rx8's door hinge detents suck!! solution?
 

ok. so far im pretty happy as a new rx8 owner. however there is alot about this car that simply annoys me as far as the feel and quality of the build on these.

right now i'd like to discuss the rx8's door hinge detents. it has become increasingly aggravating every time i open the door from the inside. these hinge detents are soo weak that the door seems to always want to shut back on me easily. especially on an inclined driveway.

this is probably my top most annoying aspect about this car.

my rx8 is a 04 base model.

does anyone have any insight as to whether there is a dif. part number for these door hinge detents for different models and or different years?

if the later rx8's dont have this problem i'd like to get the updated detents to replace mine with to give the car a more higher end car feel.

this annoyance makes the car feel like a cheap car.

my door is the same way, i guess i'm just use to it now and open it when i'm getting out so it doesnt have time to shut

As far as I know, that's just how they are. I don't think they changed them, but someone might know something I don't. My biggest complaint is the spacing. The first catch point is a tight squeeze to get in and out and the next frequently seemed to go too far so that it would hit the next car over (or whatever happened to be next to you).

I'd imagine there are some other options you could go with that aren't originally meant for the 8, though I can't really give much advice beyond that.

Just as an FYI, the parts you're refering to are called door checkers and are separate from the hinges completely. They consist of a plastic-coated metal arm that has a channel on both sides with two detents, one for ajar and one for fully open. This arm sits in a housing that has two spring-loaded bearings that run along those channels - the housing mounts inside your door and one end of that plastic-coated arm mounts to the front edge of the door frame.

I worked as an engineer for a parts manufacturer that made such devices for several car manufacturers and I don't know if they just assumed their customer base was too weak to pull a door shut if the springs were stronger or the detents made more substantial, but I also find the RX-8 checkers to be annoying, especially for what is essentially a two-door coupe-sized door. One thing you can check for is to ensure that the plastic coating is not cracked or excessively worn, as this would obviously reduce the holding strength of the checker.

Usually the passenger door checker works better over time since it's not used as often. Really though, there's no adjustment you can make to them - it's a sealed unit. You could easily replace them with new ones yourself with a socket wrench if you remove the door panel, though I have no idea what Mazda would charge for them and even new ones might not feel that much better.

^ the plastic coating on mine are still good and dont appear to be excessively worn. hmm.. perhaps something would work from another Mazda model vehicle.

i also find the spacing to be very annoying also.

wonder if there is a way to modify the springs to be stronger for the bearings like taking them out and stretching them.

i dont like the spacing either and have issues when on the hill that is my driveway. i've tried a couple others to no avail. if you find something that works better let me know

It's annoying but it's worth the price for driving pleasure.

You just need to master the art of ninja car exits. I don't think there's an easy fix for this.

what I found out is that you have to push it open slowly.
dont just swing it out it will spring back shut.

Actually I think our doors are more of a 4 door sedan size. That's the beauty of those suicide doors is that they take up that extra long coupe door and split it in two. But they retain the coupe lines in the car. Neither here-nor-there as far as the checkers are concerned but I guess I just got used to the "ninja exits" haha.

:rollingla I was waiting for someone to say this....


P.S. Yes I agree with all of you, the spacing sucks as well as it does swing back pretty easily... You just have to master your ninja skills. I can swing my door open and get out before it shuts itself... its a cool trick really...:yelrotflm

RX8s need to come with shin guards for owners . I know that would have eased my pain on several occasions ....

^^^ I know the feeling, it hurts SO bad...

tried other whats? you've tried other detents from other cars?



although i have gotten the trick of opening it up slowly and not letting go till its still. its still getting increasingly annoying the more i think of this.

i just might have to try modifying the springs to be stronger so its not as easy to go over the "humps" anymore.

think of it as hands free door assist :cool:

The easiest way to fix this is to buy....
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LAMBO DOOR KITS! :rofl:

At times, I wish we had VW and Audi hinges.

This hits it on the head, though my ninjitsu is lacking. I somehow keep getting stabbed in the back by the corner of the door. SO ANNOYING!!
Other than the mileage, this is one of my biggest gripes with this car.
Sometimes, I have sat in the car and pushed the door open, only to have it close back from the second detent, and then try again up to a dozen times and no matter how much or how little force, it always closes; never stays ajar. You literally have to push it to the right spot and let go, or attempt a ninja exit and risk getting shot in the back...

1. turn car off
2. unbuckle seat belt
3. gather your things.
4. kick door open.
5. slip through.
6. look fly

i almost never have to close the door myself.

My problem is that I often drive with two kids in the back and nobody in the passenger seat. In order to let a kid out, I need to reach over and swing the passenger door open. It is nearly impossible to do the first half dozen attempts. My kids are fast, but even they can't do a ninja exit from the back before the door slams shut.

If there was a fix for this I'd be saved from many a trip around the car to let them out from the outside.

And don't even get me started on why the keyless entry doesn't work on the passenger side when the engine is running...

Hmmm. I thought I was the only one. I guess not. I have learned to deal with it. My driveway is on an incline so I was kinda forced to. If I open the door and hold it on the detent till it settles its momentum it will stay. I tried the sly ninja exit once. Ended up squashing my jewels on the Recaro bolster. Never again.