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Rear End Sagging- New Springs or Strut or Entire Assembly??
I've noticed my rear end has been sagging significantly lower then my front end ( 2 inches lower in fact - measured from middle of hub to edge of fender) . There is no problem handling or bottoming out or any other significant problem in ride comfort etc, but it does look weird and I am concerned this is NOT healthy for car. I want it set to stock height (15" front and back) and do NOT want to install aftermarket coil overs. I had Bilstein PSS9s on it and it was a nightmare so went back to stock setup. I read and read and read and searched the forums but cannot seem to get a definitive answer to the question: I want to raise the rear ride height to match the front ride height so do I install just Coil Springs, Just the Struts, or an entire Assembly ( Both spring and strut) BTW my front end rides at 15 inches from center of wheel hub to fender edge, my rears are at 13! This can't be right, right? Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated before I bring it in to dealer and spend more than I have to.
If you're going to take it all apart, I would do the springs,shocks and bumpstops at the same time, since we can't diagnose them individually. Do you see any leaks on the shocks? That would be my first guess, but that rear suspension is not fun to work on, I'd just do it all at the same time.
Thanks for the reply. sounds like a plan. Glad it worked out for you. I had PSS9s once and did NOT like them at all. Id like to stay as stock as I can. Thanks again.
I was thinking the same thing and I'm glad you confirmed my thoughts. As far as me working on them, that's what I pay my dealer for! LOL My Mech there is an 8 specialist and has been doing my ride for over13 years so I'd rather pay the extra money since i also live in the city and no place to do the work anyway. Thanks again for the advice. I'll let you know who it worked out. cheers!
Brought it in this week. My mech looked at it up on the lift, no leakage and said the car was otherwise fit to drive. I do not like the difference in ride height between front and back (2inches) so am taking your advice and going with the new OE replacement struts and springs right and left and hoping that raises it back up to where the front is. At the very least I will have the knowledge I am driving on solid suspension especially here in NYC with all of its potholes and such! And any rise I get in height will look better than what I have now. Thanks again for the advice.
Cheers!
If you're going to take it all apart, I would do the springs,shocks and bumpstops at the same time, since we can't diagnose them individually. Do you see any leaks on the shocks? That would be my first guess, but that rear suspension is not fun to work on, I'd just do it all at the same time.
So I just did as you suggested and it did indeed raise the rear a full 2 inches to proper ride height.It was weird driving at that height so my *** end must have been sagging for quite some time that i got so used to it. In addition I can feel the much improved comfortable ride all around.
HOWEVER, it seems that even though it was properly aligned after the work was done ( bearing in mind that the front end on both sides was equal height before the install ) I drove it and noticed the right side "seemed" to be lower. I got out and looked at it from the front and it seemed that way as well. The right side "seemed" lower. So I took it directly back to the dealer and had them measure the ride height on all four corners with a tape and the right front was actually about 1/2 " HIGHER than the left ( remember it seemed lower , but was actually higher by 1/2"! ). So it's back to the dealer to have it looked at again, and see why the front is now off a bit. So now with a new engine ( last year) a new tranny ( last month ) and new suspension in the back Im pretty much driving a new car. ( freaking New York City streets destroy the suspension of a car like this! ) . Can't wait to get it dialed in and then it's off to the mountains for some canyon carving.
I'm in the same boat like OP, rear rides lower than the front, and it has been like that for a while. However, in my case there is also the problem that the car is slanted to the left - the left rear end rides 3/4 inch lower than the right (passenger) side. It's pretty obvious on this photo:
I would obviously like to fix this - if possible, both the slant and the unequal ride from front to back. Are the shocks the likely worst problem, or should I also suspect the springs? I'm also looking for a stock-like setup, nothing was modified in the suspension and want to keep the cost at a reasonable level. The car has 126K miles.
Suggestions for best replacement parts are also welcome.
I'm in the same boat like OP, rear rides lower than the front, and it has been like that for a while. However, in my case there is also the problem that the car is slanted to the left - the left rear end rides 3/4 inch lower than the right (passenger) side. It's pretty obvious on this photo:
I would obviously like to fix this - if possible, both the slant and the unequal ride from front to back. Are the shocks the likely worst problem, or should I also suspect the springs? I'm also looking for a stock-like setup, nothing was modified in the suspension and want to keep the cost at a reasonable level. The car has 126K miles.
Suggestions for best replacement parts are also welcome.
Thanks!
I took it to dealer who used OE replacement parts ( struts & springs ). They got the rear ride height set perfectly and like you afterwards I found the right front slanted about 1/2 inch. Brought it back in and the mech did some adjustments all around and did a realignment and got everything sorted out. Everything measures about 14 1/2 mid wheel to bottom of fender and the whole thing just rides like new again. Handles great, and looks right all around. I've been told and my research has found that ride height is a function of the springs. But it was suggested that I put in new struts as well which I did. The cost overall is minimal and the handling was greatly improved. Job done. You can't get the original complete strut assembly ( coil spring and shock etc) so you have to buy each component separately. I used OE replacement pieces. There are various opinions on which shocks ( struts) to buy and I could only find one source for original OE replacement springs, the rest were all "lowering" springs which I did not want. Call your local Mazda dealer and ask them how much the struts and springs would cost ,, shouldn't be more then 250 a wheel, and let them install em. Nice car BTW. I'm riding a 2005 Ti Grey as well. 52K (new engine & tranny ) Original owner too. Still loving it after 15 years. Good luck man.
