*Update*

See my vbgarage for pics of the suspension


Now that I have had my Mazdaspeed suspension installed for a couple of weeks I thought I’d share my thoughts on the differences between it and the full Racing Beat package, which I have also driven.

Both setups take a great car and hone the handling to a near razor level of response. From a daily driver standpoint, I think that the MS is the firmest setup of the all the cars I’ve driven (MS, RB and Tien), due both to the spring rate and the shocks. Its not uncomfortable, but it’s a little harsher than the RB setup over bad roads. I think the MS setup has a quicker rebound over uneven surfaces than the RB, but the RB setup is not floaty like the stock setup. Both dial in the steering about the same level, even though the RB sways are bigger in diameter.

Body roll is slightly less with the MS setup, but the RB still does a good job in getting ride of most of it. Pitch and dive under braking is about equal between the two cars. If you really push the car into a corner hard, both cars tires will give out long before the suspension starts to let the car feel out of control. Traveling at high speeds (read triple digits) is much better with both setups, albeit the MS setup feels the most planted of the two. I can tell that in the 9/10 to 10/10 range, the MS setup is going to keep the car slightly more planted and predictable due its faster response.

The RB drop and MS drop are about the same, with the RB drop being slightly lower. If you into looks, these are not your preferred packages, as both get you about 3/4inch drop all the way round. The RB setup does appear to lower the front slightly more than the rear, while the MS is even all the way around.

At the end of the day, I would say that the RB package for the money, is the best setup on the market. Most people will find the trade off of in performance verses ride quality the best of the bunch. I do love my MS setup, its hard to beat a perfectly matched set of springs and shocks, but RB comes damn close. If your not really into auto-x or track days, and just want to improve the handling for spirited driving, RB is the way to go. Not that RB wouldn’t be good for an auto-x or track, just that the MS is going to handle better at the limits. You’ll notice I use slightly a lot, there wasn’t anything that was hugely different between the two that made me go, damn this is a lot better. I hope this helps people decide which way to upgrade, as either make a great car absolutely awesome.

Hopefully, Rev_2_9K will post his thoughts on my car as his is the car I have driven several times with the RB package we installed. That way you can hear it from the other side as well.

 

how much did the whole MS suspension pkg cost? where did you get it from?

this may be something I would consider once I get my tax return next year...

 

Excellent review Brillo!

I have been contemplating the (2) packages you mentioned, yet I noticed you have driven the Tien setup -- any comments there?

 

Thanks for sharing this. Are you guys both using stock wheels and tires??

These are the two suspensions I am trying to decide on. Going the whole pkg at least takes most of the tuning thing out of my hands and into their (RB or MS) hands. Lot's less to screw up buying mismatched parts.

What puzzles me is how two product so different is design can feel so close in use. I mean the RB springs are up 20%, while the MS are up 81%, I've never seen the sway bar rate comparison, and the MS setup has the ??% stiffer shocks, while the RB uses stock.

How can these two come up pretty close in the butt-o-meter handling department? Not to mention the MS only seems a little stiffer not a lot?? It sounds like you've not been to the track... perhaps that is where the differences show up more noticeably.

I've got it, you guys go out on the track w/video and have at each other to see what happens mano-a-mano!?? :D Now that would be a video I'd be really interested in studing :D

 

I have the full Racing Beat suspension package on my RX-8 (springs, sways, end links). I only had a chance to do two Solo II (autocross) events this season with the Racing Beat suspension on. I have to say that the difference is night and day between the stock suspension and the RB one. I find that my tires give out before the suspension does.

I do not notice any oversteer unless I throttle through a turn. It's much easier to 4 wheel drift through the long sweeper turns without the rear end kicking out and spinning. I do see understeer, but that's just because I always tend to brake late in a turn. I'm using Bridgestone S-03 pole position tires which are outstanding, but slicks would help kill the understeer I don't see much body roll either. I can't speak for the MS setup. But, for the money, the Racing Beat setup is top notch.

 

I paid about $1,200 for the whole MS kit from trussville mazda (see the sponsor sites). Both our cars were on the stock wheels and tires.

The Tien springs are an improvement over stock in terms of body roll and high speed stability, steering response is marginally improved, to be honest I haven't spent alot of time with the tien setup so its hard for me to form a good opinion on its performance, its the lowest drop of the bunch for sure.

I haven't yet be out to a track, so its entirely possible that the MS setup would outperform the RB kit, In fact as I ssaid before, at the margins, I'm almost sure it will, but since most of use don't race every weekend, I wanted to give a more daily driver impression of the two.

The springs are alot stiffer but yuo have to remember that I have shocks tuned for the springs, so you can't just look at one standalone. RB had to work with in the confines of the stock shocks, and they did a good job, but there is a limit to how much stiffer the rate could be.

