OEM Shock Absorber Question - Don't Like It Hard
 

My rear shocks need to be replaced so I'm going to do all 4. Before I get blasted for not considering a good set of aftermarket coilovers, the reason I don't like it hard is because I suffer from spinal problems and my wife just suffered a slipped disc this week. So, the stock setup is about as hard as we can take it.

I called a Mazda parts stockist in my country and found that besides the original mazda shocks, they have KYB OEM replacements and the best part is that the KYBs are 40% cheaper than the mazda bits. They did not give me the part number so I did a little research and believe they must be the Gas-A-Just series #551115 (fronts) and #551116 (rears) which are rated 280PSI.

Anyone knows who makes the factory shocks and what's the pressure rating? Would I see any change in damping over the factory shocks? Are these really OEM replacements that will be a simple process of "Remove the old absorber, put the factory spring and rubber stopper back and reinstall using old bolts and nuts"?

thats not what she said.

LOL! I was actually contemplating the title "She doesn't like it too hard" to grab more attention. I should have done that...:dunno:

sorry for not being able to answer your question though, would if i could!

where are you located? I noticed the part about "your country" so I'm not sure if a part number from North America would help you.

do you have the sport suspension or base model? What year is your RX-8?
Oh, and if I remember correctly the OEM struts are made by Tokico.

KYB are excellant shocks.

Only another user of this shock can tell you about the ride.

I have bought KYB's on several cars. They last longer.

Kyb is probably the biggest oem for japaneae cars. My FC's stock shocks are made by Kyb. Last 190k miles. the car has 211K miles, the shocks are still "holding" but its already showing rust and its making noises. so I just bought new OE ones, cuz I can get it much cheaper than even KYBs.

Most RX-8 shocks are made by Tokico.

KYB's Gas-A-Just is a bit stiffer than stock when new, but after a couple hundred miles it will be softer and more OE like.

As long as u don't have shinka trim nor r3. U will be fine (cuz Shinka use a tiny bit bigger Tokico shocks, and R3 use Blinstein, Mind you, Stock shock works with them, its just that your handling will be a tiny bit lower)

Guys, I'm located in Singapore. We get the UK RHD version through the official source and the Japan version through parallel importation. Mine's a 2005 UK-spec 6MT (230HP). I'm glad to see some positive feedback about the KYBs. The stock shocks died after 30,000miles.

Singapore's roads should be really nice, Stock Tokico should last much longer than 30K miles.

well, if its broken, then it is. Buy some new KYBs, and you will be fine.

Hey Jedi, first part of your question answered in post 8.

As for the second question, when you mean sports suspension, are you referring to the bilsteins in the Shinka? We get one type of suspension here so I'm guessing ours would be equal to the normal suspension in the States. Mine would be the normal suspension. There are several parallel imported Shinkas here.

Hmmm...aren't Tokicos supposed to be good too?

I'm glad you're still awake. Is it about midnight in NY? Its noon here.

Sounds like the KYB Gas-A-Just will be just what I need - a wee bit stiffer than stock (which will lessen in a few hundred miles) and they'll last me a long time... That's what I needed to hear.

Will they be a simple process of "remove the old strut and reuse the old bits such as the stopper and all the associated hardware"?

Do you come here frequently? We do have quite smooth roads but unfortnately we have 6inch road humps in every neighbourhood and carpark - not ideal conditions for an 8 and definitely a body kit kiler. As for my shocks dying early, tt could be that one of the previous owners had some aftermarket shocks and did a Part Out when they sold their ride. Sometimes they just swap with the person they sold the good shocks to so the poor old stock Tokicos may have more miles in them.

Yeah, about to go get them. Will let you guys know how they feel like in a day or 2.

Yep, its mid night over here.

Yes you can reuse the old parts ---- as long as they're still in good condition.

Update After Fitting Gas-A-Just
 

Update: The Gas-A-Just absorbers were bought and installed. Part numbers 551115 (front) and 551116 (rear). It seems to be 1 inch or slightly more higher on the front and nearly an inch higher at the back. It looks like an SUV now and ready to gallop over obstacles. I can stick the width of my palm between the tire and front fender and about 3 fingers in the rear. Definitely not the look I was looking for. :crying::crying::crying: My wife is really happy as it made going in and out with a bad back less painful so that's the main plus point. I attribute this to the high gas pressure of 280PSI and hope they will sink a little with time. I really want the fronts to come down a bit and hopefully with repeated hot/cold expansion/contraction, the pressure will come down a bit.

As for the ride, it is definitely damping better at low speeds. Going over higher speed (50mph+) undulations, the car feels soft and springy - like as it there's a lot of susp travel but not damping. I attribute this to the high gas pressure (since gas is more compressible than fluid) which caused it to ride higher which in turn allows for more travel along the damper rods.

Anyone attempting to do this will need to reuse the bump stoppers or replace them. In my case, they were crushed quite badly so they had to be replaced.

If I could do it again, I would have gone with a good set of adjustable coilovers and live with the pain of a bad back. :D:

You sure the shocks were reinstalled/preload correctly ?

Cuz it shouldn't be higher/taller, assume that you're using the same stock springs.

as the ride quality, give it couple hundred miles and it will settle a bit.

Yeah, they are direct oem replacements so they are very similar in shape and all the orginal bits fit perfectly. The old rear bump stops were crushed into a powdery stuff so we put new ones on. The old shocks were probably worn and allowing the car to ride low which is why some people thought I had lowered my ride. Now when it is unladen, I've got a gap of about 4 fingers width in front and 3 at the back and I guess it will sink a little with time.

Today, I realized that the new shocks are not bad. I had 4 people in the car with some luggage in the rear and a full tank of fuel. I reckon it was a load of 915pounds all in. The car did not once bottom out or scrape its underside on any road humps or while going up and down ramps in a multistorey carpark. It was well controlled and absorbed the bumps well even at higher speeds. It did not roll as much as before in the bends. I have to admit that I'm quite happy with how they have behaved - definitely a step up in terms of handling as compared to stock.

Sounds like you need to send that stoy to KYB.

They like happy customers.

did these ever settle?

Holy https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx8...6da4a01ce2.jpg