G.Mac

Hello there, just got my car 3 weeks ago and from delivery the car has pulled to the left and also the steering wheel also points slightly to the left. My dealer tells me that there is nothing wrong and all rx8's pull to the left if you let go of the steering wheel, is this true?

Graeme (RX8 231 ps)

aggietiff28

I have heard that most American cars are made to SLIGHTLY pull to the right so that if something were to happen to the driver (sleeping, passing out, etc)...he/she would go off the road instead of into oncoming traffic. Maybe that is the case where you are...although I have not noticed any pull from the 8, except that it is very touchy. If you are pulling the steering wheel to the left, then it will continue to go left, even if you don't realize that is how you are pulling it. It took a little while to get used to...and for awhile I even thought it was off, but as I drove it more, I realized the sensitivity of the steering and learned to compensate correctly.

salituro64

Don't believe him, the steering wheel should be centered with a proper wheel alignment. If it's pulling to the left and the wheel is turned slightly to the left, I would put my money on something being wrong. Go to another dealer if necessary, some techs are plain a$$es.

TownDrunk

WTF? American cars are supposed to pull to the right a bit? Yeah, if you want to continually replace tires because the left edges keep getting worn out. Cars should track straight. Your dealer is full of crap. If you don't get it fixed you'll screw your tires.

NomisR

I think it has to do with the Rx8 tramlining with the road surface as well. However, what tiff said above is true as well, and since you're in Scotland, it should be the opposite of what is in the US.

NomisR

Well, actually, it's not because the cars are designed to move right but more like the roads are sloped towards the curb so the water will flow towards the curb and cars because of this curve will also steer towards the right. However, may need to check the alignment as well.

TownDrunk

Exactly. I was just responding to the post that suggested that US cars are designed as such. On a flat road, it should go straight. On a crowned road it should follow the crown with no driver input, but this is more a function of simple physics than any vehicular design.

N8theGr8

My car pulls depending on what side of the lane im on....so my bet is if your alignment isnt off its the road. When i bought my car I noticed on the test drive my car pulled a bit to the right no matter what. I had the dealer agree to an alignment the next week if I bought the car. They aligned it and it still pulled right....until i figured my driving habits keep me on the right side of the lane. I started driving right along the left side of the lane, and sure enough my car wanted to pull to the left. I believe its just the car is a light, road-gripping sports car...you can feel any variation in the roadway.

8is>enuff

Check tire pressure.

Make sure all wheels are the same brand (from another thread)

Try accelerating and braking on a level surface without your hand on the wheel

Some have said the alignment specs have quite a broad range. Check to see if you're on the outskirts of the "accepted" range.

Go to a different dealer. If my dealer told me my new car was supposed to pull to the left, I would just stand there and stare at him with my "are you fuggin serious" face (you know, blank stare with a couple of incredulous blinks), shake it off and walk out.

SpinninAgain!

^^^
Exactly what 8is>enuff said.

If it's not tire pressure, tire wear, crowned roads or tramlining then something is out of adjustment.

Whichever it is, that dealer is an idiot. Want us to have George W stop in on his way home and knock some sense into him?!

StewC625

Horseshit! On flat pavement the car should go straight forward. On a smooth, "crowned" road (where the centerline is higher than the shoulders for drainage - most roads, by the way) it should go straight or slightly right (following the crown down).

Check:

- Tire pressure - even a 2 lb difference between the left and right fronts can induce pulling

- If tire pressures are correct, then it's an alignment issue.

BIMMER5&RX8

Nope. This is a RWD car so it should not pull to either side. Have the dealer check the alignment.

Go48

And the dealer says: "Oh, then this is a rear wheel drive car?"

G.Mac

Just back after an argument with the dealer, the service has been crap, wont even give me a courtecy car, they started off saying that it pulls to the left when you take your hands off the wheel because it was designed that way untill I asked for that in writing, then they say that its to do with the camber of the road, even when driving on the wron side of the road it still does it but no whare as much, he also tried to go down the line of saying its because the tyres are fat but I shut him up again by saying that I have driven my brothers old sierra xr4x4 and BMW 635 csi which both have fat tyres. to answer your comments about tyres, all are factory fitted bridgestone potenza tyres and are at equal pressures the car has been doing this since delivery!!
My brother had a shot and he too feels the same but he thinks there may be a bias in the power steering pump as you have to exert slightly more pressure on the wheel to turn it right, have had a shot of 2 other RX8's at the dealer and they both do the same (both were the 190 ps models), I feel that there is an inherent fault in the steering system of the RX8 and refused to bring the car home, I love this car to bits everything is perfect but this little niggle with the steering, its not dangerous or anything but its just not right especialy when you are paying almost £24000 for the car and they wont listen to you and say its just the carecteristic of the car and nobody else has ever complained
The whole thing is starting to realy **** me of, but we will see what they say tommorow when my dad comes to have a look at it (hes a retired motor engineer)
Will keep you all posted
(maybe its cause im 24 and they think im young and stupid!)
Graeme (RX8 231 ps)

grapes

Shouldn't pull either- way check air pressure and then bring back to dealer ,rebalance wheels and do alignment. That should fix it. All under warranty issues- don't pay a cent.