 

I have a question for those of you that have changed your suspension and also intend to drive it in the snow. Woudln't the stiffer suspension make the car that much more uncontollable in the winter when driving in icey or snowy road since there is far more firmness? Wouldn't you slide more when cornering under normal acceleration?

I really want the RB suspension but this issue in the winter is making me nervous.

 

Not sure.. I know this for fact. The most important thing about driging a rwd vehicle in the snow aside from driver skill is proper tires. I used to own an '86 RX-7. That stock suspension, to me, seems a whole heck of a lot stiffer than my RX-8 with the Racing Beat suspension. Granted, it's been almost 5 years since I've owned that vehicle so I am purely going from memory with that statement. I have yet to drive the RX-8 in the snow, but that RX-7 that I owned was absolutely awesome in the snow. Handled better than some trucks and FWD cars I have driven in the snow.

IMHO a rwd vehicle is much easier to control if you know how to drive it properly. If you're a good driver, I wouldn't worry too much about a stiff suspension if you also have the proper tires for the climate.

 

I let my friend drive my 8 after the full MS setup was on for a couple of weeks, and he commented that it handled better than his '99 911 Carrera! I'm very happy with the setup so far.

Beers!

 

Thanks for the feedback. I didn't skimp on winter tires, i went with michelin pilots alpine V rated. I'll see how it goes this winter.

 

Can anyone comment on how the MS suspension compares to well-tuned coilover setups?

 

I'm not sure who actually has coilovers, but I'd love their thoughts on their cars handling, ride quality and adjustability. If there is anyone is Houston with them we can do some test drives for comparison purposes.

I Think you hit the nail on the head with the "well tuned" part. There is no doubt that a good set of tuned coilovers will outhandle the MS setup, but at what cost to ride quality I have no idea. If this was just my weekend car, I'd go nuts, but since its my daily, I have to draw the line somewhere. That, and I do't yet know enough about suspension tuning to personally tune coilovers yet. I'm getting there slowly, but doing them right if more difficult than just making random adjustments to the rebound and dampening.

There are rumors of a MS adjustable coilover set coming, but I have no idea as to the date of release or cost.

 

Nice review. helps me decide a little more on what I want. Could one of you guys please find some pics of the RB kit after it has been installed. I did a search and found 1 pic of a red 8 with the springs but it wasnt the best pic to show the drop.

 

Here is an idea...

www.CANzoomer.com price list item "Mazdaspeed Coil-Over shock set with springs, front/rear (4) $823US"

These are [maybe] damping** and spring rate adjustable.
They are the units used in the MazdaSpeed variant of the RX-8 as sold in Japan
They have a stiffer spring rate, are adjustable to 20mm lower, and have more vigorous damping.
Mazda just released a MazdaSpeed RX-8 Type II.
It also uses these springs and dampers .


PS **UPDATE - see my post below about this feature.

 

well that helped me make up my mind on the ms suspension thanks for the info. And did you allude to that you were sponsered because what i have noticed is that with the complete upgrade from rosenthall the parts come into alittle over 1500 no shipping. so thanks for any additional info

 

Nope, I'm not sponsored, my $1200 was just an estimate, its about 500 for the sways, 250 for the springs and about 420 for the shocks. Through in shipping gets you close to $1200. I wasn't counting the tower braces as I don't have them.

I had heard about a MS coilover kit but didn't think it was out. I think the CZ product your referring to is just the springs and shocks together, I could be wrong, but I doubt true MS coilovers would be so cheap. Coilovers run usually about $1200-$1500 and I wouldn't trust any that were cheaper than that.

I need to get Rev_2_9K to post a pic of his car since its also a base red, but he has the Racing Beat Package.

 

I emailed Maurice at CANzoomer about this, I offer you above what I received in reply as I doubted that they actually were what it said in his catalog too. Also he pointed me to here http://www.mazda.co.jp/customize/rx-8msv/chassis.html which can be translated by online tools.

PS UPDATE!!!!: after another email - Maurice says he is not sure if they are damper adjustable. Obviously they are spring height adjustable, does anyone know for sure here???? This would be a clear choice for less money if they are.

 

Interesting. Well either way if true, thats another good option for folks. I would double check the heigh adjustability b/c coilovers can still at their top height, be pretty low...which could be an issue for some folks.

Glad to see more options coming out.

 

that would seem like a great deal for adjustable coilovers if true

 

I have the RB front/rear swaybars and fatter endlinks and there is a very noticable difference versus stock. I did not want stiffer springs/struts. I run autoX too and if you want to lessen the roll of the 8, go with the RB IMHO.