wassup_nuthin

ok so i was doing a search on rx8 rearend gears and ive read we can use teh s2k 4.77 gears. all the posts ive read have been in 2005 though and i havnt found any updated ones. is there a better or cheaper alternative now? and if there is where and how much? and install should only be around 150 shouldnt it just for rearend gears? i know thts how much it is for my buddys mustang put 373's and costed him 150 bux. the rx8 diff. though?

wassup_nuthin

i know one guy said it costed him 1700 dollars for rear end gear for install and parts. that sounds crazy to me. but maybe i missunderstould and he did more then just the rear end gear ratio? i dont know..

staticlag

you didnt do a very good search

yup 1700 for the gears only.

LSD is probably another 800-900

staticlag

no you can't use s2k parts

September '07?

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ht=final+drive

wassup_nuthin

lol how do i do a good search then? is there a good search button?

i just type * rear end gears* *rx8 gears* *gears*

wassup_nuthin

ahh yes i read that review i musta got mixed up on the date.. ther is one though that from 05 that talks about using the s2k gears

wassup_nuthin

why so exp? my buddys 200 mustang was 100 bux for the gears and 150 for the install

wassup_nuthin

thats a used greddy kit ther then another 1600 get you the mm upgrade.. thats insane

chetrickerman

the mustang market is a lot bigger than the 8 market. and if your friend only paid $100 for the gear, i dont know how great the quality would be. i wouldnt trust it.

if you dont like the search button up top, try google. thats what i use, it works pretty good

staticlag

Cause in the mustang the differential pumpkin is easily accessible from the rear of the car, unscrew one cover and you can take out the final drive gear.

On the rx8 the rear suspension must be completely disassembled and the differential physically taken out of the car.

Apparently Knightsports is making a 4.77 also but its the same thing as the FEED.

and theres always the Mazdaspeed 5.12 gear but its like $1200 or something.

wassup_nuthin

it may have been 150 but no more but it was name brand i dont remember which though

wassup_nuthin

well lol that changes my mind about doing rear end gears then lol. thanks for your info. looks like ill be sticking to the basic mods until my turbo kit this summer lol

chetrickerman

well the diff. may be half the cost of the turbo kit, but just remember the greddy kit is only good up until around 280 whp. after that you have to buy upgrades. and the kit is going to be $1-2000 for install/tuning

staticlag

If you still want the effect, just look into getting some lightweight 17" wheels.

the enkei RPF-1 in 17 inches is one of the lightest available, cheaper tires, better handling, acceleration, and braking.

Plus the acceleration benefits of a 4.77 gear

superdon2

but which has faster acceleration off-the-line? 4.44 gears with 17"s or 4.77 with 18"s (assuming all other aspects are equal)

staticlag

It would actually be secret choice C) 4.77 gears with lightweight 17" wheels. which would get you to around 5.12 and a hell of a lot of torque.

But of the two choices given, 17" inch wheels will accelerate faster because all things being equal, they are changing the final drive AND they are going to be like 3-4 lbs lighter.

the cons:

Doesn't look as good on the rx8 as bigger rims do.

I got the final drive swap because of the ability to go to 5.12 whenever I want to by changing wheels. Also it allows me the ability to get stock acceleration by going to an arguably "better looking" 19" rim.

staticlag

well, to really get to 4.77 by changing the wheels, you also need to lower the aspect of the wheels to 35 or 30 depending on your width.

So its change diameter and tire.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

With the "09" RX8 using 4.77 gears, the price may start to come down. Installation however, will still be a problem.

staticlag

it is?

where are the specs?

i looked but couldn't find them

chetrickerman

if you go to 5.12, you might want to install a 7th and 8th gear, or dont do any highway driving

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

Taken from Rotary News - Official 2009 RX-8 Press Release

"In addition, the differential gear ratio on manual transmission-equipped cars is lowered from 4.444 to 4.777 for improved off-the-line performance. While minimal, these performance changes give RX-8 increased acceleration and performance, as well as even greater responsiveness to the accelerator pedal – always a rotary-engine and RX-8 hallmark"

Vasichko

iTrader: (1)

Wow nice to know Mazda took about 5 years to figure the car need a new ratio on the differential?

Apparently R&D didnt track the car as much?

chetrickerman

i wonder if they made any of the gears taller for gas mileage

staticlag

they gave it 19" wheels, which would actually keep the performance around the stock 4.44 gearing on 18" wheels.

Looks like they are leaving it up to the buyer to decide whether to switch them to 18" and take advantage of the 4.77 acceleration

savedsol

It's got a new trans too and nobody knows the ratios. They are probably changed to match the diff. No way Mazda is going to take a bigger hit from the EPA.