Mazdaspeed shock tower brace installed
#1
Mmmmm... Rotary Donut
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL (NW Chicago Burbs)
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
2 Posts
Mazdaspeed shock tower brace installed
Here are a few pics of it installed in my black '8- I put it on last night. I'm really impressed with the quality (and equally not impressed with the stock bar... not very effective as thin as it is with all the bends and crimps. Install was fairly easy once I found my trusty torque wrench.
I replaced my stock bar because I felt the 8 lacked the same crispness of turn-in and hard cornering that I had in my Miata (which I added a similar brace to). I also plan on beefier front/rear sways as well soon...
I replaced my stock bar because I felt the 8 lacked the same crispness of turn-in and hard cornering that I had in my Miata (which I added a similar brace to). I also plan on beefier front/rear sways as well soon...
#4
Yeah! Zoom Zoom Zoomin!
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I thought I heard here that the biggest bang for the buck handling-wise was getting better sway bars... Keep in mind that I'm no expert so that might be wrong. I'm looking to beef up handling since performance doesn't seem to have any simple answers. Any advice/comments would be really appreciated.
Thanks,
-Dennis
Thanks,
-Dennis
#8
Rangers Lead The Way!
I put in the front and rear mazdaspeed strut braces a few days ago.. here's a link to that thread
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/ms-front-rear-strut-bars-installed-41355/
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-wheels-tires-brakes-suspension-55/ms-front-rear-strut-bars-installed-41355/
#9
Turbos blow!!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: my engine bay
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by G8rboy
$234 from Trussville Mazda
#10
Yeah! Zoom Zoom Zoomin!
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
police34, check out the "RX-8 Show and Shine" forum and you'll find LOTS of advice in the threads discussing various types of wax and polish. I think there's a pretty good Zaino(sp?) thread that addresses black, there are other wax/polish threads as well.
#11
Mmmmm... Rotary Donut
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL (NW Chicago Burbs)
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally Posted by Ninja
I thought I heard here that the biggest bang for the buck handling-wise was getting better sway bars... Keep in mind that I'm no expert so that might be wrong. I'm looking to beef up handling since performance doesn't seem to have any simple answers. Any advice/comments would be really appreciated.
Thanks,
-Dennis
Thanks,
-Dennis
So, I'll be upgrading the sway bars in the spring, and when the stock shocks wear out in a couple years, I hope that Koni or KYB has adjustables for our 8 out by then.
#12
Mmmmm... Rotary Donut
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL (NW Chicago Burbs)
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally Posted by Nemesis8
Looks great!
OK, so now you too have the dilemma about getting the engine cover to fit over the bigger brace. Have you tried it yet? You may have to buy the IPT cover...
Do you feel anything about the braking enhanced also?
OK, so now you too have the dilemma about getting the engine cover to fit over the bigger brace. Have you tried it yet? You may have to buy the IPT cover...
Do you feel anything about the braking enhanced also?
As for feel, steering feels great, but I haven't driven too hard yet... my only time behind the wheel was shuttling my pregnant wife around. I got yelled at for letting the tail come out on a fun corner, so I didn't push it any further : ). Hopefully after it stops raining tomorrow I'll get some good seat time in.
#13
New Member
#14
Yeah! Zoom Zoom Zoomin!
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by G8rboy
My previous tuning experience was with a '96 Miata, to which I added a front shock tower brace, adjustable sways, and 8 way adjustable shocks. The sways and shocks made a massive difference... completely different car afterwards (which has made me a bit of a handling snob : ). The sways could be mounted to either induce or lessen oversteer (I'm tail-happy), and the shocks could be adjusted on for ride stiffness (both compression and rebound).
So, I'll be upgrading the sway bars in the spring, and when the stock shocks wear out in a couple years, I hope that Koni or KYB has adjustables for our 8 out by then.
So, I'll be upgrading the sway bars in the spring, and when the stock shocks wear out in a couple years, I hope that Koni or KYB has adjustables for our 8 out by then.
#15
Mmmmm... Rotary Donut
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL (NW Chicago Burbs)
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally Posted by Ninja
Thanks for taking the time to reply. If I might ask: What made you decide to do the shock tower brace before the sway bars?
#16
New Member
Originally Posted by G8rboy
With winter coming soon, I figured I could wait until the spring- I'm done with any autocrossing or track events until then. I figured the shock tower brace will have more of a real world impact on the crappy Chicago roads during the winter.
G8rboy could you elaborate your idea. I am interested to know about your theory with tower brace and winter roads.
#17
Mmmmm... Rotary Donut
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Lake in the Hills, IL (NW Chicago Burbs)
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes
on
2 Posts
Originally Posted by takahashi
We don't get snowy downunder and it is summer anyway :p
G8rboy could you elaborate your idea. I am interested to know about your theory with tower brace and winter roads.
G8rboy could you elaborate your idea. I am interested to know about your theory with tower brace and winter roads.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JimmyBlack
Series I Major Horsepower Upgrades
273
02-10-2020 10:23 PM
LMURailsplitter02
New Member Forum
1
09-06-2015 10:56 PM