Winning 8

H-Tech only drop 0.5 inch, so no need...

khronus79

iTrader: (1)

I had the same problem with both H-techs and S-techs, both with koni yellows, I drove the crap out of the car, purposely going over any bump, dip, or uneven road surface I could find, speed bumps feared me. The springs started to settle slooowwwwwwly, so slow in fact that I ran out of patience and went to coilovers.

kenken3686

iTrader: (1)

I have a question here,

After you dropped the S Tech Teins on, do you need to do an alignment? I mean is it necessary?

RE.swenka.RX8

Most of the time you do need an alignment, even if you don't feel a difference after installation, it's a good idea to get it done because with the cost of tires you don't want to take a chance of wearing down your tires more quick than you intended. My Rx8 is pulling pretty hard after installing my springs, I need to get new tires anyway, so I am waiting to get an alignment after I get new tires this week.

About the TEIN. I called them last Tuesday and they said the same thing others on here are saying. Jack up the rear, loosen everything and then jack up under the brakes and then retighten everything to preload the bushings. I haven't had the chance to do it yet but I will try to get to it today. If I do and there is an immediate drop I will post some pics along with my post.

SPHINX144

yeah, do that and let us know if it works. I frankly don't want to do this kind of work in vain.

Winning 8

you need an alignment after lowering or raising the suspension, the camber and toe will change, and toe kill the tires.

RE.swenka.RX8

Question:
Will the alignment help with toe and camber? My front is bad. I don't think it will but hoping it will.

Also, today I did the preloading of the rear, but I didn't jack it until it lifted off of the stand....was I supossed to? Doesn't look like it changed so I am a little frustrated. If anyone has any advise I will try again.

On the bright side, I changed my plugs and wires today. The plugs were very corroded. The wires I used are the mazdatrix racing wires. Very nice and the car revs smooth once again.

Now if I can just fix the damn height in the rear.

syntheticdarkness

iTrader: (7)

Take some pictures of the whole area back there, then put them up. I kept everything loose, then used jack stands which I then slowly lowered the vehicle until the jack wasn't touching the car, then I made it lightly touch it so I had added security, then tighten everything.

kma5783

iTrader: (7)

Just by the looks of your car and the way it's sitting it looks like you swapped your front and rears on the install...I would get under the car and see if you can find the model number on the spring itself, they usually have an F and an R in there somewhere identifying front and rear. Usually it's reversed from what yours looks like... I have Tanabe GF210's and have a few friends with the S-Techs the front should sit higher than the rear after lowering your car. If you ask most people around here they'll tell you the rear drop is almost immediate the front usually takes a little while to settle but will still sit higher than the rear if all you have is lowering springs.

RE.swenka.RX8

As much as I would like to say I am not that stupid to have swapped the front and rear, I agree with you. I went and looked a few minutes ago...unfortunately I did put them on wrong. Damn...
I have done springs and shocks 3 times before and never have I made such a stupid mistake. Just carelessness.

Thank you everone for the help, I really appreciate it. I will be switching them tomorrow.

And to the other people that have had the same problem on here you might want to look at your springs too to make sure they're not put on wrong also.

Z0oMzo0m

iTrader: (4)

How did you tell by looking at them once they were installed? just curious, arnt the smaller closer set for the rear, i dont remember on top of my head the difference between the 2 springs front/rear

RE.swenka.RX8

I looked under the car at the springs were the serial number is and right before it there is an F- for the front and R- for the rear. I assumed the longer was for the front as well and I am pretty sure that's what I put on the front but apparentaly I was wrong.

Z0oMzo0m

iTrader: (4)

OK, I'll have to go out an check now loljust for curiosity.

RE.swenka.RX8

Did you check it? What is the verdict? Not that I am hoping that you did the same, but I will feel better if others made the same mistake.

kma5783

iTrader: (7)

Well you can feel better then because a friend of mine did the exact same thing with his 8 and same springs lol.... that's why I suggested you take a look at the part number on the springs to see if they were reversed.... So did you get them switched yet? Is the car sitting better now?

RE.swenka.RX8

Switched them yesterday. Looks a lot better. Front isn't slammed like before and the rear fender is about an inch above the wheel, the same with the front. Looks really nice.

Cédrik Landry Cantin

iTrader: (1)

So F- is for front or rear?? (just bought some and ill install them this weekend)

kma5783

iTrader: (7)

Glad your got everything worked out. That's the way it should sit.

F is for Front, R is for Rear

RE.swenka.RX8

Just don't forget to cut your rubber bump stops. I didn't cut mine the first time and when I switched my springs one of the stops was split. No problems though because it split up to the point to where I needed to cut it.

I am much more happy with my springs now. It was a good investment.

04Green

iTrader: (1)

how long ago did you swap?

did you notice an MPG increase?

RE.swenka.RX8

I did them on 8/24. No MPG increase and if there will be any it will probably only be slight. But I need 2 new tires so I won't notice anything until I change them.

04Green

iTrader: (1)

I got an instant 2. I do about half highway miles, 70 mph, so that may be it. Car seems to go through the air a lot better and wind noise is down, also buffeting.

I had about half a tank of gas in the car when I did it, and that first tank was only 1 MPG. It has held for 4 tanks so far.

Frosty288

Sweet..so I have the S Techs on my Series 1 and always thought the rear sat a bit high. And now I look at these pictures of the sway bars and mine are definitely upside down.

What would be the best way to correct this?