What is needed to properly lower the RX8

SpazLE995 · 05-07-2012, 08:23 PM

Okay So I have searched and searched and I don't see that anyone has addressed the fact of any geometry change when lowering the RX8.

The only real background I have in lowering cars is that a beetles and Mustangs.

When you lower a mustang (w/o double wishbone) in order to properly lower it you need...

Caster/Camber Plates
Bumpsteer Kits
Steering Rack offset bushings
Offset Ball joints

So my question is: If I install lowering springs what else am I going to need in order to properly do it?

Or seen as the RX8 has a double wish bone it wont need anything else?

Please refrain from telling me to buy coil overs or get this spring or this shock as that really has nothing to do with the question and will just get people with ADD like myself distracted!

Thanks in advance

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godesshunter · 05-07-2012, 08:42 PM

You shouldn't need anything else besides an alignment with just lowering springs. There is a pretty wide range of adjustment in the factory adjusters.

dannobre · 05-07-2012, 08:50 PM

As long as you keep it reasonable..the steering geometry changes to "normal" lowering is minimal

Slammed...and you run into geometry problems when the lower control arms get much below horizontal....

JCrane82 · 05-07-2012, 08:52 PM

The stock bumpstops can be modified, so you don't need to buy a separate kit.

SpazLE995 · 05-07-2012, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by godesshunter

You shouldn't need anything else besides an alignment with just lowering springs. There is a pretty wide range of adjustment in the factory adjusters.

Thanks That is what I thought as nobody has discussed it as far as I know

SpazLE995 · 05-07-2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCrane82

The stock bumpstops can be modified, so you don't need to buy a separate kit.

Good to know, but if you were referring to the "bumpsteer kit" I was talking about, if you don't have one of these on a lowered mustang you basically have a Bucking Bronco when you hit a pot hole or drive a country road. Since the geometry for the steering rack is so far off when under compression your wheels actually toe out! A lot!

godesshunter · 05-08-2012, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpazLE995

Good to know, but if you were referring to the "bumpsteer kit" I was talking about, if you don't have one of these on a lowered mustang you basically have a Bucking Bronco when you hit a pot hole or drive a country road. Since the geometry for the steering rack is so far off when under compression your wheels actually toe out! A lot!

Mustang has no provision for correcting caster, the main cause of bump-steer. The rx8 has caster adjustment in addition to camber as part of the control arm.

JCrane82 · 05-08-2012, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpazLE995

Good to know, but if you were referring to the "bumpsteer kit"......

Sorry, misread your original post. Godesshunter is right, the RX8 has caster adjustment. Another major cause of bumpsteer is scrub radius (directly related to wheel offset). If you modify wheel offset greatly (increasing scrub radius), then you can also increase bumpsteer.

Happy lowering!