Jasonawojo

iTrader: (2)

A few weeks ago I installed both Progress Tech sways and really liked to change. Unfortunately, my end-links weren't up to the task of supporting the stronger bar; so they've groaned increasingly so for the past few weeks until I had them replaced with Evo-R end-links yesterday.

Here's the issue though; now with the new end-links installed, the steering has become very light and senseless. I'm sure that some of it is because I was used to the extra stiffness caused by the broken links & Progress bars, but for example; going over puddles at a decent speed triggers almost no sensation in the wheel. Normally, that's something that you can distinctively feel the pull of.

Any adjustment suggestions? I'm running the Progress Tech sways with OEM Springs & Shocks currently. The steering was somewhat "lose" with the bad links as I would expect, but the lack of sensation is new. I just had the end-links installed quickly as it got dark last night, so I haven't touched the adjustment, but I'm not familiar enough them to know if it could be related.

Jasonawojo

iTrader: (2)

Bump. Anyone else have to mess with the adjustments to get the steering feeling right?

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

The sways won't alter your alignment.....unless something is binding really bad......

Was your power steering working before Maybe you fixed the connection at the rack when you put in the sway bar

Jasonawojo

iTrader: (2)

Well, the power steering works and it steers roughly straight, it just feels a bit light now after the new endlinks whereas I would have expected big heavy sway bars to make it heavier, if anything.

As far as the power steering working; Mazda ended up working on some of the wiring to fix it. I got that fixed a few weeks ago though. I'm going to have the alignment checked/fixed since it's due and go from there.

invasion08

iTrader: (7)

How would a heavier anti sway bar make the steering feel heavier? The anti sway bar itself does not move when you turn the steering wheel.

Jasonawojo

iTrader: (2)

I don't think that it would. But, it took slightly more effort to turn the car when I was running with worn out endlinks, and now that I had new adjustable ones put on, steering effort is much lighter and some of the road feel is gone. That lightness/loss of road feel is my concern; I'm unsure if the endlink adjustment could effect steering feel in any way? My alignment is slightly off regardless, so I'll have that done and have them check for any other obvious problems.

The_Beast

How stiff is the front set to? I'm thinking it might be too stiff; if its not at full soft, I would try setting it there and seeing if it does anything.

blamerobb

i have a lot of understeer with my front progress sway and ap endlinks. i think its cuz i dont have the rears yet though. do u have understear. like if u take a corner to hard the wheel just turns all the way and ur wheels break lose and have no traction.. this bugs me soo much; cuz the rx8 is supposed to be the best handling car.... i dont think soo

swoope

iTrader: (5)

yea,

not very likely to be the sways or endlinks. i am running the same thing as you for about 25k miles.. no issues..

though the other day i was under the car and found that the front sway was on the soft setting.. i was sure i had put it on the med. but it expains a lot!

beers

Jasonawojo

iTrader: (2)

I'm running the middle hole on the front and the tighter one on the rear. I got a chance to take a look under the car today, and the endlinks are not at all flush with the sway bars; there's a space there that I'd assume could cause the clunking I've been experiencing as the suspension bends slightly. I can't tighten them any more, so I'm probably going to see if there is a shop that works with performance suspensions near Orlando that could take a look.

As for the steering, it's a very slight difference than what it was before the sways first went on, and I suppose it could very well not be related. I've also had the power steering wiring fixed, and the motor replaced at the dealer during the past few weeks.

@blamerobb: I haven't autocrossed since this change, but I haven't noticed an increase understeer. I have noticed that when making a U-turn that I can kick the back end around very easily now, though.