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Camber issues RF vs LF

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Old Aug 17, 2019 | 06:30 PM
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Camber issues RF vs LF

I have a track only Rx8 I race with he SCCA. Having an issue with camber up front. The rules allow up to -3.5 degrees of camber. On the RF I can get -3.3 with the lower control arm cam bolt only half way out. However on hte LF with the lower cam bolt maxed out I am only able to get -3. I am trying to get closer to -3.5 on the LF any ideas? Seems like something is bent but I'm not sure what. I have more than enough adjustment on the RF. I've used pry bars to push the LF lower arm out as much as possible. Also earlier this year I had the car set up with 3.3 on both sides. Is there a common part to bent, shift etc. We are not allowed to slot the lower holes or modify lower control arms. I am looking at swapping the whole sub frame but that seems alot of work and was hoping there might be a simpler solution I have overlooked.
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Old Aug 17, 2019 | 07:46 PM
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They’re rarely equal in capability and that’s not much of a difference. Do you have the camber bushing for the lower upright ball joint? If not that would be the simple solution and then you can dial both to the max allowable. It will add approx. 1 deg total

https://www.mazdamotorsports.com/201...fset-bushings/
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Old Aug 18, 2019 | 10:09 PM
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Originally Posted by TeamRX8
They’re rarely equal in capability and that’s not much of a difference. Do you have the camber bushing for the lower upright ball joint? If not that would be the simple solution and then you can dial both to the max allowable. It will add approx. 1 deg total

https://www.mazdamotorsports.com/201...fset-bushings/
Thanks unfortunately we are not allowed that bushing in t4. We can only use offset bushings in the upper control arm. Hoping they change that next year.
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Old Aug 19, 2019 | 01:02 AM
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Well if you have those, then can gain a little camber minimizing caster. Otherwise your only other option is to lower the ride height to get more camber gain, but imo going that low will likely create other negative effects relative to roll center etc.
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Old Aug 19, 2019 | 08:02 AM
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Thanks again for the response and ideas. Once again those pesky rules get me We have to be a minimum of 4.5 inches to the rocker not including the pinch weld. I was right at the limit so am actually raising the car a hair to make sure I don't have any tech issues. Its alot of work but my street car is also an 04 Rx8 so I'm swapping the sub frames between the two as the street car seemed to have more favorable camber on the driver side. Fingers crossed. I have the once car done and am assembling the other tonight.
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Old Aug 19, 2019 | 08:50 AM
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A lot of work for nothing is more likely. There are a lot of things that effect camber. Just because it showed more on your street suspension car is not necessarilly going to translate over the same to the other.

If you’re allowed to open up the center hole in the camber bushing that would be the more likely solution, but you’ll have to adjust it by prybar rather than camber bolt. The center sleeve has a fairly thick wall, so there’s some clearance to be gained there if allowed.
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Old Aug 20, 2019 | 07:44 AM
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Hopefully will find out in a day or so. I have the street car back together using the subframe from the track car and the camber there is less on the driver side as the track car was before but like you said it is really the culmination of all the parts not necessarily just the one. At least it gave me the opportunity to clean up the sub​​​​​​frame There is also a chance it could have the reverse effect (hoping not) but I still figured it was worth a try. Having a lift and dolly to put he second car on makes it alot easier but still a big job.

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Old Aug 20, 2019 | 08:56 AM
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Well I could be wrong, but I wouldn’t have expected it to be that far off given how they manufacture them. Nice setup, been on the fence about taking the plunge ... it definitely makes it much easier doing that sort of work.
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Old Aug 21, 2019 | 07:36 AM
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The lift is by far the best tool I ever bought. Also for storage I often stack cars when I don't have a big project going on. If you find a shop that is shutting down you can often pick one up at a reasonable price.
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Old Aug 21, 2019 | 08:41 AM
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I have same issue on my S2

OD4 where are you in VA?

I am in NOVA - Tysons.
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Old Aug 21, 2019 | 03:48 PM
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Wow, that is a sweet setup. I have an s1 and a similar issue in that one side is camber limited compared to the other.
My prior s2 was much better in this regards.
Interested to see your results.
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Old Aug 22, 2019 | 06:55 AM
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From: Virginia
Originally Posted by Nadrealista
I have same issue on my S2

OD4 where are you in VA?

