RX8 Handling issue
#1
RX8 Handling issue
Hi everyone,
I own a RX8 2007 and when i drive it even on slow speed over little bumps, the steering and tyres tends to move and shift by itself on right and left. I can feel the pressure of steering struggling to maintain balance on little bumpy roads. On little faster speeds like 80 to km/hr , the car seems to float over the small bumps
The car move fine on straight roads
Can anyone guide me which part to check, whether it is due to the tyres? because i got my suspension tested and it came all clear. OR this behaviour of RX8 is normal?
I own a RX8 2007 and when i drive it even on slow speed over little bumps, the steering and tyres tends to move and shift by itself on right and left. I can feel the pressure of steering struggling to maintain balance on little bumpy roads. On little faster speeds like 80 to km/hr , the car seems to float over the small bumps
The car move fine on straight roads
Can anyone guide me which part to check, whether it is due to the tyres? because i got my suspension tested and it came all clear. OR this behaviour of RX8 is normal?
#2
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When it comes down to ride quality issues, it generally is from suspension, tires, or alignment. Suspension will most of the time be felt in vertical travel, such as being too bouncy or "punching" hard during the strut traveling up and down. Suspension is probably not the issue here. An easy test would be to get a tape measure (being very precise) and measure across the car, from the front and back of each tire. It is easiest to do this from the front and back of the contact patches. I have a hunch your car is toed out, meaning the tires are pointing slightly outward. Small differences in toe can greatly affect your steering. In this case, you may need an alignment. Long periods of abnormal toe will wear the tires unevenly as well. However, this would be exacerbated at high speeds.
We may need a bit more information to diagnose the problem. Does it turn funny? When was your last alignment? Install any suspension parts recently?
We may need a bit more information to diagnose the problem. Does it turn funny? When was your last alignment? Install any suspension parts recently?
#4
When it comes down to ride quality issues, it generally is from suspension, tires, or alignment. Suspension will most of the time be felt in vertical travel, such as being too bouncy or "punching" hard during the strut traveling up and down. Suspension is probably not the issue here. An easy test would be to get a tape measure (being very precise) and measure across the car, from the front and back of each tire. It is easiest to do this from the front and back of the contact patches. I have a hunch your car is toed out, meaning the tires are pointing slightly outward. Small differences in toe can greatly affect your steering. In this case, you may need an alignment. Long periods of abnormal toe will wear the tires unevenly as well. However, this would be exacerbated at high speeds.
We may need a bit more information to diagnose the problem. Does it turn funny? When was your last alignment? Install any suspension parts recently?
We may need a bit more information to diagnose the problem. Does it turn funny? When was your last alignment? Install any suspension parts recently?
#6
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Considering your alignment, tires, and suspension all check out as ok, I would be willing to chalk the difference up to feeling. Between the new tires, proper alignment, and new bushings the road probably feels different when a decent amount of force is put to it. Is this feeling strong or is it more of a "hey, this feels slightly different than before"?
As for the turning, how is it turning funny? More oversteer or understeer? More wobbly or stiffer?
I cannot guarantee anything, but your car is probably fine.
As for the turning, how is it turning funny? More oversteer or understeer? More wobbly or stiffer?
I cannot guarantee anything, but your car is probably fine.
#7
Considering your alignment, tires, and suspension all check out as ok, I would be willing to chalk the difference up to feeling. Between the new tires, proper alignment, and new bushings the road probably feels different when a decent amount of force is put to it. Is this feeling strong or is it more of a "hey, this feels slightly different than before"?
As for the turning, how is it turning funny? More oversteer or understeer? More wobbly or stiffer?
I cannot guarantee anything, but your car is probably fine.
As for the turning, how is it turning funny? More oversteer or understeer? More wobbly or stiffer?
I cannot guarantee anything, but your car is probably fine.
A little wobbly, i guess on little bumpy road turns and even on straight road bumps
#8
RX8 pearl red,
You seem to be describing "tramlining" where the tires pick up a angle on the pavement and pull the steering.
I aligned my low mileage 2007 RX8 with slight tow out in front, and all the neg camber I could get which wasn't much over -1.5 deg left and right.
After that it has done the grab the steering right and left thing a lot.
I track my car so I like the instant turning it has and more balanced handling.
Also, the tires seem to wear more evenly than before so it's a win for me.
You should check tire wear with a tread depth gauge often and keep records to see what tires wear more and if they.
If the wear is out of range, just get another alignment, but you can probably just measure the toe in or out of fronts and change slightly to where you like it.
You seem to be describing "tramlining" where the tires pick up a angle on the pavement and pull the steering.
I aligned my low mileage 2007 RX8 with slight tow out in front, and all the neg camber I could get which wasn't much over -1.5 deg left and right.
After that it has done the grab the steering right and left thing a lot.
I track my car so I like the instant turning it has and more balanced handling.
Also, the tires seem to wear more evenly than before so it's a win for me.
You should check tire wear with a tread depth gauge often and keep records to see what tires wear more and if they.
If the wear is out of range, just get another alignment, but you can probably just measure the toe in or out of fronts and change slightly to where you like it.
#9
RX8 pearl red,
You seem to be describing "tramlining" where the tires pick up a angle on the pavement and pull the steering.
I aligned my low mileage 2007 RX8 with slight tow out in front, and all the neg camber I could get which wasn't much over -1.5 deg left and right.
After that it has done the grab the steering right and left thing a lot.
I track my car so I like the instant turning it has and more balanced handling.
Also, the tires seem to wear more evenly than before so it's a win for me.
