Did Mazda change something or...

[RETed]

Front versus rear oil control ring springs...
The rotation is opposite, so the square end versus round end are swapped.
Square end goes into the groove in the metal oil control ring.
Round end goes into the dimple in the rotor oil groove.
Spring needs to spiral in the proper direction versus rotor rotation.

In the proper installation, due to the rotation of the rotor, it'll lock in the rings properly.
If IMPROPER installation, the metal oil control ring will skip / slip and the underside will wear like a muthu due to the oil control spring (end) slipping...

Don't ask me how I know this. :P


-Ted