Spin9k

That was abit hard to watch - but dramatic as hell! Obviously a tight circuit, but all that screeching makes me think your ol' oem tires have become hard as eraser rubber, or they didn't have enought air pressure? Not sure, but they shouldn't be squeeling for mercy as you brake for those corners. Perhaps did you let the clutch out too quickly downshifting to 2nd?

At least the video lets you relive those moments over and over (and with your remembering what was happening) you can analyse what occured and why.

Neverleless I'm sure it was exciting and fun, and as was said practice and good instruction makes everything better. Enjoy....

Spin9k

Hey tpodowd, have you seen this? Some great RX-8 footage about 1/2 way through, lots of flames, and a really super race sequence overall. Don't you wish that was you? These guys are really booking!

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...05#post1704805

tpodowd

Hi Spin9k. Thats a pretty slick video. Much nicer quality than what I put up :D I need a bigger SD card next time to record better quality on. Those guys are great. I'm self-thought (arcade games). I'd love to get lessons some day. I have a lot to learn as you can see but its all good fun. Was trying to push the car a little on the day and see what it did. Was great to feel it move beneath me. DSC/TSC off is so pure, everything you do has impact, but the 8 is still quite forgiving. Lessons are hard here as all in Japanese, although I'm planning to try take one in Motegi in March and see how it goes. I'm doing Tsukuba TC2000 again Feb 20th so I'll try take more footage. Thats mostly with GTRs though so I get a good hammering.

I'm thinking of getting RE01Rs next. The current rubber has had its day I think. Done me well over 4 years. I'm looking forward to getting competative in Tsukuba as most of the 8s tend to run RE01Rs and run about a 1'10. I'd like to run a 1'08 but thats just dreaming right now. Actually thinking of getting some lightweight wheels too. Super Autobacs (evil place) has 25% off until end of Jan on Rays wheels. Thinking of CE28N. I need to research the advantages first before jumping in. Also wondering what size rubber to go for. I need to read up a bit on that too.

Tom.

tpodowd

Another quick question for the knowlegable. Sometimes on a bumpy road I feel my suspension bottems out. It feels like its the back left side. Its happened at least twice that I recall clearly. I'm usually going for it at the time so concentrating on what the car is doing. Dare I ask, is this normal a normal thing depending on what kind of bump/hole one hits? I really have to look for a good pro-shop me thinks.

For my info, if asked, how would a pro-shop go about checking my suspension was ok? Is there some sort of machine that they can connect up to to measure/check things? Sorry, clueless about the subject, but would like to know what to expect so that I can communicate what I want. My Japanese is still not what it should be :-(

Tom.

Spin9k

Considering your new suspension is installed, I would be a bit concered about it might need adjustment/has been adjusted incorrectly. Hard to tell, do you normally have major holes in the roads over there too? Did same bottoming happen with the stock suspension and how much suspension travel does the Autoexe allow vs the stock? ... woudl be some thing to consider.

Even the stock shocks really don't bottom out easily. I once had a bad shock showing an oil leak, so Mazda replaced both rear shocks to make sure handling stayed balanced.

tpodowd

No major holes in Japan usually :-) Happened last Saturday on the motor way doing about 120kmph. There was a join in the road that the suspension didn't like but which I felt wasn't anything major. Previous times were over a bump on one of my favourite roads. That time the car was 3 up, but it never happened with stock. The people in the car with me were also surprised. Other than that, not that many bumps around to hit.

I'm going to look for a shop this weekend if I have time. I could go back to Autobacs but I feel their mechanics are too assembly line type.

tpodowd

Quick update on the supension. R-Magic examined it last weekend and said they'd like to send it back to Autoexe for them to repair it. The said the front tuning **** were not right. The couldn't see what the noise might be that I complained about but said it would be better to send it back since I'd had so many issues with it up to now. I'm taking my car there this weekend where it will stay while the dampers are sent to Autoexe. Should have it back in about a week they think. I certainly hope so as I've a Tsukuba TC2000 track day coming up 2/20 which I won't want to miss.

