Changing the hub isn't that bad of a job.  Shnazzle and I did all his valve buckets in a hotel car park!

Sorry for not replying I have been on holiday yee ha so I have tested the camshaft and crankshaft sensors all readings are good so now I wo t be testing the vvt hub as well to be honest I can't be bothered so I'm thinking of taking a punt on the ECM and key change as the voltage coming from the ECM to vvt valve stays at 2.5 v no matter what unless anyone can suggest a better fix I'm really glad and happy for all the replies I have had it has helped me no end but like I say the hub is a bit of a pain to do especially on the drive so the £50 punt seems my best option then after I change if it's the same I would be thinking vvti hub what does everyone think thanks Andy

Turns out that although my vehicle was registered in 2004, when I put the VIN into amayama it comes up as having been manufactured in November 2003, and refers me to the pre-Feb. 2004 part.

I'm not looking forward to checking everything else...

There seems to be some confusion on springs, but the part numbers tell a story.  Springs in Japan were unique to that market.

Front All markets other than Japan
48131-17690    ( - 01/2004)
48131-17710    (02/2004 - 12/2004)

Rear All markets other than Japan
48231-17890    (12/1999 - 07/2002)
48231-1R350    (08/2002 - 01/2004)
48231-17A10    (02/2004 - 12/2004)

So any MR2 (other than Japan) prior to 02/2004 used the same front springs.  Measurements between actual rear 2000-2002 (48231-17890) springs and 2003-2004 (48231-1R350) springs indicated the only differences are the 48231-1R350 has 1/2 more coils (7 vs 7 1/2) and is slightly longer off the strut.  Calculations indicate the later spring would be about 8-9% softer than the early springs.  While the free length of the later spring is slight longer, the actual ride height is almost exactly the same when tested on the same car.

There seems to be almost no reliable information on the springs for after 02/2004. The few specs available for those springs from aftermarket suggest the uninstalled spring length is longer.  However, information from an owner in the US with a car built after that date indicated the actual ride height front and rear was almost exactly the same as the earlier models. 

Looking at aftermarket OEM replacements, things get a bit more confusing. SACHS had 2 front springs for 2000-2002 and another for 2003+, a rear spring for 2000-2002, but only one rear for 2003+.  KYB options were different, with 2 front springs options with the same date split as OEM, and only 2 rear, before 08/2002 and 08/2002 - 01/2004.

While it can be all confusing, it would seem you could switch springs between years with no adverse effects.

Quote from: Gaz mr-s on May 31, 2026, 23:39The 2004 -on cars got more bracing for safety, but if the springs are the same rates, 34mm extra is a lot.  There's also been internet talk about light-heights, whether true or not I don't know.

If I were you I would want the info to be 100% dead true before putting on that length of spring.  A high front end and wheel-arch gap looks horrible.

It's the length of the part quoted by the OP (Suplex 35301) https://www.autodoc.co.uk/suplex/8313544

Very minimal specs on the original, but the stated weights seems to be within a margin of error (about 30g).

The 2004 -on cars got more bracing for safety, but if the springs are the same rates, 34mm extra is a lot.  There's also been internet talk about light-heights, whether true or not I don't know.

If I were you I would want the info to be 100% dead true before putting on that length of spring.  A high front end and wheel-arch gap looks horrible.

So pre-2004 fronts are 348mm, post-2004 fronts are 382mm.
Pre-2004 rears are 360mm, post-2004 rears are 345mm.

Luckily post-2004 fronts are still available, but presumably the difference in rears isn't enough to be concerned about.

Quote from: fawtytoo on May 31, 2026, 19:28I suppose then because of less flex in the tyre wall.

No, the 15-16 diameter difference.

Quote from: Gaz mr-s on May 31, 2026, 18:56Don't quote me on this, but I read in the past that the change was due to the difference in the rear wheel/tyres.

I suppose then because of less flex in the tyre wall.

Don't quote me on this, but I read in the past that the change was due to the difference in the rear wheel/tyres.
Supposedly the rear spring was different. Length or stiffness?  But the height difference it was amending was 14mm.

With the confusion of the Mk3's parts listings, when you buy springs now do you know if you're buying pfl or FL-spec?

If there are suppliers who really make different ones, TCB might know.