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I installed kyb gas a just shocks on all 4 corners using my stock springs and stock mounts. I replaced the bump stops and they are not interfering with travel. I drove the car several hundred miles to settle suspension and got a 4 wheel alignment. My issue is that the front ride height is just under 3/4" higher than stock height. Gas a justs are a mono tube shock, which is the only difference from stock. I contacted kyb and the tech actually told me that if the height is below 1" higher than stock it meets the tolerance spec. I disagree, this height issue has changed the geometry of the suspension and is causing bump steer. My question is has anyone experienced this and what is the remedy? I am at a point of taking them all off and starting over with a different brand. Thank you in advance!
Looked up the stock height here on the site. I understand the height had dropped over the 10 years I've owned it. Replacing the shocks should bring it back to stock. The front from center of wheel to edge of lip of fender is just under 3/4" higher than the numbers I found on the site. It is noticeable by eye.
Can someone verify the original stock ride height?
There were two other members on this forum complaining about the same issue. Installed KYB shocks and now the car sits higher than stock. I hear they need a few hundred miles to settle down. Since you've already done that, then I guess that's how they are man.
The way I see it, it's an OEM replacement, and therefore made sit at stock height. But, most people come from worn shocks that sit way lower than stock, so upgrading to "new" shocks will increase the ride height back to stock levels like 9k said.
Here's a new Spirit R with less than 2000 miles. Notice how high the car sits. Does your car sit higher than that?
Guys, thank you for the posts. It is raining, so I have not taken a picture of mine.
Nisaja, could you measure from the center of the front wheel to the bottom edge of the fender lip on the car in the photo please? Not an exact scientific measurement, but will give me an idea. I believe mine looks higher in the front, but would like a measurement to go from, thank you in advance.
There were two other members on this forum complaining about the same issue. Installed KYB shocks and now the car sits higher than stock. I hear they need a few hundred miles to settle down. Since you've already done that, then I guess that's how they are man.
The way I see it, it's an OEM replacement, and therefore made sit at stock height. But, most people come from worn shocks that sit way lower than stock, so upgrading to "new" shocks will increase the ride height back to stock levels like 9k said.
Here's a new Spirit R with less than 2000 miles. Notice how high the car sits. Does your car sit higher than that?
Looked up the stock height here on the site. I understand the height had dropped over the 10 years I've owned it. Replacing the shocks should bring it back to stock. The front from center of wheel to edge of lip of fender is just under 3/4" higher than the numbers I found on the site. It is noticeable by eye.
Can someone verify the original stock ride height?
I will try and look up some stock heights from back when everyone was on new OEM suspension but they sit pretty high stock when new.
Guys, thank you for the posts. It is raining, so I have not taken a picture of mine.
Nisaja, could you measure from the center of the front wheel to the bottom edge of the fender lip on the car in the photo please? Not an exact scientific measurement, but will give me an idea. I believe mine looks higher in the front, but would like a measurement to go from, thank you in advance.
Sure. I'll measure it first thing in the morning and report back The car in the pic is not my car but mines pretty similar.
Originally Posted by 9krpmrx8
Not a Spirit R.
That is a Spirit R. I own a Spirit R myself. How can you say it's not a Spirit R?
heres two automatics for you with the red trim on the seats
Those 2 were taken from the same car, during Mazda's Spirit R reveal. The automatic Spirit Rs that made it to production never came with those seats. They came with black leather seats.
LOL
Taken from the Mazda Japan website. Happy? Automatics came standard with black leather. The red Recaros were optional however.
I thought the Spirit R's had bronse 19" wheels and were manual only? But I guess in some places they just slap a badge on like the "Mazdaspeed" RX-8's in Canada that just have Mazdaspeed decals on shitty aftermarket 18 x 7 wheels.
I thought the Spirit R's had bronse 19" wheels and were manual only? But I guess in some places they just slap a badge on like the "Mazdaspeed" RX-8's in Canada that just have Mazdaspeed decals on shitty aftermarket 18 x 7 wheels.
Nope. They came in automatics as well. I have one. The manual Spirit R itself is just a rebadged R3 with the wheel color changed to bronze and red leather instead of black. Damn pics won't show up. I'm working on it.
That is probably your issue, you need to preload the suspension before you tighten everything up, otherwise the car will sit higher than it is supposed to.
Read this thread, pay attention to Post #16, that is how I do it.
The control arm bolts are a pivot point at the sub frame for the arm to pivot. The end at the ball joint moves up and down with the spindle. I removed these control arm bolts to get the shock/spring out. I do not understand how loosening these changes height, it is a pivot point to the subframe, it does not move up or down.
I am confused?
The control arm bolts are a pivot point at the sub frame for the arm to pivot. The end at the ball joint moves up and down with the spindle. I removed these control arm bolts to get the shock/spring out. I do not understand how loosening these changes height, it is a pivot point to the subframe, it does not move up or down.
I am confused?
Not confused, but there is a bushing in those pivots. If you torque it to spec with the wheels up in the air, the bushing will conform to this configuration. If you then lower the car to ride height, the bushing still wants to be in the fully extended configuration, propping the car up. It doesn't take much force, you can lift the car an inch or so above ride height by yourself easily.
So the proper procedure (from the shop manual) is to fasten but not torque the UCA bolts, then lower the car to ride height and torque everything to spec in this configuration.
12-06-2015, 06:07 AM
The car in the pic is not my car but mines pretty similar. 
Automatics came standard with black leather. The red Recaros were optional however.
An AT RX-8 is better than no RX-8 