You should check tire wear with a tread depth gauge often and keep records to see what tires wear more and if they.
If the wear is out of range, just get another alignment, but you can probably just measure the toe in or out of fronts and change slightly to where you like it.
You seem to be describing "tramlining" where the tires pick up a angle on the pavement and pull the steering.
I aligned my low mileage 2007 RX8 with slight tow out in front, and all the neg camber I could get which wasn't much over -1.5 deg left and right.
After that it has done the grab the steering right and left thing a lot.
I track my car so I like the instant turning it has and more balanced handling.
Also, the tires seem to wear more evenly than before so it's a win for me.
You should check tire wear with a tread depth gauge often and keep records to see what tires wear more and if they.
If the wear is out of range, just get another alignment, but you can probably just measure the toe in or out of fronts and change slightly to where you like it.
#11
#12
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iTrader: (1)
RX8 pearl red,
You seem to be describing "tramlining" where the tires pick up a angle on the pavement and pull the steering.
I aligned my low mileage 2007 RX8 with slight tow out in front, and all the neg camber I could get which wasn't much over -1.5 deg left and right.
After that it has done the grab the steering right and left thing a lot.
I track my car so I like the instant turning it has and more balanced handling.
Also, the tires seem to wear more evenly than before so it's a win for me.
You should check tire wear with a tread depth gauge often and keep records to see what tires wear more and if they.
If the wear is out of range, just get another alignment, but you can probably just measure the toe in or out of fronts and change slightly to where you like it.
You seem to be describing "tramlining" where the tires pick up a angle on the pavement and pull the steering.
I aligned my low mileage 2007 RX8 with slight tow out in front, and all the neg camber I could get which wasn't much over -1.5 deg left and right.
After that it has done the grab the steering right and left thing a lot.
I track my car so I like the instant turning it has and more balanced handling.
Also, the tires seem to wear more evenly than before so it's a win for me.
You should check tire wear with a tread depth gauge often and keep records to see what tires wear more and if they.
If the wear is out of range, just get another alignment, but you can probably just measure the toe in or out of fronts and change slightly to where you like it.
Last edited by LiveWire; 02-05-2015 at 11:20 AM.
#13
Can't be his tires, they are new. But I do agree it sounds exactly like toe out behaves. Was the alignment done on factory spec? A common misconception is that 0 toe is neutral, however factory toe is set to toe in slightly. When I got my alignment done by a friend, he gave me a little spec sheet describing the old and new specs. Want to post a picture of that up for us to see? It will look something like this.
#15
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iTrader: (1)
Be careful that you don't have seized alignment bolts. With age they can seize and prevent a proper alignment. I would hope that your mechanic would point these things out, but you never know.
#18
The tire pressure on my mazda RX8 written on side of the door panel is 32 psi both front. and 32 psi in one rear and 39 psi in another rear. Don't know why 39 psi in only one tire.. anybody have an idea about it?
#20
My suspension and tires checked out all okay, so i guess here in my country, i need the measurements to show to my alignment guy to do a good job otherwise they will treat my car as same as Honda and corolla
Also let me know that measurement shows above in this thread are accurate enough to handle this issue... thanks
Last edited by RX8 pearl red; 02-22-2015 at 10:02 AM.
#23
It's not a misprinted label. You're reading it wrong. It has two ratings for two different loads. One for 3 passengers and another for 4 passengers plus luggage (I can't remember exactly). For the 3 passenger set up, it's 32psi in all 4 tires. For the 4 passenger+luggage setup, it's 32psi for the front tires and 39psi for the rear tires.
It doesn't denote the tire pressures of individual tires. It shows the front tire pressures together and rear tire pressures together. That's where you got it wrong
Heres a picture of the tire load sticker on my Mazda 3, as the sticker on my RX-8 is all Japanese and weird lol. The psi ratings are different (because it's a different car) but it should've give you the idea.
It doesn't denote the tire pressures of individual tires. It shows the front tire pressures together and rear tire pressures together. That's where you got it wrong
Heres a picture of the tire load sticker on my Mazda 3, as the sticker on my RX-8 is all Japanese and weird lol. The psi ratings are different (because it's a different car) but it should've give you the idea.
#24
It's not a misprinted label. You're reading it wrong. It has two ratings for two different loads. One for 3 passengers and another for 4 passengers plus luggage (I can't remember exactly). For the 3 passenger set up, it's 32psi in all 4 tires. For the 4 passenger+luggage setup, it's 32psi for the front tires and 39psi for the rear tires.
It doesn't denote the tire pressures of individual tires. It shows the front tire pressures together and rear tire pressures together. That's where you got it wrong
Heres a picture of the tire load sticker on my Mazda 3, as the sticker on my RX-8 is all Japanese and weird lol. The psi ratings are different (because it's a different car) but it should've give you the idea.
It doesn't denote the tire pressures of individual tires. It shows the front tire pressures together and rear tire pressures together. That's where you got it wrong
Heres a picture of the tire load sticker on my Mazda 3, as the sticker on my RX-8 is all Japanese and weird lol. The psi ratings are different (because it's a different car) but it should've give you the idea.
#25
Yeah Alright.. Got the idea now.. thanks Aston.. but i really need a good alignment settings for front and rear so that my car dont fell wobbly at little bumpy roads. All the suspension checked out OK. But i have to tell my alignment guy how to do the proper alignment as there is no expert of RX8 here and you have to tell them yourself
I don't have the stock alignment settings for the RX-8. Maybe another member can help you. I seem to be suffering from the same issue as you are. The steering wheel tugs from side to side when going over bumps, specially when reversing over bumps. No idea why.