200.mph

iTrader: (9)

yo 9k what were you suggesting as a replacement for koni yellows? i know its a little off topic but still suspension related

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Well you can get with Houstonrx8er and he can make you a custom set of adjustable coilovers using Bilstien HD's. If that is out your price range ($1500 or so) then I would get Bilstien PSS9's from tirerack.com. If you want to spend more than a custom set from fact Cat, or KW V3's. Ideally something that can grow with the car and be rebuild professionally by someone who can give you actual data (shock dyno graphs) is ideal.

But or street car, you mainly just want something is a decent performance upgrade that will last so you get your monies worth. The Bilstiens fit that bill perfectly IMO.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

thanks. do the bilstien shocks add the extra 1/2" drop when paired with s techs like the yellows do?

J8635621

iTrader: (10)

Negative on the 1/2" drop. There is a place cheaper than tire rack for suspension stuff. I will tell you through pm if you want.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

please do j

04Green

iTrader: (1)

reading through this, there are several that have been happy, on and off this forum, with the PSS9. Anyone have any idea what the front and rear spring rates are on the PSS9?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

The PSS9's are really different from most off the shelf RX-8 setups. Because of actual R&D, they were not designed to just fit.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-whe...-pss9s-140733/

tylerdurden

FCM are great. I went from Flex's to FCM on my Miata and the difference for a street car was huge, the Tein's were a pretty brutal street setup, even with softer rear springs and on full soft shocks. FCM are much less "busy" than Konis as well, I found those to amplify low amplitude events. To be completely fair, the Teins were a hair sharper, had a bit better turn in and rotated a bit better, but the compromise in ride wasn't commensurate, not at all. For a car with primarily street intentions, FCM are pretty ******* great. I will be getting them for the RX8 when the time comes. You can have a good handling and comfortable suspension, but you gotta pay. If you just want to go low, get whatever blingy **** you want and eventually learn to hate your car.

rotorfly

I am considering the PSS9's and would also be interested in the suspension source mentioned by J8635621.

Please send me a PM as well if ya don't mind...

Thanks !

Chibana

My top choices are Ohlins Road & Track, FCM, and Bilstein PSS9s. FCM was top on my list, but it appears the cost of their RX-8 coilovers has now gone higher than Ohlins, and I would take the Ohlins as my top choice, money-no-object. I really like the idea of the Bilstein PSS9s. I like the inverted monotube dampers in the back, with the adjustment **** relatively easily reachable under the car, no adjustment cables or holes in the trunk liner needed. My main concern with the PSS9 kit is that the minimal lowering is still a 30mm drop from OEM. That's just a bit over an inch. I've read an awful lot from people who know a lot more about it than I that the RX-8 shouldn't be lowered more than an inch, and that 0.5 to 0.8" is about right to keep the suspension geometry sane.

Boeuf

iTrader: (2)

I recently upgraded from Mazdaspeed coilovers to Ohlins R&T. I loved my Mazdaspeed coilovers, great ride on the street and handled well at the track. My only issue was adjusting the rear shocks, it was a bitch having to crawl half under the car to make adjustments.
I haven't tracked the Ohlins yet because I put them on mid sept, went on vacation for 2 weeks and then stored the car in late Oct. On the street though they are amazing. I haven't done any real spirited driving, mainly around town and hwy but they just feel great. They absorb bumps so well and the car always feels perfectly planted.
I wish I could say more but I just don't have the seat time with them yet. I can't wait to get them on track in the spring to see how they perform.

deadpool

There's a better source for these? I'd love to hear that source as well! Thanks in advance!

556Magpul

So i have an 05 with 62K on the clock and figured its about time to look into replacing the shocks. In my studies I have come across a brand that I have not seen mentioned here. Goodspeed Project, their website looks legit, I.E no "Engrish" being written by some one in China ha-ha. I know you usually get what you pay for however it has also been my experience that price isn't all-ways a reflection on quality. This is especially true in the after market wilderness.