I guess I should really get it corner weighted and my alighment done at the same time. Thats like 44,000 JPY though so a bit hard to bite. Maybe I'll leave that for another day?

I'm also finally replacing my RE040 tires with some spanking new ADVAN NEOVA AD07s. Going with stock OEM wheel size 225/45R18 which is the same as its currently wearing. I'm wondering what I can get the lap time down to with these babies. I've zero experience in how a better tire like this will effect things. So very excited. Hopefully, I can get a 1'10 which would be awesome. Best so far on the RE040s is 1'12.

I'm also thinking its time to get a second oil cooler. I've a feeling I'm running hot after a couple of laps and am losing some power. I burn quite a lot of oil on track days so thinking the 2nd oil cooler will help. Am thinking of getting the R-Magic gauges that fit in the ash tray at the same time but things start to add up quickly.

I also need brake pads. I'm still on my 4 year originals. Am thinking Endless but don't know which ones, or perhaps Project Mu... Anyone played with these on the track? I don a lot of street driving too so its important its a good mix of both. Perhaps Endless SSS or Project Mu TYPE HC+. Maybe the NR ones are better for me? Course if I get pads, might as well get the brake lines done too :-) Expensive week coming it seems.

Spin9k

My experience, the 8 uses lots of oil on track. It's metered into the engine by a small pump based on engine load, and on track, well, engine load is just maxed out much of the time. Don't think 2nd oil cooler will help that, but it should lower oil temp and we here all have 2x oil cooler. Don't know why they cheaped out in some countries w/only one - weird.

Also have Hawk HP+ all around - seem to work good - although stock was ok too - I think a good high temp brake fluid and SS lines are your best bet for improving braking, with out upgrading rotors. I've done that too w/2 piece slotted, but pads and everything else are important as it all works as a system.

tpodowd

Yeah, don't know why we have to pay for the extra cooler! Probably cause Japanese don't do that many miles on average. Me, I'm probably average and I've only 19,000 kms on the car so far. A high percentage of them of course have been a little spirited :-)

Haven't seen any Hawk pads over here at all. Had a look at some mags but nothing. I guess I could order some. Was thinking of a bbk at one stage but thought I'd upgrade the pads first and see where that got me. The brakes are already very good. Decent rotors apart from all the rust. I'm sure my braking will improve with the new tires too.

Speaking of new tires, they just arrived - delivered to the door at 22:00. Gotta love Japan. Saved a fortune by buying them online. Cheapest I found them in Tokyo including fitting and throwing away old tires was 113,000 after much bargaining. Got them online for just under 70,000. It will cost just under 10,000 to have them fitted but thats a pretty good savings. Most places these tires were going for 140,000. LOL. Got some for a mate too. New shoes, new shoes!

Tom.

tpodowd

These go on this weekend!

tpodowd

R-Magic had the car for a week. They sent the suspension back to Autoexe
to get it repaired. Autoexe replaced the top two front adjusters and some bits around it were broken and the back left rear bushing which had been installed
wrongly and had twisted up. They were pretty sure this was the cause of the noise that I was hearing sometimes. Lessons learned - don't get your suspension
fitted at auto chain, get it done at a proper tuning shop.

And I drove off happily after a quick inspection.

Except all was not happy. The suspension was back rattling again - very
noticeably. I quickly called R-Magic and went back. It was already after
8pm and they were closing... Brought the suspension guy for a drive and he
confirmed it to his puzzlement. Back to R-magic, jacked the car up and
had a poke around.

The noise was quickly traced, but the reason was puzzling. The top of the tower mount and the top of the suspension don't sit smugly together and there is movement even though everything is tight. They are not sure why. Its either an
assembly problem with the unit itself or my car is slightly different to
other 8s or something else. They're pretty sure its not a fitting issue as dare I say, they know what they are doing.

Anyway, drove the car back. They are going to contact Autoexe about it
again and see what can be done and why this might be so. Its definitely not normal so I'll be down with them again this weekend.

