What's up with the uneven OEM wheel gap?
10-26-2010 | 08:35 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
French Canadian
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Montreal, Qc
What's up with the uneven OEM wheel gap?
So I'm about to get a RX-8 GT and by looking at pictures of cars on sale I see the wheel gap in the front wheels is a lot bigger than the one in the rear wheels...
What's up with that? Rear shocks getting weak or is it the way it's suppose to be?
As shown here:
What's up with that? Rear shocks getting weak or is it the way it's suppose to be?
As shown here:
10-26-2010 | 08:47 PM
#3
Mu ha.. ha...
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,361
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From: Cali
It's the design don't worry about it.
Even if you lower the car there still will be a difference.
If you lower it and adjust the front lower for looks it effects your handling alot.
If you lower it evenly, the difference is alot less noticable.
Get some KW Coil overs.
Even if you lower the car there still will be a difference.
If you lower it and adjust the front lower for looks it effects your handling alot.
If you lower it evenly, the difference is alot less noticable.
Get some KW Coil overs.
10-26-2010 | 09:02 PM
#4
Thread Starter
French Canadian
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From: Montreal, Qc
10-27-2010 | 10:02 AM
#6
Thread Starter
French Canadian
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Montreal, Qc
Rotary is not an issue with me (hopefully
) since I've got friends working on those engines and that I have a better knowledge than the average customer. The issue really was about that damn wheel gap 
Since it's normal I won't mess with it to keep the balance of the 8 on the edge 
10-27-2010 | 12:09 PM
#8
^ I believe its due to the fact that our car is RWD. Most RWD cars are like that. My buddys G35 is the same.
When you accelerate the weight shifts to the back in a way and the front nose goes up. A mechanic also told me that's why the gaps are uneven.
When you accelerate the weight shifts to the back in a way and the front nose goes up. A mechanic also told me that's why the gaps are uneven.
Nice ride, get some clear corners!
10-27-2010 | 01:23 PM
#11
Thread Starter
French Canadian
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From: Montreal, Qc
10-27-2010 | 01:57 PM
#12
The Mazda engineers, as all sportscar designers, had to assure ample front wheel clearance even when the shocks (and therefore fender) are compressed in aggressive turns. The rear wheels of course don't have as much of a turn clearance issue.
On the flip side, it's the rear wheels that you have to be more concerned with when going with a lower positive offset rim and wider tire combo (fender clearance).
On the flip side, it's the rear wheels that you have to be more concerned with when going with a lower positive offset rim and wider tire combo (fender clearance).
10-27-2010 | 02:25 PM
#13
Huge hole is huge
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Joplin, MO
10-27-2010 | 08:41 PM
#16
Ignore the wheel gap and look at the lines on the car. That car sits level. Also if your going to go purchase it when you get there look at the lines from front to back and back to front. Make sure the car doesn't lean one way or another. Make sure the car isn't offset to the right or left.
The lines on that car are very even. You should be just fine.
The lines on that car are very even. You should be just fine.
10-28-2010 | 10:50 AM
#18
Thread Starter
French Canadian
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 155
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From: Montreal, Qc
Ignore the wheel gap and look at the lines on the car. That car sits level. Also if your going to go purchase it when you get there look at the lines from front to back and back to front. Make sure the car doesn't lean one way or another. Make sure the car isn't offset to the right or left.
The lines on that car are very even. You should be just fine.
The lines on that car are very even. You should be just fine.
The car is damn straight, I should be the lucky owner tommorow
10-28-2010 | 11:01 AM
#19
Congrats..
I changed the springs to Tien H-Tech when I replaced the shocks, gap gone. No adverse handling, track times dropped, but that was more likely the shocks than the springs. MPG did go up though a measurable amount.
Post buy, check out the links in my sig. One I wrote, the other is pretty good.
I changed the springs to Tien H-Tech when I replaced the shocks, gap gone. No adverse handling, track times dropped, but that was more likely the shocks than the springs. MPG did go up though a measurable amount.
Post buy, check out the links in my sig. One I wrote, the other is pretty good.
10-28-2010 | 12:16 PM
#20
Thread Starter
French Canadian
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From: Montreal, Qc
Last edited by [c]K; 10-28-2010 at 03:32 PM.
or maybe I meant who on Earth lol