[URL="http://godspeedproject.com/products-by-car-type/parts-for-mazda/mazda-rx8-04-11-mono-ss-coilover-suspension.html"]

Does any one have any experience with this brand?

Hope i posted this in the right place...?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Crap. they look just like the BC and Megan coilovers, all just rebranded made in taiwan BS with no R&D.

Black2010R3

iTrader: (1)

KW's also does plenty of R&D with shaker rigs and such, but they've settled on much more conventional spring rates and I can attest that they handle very well on track, at least when paired with the Hotchkis sway bars that I've got.

I first ran my car on track in stock form and was quite happy with the handling balance and according to FatCat's setup spreadsheet, KW's and Hotchkis bars net a very similar handling balance and my experience backs that up. It has a slight natural understeer bias, but I can easily get it oversteering in the slower corners at least, which might not be the absolute fastest setup, but it's pretty good and still fairly safe for the more casual end user.

I'd be weary of tracking a car with the front to rear spring rate bias so vastly different than what most racers use, but at the same time, people have done it and it's worked well. Maybe they're miss-quoting their rates?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yeah I would love a set of KW's as well, I have installed a couple of sets. I am still undecided on my next setup.

Black2010R3

iTrader: (1)

The one negative that I came across was that the remote reservoir interferes with brake ducts. I was going to install some ducts on my car for track use (RX-8 Brake Cooler Wheel Brackets), but when the wheel's turned the reservoir and the duct want to occupy the same space, so they're just sitting in my basement now.

So, if anyone wants the ducts, they're for sale.

556Magpul

@ 9krpmrx8
So would you agree with teh following? Unless you have the coin to drop on the Eibach coil overs or equivalent, don't bother. Therefore most people should just go for Koni yellows and maybe a set of drop springs if that's their personal taste? Even if light track use is intended use....?

J8635621

iTrader: (10)

He's going to disagree with that because you said Koni yellows. full disclosure: he's a hardparker

LiveWire

iTrader: (1)

No mentioned Fortune Autos yet? I have the 500 series black edition with the swift spring upgrade. I really nice high end of middle tier coilovers (<2k). The valving is great. You can run high spring rates without feeling anally violated. I am dropped very low atm. 18x9.5 +38 with 255/35/18 tires and no fender rolling. Never rubs the wheel well. The bottom of the car meets the road more than I am comfortable with tho.

556Magpul

Haha, hey if there is a better option I am all game but I do like the Konis that I have on my Fiero GT . However I do intend to use the RX8 in a few track days; as much as i can afford that is lol. Still this whole suspension upgrade/modification thing for the RX8 is a bit hard to get a handle on from a quantitative point of view. There seams to be a-lot of hyperbole and personnel taste involved.

J8635621

iTrader: (10)

Is that not the case everywhere? Koni yellows have had some problems with longevity. They have a great warranty if you want to remove them all the time though.

I believe 9k's choice is bilstein for shocks. He has a buddy that makes them into adjustable coilovers as well but I'm not sure he is a vendor here.

You really like cars that catch on fire, huh?

556Magpul

No I don't want to change them all the time lol. I like Bilsteins to; I have a set on a Jeep and they preform very well. That sounds like a good option, prob going to have to look in to that. As for the Fiero it got a bad wrap because of GM's meat headed choice to put a truck inline 4 in a sports car for the first year. People would drive it hard and not check the oil, and it would throw a connecting rod right threw the block all over the hot cat..... I have the GT with the V6 no burning issues on that one . Its actually a lot of fun to drive on the back roads, and surprisingly reliable; knocks on wood, its some time hard to deiced which car gets to stretch its legs in the morning. Neither one at the moment its flippen cold and snowing....

that_one_rx8

i'm soon about to do autocross what coilovers would you all suggest?

Steve Dallas

What is your budget, what is your skill level, and what are your goals?