8is>enuff

I think during PDI they have to center the steering calibrations somehow. I've seen it mentioned on the board before. I'll check.
*EDIT Found it https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ring+calibrate EDIT*

Go48

You might consider taking the car to another dealer. This one obviously is not interested in customer satisfaction.

SpinninAgain!

No, there isn't. The responses on this thread make that clear. No car with an inherent steering fault receives unanimous raves for steering and handling from every professional review. No car with an inherent steering fault would so thoroughly impress the many experienced track drivers that are members here. The dealer either received a misaligned shipment of cars or did something wrong themselves. In either case it's a warranty issue.

If the dealer doesn't fix it contact Mazda/UK. I'm sure they won't agree that it's "normal", and they probably won't like hearing that one of their dealers is telling the public that it is. If they don't satisfy you contact Mazda/JP.

FLYN8

Mine does not trend left or right. You can let go of the wheel for 5 or more seconds at a time and it will still be in the lane.

khtm

Mine pulls to the right at high speeds, even on flat roads.

adrien

to clarify -- I'm pretty sure you don't have a power steering pump. I'm pretty sure it's electric on this thing.

I find it less sensitive to road grading than my Miata was, though the Miata had Bridgestones and the 8 has the Dunlops. I suggest you try to find an independent shop if another dealer doesn't do it, and tell them what alignment specs you want -- if you're really ****, you can have them do it with you in the car (I did this with the Miata, and yes, it made a difference) :o .

G.Mac

No probs, they had it in for 2 days on load of different machines( I saw some of the tests being carried out), and adjusted it very slightly (keeping it within manufacturors spex) and it is a bit better, but im still not totaly convinced, its good at low speeds(under 30mph) but above 40 it can be noticable, It could be just because the car has very sensative steering, and the fact that it "loves" to follow the cambers of the road but im still not too sure. At least my relationship with the dealer is better with the service guy giving me his msn address so we can talk through my findings as he is supposidly an expert on this type of steering system ( writing thesuses etc) so hopefully i will get used to it very quickly or we can work something out.
ps I have had experience in sports cars in the past as i used to drive my brothers Ford sierra xr4x4 (2.8 v6 325bhp) and his standard BMW 635 csi and yes I know both of which had the older style engine driven power steering and both drove in a streight line on same sort of roads if you took your hands off the wheel (BMW fitted with 245 45 17 tyres, Mazda 225 45 18 tyres), I also have a m8 who has driven alot of fast cars in his time including a sierra xr4x4 and a Toyota Supra 3 litre turbo, Fiesta turbo, escort turbo and escort xr3i and he noticed it as soon as he started driving it today
anyway at least we can be in constant communication and the service manager is eagre to hear how I get on
I only posted to try get some ideas and advice, not to say that "All the experts and race drivers are wrong!" and the inherent fault was my opinion and yes opinions are like arseholes, weve all got one!

On another note (not had a chance to talk it over with the service agents yet) I was battering down the motorway (quite high revs, was sitting at about 7-7500rpm) and the oil light came on...I slowed down (light goes off) and I stop at the first chance I get and dip the oil, but the oil was half way btwn the max min marks (acceptable level according to the manual) regardless Ive topped it up to full mark( and I do check it every second tank of fuel). not been at high speed since and it hasnt happened again as yet, anyone have any ideas?

As the other guy mentioned about the reviews, I love this car and am glad i baught it , its stunning and it does give me a buzz every time I go out in it and will be keeping it for as long as I can

pps in the uk the 8 comes as standard with bridgestone potenzas
Graeme (231 ps version)

RCMarquis

I think your dealer is full of sh@*. I live in Michigan with horibble pot holes everywhere so the allignments on almost all of my cars has gone bad at some point within a year, so I am very meticulous about the pull of the steering. I've had my 8 for about 5 months and when I am on the highway at 75-80 MPH I can completely let go of the wheel and will not have to adjust until the road turns. Only car that has ever had such awesome steering.

rx8spiritR

i think i know what you've experience, that happens to me too, whenever i take my hands off the steering, it'll turn to the left itself a bit. but when i hold it back to center , it'll be in center position and be very stable. that's when i'm driving alone. i've never try driving with passenger and my hand is not on the steering, just not safe.....

MrJynx

i didn't read all the posts but my 8 drives straight, doesn't goto the left or the right.. but straight

now if the road is messed up I can definitley feel it pull to whichever side of the road its slanting to. i think that's because of the unusually wide tires. could be wrong tho . . .


MrJynx