Actually got picked up at the train station in the white 8 with the
headers/exhaust/catalyzer changed. It sounds amazing - really nice sound
driving a long. More beefy than mine. The guy driving said that with the
headers and flywheel changed - it was his favourite mod. Said it revs a
lot more freely up the range. Seemed a little faster or that could just
have been the noise juices flowing in me. That car also has nitrous but
we didn't get to push that particular red button on the way back.

Tom.

Cody Red

Subscribed to thread

woohoo, go yellow!

Nice vid, I had no sound though. oh well.

Keep 'em coming!

-Cody

tpodowd

Visited R-Magic again this Saturday to sort out the suspension. They'd spent Thursday/Friday back and forth on the phone with Autoexe trying to sort out the front noise problem. Finally, it was decided that the upper mount should be adjusted by 3mm (from 12mm originally to 15mm). Apparently some of the cars out there are different and mine is one of them being a very early model. The 15mm setting is the max suggested adjustment according to Autoexe data on the suspension so don't go over this if you are trying to resolve the same issue. The result is a quiet ride again and it feels solid with no feeling of loseness like before. Amazing thats not in their installation manual!

Also got to try out the new brakes and brake lines. I got Project Mu HC+ front/rear brakes and Project Mu lines also. I ran in the brakes last week on the highway on way home during a quiet patch. This weekend was the first time to try them out. They squeek a little sometimes but maybe thats cause they are still new. I don't really mind squeal though. I bought them for their performance. They really bite. Perhaps a little too early on. The braking, while progressive is way better than what I ever had before. I feel they are a little too good early on and it makes toe and heel hard under normal driving as by the time you've touched the brakes you've already stopped. Driving on the highway was great. A little touch taking off speed nicely.

I'm off to Tsukuba TC2000 for the first time in a while this Tuesday. My car has changed quite a lot so I've go a lot to learn about it. The new tires still aren't sticky but I've only 200km on them sofar. Dare I say a few laps of Tsukuba will sort them out.

Tom.

Spin9k

Looking forward to some updated tire/handling reports w/the new gear and of course - more vids!! Hopefully they've got the coilovers all sorted out this time.

tpodowd

Spin9k - Will do my best with the feedback :-)

Also, I forgot (silly me) to mention that:

a) The front adjusters now click through the 12 different settings. The right one has a stronger click for some reason than the left one, but I'm a happy camper now that they are clicking at all.

b) The height is correct as per Autoexe recommendations. Lets hope it stays that way :-)

So basically, I'm at present very happy with what I have again. I feel its been sorted out for the first time.

One more day until Tsukuba!!! Can't wait.

Tom.

tpodowd

Tsukuba TC2000 was a blast yesterday. Great to be back. I've no time to write up a small review of how things went right now, but I managed to nip 2 seconds off my previous best. So pretty happy with that. Ended up with a 1'10.4. I also got some video. I'll try sort that out over the next few days and post a link. All for now.

Tom.

tpodowd

Where to begin regarding how the mods performed at Tsukuba... So much changed since the last time I ran the circuit in November. I know this is an autoexe suspension thread but I feel I must talk about the other mods first before knuckling down to the suspension. Here we go...

Project Mu brakes (HC+) and their brake lines. The first couple of laps were all about getting to know the brakes more than anything else. Brake performance dictates where you engage them and the time you have to drop down gears etc before a bend. In the beginning everytime I touched the things I nearly went out through the windshield such was their bite. It made toe'n'heel shifting quite hard and I was braking way too early. However my tire pressure soon climbed from 205 to 260 (220 being standard) and with that they went from pretty damn good to pretty ineffective. After dropping into the pits to let some air out of the tires and get them back to 220 , I found the brakes less quick to bite than before, They seemed more progressive in what they could do. The first press no longer sent me through the front glass which greatly added to my control and braking distances. On the way home, after a good cool down, they still performed in much the same way. A good stomp would stop you pretty quick where as normal press slowed you down nicely. Maybe I just got used to them, but I believe the performance changed. There was a lot of brake dust, a lot more than when just running the stock brakes. Still that is expected. I haven't a good reading yet for dust under normal conditions, but will let you know when I do more normal driving :-) The brakes were pretty good for out braking others into corners too which you might be able see if I ever post the video :-) All together very confidence inspiring.

