I have just ordered Racing Beat lowering springs - I would like to know if anyone has had these installed yet and your opinion.

I have Racing Beat sway bars (front and rear) and CP Racing front strut bar.

how are the racingbeat sway bars? i was thinking of buying them myself....but haven't heard anythign abou them yet. I know racingbeat makes the some of the best stuff for the 7's hope it is true for the 8's as well.

I'd say you're one of the first to get the lowering springs, you'll have to let us all know how they work out for you. I haven't heard of anyody else installing them yet.

how much drop does the springs provie?

I'm considering the RB springs also. Post your thoughts when you get them installed. Thanks!

pls post pics
im thinking of going with tein or rb
thankyou

I also just installed the RB sway bars and springs. The springs only lowers the car 0.5" and supposedly no settling would occur after installation. I have yet able to take the 8 through some twisties to get a better impression of the suspension. Maybe this weekend (I hope). Anyways, Here is my impression from driving the few miles on the freeway and in town.

I seem to feel more feedback from the road. The ride is firmer than stock, but not harsh. While I can feel more bumps and cracks, the ride remains comfortable and did not the car around. Lane change response also seems better. I definitely like it better than the stock so far. The car feels more firm and substantial. We'll have to see how it handles the twisties.

From reading the info on their site, I'd say the RB springs are the way to go. I'll prolly get some in another year or so. The stock ride is sweet, and all I would ever aim to do is tweak it a little to the firmer side.

Additionally, I like RB's philosophy on "lowering". They believe (as I do) the spring's function is first and foremost to tune the handling of the vehicle NOT to simply lower it. These springs definitely fall into the "form follows function" category.

SpacerX, that is exactly how I feel. I love the way stock rides. But since my 8 see primarily twisties in the weekends, I wanted to enhance the handle just that much. And while I wouldn't mind lowering the car to get rid of the large wheel well gap, I did not want anything more than an inch of drop.

And after comparing the specs of the RB sway bars to those of Mazdaspeed, I came to the conclusion that Mazsdaspeed is basically stock bars with a different label.

I'll try to report back as soon as I get a chance to test out the suspension. But this weekend is not looking good. Miight have to wait until next weekend. :(

you guys have any pics of your ride with RB springs on?

I ordered a set and Chris Cortez gave me a ten percent discount for ordering the bars, springs, and end-links as a combo. Should have them installed soon.

Charles

I ordered a set and Chris Cortez gave me a ten percent discount for ordering the bars, springs, and end-links as a combo. Should have them installed soon.

Charles

Do the RB Springs designed to match with the original shocks? I'm torn between choosing either the RB or Mazdaspeed
springs :-( I wonder how they compare with each other??

RotaryZZ, RB springs are design to work with stock shocks. I was in the same dilemma. But trying to find specs (spring rate, etc.) on Mazdaspeed products is next to impossible. That's one of the reason why I went with RB.

I would not estimate the RB springs and the Mazdaspeed springs being marketable to the same interests. I believe the Mazdaspeed springs are a much more radical departure from stock, vis-a-vis the RB springs are on ly slight stifffer/lower than stock. Depends on what kinda ride you want.

Mazdaspeed springs are only about 0.75" lower than stock, so it ain't really too radical, at least from the look. Don' know the ride of it though!

OK. I stand corrected. I was under the impression they were more like the Eibachs, which I believe are in the 1-1.2" drop range.

Seriously, though, compared to most production cars, the ride height on the RX8 is excellent, both from a handling and an aesthetic standpoint. I'm looking forward to tightening up the handling just a little bit, so I'm glad there's an option (RB) that's available to those of us who don't feel the need to lower the car too much. Will prolly do the whole refit (springs, stabilizers and endlinks) when I get around to it.

Charles, where did you order the springs and sway bar set from?

I ordered the RB suspension package with the larger endlinks and the RB exhaust. I'll let everyone know what my impressions are after installation.

I put the RB springs on about two weeks ago...didn't have any very good before pictures of the whole car, so really good after ones wouldn't help either...but, i do have these of the front wheel well and gap...here's before

trying again for before....

and after...

that looks awesome... im sold on the RB springs and sways. just need the money now :/

Is it just me or does that look like more than .5 inches?

I have the espelir GT springs and my front gap is comparable to the after picture and they are supposed to lower 1.25 inches.

Originally posted by Potent
Is it just me or does that look like more than .5 inches?

I have the espelir GT springs and my front gap is comparable to the after picture and they are supposed to lower 1.25 inches.


Theres no way thats only .5 drop. Like you said ...more like 1.25.

didn't do any measurements, so I can't verify the actual amount of drop...RB says .5 inches...also, keep in mind that those pictures are taken with a little bit of angle from above, not level with the car...

This question just proves my ignorance. I was under the impressing that springs alone would cause shock malfunction at some point and that the best solution for performance/looks were coil overs and that is why they are so expensive. Can someone set me straight?

I think that RB springs are made by espirlir.I wonder whether they are actually the same spring type ?
Any thoughts

regards
Rexi

P.S Could you post a side view of your car with RB springs to have a better view of drop

can u post a pic of the whole car? i'd like to see how it looks overall... also, how are the shocks holding up?

OK, I got the RB springs today and had a look at fitting them... , can anyone tell me the magic trick for getting the rears out?

I looked, but you can't get to the top of the tower to release the damper, and although you can release the whole tower and extract it downwards, it seems like you'd have to remove some of the suspension to do it?

Advice appreciated.

I assume that the front is simply a case of undoing the bolt at the top of the turret and at wheel, then pulling it out...

BTW, the UK car is supposed to have harder, lower springs than the US, so I might find that 10mm/20% is more like 5mm/10% uprated, which suits me OK... Anyone know the spring rates the different types?... my rear springs have a pink ID mark on them... (blob of paint)

PM Speed Racer...

He has had his springs in and out a few times.

I was un aware that the UK got different springs. I know the base auto has softer ones, and I thought the all the MT cars got the "sport tuned " springs. I checked and my rears also have a pink dot on them.

both my front and rear springs had a blob of paint on them...and my RB spings came with fairly detailed instructions on how to remove the factory springs...

Ahhh.. you see... there's where I've missed out... I got the first set in the UK, but they were without any documentation...

If you have said, "Detailed Instructions"... is there any chance that you could scan them and either post them on here, or we can arrange another way to transfer them.

I am unable to scan them...I could photocopy and mail 'em to you, but obviously that would take a bit...you might try emailing Jim Langer at RacingBeat and asking if they can email you the file...just a thought