I am in NOVA - Tysons.
Warrenton. The subframe swap helped I think I got to 3.4 but the ride height may have changed - checking that tonight.
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Old Aug 22, 2019 | 06:58 AM
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Originally Posted by blu3dragon
Wow, that is a sweet setup. I have an s1 and a similar issue in that one side is camber limited compared to the other.
My prior s2 was much better in this regards.
Interested to see your results.
Thanks. So I did a quick check last night and maxing both sides out I got to LF 3.4 and RF over 4 (too much) but.... the ride height is a bit low. I need to reconfirm ride height and recheck so the jury is still out. I need to be at least 4.5 inches to the rocker (not including pinch weld) without me in it. Also I have not idea if more camber is good or bad to be honest... Assuming for track only use the more the better but I am sure there is a point where braking suffers or you just don't roll over that much in the corners.
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Old Aug 22, 2019 | 08:11 AM
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So instead of 0.3 deg separation it now has 0.6 deg separation. Sounds like your worst nightmare came true, lol. But until you set ride height proper it doesn’t mean anything. Betting it will be back where you started or close to it.

edit: well I keep forgetting you’re doing track, so there’s always the possibility it got tweaked bouncing curbs, running off track, or banging another competitor.

Well here’s another idea; lower suspension to get camber gain and shim subframe to raise chassis back to legal rocker height.

Last edited by TeamRX8; Aug 22, 2019 at 03:08 PM.
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Old Aug 22, 2019 | 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by OD4
Thanks. So I did a quick check last night and maxing both sides out I got to LF 3.4 and RF over 4 (too much) but.... the ride height is a bit low. I need to reconfirm ride height and recheck so the jury is still out. I need to be at least 4.5 inches to the rocker (not including pinch weld) without me in it. Also I have not idea if more camber is good or bad to be honest... Assuming for track only use the more the better but I am sure there is a point where braking suffers or you just don't roll over that much in the corners.
only one way to find out, come out to summit for seat time event on Saturday. I will be there as well.

https://www.motorsportreg.com/events...circuit-579420

question: does rx8 allow for sub-frame to be shifted left or right with respect to body frame to help with side to side camber discrepancy?

Last edited by Nadrealista; Aug 22, 2019 at 02:01 PM.
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Old Aug 22, 2019 | 02:34 PM
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It has no affect. All of the control arms mount on the subframe both front and rear. Sliding it over only slides it over, but it has mostly self centering clips. There are some aftermarket pieces that center them maybe a bit more accurately, but mostly are fluff.


Last edited by TeamRX8; Aug 22, 2019 at 06:49 PM.
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Old Aug 23, 2019 | 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Nadrealista
only one way to find out, come out to summit for seat time event on Saturday. I will be there as well.

https://www.motorsportreg.com/events...circuit-579420

question: does rx8 allow for sub-frame to be shifted left or right with respect to body frame to help with side to side camber discrepancy?
Unfortunately shifting will not help as upper and lower arms attach to the same subframe. Tomorrow(Sat) I'll be in MD working with a friend on his T4 car getting him ready as well. I was planning to test either this next Friday at the open practice before the labor day races or at the next FATT on Sept 6th. Hoping to finish my alignment this weekend. I also am trying a different sway bar ( I know bad to change 2 things at once) but the alignment will tell if I can get the camber. If you plan to be at the FATT or up watching races let me know.
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Old Sep 2, 2019 | 08:44 PM
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Finally did the full setup and swapping the subframe definitely helped. Maxed out I had -3.6 on the lf. I backed that down to 3.3 and set the rf the same. I can get a bot over 4 on the rf. And on the lf i saw 3.7 at one point. With the old subframe i couldn't get 3.
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Old Sep 2, 2019 | 10:07 PM
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me OD4

great news then, I seriously was not expecting that to happen, certainly not by that much difference
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Old Sep 3, 2019 | 07:47 AM
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LOL! I wasn't expecting that either and it was a long shot.
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Old Sep 3, 2019 | 09:53 AM
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Originally Posted by OD4
Finally did the full setup and swapping the subframe definitely helped. Maxed out I had -3.6 on the lf. I backed that down to 3.3 and set the rf the same. I can get a bot over 4 on the rf. And on the lf i saw 3.7 at one point. With the old subframe i couldn't get 3.
nice, so I guess also have same issue with my subframe as well. but I will probably try to cure mine with camber offset bushing if tirewear on the new set of tires does not improve.

OD4 what wheel tire combo do you have?

Last edited by Nadrealista; Sep 3, 2019 at 09:58 AM.
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Old Sep 4, 2019 | 08:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Nadrealista
nice, so I guess also have same issue with my subframe as well. but I will probably try to cure mine with camber offset bushing if tirewear on the new set of tires does not improve.

OD4 what wheel tire combo do you have?
Im running 17x8 wheels and hoosier 225/40/17s.
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