anyone can confirm for me that does the 8 need 2-wheel or 4 wheel alignment?
i found excess road noise from my 8 which sounds like unbalance tires/bad alignment (tires are kumho spt with 2500 miles), so i asked the dealer to balance+rotate+alignment and I found out they did a 2-wheel alignment only. The road noise didn't improve after that and it is more obvious on "very flat" road, which gives me reason to double it's either bad alignment or unbalance tires....

 

I've had the 4 wheel alignment done on my 8 before. I have the before and after specs. Also, you may want to have them check out wheel bearings as well as balancing your wheels. It may be suspension related. What does the road noise sound like? Humming?? or???

 

It sounds like unbalance tires in my old honda before, like low pitch "won won won won won.....", one for each tire rotation. Btw, may i have ur alignment settings and also the stock rx8 setting for daily drive, thx a lot!!!

 

Four wheel.

Is there any vibration? Out of balance tires vibrate. You feel it in your butt if it's rear, and through the steering wheel if it's front. You can get vibration from other than out of balance tires, but if a tire is OOB it will vibrate.

Ken

 

just scheduled for a 4 wheel-alignment + tire balance + wheel bearings check on Friday, will see how the result comes out

 

How low did you lower from stock? I've just installed Sprint springs and have been meaning to go in for an alignment; but worried about the camber issue. Is there a way to adjust camber to a reasonable setting with such a dramatic 2" drop in the rear?

 

How much is left on the tires? Are they new, 5k, 10k, more?

 

i am on tanabes. why couldn't they adjust the rear? i had mine set to my specs no problem.

 

i'm guessing they may have not been able to set it due to the machine they're using. it isn't necessarily camber that wears your tires out; it is more your toe setting that will eat up your tires prematurely...

 

The stock tires are produce a lot of road noise. If you are going to get an alignment get all four done.

 

Two wheel Alignments are for Pick Up Trucks (the old kind with the solid rear axle).

Anything that has independent rear suspension NEEDS all wheels aligned.

IMHO, you should probably stay away from a shop that would even offer you a 2 wheel allignment!

 

There's no reason not to do a four-wheel alignment. Ever.

 

It was a local Mazda/ Mitsu/ Cadilac dealer which i used to my car service...which is kind of sad

 

always do 4 wheel alignments on your 8

and your problem sounds like just an out of balance wheel/tire

 

You could have a flat spot on your tire.

Have you been squealing your tires again?

 

4 Wheel Alignment here! Found that my rear wheels were out more than the front after installing and preloading my Tein S springs.



Are your tires cupped? If so the noise will not go away even with a good alignment or tire balance.

 

I am going to guess it is your tires. personally I think the Kumho's are pieces of crap. I have the Ecsta SPT's on mine and I had TERRIBLE noise after only about 5000 or 6000 miles. alignment was good all the way around, balanced, did whatever I could, nothing helped. Then I completely had them dismounted and flipped around on the wheel (inside goes outside, outside goes inside) and that helped, for about 1000 miles then that annoying "out-of-balance" noise came back.

I am in the process of buying new tires now and I know I will NEVER go with Kumho's ever again.

sorry, I am just ranting. but try flipping the tires around (inside goes outside...) and that should help for a little bit.

 

really.

i think i just turned 30k miles on the spts and they have just started to get loud, and they still have a bit of time on them..

i think you might have the alignment checked again..

if you dismounted them and it went away for a while and it came back, in 1k miles. really, check your alignment..

beers

 

Post up your location and find a REAL alignment shop.
Dealers and whatever random national chains just align to "within manufacturer specs". Thats crap. Find a real alignment shop, tell them how you like to drive.
The humming is probably an out of balance or bad tire. A good shop will be able to tell.

My shop 4 wheel aligns the car to the exact specs I want, with me sitting in the car to account for the weight of driver, and it is like 100$.

And on the Kuhmo's - great tire. I have the MX - on a Miata. I street it, I track it. Tons of life, tons of grip, great price.

 

alignment may be the problem, but I had it done at a Mazda dealership....probably my first mistake. Oh well, it is too late now, my tires are bald on the edges and noisey as hell. I am thinking of Goodyear Eagle F1's or Michelin Pilot Sport PS2's this time around, and I will find a REAL alignment shop that can do the job right.
thanks, Swoope.

 

just get back from another dealer, alignment and wheel bearings are fine, but the rear tires are a little bit cupped and think there are where the noise from. so since my tires are only with 3000 miles and just rotated once 1000 miles ago, so it is weired ....since i would be putting on the snow tires in october, i guest i would live with the noise since the tires are pretty new and the noise is just minor, may be thinking new tires and wheels if it gets worse. anyway, thx for all the suggestions and answers!

 

New tires should have a warranty. See if you can get them replaced.

 

No warranty of tires, unless defective. Bad alignment isnt defective.