What does it take to lower my car?
 

Have a 2005 Mazda Rx-8...

From what I am told, all I need are the springs, not coil-overs?

Confused by that if anyone could explain...

Anyways, installation looks easy, if not I have a friend who can help me do it, since he did it to his other car.

I am looking at some springs on ebay, how trustworthy are those springs? What are the chances of them breaking?

And exactly how dramatic is a 1.2" inch drop? Doesn't sound like much, but im wondering if it will actually make a big difference ones I do drop it.

Technically, all you need is springs, however you should replace the shocks on a car that old while you are in there. Check that. You also need adjustable end links or your sway bars will bind.

I would not trust any car parts from eBay unless they are brand name.

1.2" of drop looks good and is very noticeable. I would not want to drop it more than that, as it affects handling. My car is lowered an inch in this photo:


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...cd1851c8fe.jpg

well according to a certain member here all you need is a cutting device. torch, cut off wheel, sawzall but i would go springs and shocks or coilovers

You need coil overs otherwise the car will ride and handle bad.

The only springs that are made to work with shock in the correct way is Racing Beat.

You will love their springs and endlinks

Racing Beat - Mazda Performance Specialists

idk about that razz. i never had issues with my yellow/s tech combo

3 fat friends..

Will I need end links if I just bought the mazdaspeed coilovers? They should be arriving in a couple of days and I can't wait !

Yes. The OEM end links are fixed length and are made for the factory ride height. Lowering the car puts the links and the sway bars in a state of permanent bind. I have White Lines adjustable links on my car and don't much like them. I would go Racing Beat if I were you.

Thank you! I'm pumped to get my car stanced

The sway are not a must correct?

^- this is also good to keep from grinding on speed bumps and poorly sloped driveways! I am at the point where I personally like my drop and I can clear speed bumps if I take them easy.

If you want the car to handle well (which is largely the point of the RX-8), you need the sway bars, and you need them to be set correctly. Mazda did an excellent job of designing this suspension, and deleting things just to lower the car or save a little money is a bit foolish in my opinion. At the very least, you need the front bar (some guys remove the rear for the track), but be aware that removing the rear bar will add understeer to the handling (probably fine for the street too).

Excellent instructions for replacing suspension components can be downloaded from this page on Racing Beat's web site.

Good luck.

Thank you for the link.. I meant like I don't need to replace the sway bars - I can keep them as long as I get adjustable end links and the mazdaspeed coilovers haha I was not planning on taking them off, I know they are better for handling and want to keep my car that way. The handling is one of the things I love the most.

Sorry. My bad on the misunderstanding.

Yes. The stock sway bars are fine. I track my car about 10 times per year and find it to be very neutral with the stock bars on the tracks I frequent. Some guys either remove the rear bar or add a heavier front bar and keep the stock rear bar to take out some oversteer, but that is really a matter of personal preference and/or varies from car to car.

So if lowering springs are used all end links need to be changed or just fronts? Is it absolutely necessary to change sway bars?
Sorry not trying to Jack your thread, you just saved me from starting one.
None of the springs I have looked at tell you to change your endlinks or your suspension will bind.
Probably something they should tell you upfront.

Posted From RX8Club.com Android App

You do not need to change the sway bars. Just the end links. All 4 of them. They come in front and rear sets.