The tires were interesting. Very different to my old tires and they really changed the car and how it felt. My old tires - RE040s - seemed pretty pointy probably because they were run flats. The new ADVAN Neovas (same size as before) are very different. Where as before I felt I was driving on rails, my feeling with these tires is that I'm floating around, gliding the car, coaxing it in the right direction. Its a wierd feeling when coming from the other tires which I was pretty intimate with. That said, the Neova tires are way better. They stick like hell even though I didn't push them all that much. Previously my fastest comfortable entry speed into the final bend was about 120. This time around, I was going in easily at 135 ish and could have worked it more. I never felt out of control even when I entered the corner too fast or missed the apex and exited too fast. I did manage to get some dirt on the tires at one stage though but that was pretty harmless. Tires really are the biz. If you track and are wondering how to go faster then I can only recommend them if you don't have them already. The floating feeling might also be because they are still new. They felt already better on the motor way home than they did on the way up.

On to the suspension. I did the first session with the suspension dialed to 5F/7R which is one click harder than recommended street. For later sessions I dialed down to 3F/5R (their recommended circuit setting), Today I didn't notice all that much difference between the two settings (except I was faster). On my old tires, I could really tell the car came more alive and responsive. The suspension gave a pretty predictable ride all the way and as always was confidence inspiring. Everything is quiet at the moment, R-Magic seemingly having worked their magic on finally getting me to a happy suspension place. The front adjusters clicked like a charm to dial it in. Very happy again with this suspension!

As for, drama during the day, I was really puzzled and worried when going into, around and out of the 2nd last corner, the revs died on me in spurts leading me to head back to the pits. Finally tracked the problem down to being low on petrol. Guess, my 3/4 tank was nearly gone. Also managed to burn through about 2/3 of my oil. Fastest time of the day was a FC3S RX-7 who only did 4 laps but got a 1'01.362. Closest next was 1'02.001 in a BCNR33 GT-R. My other mate (only other 8) managed a 1'11.032 on his new Neova's. He has the MazdaSpeed dampers, springs and front/rear stabilizers. His only change (except R-Magic earthing and plug leads, oh, and MazdaSpeed brakes lol) since the last time he ran Tsukuba was the Neovas :-) His previous best was 1'13.9 so the tires made quite a difference to him - or was it those earthing and plug leads!

Regarding alignment, I haven't had anything done yet. Nor did I get the car corner weighted. I'm going to read up a little on alighnment and see how it works and whats important. Then maybe get something done.

Still to come, the Tsukuba video. I'll post again when I have that in place.

Also, I'm doing a gymkhana (I think this is like an autocross) on 3/11. Very excited as it will be my first time and they also have 3 driving instructors on hand so I can get some feedback on what I'm doing wrong/right etc. Will be cool to finally have some advice :-)

Cheers,

Tom.

Spin9k

Very nice tpodowd! You beat your friends 8 time w/all your changes and still using same tires. Advans must have weak sidewalls to be so wobblie - strange.

FYI something I learned recently about corner weighting procedure - make sure to undo one swaybar link each axle during corner weighting, so 4 corners of suspension move independently. then use an adjustable link to set sways so there is no static torque on bar at that new position.

tpodowd

Thanks for the info on corner weighting Spin9k. I'm going to leave the car settle for a while with the new tires and get to know it better before heading down the alighnment and corner weighting route. It seems like a rather complex operation that I'd better know everything about before getting it done. Its about $500 to get both done here, so it has to be money well spent. What's it cost where you are?

I uploaded the video to google today finally. Its gonna take about a day or so to release the video though as they seem to preview them. I'll post the link when the release it. I'm interested in feedback or any questions you guys have.

