are at the limit of the clutch. If the clutch has lots of wear and tear it may not last long with the added torque from the turbo kit. Therefore we cannot guarantee the successful ability to use the OEM clutch equipped in your Mazda.
With that being said there are options on the market for performance clutches that are either available now or are in development. We are personally working with X-Clutch to develop a performance clutch for the community.
Let’s wrap this up…the most complete and ready-to-run turbo kit available for your 2.5L MT Mazda 3. You can make power with easily accessible pump gas up in the 280+whp range and enjoy the daily drive and track. There will not be any surprise runs to the hardware store, as long as you have some wiring supplies, and you could get this done over a long weekend with a buddy that knows how to wrench.
Speaking of the install, the kit can be completed in a long weekend. If you work diligently we’d say 2-3 days to get it done. Follow the color step-by-step online PDF instructions and review the youtube video install before you get started to have the best success.
We also have a specific video for the TurboSmart E-Boost controller setup so you know you get it setup just right. While this project can seem daunting at first, we promise it all comes together if you follow the detailed instructions.
What’s this going to cost you? Less than you expect to be honest. Look at the ND Miata Turbocharger/Supercharger Kits and you would have a good idea of what it should cost, but really we want the community to get this kit and enjoy it so we’ve worked hard to provide the most value for the price on the Turbo Kit.
Thank you for taking the time to read about our Turbo Kit for the 3rd Gen Mazda 3 & Mazda 6. We are SOOOO excited to finally bring this to the community and for everyone to have the opportunity to take their Mazda 3 2.5L to the next level.
By replacing the stock camber arms with the CorkSport Adjustable Camber Arms, you can adjust your suspension to accommodate for lowering springs or coilovers and fine tune your Mazda 6 or Mazdaspeed 6 to the appropriate camber setting needed to balance uneven tire wear and improve cornering performance.
Our design offers +OEM to – 4.5 degrees of adjustability along with cross camber adjustment allowing drivers the ability to align their suspension to match their enthusiastic driving style on and off the track.
Unlike other adjustable camber arm options on the market, our unique design includes spherical bearings that replace the soft rubber bushings on the OEM camber arms, providing a true attachment to the suspension of the vehicle for improved handling and road feel.
The ease of adjustability on the vehicle and the unique nature of the spherical bearings will provide you with improved cornering control that can’t be matched by any other options on the market today.
The CorkSport Adjustable Rear Camber Arms are also available for all Mazdaspeed 3 and Mazda 3 vehicles and back for Mazdaspeed 6 and 2004-2008 Mazda 6 vehicles. They come as a set for just $199.00.
The CorkSport Advantage:
Superior Design: Spherical bearings replace the soft rubber bushings used in OEM and other aftermarket camber arms. This will truly attach the camber arm to the suspension of the vehicle for more control and added road feel
Made from reinforced high strength extruded bent steel tubing: Stronger less brittle and more durable than aluminum
Fine Tuned Adjustability: +OEM to – 4.5 degrees of camber adjustment and cross camber adjustability for fine tuning of your suspension
Full Adjustment: Can be adjusted on-car with a wrench while still installed in the vehicle
Sold as a Set: We know you need two so we simplified the math for you by selling them as a set
For more information about the CorkSport Adjustable Rear Camber Arms, check the listing here!
