well, Ive had my 8 for some time now, it just passed 74K a few days ago, running strong. No real signs of 'carbon build up'. Still running high 14's, low 15's ( I drag race it almost every week for fun lol). Although I baby my car in the sense of cleaning it and maintaining it, I am a bit rough on it drag racing and redlining all the time and taking corners like a bat out of hell all the time. Anyways there's 2 issues Im having right now, one Ive had before the other is completely new.

1) Horrendous Transmission leak- My output seal was replaced 6 times under warrany (which is extremely abnormal) because it kept leaking, not its been 14K miles since its leaked and Im leaving puddles in my driveway every morning. Has anyone else every had this leak? Its been a nightmare since day one with this stupid output seal leaking. ANy opinions on how I can get it to stop, somehow? I cant really blame it on my driving 'habits' because there's plenty of other 'spirited' drivers on this forum with zero problems, idk any help would be appreciated.

2) There's an obnoxious clunking noise in my steering/suspension. I have no idea what it is but at random points of me backing up with the wheel cranked, ill all the sudden hear a POP! I also hear it while braking at times. It doesnt seem to be affecting handling or anything other than annoying me and making my $30000 car sound like a piece of crap everytime I back up or stop! Anyone who's experienced this please enlighten me on what I should do.

I guess I'm asking for some advice or stories from experience before I get butthurt by the dealer. Thanks guys.

*Also, I live in the Round Lake/ Gurnee are of Chicago, if anyone here know's someone who can fix this for me or anyone themselves can do it, Ill give you the business before a dealer. Thanks guys.

 

how much have you spent so far??

 

not much, I had to do the plugs and wires over the spring which was like $150 total. I havent put a dime into my car, warranty always took care of it as problematic as the car was.

 

its so bad i went to the dealer and asked how much the spark plugs were he said it would cost me 200$ just for the plugs...

 

It's your abuse from Drag Racing.

The sound seems to be a broken end link?

Just put it up on a ramp and check it out.

 

The popping noise is coming from the front passenger side? I broke a front end link from drag racing? Ill check it out this weekend.

If it is an endlink, how much longer will it be 'drivable'?

 

and worse case scenario, how much to fix?

 

you can buy endlinks pretty cheap....there are stock and aftermarket adjustable ones for 60-100 each (give or take)...the car will be driveable but your suspension will suffer and so will handling....its 2 bolts for the endlink and if you cant do it yourself you should not be driving a sports car

 

Pfft, bullshit. A person can like driving a fast sports car without knowing how to fix things like that.

 

wow chrism, i havent been in here for a while, sorry to hear about your mishap with your car. Your RX8 is actually my wallpaper on my computer here at work, lol. Anyways, Ive never done it but first Ill make sure its the endlink and if it is, ill look it up in the DIY section, ill keep you guys posted. Does it sound like an endlink from my descriptions?

 

it sounds like an endlink.....i would disconnect it off the sway bar, see if its loose, or the rubber boot is shot....its only 2X 14mm nuts that have to come off....and if its the front you need to have the tire off to get to them....if they are shot i would just replace the set (both sides)....do you have aftermarket sways?

 

I was having a popping sound on my left front before my warranty ran out. The dealer couldn't find anything. One month after the warranty was gone, the lower control arm broke at the frame. You may want to check there.

 

how much did that cost? lol. I'm starting to worry....

 

no aftermarket sways, just tein s-tech springs, and awesome pothole infested chicago roads.

 

If this helps, the passenger side front always used to 'squeek' when I would stop, I didnt think much of it, then the noise went from a squeek to more of a different sound I cant really explain, and now it just pops randomly. But the bizarre part is handling doesnt seem to be affected too much........

 

Just because someone CAN do something doesn't mean they should. I take it you fall into the same catagory? Hence the reason you took offense.

 

Well, I'm not the most mechanically inclined person, so Ill put it up on ramps and check it out. Possibly take pictures and post them, what about the trans leak, anyone else had that problem?

 

pictures might not help the situation....but it doesnt take much to get a wheel off and look around for things like loose parts....and if your car is lowered you do put more strain on the endlinks so it is a possibility

 

thanks chris, appreciate the help.

 

Are your wheels torqued to 108 lb-ft?

 

108...damn thats allot....i got mine at 85ftlb

 

could be a long shot:
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...2-04-1301b.pdf


or maybe this:
http://www.finishlineperformance.com...05-08-1948.pdf

 

Ive seen both of those, the second one may be possible, the first one is definatly not it. The noise is never constant, and its only on the right side. It's not just when turning, it almost always does it when I first start up and back out. (Something doesnt like moving when its cold). Also, I had a passenger in my car this afternoon and he said it felt like it was 'under him', so its something popping hard enough to be felt from the passenger side. I dont know, like I said it's worrying me. I'm honestly praying its an endlink and nothing too major.

Good thing is that I only drive my car until November, then it sits until March. So as long as I can make it another 2 months, I can just fix it over the winter as well as the trans leak and other minor things. ( I use the winter as catch up on delayed maintanence lol)

 

don't forget... A poping sound could be a spring poping out of the perch.

Just get it up on the ramp and take a good look.

 

I really wish I had someone that knows more about this looking at this. Im not a complete car idiot but I no expert either, idk. I have some dealer hook ups but not at a mazda store, maybe Ill just have one of them pop it up on a lift and take a look.

Thanks a lot for the help guys, I really appreciate and Ill post what's wrong when I figure it out.