Possibly they tightened the suspension bolts in the air. It's supposed to be done with wheels on the ground. Easy fix.
Took it back and had him do a readjustment all around and the car is now sorted,: job done. Looks great, rides great and handles like new. Thanks for the advice man. Nothing like falling back in love with your car. Cheers.
Took it back and had him do a readjustment all around and the car is now sorted,: job done. Looks great, rides great and handles like new. Thanks for the advice man. Nothing like falling back in love with your car. Cheers.
OK, so the problem is probably with the rear springs then... will have to see if I can get new OEM rear springs for a sane price. Spring kits come with all four and I don't seem to have a problem in the front, so wouldn't want to redo those unless I have to.
As for struts, I have seen KYB Gas-a-Just Monotube rear struts for $80 each... I wonder if they are good replacements or I should look for something else.
It's probably the shocks actually. 2 original Mazda rear shocks should not be expensive. Monotune replacements can be fine, but can also sit lower. Like mentioned above, if you're going to do the work, you may as well get new springs.
Do the shocks have leak marks on them? That would be one indication...
I don't see any sign of leak on the shocks.
My first uneducated guess were also the springs since it seems logical that if they get weaker, ride height would be affected. How would it be possible to tell whether the shocks or the springs are the culprit?
Is it normal for the springs to sag at 127K miles?
Loki, you say it's probably the shocks, not the springs. Is this the more common problem for the ride height discrepancy and leaning?
As for the shocks, these are the ones I was eyeing, not sure if they are good stock-like replacement: https://www.carid.com/2004-mazda-rx-...-17817106.html
Especially if I'd leave the stock suspension alone in the front.
In case of springs, what I saw so far were all lowering spring kits (which I don't want), except for these Lesjöfors: https://www.carid.com/lesjofors/rear...79&url=4398050
These are available at other sites too.
Never heard of them and this page also mentions "for normal suspension", whatever that means. My car is a 2004 Sport trim, so I guess the "sport" suspension (like all 6-speed manual cars AFAIK), so I'm uncertain whether these springs would be OK. Does anyone have experience with them?
Was there a difference in springs between the various trims?
You can do a simple shock test, just press down heavily (hard as you can) on each corner of the car and see if it rebounds smoothly or if it wobbles before settling. Wobbles: bad shock on that corner.
It's not true on all cars, but on this one the static pressure in the shock plays into ride height. Some aftermarket shocks result in lower ride height because they don't account for this. As far I know all OEM replacement shocks don't have that problem, only the performance stuff.
It could also be the springs but unless something drastic has happened and one spring snapped, but that wouldn't be my first guess. You can certainly try to replace both springs, shocks and bumpstops with OEM stuff while you're in there, it will fix the problem, but if budget is a concern then I'd try to confirm the shock diagnosis.
Working on the rear suspension without a lift suuuucks, I'd bring it somewhere to get done, so they might have their own opinions.
So as it turns out, replacing the shocks indeed cured the tilted rear issue, and the car is level now. It is also not sagging anymore in the rear, although there is still some rearwards rake, but it's really not too noticeable. Certainly way less than before.
I got all four shocks, strut bellows and bump stops replaced.
I went with the KYB Gas-a-Just shocks, since I found a good deal on them (the rears were on clearance for only 36 bucks apiece brand new, fronts were 78). Ride is great on them, so I'm happy. Doesn't seem to be all that different from the stock ride, actually. OEM shocks would have been a lot more expensive, as usual.
I also bought new OEM springs, based on part number FE02-28-011 which is supposed to be the one for a 2004-2008 RX-8 with sport suspension (like mine), but interestingly, they were a little shorter and skinnier than the ones in the car:
So I returned them and the factory springs were put back in. There wasn't anything visibly wrong with them anyway. The only difference is that they were swapped from left to right and vice versa.
Hi Tamas, would you mind telling me where you bought the OEM springs that you eventually returned ?
That part number FE02-28-011, is all i can find. I dont want to order them and find, as you did, that they are shorter and, at least appearance wise, weaker !
OK, so the problem is probably with the rear springs then... will have to see if I can get new OEM rear springs for a sane price. Spring kits come with all four and I don't seem to have a problem in the front, so wouldn't want to redo those unless I have to.
As for struts, I have seen KYB Gas-a-Just Monotube rear struts for $80 each... I wonder if they are good replacements or I should look for something else.
I had the same problem bought new set of oem springs and kyb shocks you described above. Car handles alot better now.
I have a question about which struts to use. I had recently replaced my rotors and it turned out that I got the wrong ones because they were for the base model and I had the sport so I had to run and get the right ones. I was wondering if there is a difference between the base model suspension and the sport model. The strut assembly that I'm getting is Monroe, 171123L&171123R
I went ahead and ordered these rear springs from BAM wholesale. Part # FE02-28-011. Advertised as a genuine oem replacement part, they are indeed 1/2" shorter when measured standing on a work bench. I stopped when i realized i dont even need to use spring compressors to assemble them.
As Team suggests, I suppose the compression rate could be higher to offset the initial height difference, but Im concerned the car will sit lower.
Anyone actually used these supposedly oem springs?
05-17-2019, 01:05 AM