Actually I found this video on google video from Best Motoring where the MazdaSpeed RX-8 has same tires as I have (Neova 18"). He manages a best of 1'08.70 so I guess my time is not too shoddy for an 8 :-) The S2000 has 16" S02 tires. Video I'm talking about is this one: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...71952506338077

Oh and finally got my invite to the next RX-7(8) Tsukuba meeting. Its March 31st! That makes 2 trips to Tsukuba in March - the gymkhana being on the 11th. Must have a good look to see what suspensions etc, the others are using. I notice most RX-8s at the last meeting were using RE01Rs.

Also, forgot to mention earlier that the session before us, we got to watch a Trust turbo'd RX-8 going around. Tried to talk to the driver when he came off, but he was quite shy unfortunately and I didn't even get lap times out of him.

Tom.

TheBri

The S2000 can't quite keep up with the 8 in the corners. Nice action.

I'd love to know what the three guys were saying who were in the Golf/Honda/Alpha pack.

tpodowd

Finally - Here is the video of my last session at Tsukuba TC2000. Link is: http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...84545214&hl=en

Now, have to figure out how Best motoring manages to mix in the view of the peddles too. That would be pretty cool to see what craziness is happening down there. I presume they mix it live with some video mixing box in the car.

Enjoy!

Tom.

tpodowd

Here are two pics a photographer sent me of my 8 on the inside hairpin at Tsukuba. Suspension looks pretty compressed and even managed to get some body roll in there. I wonder would the car benifit from swaybars? I'm still using stock. Anyway perhaps useful photos for anyone thinking about this suspension. I'm probably doing between 60 and 70kmph in these photos.

Tom.

Spin9k

Beautiful track pics! Depending on how stiff your springs are, I'm sure somewhat stronger sways would help.

tpodowd

Some suspension updates:
- more noise
- first alignment

The suspension has started to become noisy again - or am I dreaming it? I really don't know any more what a normal 8 is like :-) It makes noise going over bumps. Not a squeek but the old tump,tump sound again also feel like I get a rock when I stop. My yearly service is here, so I dropped the car off at Mazda tonight and asked them to have a look at the back and see if anything needed tightening. We'll see... I'm also getting them to install a Racing Beat flywheel along with Mazda Speed clutch but that's another story. Nothing wrong with the old stuff just wanting some faster rev action :-)

Had the suspension alignment done at a place called "Yellow Hat". Its like Autobacs only closer to my house. Old alignment info was interesting...

Front Left Front Right
-------------- --------------
Before After Before After
======= ====== ======= ======
-1.20 -1.22 Camber(degrees) -1.15 -1.13
5.41 6.02 Caster(degrees) 6.29 6.48
-1.5mm -0.1mm Toe(mm) -1.5mm 0.0mm (-0.5->2.5)
10.46 11.09 SAI(degrees) 11.02 11.07 (10.15->11.45)

Back Left Back Right
-------------- --------------
Before After Before After
======= ====== ======= ======
-1.56 -2.02 Camber(degrees) -2.02 -2.05
-0.8mm -0.3mm Toe(mm) 0.9mm -0.4mm (0.0->3.0)

Note: Numbers in brackets on right side are recommended ranges.

So Basically before I looked like this:

FL FR
/ / \ \

RL RR
/ / / /

Left hand corners had a good advantage looking at this where as right
handers the rear wheels weren't helping much. Tsukuba is mostly right
handers~~~. Front wheels both had a lot of toe-in.

My new setup is like this:

FL FR
| | | |

RL RR
/ / \ \

Will be interesting to see how different it feels on the track. On the road the car seems to feel a little more nervous perhaps because of the front neutral toe. Hard to tell though as I haven't done enough miles yet. Will see how it feels on the track.

Pretty interesting seeing the results in front of you. I've been having a real hard time on right-handers up to know with lots of under-steer so perhaps this will sort things out.

Oh and here's my last couple of 1'10 and 1'11 runs at Tsukuba. Most of them not looking very smooth on the first hairpin... Got my best time so far 1'10.126. This was with the old alignment. next track day on the new alignment is the 24th. 1'09 here I come!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...35438081020726

quality is a bit naff. Google video seems to have eaten a lot of it. Anyway. Enjoy!

Tom.