DoubleBlack8

ive used search feature and find only topics about racing and lowering vehicle.. i noticed my rear tires lean inward at the top and was wondering what would be the cause for this? is this a common issue that all rx8's (2004) 6sp. have? has anyone else experienced this? no my car has never been wrecked or anything. the lean is quite noticeable. its not stupid insane lean but it is easily noticed... any help?? p.s. the passenger side seems to lean in a little more than the driver side.

Steve Dallas

That is normal. It is called negative camber, and it helps keep the rear of the car planted when turning. Most cars have about 1.5 to 1.8 degrees of static negative camber specified when sitting still. Your front tires should have a lot less. If you rotate your tires at appropriate intervals, it will not cause excess tire wear.

DoubleBlack8

yeah i know it supposed to have some. but mine is excessive wearing the insides of the tires way faster than the rest. im pretty sure the suspension is what came on the car. bad shocks cause it to lean in maybe?

RX8Soldier

iTrader: (24)

Perhaps the previous owner had the camber adjusted? Take it to an alignment shop to verify

DoubleBlack8

i just went out and checked again,, the passenger side is deff way more noticeable than the drivers side you have to look hard to see the drivers side does have a slight lean in at the top the passenger side is noticeable as soon as u pull up in the driveway behind it

Steve Dallas

The lower the car sits, the more static negative camber will be present. As the gas pressure in the shocks contributes to ride height, it is possible that blown rear shocks could cause excess negative camber and premature tire wear for that and other reasons. The rears tend to go first on RX-8s for some reason. If the shocks are original to the car, I would be surprised if they are not blown, considering they are 13 or 14 years old now.

DoubleBlack8

i believe youre right i just checked again and the clearance between the tire and fender well is much smaller on passenger side. i been planning on new suspension anyway. guess its time ty

mazdaverx7

iTrader: (6)

Generally when a shock or strut fails you will see oil seepage from the unit itself. Check to see if there is seepage on one or both of your rear shocks. Replace if need be and have the alignment checked for good measure.

NotAPreppie

Also check your toe. Toe out + negative camber = very rapid inner shoulder wear.

40w8

Rear RX8 shocks are air pressured which would help hold it up.

I had suspension aligned when about 20k miles on car, and rears were -2.1 on driver rear and -1.88 on right, so I had them equalized at -1.9.

A year later the rears seemed more saggy, and had both rears to minimum -1.65 with me sitting in car.

As the rear goes down the camber is more negative.

I've got a Bilstein B12 kit with Eibach springs which I bought from AJUSA.com for $719. and suspension feels right now at normal height of approx 14 inch rear and 14 in fronts, too.

Everyones rears get fubar quickly, and also it sound like something wrong with passenger rear arms.

Toe is the big killer of tires not camber, so look for a repair there, and get it aligned after.

Steve Dallas

Static rear toe in also increases as the rear suspension sags. I thought that was kind of implied, but I guess maybe not. Good point.

40w8

Yeah, I should have said the toe pulls in when going down.

The OP needs to read up and go as deep as he wants, and check suspension parts for damage.

The RX8club has much more helpful knowledge than almost any other car, and members like to dish it out with a side of snark. LOL

My 8 is all reved up, and no where to go (close to barely broke in condition).