Yes, I just checked my 2009 (S2) and yes there is the additional 4 Fin alloy cooling extension.

So you had No issues installing your new diff??
Drive shafts fitted all OK??

The Series 2 has a different Diff Mount Bracket (F189-39-730A) also, the top one where the 4 studs on the diff goes into the Mount Bracket.

Good to see the S2 Diff Assembly fits OK.

 

No issues at all putting the S2 differential in my S1. I used the S1 differential mount bracket. It appears that the S2 differential bracket is only needed to adapt the differential to the S2 rear suspension assembly. When installing to an S1 everything bolts up fine using all the S1 parts.

Also, this has probably been dicussed before but I also put in the S2 transmission a while ago. It too was an easy swap and the only notes I have for the tranmission swap:

1) The electrical connectors to the transmission are different - just splice your existing S1 harness onto the S2 connectors - easy to do.

2) The shifter assembly is also different - you'll need to buy this also if you're buying a new transmission (rather than swaping in a complete junkyard unit)

3) The shifter and transmission do not come from Mazda with the unique S2 shifter bushing (where the ball at the bottom of the shifter enters the shift shaft) so you'll have to order this bushing as well.

 

Approx how much is an S2 dif? ...any idea if an S1 dif is saleable?

 

It's not cheap. Through the dealer it's probably close to $2000

If you're interested I have a set of almost new 4.77 gears for an S1 differential for sale for $500 shipped. PM me if you're interested or e-mail me at magnusracing@aol.com

 

Ash, do you have any info on the internals of the new EMOPs? Are they stepper motor based?

 

What exactly is the difference of the crankshaft pulley and waterpump pulley from S1 to S2? Is it the overall diameter difference or the mounting?

 

Both Drive or ribbed Belts have changed in S2 also, as has the Water Pump pulley and crank pulley, but the Alternator pulley is the same as S1...Part Number wise.

Without a direct comparison between the parts (which I cant do), I am thinking water pump pulley is slightly smaller or larger hence the changed Drive Belts?

If the Alternator Pulley is the same as S1 then the profile if the ribbed belts must also be the same..

So again, IMO it must be belt size, etc.

 

No they are not stepper based.

The two EMOP's are Electric and have each a single large Solenoid which basically opens and allows Oil to flow which is pressurized by the engines oil pump (7 to 20PSI), the EMOP's are external and top mounted on engine.

 

ASH,

Can you check to see if the R3 has different rear brakes than a 03-08 S1 Sport, Touring, GT, etc? A buddy of mine helped me out Saturday and and looking at his R3, the rear brakes looked smaller. I did a rough measurement using my fingers and it was inconclusive Just wondering if the brakes changed at all or if our eyes were playing tricks on us.

 

All S2 (and R3) rear disc's are F152-26-251A..the same

Now in S1 the disc's did change to the above from production date of 1st Sept, 2005, the exact difference I can't tell you, before that date they are (F151-26-251A) ...I do not think it is much change...

Fronts are a different story, the S1 base model had smaller disc's to the GT (R3) etc.

S2 fronts are all the same

 

Just wondering if the whole clutch pedal assembly was address in the S2?

 

/\ NO..

Not until or from Production date of 15th September 2008, was the Bracket Changed to the current one used for the warranty claims and or repairs, that is the C Bracket..

ALL S2's before that had the B Bracket installed..

So according to Mazda and the Extended Warranty Procedure and Policy, any cars with the C Bracket (which can ONLY be those of S2 and made after 15th Sept.) there is NO Extended Warranty on the Pedal.

So I also take that in Mazda Japan ALSO stipulating that the C bracket will not fail...becasue of No Warranty for 2010 and 2011 MY S2 RX-8's.

 

If your used UK-spec R3 came with an after-market CAI and you wanted to return your car to the standard air intake system and had been given an air box and air hose, supposedly the original ones, but no fresh-air intake duct to the air box and the air hose had 3 air connectors just like the earlier 231:

• Does the R3 air hose have 3 small air connection ports just like the earlier 231?
• If so, what does the lower one connect to (the one that the 231 connects to the oil filler tube)?
• Does the R3 hose to the oil filler tube go to a different place than the earlier 231 and, if so, where?
• Is the R3 fresh-air [intake] duct similar to the earlier 231?
• If not, would there be any noticeable difference if a 231 duct was fitted?

A quick response would be appreciated (in this hypothetical case, the car might need to be restored to stock quickly!).

Cheers, all

 

The Accordion Fresh Air Tube in Series 2 (R3) has only 2 air/atmospheric connectors not 3 like the Series 1 (231).

Apart from that, from memory, all other Connectors are the same, I stand corrected though..
I am 90% correct...I think... sorry..I get a little tired of Hypothetical's..

 

Hi guys!

