Front suspension overhaul with Mazda 6 parts

Tags: #mazda-6-compat · #part-number · #conflict

Overview. The FAW X80 front suspension shares enough design lineage with the Mazda 6 GG/GH generation that owners have successfully upgraded/repaired using Mazda parts: struts/shocks (Kayaba brand recommended), springs, and control arms (Mazda forks/wishbones). Several community members reported successful swaps.^{123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445}

Springs. Mazda OEM springs are softer than stock FAW springs. As a same-vehicle OEM alternative, LYNXauto SC-1590 replacement springs cost approximately 3,000 RUB (RU market, April 2025) and fit the original (FAW) struts. Mazda 6gg springs themselves are narrower than the FAW spring seats but can be made to work with spacers/shims. Several users reported spring breakage over time — the community attributes this to normal material fatigue rather than the springs being undersized/wrong-thickness.¹²³–⁴⁵

Control arms / forks. Mazda forks (control arms/wishbones) have a larger strut bore diameter than the FAW originals, which means the shock absorber selection must match the Mazda fork geometry, not the FAW spec — mixing FAW struts with Mazda forks (or vice versa) without checking bore compatibility can cause a fitment mismatch.¹–⁴⁵

Disagreement — brake component compatibility (unresolved). One owner asked whether swapping to Mazda front suspension components also requires changing brake components (calipers, rotors). The community did not reach consensus: one position holds that just swapping the forks/control arms is sufficient without touching brakes; another position raised the concern that the larger Mazda fork strut-bore diameter could imply a fitment difference that affects brake caliper mounting. No owner in the thread reported a definitive tested answer either way — treat this as an open question requiring case-by-case verification before assuming brake parts don't need to change.^{123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445}

Related DIY reference. A detailed Drive2 guide covering front suspension replacement (links, joints, bearings) was shared in the group: https://www.drive2.ru/l/701822396251791372/?m=702930703972579894&page=0 — useful supplementary reading for this job, though not X80-specific.⁴⁶

Consumables sourcing and full replacement cost (2025-07/26 report). One owner (automatic transmission car, 105,000 km) corroborates the Mazda-parts sourcing strategy above at a broader level: "I buy consumables from Mazda 6 up to 2006, never had a miss — and obviously not Chinese ones." At 105,000 km this owner did a complete suspension overhaul — all bushings and bearings plus brake disc replacement — for a combined cost of approximately 60,000 RUB (RU market, July 2025) (2025-07-26). Before that point, only oil filters, brake pads, and the alternator belt had needed replacing. Also reconfirms the AKPP fluid-change interval elsewhere on this KB: "no automatic transmission problems if you change the oil about once every 50,000 km."⁴⁷

Media

Suspension damage/wear indicators shown for reference before the Mazda-parts swap discussion

Second suspension wear reference photo

Sample Mazda-compatible spring being installed on the X80 front suspension

Related pages

• Front springs — aftermarket brands and prices
• Front upper control arm — squeak and parts
• Front springs — Mazda 6 GG/GH compatibility
• Radiator — Mazda cross-compatibility and parts
• FAW X80 Mazda 6 platform — parts compatibility

Sources

This page is compiled from 47 community messages. Every fact carries a numbered reference to its original author and message.

Last updated: 2026-10-29