Madhops

I'm just curious, I got the suspension installed yesterday and instead of having less space between the top of the front wheel and the fender I have more now?!? (the rears look lower or at least the same). How long does it usually take for the RB springs (or any springs) to settle, and was it a noticeable change in height after it settled? Last night I took the car to an empty parking lot and did a whole lot of tight turns, hard breaking/accelerating, driving in a circle, and a bit of drifting to test the new set up out and hopefully settle the springs a bit. Today it's still kinda the same.

Note: I didn't get to measure the car before the swap, but the increase in fender gap is clearly obvious. It was the first thing I noticed, even my mechanic even thought it was a bit weird.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

That would suck.

invasion08

iTrader: (7)

You need to give it time to break in give it a 100 miles or so

Razz1

You need to check the height of the car properly.

Measure the frame height.

cleoent

I think the rb springs are only a .5" drop, so i doubt you'll notice much. But it will settle after a few miles.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

did you bolt up everything tight while the suspension was at full extension on jackstands?

Madhops

The whole car is higher and is not one of those things that you need to measure to make sure, you just look at it and...yup it's higher and it's that obvious.

Madhops

I didn't install them myself, my mechanic did. What's the difference?

kinchu007

iTrader: (1)

That's wrong I thought...wouldn't you wanna tighten everything up while the tires are loaded? Otherwise the rubber bushings on the upper control arm are out of whack.

kinchu007

iTrader: (1)

By the way, about the ride height, give it some time...it took my springs almost a month to settle, especially in the rear where there's less weight.

Zero_Rotary

i think u will need to lower the arm as well...it happened to me too when i got my tein springs

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

That's why I asked the question because if so it would be the cause ...

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

yes when i installed my rb springs my car sat much higher as well especially in the front. RB springs need to be preloaded unlike others. jack your car up and loosen evervthing, do not take the wheels off. then i pushed up and down on the frame a fews time played some xbox and did the jumping thing soeem more and did this about 3 times and it fixed the right height tremendously.

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...3&postcount=18
here was my problem...you could probably find the intallation instructions some where on here.

lesper4

iTrader: (3)

this thread should help you out, check post #24
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...g+instructions

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

Easy fix! loosen the control arm bolts, let sit for 30 minutes, retighten. The springs weren't preloaded so you're up too high.

Madhops

Thanks a lot guys, I'll try that.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

yup, that has to be the problem. simply turn the wheels all the way to the side (both sides) and reach in and loosen the control arm bolts.

Madhops

Well I went and got my mechanic to loosen the control arm and and it seem to have worked, the car is at least 1/2 inch lower and still needs to settle. Thanks to everyone who responded.

Only problem is.....when he drove around the block to test it, the driver's side front shock broke?!? The bolt where you do the adjusting (the part that sticks out from the strut tower) snapped right off!!! So now there's nothing holding the shock in place. I had to put my OEM shock back in there again until I can get this thing warranted....yeah fun stuff eh?

It seems that every time I do a any mods to this car, something goes wrong, and it always happens just before I have to go out of town or something. I love my RX-8, but sometimes it drives me freaking' NUTS!!!!!!!

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

the bolt snapped or it came loose and went flying off?! (the latter of the two I've seen happen before)

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

wowsers..

rotaryPilot

Hi everybody,

I have the same problem, however I do not understand what is the “preload” and how should I tell my mechanic to do that. Can someone please post some photos showing how you preload the front springs?

Thanks

rotaryPilot

Just trying to understand you mean to just loose that control arm bolts (a pic would help a lot) and let the car to sit for 30 minutes?

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

here ya go

Mazurfer

There were instructions that came with the RB springs. Follow them!

If you don't have them, then tell him to jack up the car, loosen the two 17mm lower bolts on the A-arms(they look like big "A's"). Then take the car back to the ground with those two bolts loose, then you can bounce the front end up and down a little bit using your hands/arms(don't dent the side panels), then turn the wheels(while still on the ground) and get in there and tighten those bolts back up to torque spec.
This is called "loading" the suspension. If he can't figure that out....find another mechanic.

Or................follow the magic Jedi master finger in the next post!
The force would never steer you wrong!

Thank Jorge for the pic!

Dave

p.s. If you really, really, really need the instructions, PM me and I'll send them your way.