jakejm79

So my 2007 GT 6 speed has suddenly become scary to drive (well maybe scary is a little strong, but not confidence inspiring in the least).
It has 54K on it, I have had it since 50K and up until a couple of weeks ago it was like a go kart to drive with great handling and a blast.
Now almost overnight its become almost scary and unpredictable, its my DD so I don't really push it, but if for example I'm taking an exit ramp at moderate speed it feels like it wants to swap ends on me, while not exactly swap ends, the tires feel to have constant traction but the body itself seems to be all over the place. Like my gut tells me to counter steer from the feeling in the drivers seat but the tires seem to be maintaining traction.
Also I'm not sure if its related but sometime when taking a tight U-turn I've noticed what feels like a clunk or rubbing sound (like when you have oversized tires that rub on the liners at full lock), for example it did it earlier tonight twice then when I got closer to home I made two U-turns to check it again and it was fine, even pushing things a little on the 2nd one and it felt and sounded completely normal.
Sorry for the poor job at explaining the feeling, but it just doesn't feel right. I'm not sure if its something wearing out, it was a pretty much overnight difference, it still seems to ride the bumps/rough pavement OK (I've had cars with worn shocks, etc that can be a handful over the bumps) but the car just lacks feel, precision and consistency almost like the front and rear aren't really connected.
Any ideas?

REDRX3RX8

I have same year RX8, and last year it was scary as hell with the 6 year old Hankook Ventus tires as hard as a rock.

I put Michelin PSS tires on, and never could get it loose until today when I drove it at the minimum 40 deg f temp.

So pick some tires that work for you this winter or summer if you store.

Show us some pics of tires and we can see how the alignment looks.

Alignment can balance car by getting all the neg camber you can on the front wheels, and dialing some neg rear camber out, or leaving lots of neg rear camber will make sure car doesn't spin or feel twitchy.

slidey

Check your anti roll bar drop links, they're prone to breaking and would give poor feel and handling.

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Its time to check tire pressures, tire wear, and suspension components for wear or breakage.

As stated above, the stabilizer bar end links can break and will cause odd handling characteristics. You may also hear clunking when going over bumps. Check both the front and the rear for damage, breakage, or worn bushings.

Check the struts for oil leakage and check to make sure you do not have a broken spring.

Check all of the front and rear arm bushings for cracking, separation or dislodging and let us know what you come up with.

Hi Flying 8

iTrader: (2)

Also, it would be good to check the tightness of all of your alignment bolts, Caster, Camber and toe-front and rear. These have been known to work themselves loose as they age and need to be replaced.

I had this happen shortly after I had an alignment done and was returning from Lincoln after Solo Nationals. Getting on the on ramp to go home, the car almost spun from an easy left turn. I tightened the bolt and a few weeks later, they were loose again.I replaced them with new bolts and they were fine afterwards.

jakejm79

Thank you for all the tips guys, I will tear into it tomorrow and report back.
@redrx3rx8 - that's a possibility, I'm in NH so the temps have dropped (though not to cold, just 50-60 range) and I have felt it is worse in colder rainy conditions, but that could also be my heightened senses during poorer driving conditions.
@slidey - thank you, that would possibly fit the symptoms, it does very much feel like the body roll and suspension movement aren't connected properly, like if I am trying to hit an apex, I have to almost have two bites at it, the first time to load up the suspension and to balance out the car the next to actually drive through the corner.
@mazdaverx7 - thanks, I will check everything tomorrow, it definitely feels more like something let go suddenly rather than wore out over time, but I know with rubber parts they can be fine (or feel fine) right up until they fail. I'll inspect the struts, but it rides the bumps fine and is fully controllable over rough roads, its on weight transfer that it gets scary.
@Hi Flying 8 - I shall put those on the list to check too, no recent work but maybe something has happened.

jakejm79

Attached are some pics, nothing looked broken, but on all 4 sway bar links the boots are cracked/perished, didn't see any excessive play in them but I'll order up some new ones anyway.
All the other bushings and joints looked good, pried on everything with a 2 ft screwdriver and everything seemed tight.
Tires are 3 years old (4215 date code) with nice even wear and plenty of life left (BFGoodwich). The pressures were a little low (maybe I had neglected this thinking the TPMS would alert me) they were all down to around 25PSI I pumped them all up to 32PSI (I don't think there are any leaks just that the pressures were last set in the summer).
Drove it today after adjusting the tires and things maybe seemed a little better, but I didn't really push it.

Any suggestions on brand for the sway bar links?

Didn't want to attach my pics so here is a link to the album: https://imgur.com/a/yFOq62S

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Based on the pics everything appears normal. Though, as you know suspension components are best tested individually rather than just visually inspected. I would opt for the original sway bar end links form Mazda. There are some performance versions that are adjustable that will bolt right in and others require drilling of the sway bar. The stock end links do last and they are good parts.

jakejm79

Yeah I posted the pics more for a way just to verify nothing was broken, I did pry on pretty much every bushing and it all seemed fine.
OK, I just wondered if there was a better option than OEM since it looks like the boots are the only thing that have failed and was wondering if there was a better alternative out there.

I drove it again today for an extended time and I think it is temp/tire related, it was cold out this morning (31F) and the car wasn't great, on the way home it was warmer (43F) and it was a little better. I am noticing some horrible tramlining that I don't remember before, it also seems a little more wayward over the bumps that it didn't in the warmer months.