I'm just wondering if the S1 sway bars will fit into the S2. As my dealer said, the front bars have different numbers. Same the endlinks.

Does somebody know the differences?

I really like to stiffen the suspension up but I can't find a sway bar kit for the S2 and I'm very close to buy the one for the S1.



Thanks,


Martin

 

I sure hope so, as I have a set of Racing Beat anti-roll bars and front end links sitting under my futon waiting to be installed! Racing Beat lists them as compatible with my 2009 RX-8.

 

After this weekend I can say: the mounting positions are the same between the two series. So, the sway bars fit.

 

The differenced in Sway Bars is the Diameter and the front Rubber Mounts....in some cases it can be only one or two millimetres.

Part numbers for Sway Bars and Rubber Bushes are different between Series 1 and Series 2 RX-8.

Just because an S1 Fits does not mean it is the correctly engineered/rated sway bar.

I have no doubt that the Mounting Positions are the same, that is not the change in Sway Bars.

From memory the S2 Bar is a few mills thicker, so if you use Series 1 Front Rubbers (smaller inside diameter), they will wear out sooner...as an example...or visa versa...

 

Doors - specifically the Rear doors - Any difference between S1 & S2 including mounts / hinges etc.? (I was sure I asked this before, but cannot find it despite searching all MY previous posts!).

 

No no real difference, as an assembly one should replace the other OK..

 

I think they added armrest pads to the SII front doors ( doesn't really address his question, I know).

 

Thanks Ash :-)

 

A few members asked what the difference is with the SI and SII Rear Suspension LINKS, as listed the changes are all at the Ball Joint end of each moving/pivoting Rear Suspension Link.

I have some pics so you can physically see the difference.

The two Upper Links shown here are from the Series II RX-8 and NC2 Miata/MX-5.
The larger Ball Joint 'wrist' is for the Series II, the smaller is from the current NC2 Miata/MX-5.
The Link length, Link Rod diameter and Link Bolts/Nuts, Joints and Bushes are identical (NO Changes) between series.

I would expect the Series I Ball Joint sizes to be slightly smaller than the SII, between the two shown here.

 

Nice Mate
again you are the man
thanks

 

I now work for Mazda at a very low level, but I speak only for myself. Due to s-l-o-w Internet connections at my library, I did not review all the pages in this thread, so I hope I'm not repeating something someone else said already.

The 2009–2011 RX-8 engines are virtually all new compared with the 2004–2008 RENESIS variants. Few know this. Of course, as stated, the oil filter is moved from the rear iron housing to the front cover, the first time Mazda has made a production rotary with this change. But also every engine housing is different. This means the rotor housings and all the irons. So are the water pump, the oil pan, its gasket, and, of course, the front cover and its gasket. The new oil pan gets an all-new cast block as a separate part that must be used with it. The front and rear stationary gears are new for 2009 as well.

The major components that are the same as the previous RENESIS are the eccentric shafts (manual version and automatic version), front and rear rotors, and sealing elements. By the way, the e-shaft difference between manual and automatic is only the presence of a bearing inside the manual version that is not in the automatic version, and one can be converted to the other by removing or installing this bearing with a new oil seal.

The RX-8 RENESIS engine designations run as follows:

N3H2, 2004–early 2006 "regular power" automatic
N3H3, 2004–2007 manual, higher power than N3H2
N3M2, 2006–2007 "high-power" automatic, replacing N3H2
N3Y1, 2008 manual, essentially same as N3H3
N3Y2, 2008 automatic, essentially same as N3M2
N3Y3, 2009–2011 automatic
N3Y4, 2009–2011 manual
Presumably the ongoing production for Japan of the final RX-8 Spirit R versions continue to use the N3Y3/N3Y4 engines.

Irons were all different between N3H2 and N3H3. After the "high-power" N3M2 replaced the N3H2, the front and intermediate housings became the same as the N3H3 manual version, and the N3M2 received its own unique rear housing. All used the same rotor housings, interchangeable front and rear.

The rotor housing part number for 2004–2008 begins with N3H1. N3H2 engine irons and e-shaft part numbers all begin with N3H1 or N3H2. N3M2 uses N3H2 engine e-shaft. N3H3 and N3M2 irons part numbers begin with N3H3, except the N3M2 rear, which begins with N3M2.

The 2009 and newer N3Y3 and N3Y4 housings and other new parts have part numbers that begin instead with N3R1, except that the N3Y3 automatic rear housing begins with N3R2. (The stationary gears are an exception and begin with other designations.)

These revisions for 2009 were extensive—again, just about creating an all-new engine—but got little press. I believe they have much in common with the future RENESIS 16X design or whatever Mazda will produce in its place. This could help explain why Mazda so substantially changed the RX-8 engine so late in the model cycle.

Hope this helps some of you rotorheads.