SAKU SAKU SAKU

I just got my Rx8 and when I let go of the steering wheel momentarily, it seems to drift to the right after maybe 4-5 seconds. This happens most of the time.

Could this be due to the road incline? or is it some precautionary feature.

I ask this because my RX8's rear wheel was curbed and I am wondering if I should get an alignment.

robertdot

it could be the road surface. go to a big parking lot and try it going different ways and see if it drifts. if you curbed your wheel hard enough, it might have messed something up, but try a big mostly even parking lot first.

NavyDood

Obviously a crown in the center of the road will push it to the right, but it has been common practice that the car will drift to the right by itself for right side of the road drivers. That way, if you fall alseep at the wheel, the car will drift away from oncoming traffic.

brothervoodoo

Read this and see if coincides with what you are experiencing....

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ght=road+rutts

Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

I had the same issue early on, like last year November, and my dealer did a re-alignment for me. It helped out a whole lot.

Charles

myfuncar

My car has a "right drift issue". I have had mine aligned twice - once by the dealer, once by a tire/suspension shop for $90 thank you very much. The independent shop said it was WAY out of line. It drove fine for about 50 miles. Then I took it on a highway trip and it drifted right on both sides of the highway and going in both directions. I think there's something wrong with the steering geometry/design. I don't know. I'm paranoid about it.

Senseny

I had a similar issue with my FD, only at WOT the drift became more of a hard pulling type deal. I tried the simple issues first and sure enough tire pressure was low in the rear wheel on the side of the car that was pulling. Filled the tire and the issue was gone. Point is, start with the easiest things before going nuts.

myfuncar

Tire pressure, good thought...I tried that, I tried putting an extra lb. in the right front....still doing lane changes. I'd take it to the dealer, but The mechanics here in St. Louis are on strike and have been for about six weeks. I guess they'll go back to work when the electric company tell enough of them that they're turning off their lights!

TRZ750

I have 9000+ miles on my 8 and it goes straight. I watch my tire pressure as that can easily cause a pull. Sometime a bad tire also, so it is worth a test to switch your tires (all 4) right to left (not normal, but good for a test).

myfuncar

Well I've been back to the dealer - they finally went back to work. They found a screw in my right front tire and took it out, they reset the "toe" and checked the alingment which they said was fine.

Without road testing it, the service guy said it should be fine, there's "no reason why it should do anything but go straight." They also rotated the tires.

Result: very, very slight pull to the right, could be road "crowning" so I have to test it on a road that has a left lane going in the right direction....but I'm not optimistic. I just don't get the feeling they give a darn or understand this car at all. I hate to say it, but if you buy a Porsche, you'll deal with service people who understand high-performance cars. Not so at the Mazda dealer where they want to get rid of you so they can charge aunt Matilda $300 to change spakplugs on her 1984 626 station wagon.