I have never altered the suspension on a car. I was thinkin of getting the mazda speed Springs. Is it recommended to get shocks at the same time as springs

I know that its a smart idea cuz of installation.

 

Lots of people do the springs and not shocks. Of course, it can't hurt to do the shocks at the same time...

 

Not only for the installation costs, but because it is very important to match your springs and shocks. More important than a lot of things on the suspension.

If you just install stiffer springs on a car, shocks which were designed to work with the stock springs will not be able to dampen the stiffer springs well enough. And will not be able to keep that optimum contact patch, which is the holy grail of suspension work. Also, your ride actually improves when you get those matched well.

---jps

 

Here is a non-technical response.

I just got my Tanabe GF210 Springs installed without switching shocks (waiting on adjustables to debut). To be honest i'm very impressed with the ride and handling.

On a side note, the claimed 1.4" drop in the front didn't happen. It's more like .5 "

 

Wait a month for them to settle. They'll drop some more.

 

what recommendations would people have for spring/shocks kits

i was thinkin of the mazdaspeed; pricey but I kinda feel mazdaspeed would have one of the best kits for the car..


oh yah.. also how are coilovers.. i will be autocrossing this year so i want something that will have a positive affect on the suspension not just for show.

 

Then get a matched set of springs & shocks, and that basically means coilovers. Yes, you can use stock shocks on aftermarket springs, but it's a crap shoot unless the springs are only marginally stiffer than the stock springs, like Racing Beat.

If you really want to do something that lowers your autocross times, spend a season or two learning how to drive your car fast while it is stock, and then let other people experiment with the aftermarket. The RX-8 is still very new and it will be a while before we really know what works, IMO. I've been autocrossiing and modding my Miata for several years now, and even though I have aftermarket dampers & Ground Control coil overs, there are still drivers who will hand me my a** in a basically stock Miata. The actual difference aftermarket suspension will make is miniscule compared to driver skill.

Now that I've given the obligitory "driver ed" speech I will say that modding is fun. But unless you are commited to a long process of tuning the car, I'd start with a stiffer front sway bar and sticky tires and go from there.