Wheel Binding on left turns
 

Ever since I got my first RX-8 in 2004 I have noticed a front wheel bind when making sharp left turns, mostly when pulling U turns. This is with stock tires and rimes and feels like the front right tire is rubbing the iner fenderwall and the ABS kicking in and breaking that wheel. I could never get the techs at my drear to confirm this problem and I have yet to come across any thread here on the subject. Now I am in my second 04, 8. This one is approaching 60k and I have noticed the problem is more frequent. However, now I expereance it when driving on windy roads with dipping left curves at high speeds and that makes it a priorty issue. I thought it might be worn fron shocks. I made the mistake of putting in Mazda Speed shocks in without Mazda Speed springs and my front end now sits 4 inches higher. The tire bind is almost nonexistent when pulling U turns and I have yet to go on another road trip up state but the handling of the car is way off. I am thinking of putting in the speed springs to lower the front but don’t want to have the tire bind come back. I was also thinking about maybe putting in the Mazda Speed shocks in the rear but then I might still have a handling issue with the car sitting much higher all around.
Has any one else out there dealt successfully with this problem?
Angelo.

PS, if this thread gets redirected please inform me how to find it again.
Thanks.

I picked up new MS shocks and a full set of MS springs.
I gues I'll start with the rear shocks and see what happends after leveling her out.
Nobodies noticed any issue like this?????

WEll Finally someone has the same problem I have had for years now. 2005 rx8. Left hand turns at speed causing what feels like rubbing of right tire on inside of wheel well. I have never noticed any signs of rubbing however. Mine is most pronounced going on entering curvy uphill or down. Doesn't happen during parking lot speeds. Took mine in while under warranty a year ago and the dealership said the found nothing wrong. I even think that when I purchased new tires it stopped for a while but is now back. Perhaps it has something to do with height of the 8 but I really am stumped.

Have no fix but wanted to post to assure that you are not alone. Could it be control arm rubbing or something ? I think there is a recall on that part.

"WEll Finally someone has the same problem I have had for years now. 2005 rx8. Left hand turns at speed causing what feels like rubbing of right tire on inside of wheel well. I have never noticed any signs of rubbing however. Mine is most pronounced going on entering curvy uphill or down. Doesn't happen during parking lot speeds. Took mine in while under warranty a year ago and the dealership said the found nothing wrong. I even think that when I purchased new tires it stopped for a while but is now back. Perhaps it has something to do with height of the 8 but I really am stumped."

Yeah, finally some one too. I went through the dealer, as you have, with my first 8 and got the same response. And I have not been able to find evidence of tire rubbing either.
Referring to my last post; I installed the rear MS shocks with the stock springs and the car leveled out. I lost a little of that 'on rails' feel now that she sits two - three inches higher but the car still handles fine. For a while I thought I fixed it. I plaid with it in some lots and made 'U' turns and high-speed banks and all seemed OK. However, I noticed it the other day again when making a simple left turn.
It is clearly the TCS/DSC as the tires are nowhere near the inner wheel well. It is funny how you mentioned tires in your post because I just made my winter swap and the front tires were worn to the inside. I thinking maybe this is an alignment problem so first thing tomorrow morning I'm having the alignment checked.
Another problem troubleshooting is that a lot of the parts to the front wheel are cast aluminum and don’t show stress if bent like the black painted parts. So if something is off a little it’s almost impossible to tell visually.
Anyway, thanks for chiming-in and giving me some validation. I was starting to wonder about all the other 8 owners.
I'll get back with a yay or nay on the alignment.
Later.

Got your pm too. I had my car aligned the first time I heard the problem right after I bought the car used. It never fixed it. Glad yours may have disappeared. As you mentioned in your last post in this thread did someone confirm it was Traction control system that causes that response as I have not seen that anywhere on this board but have given up trying to fix. I did notice the DIY on removing the rust from the hub and the back of the wheel to eliminate the snapping noise on low speed sharp turns. Have not tried it yet but will shortly. My 8 almost feels like it is rolling over something when making tight parking maneuvers particularly now when turns in reverse are being performed. But tires are fine and alignment is good.

no one has confirm anything unfortunatly, however, sinse I have my 8 sitting higher now I know it can not be the wheel rubbing. there is nothing left that it can be. when I get that binding I look and see the traction Control dash lamp light up. I will keep looking into it,, but after the holidays.

I have checked for loose bolts and anything elce suggested or that I could think of. the only thing that woked is disengageing the electronic stability control system completely. So I have come to the conclusion that this is a flaw in the design and is almost a non-issue if you keep your alignment correct. however since the DSC on/off switch is not in a user friendly position the only other option is to move it to the shifter.
thanks for all the help on this. it is appreciated.

Angelo

Gents,

Did you ever get to the bottom of your issue? I had noticed this behavior occasionally in the past.

However, I am at the track today and it happened pretty much at every left turn, throwing off the balance of the car. I disabled completely DSC and went out again... problem disappeared and the car felt just like it did months ago when I brought it to the track previously.

It is definitely a problem with DSC and it is consistent when DSC is active.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.