Okay, I now have 116,000 miles. One of the springs in the first set of springs was trashed after a nasty run in with a curb and so the whole set was replaced. I put this new set on at around 80k when I installed a new set of factory shocks as well just to start fresh.

Anyway,

I noticed yesterday when I had the car fully loaded, me 180lbs, my son 160lbs, my daughter 65lbs, and my GF 110lbs that I was rubbing bad, even on slightly uneven pavement.

I drove home carefully and stopped at the base of the driveway which is pretty flat and when I got out, my rears were slightly tucked (looked great ) and then I asked everyone else to get out and the car went up a good 1.5 inches. So I parked the car and drove to work today by myself and the car felt fine with just me in it. Tonight Grungepup and I took a look and if I open the trunk and sit on the edge the car drops to no gap between the fender and tire. The shocks have no visual signs of being blown and they have app 36,000 on them along with the springs. Also, Grungepup tested it (manages brake/suspension place) and the suspension bounces in the rear and he says it should not bounce.

I have another RX-8 in the garage (Hoss-05's car) with progress springs installed and only the top two coils were touching on those under full load and Grungepup has the Tein H-Techs on his and none appeared to be touching with no load.

Here are the pics and the car is unloaded.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/5074269446/http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/5074269446/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/9krpmrx8/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/5074269130/http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/5074269130/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/9krpmrx8/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/5073672901/http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/5073672901/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/9krpmrx8/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/5074269902/http://www.flickr.com/photos/9krpmrx8/5074269902/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/9krpmrx8/, on Flickr

 

are you on stock shocks? springs will sag over time but if you notice a huge difference in drop its probably the shocks

 

i thought running aftermarket springs also accelerate the death of the stock shocks

 

i think the coils touching is normal my rsr's had the top 3 coils always touch in the rear, and they are the same drop as the stech's maybe its designed into the springs

 

No man, if I put any weight in the rear, the car drops to the tires. I will check out some S techs but I looked at grungepups' rear spring coils last night and they don't touch at all unloaded. I have Hoss-05's car and when loaded only the top two coils are touching (he has practically brand new progress springs on stock shocks). The pics I posted are with no weight in the car. These are factory Tokico's. I had a set of Bilsteins but I returned them due to some missing parts so I am now looking for a new suspension setup. Tein says the warranty is only a year.

 

^ time to go coils homie

Unless you really like these and buy a new set with Koni Yellows.

 

I am searching now Just gotta pay some bills first

 

I have a friend with a Subi STi. He just re-did the suspension. He found a set of "rules". Rule 1 was "do not get S-Tech" Rule 2 was "Do not get S-Tech", Rule 3 was "do not get S-Tech".

From their experience, the spring lowers fine, but is not stiff enough to make up for the reduced ride height. Not sure if applied here, but sure sounds like it. If I remember correctly, the S takes an inch out of the back, but is not a whole lot stiffer.

Get some of those discount auto parts little spring runner thingies...

 

Yeah S techs are praised a lot and honestly I have run them on previous cars (and a first set on this car) without issues. I like the drop and they have always handled just fine. I am debating on which route to take.

 

its time to stance yourself

 

Lol Stance yourself thats funny, no but what other spring out there that is available for the 8 that is stiffer than the S. Techs? I mean the S. Techs are the stiffest spring out there I thought...

 

progress maybe werent they designed with autoxing in mind idk tho

 

rsr*r baby they were as stiff as a boner

 

Honestly the progress springs are not low enough for me, I have installed a set and to me the drop is barely noticeable. If I cannot afford coilovers I will probably just go with Eibach's or H&R's. I had the Prokits on my Maxima and they lasted almost 100k miles.

RSR's are no longer made right?

 

ask other people with stechs i still think the coils touch cause of the lower drop than most other springs

 

man if only someone had some konis for sale real cheap right

 

too bad mine are sold.
Sorry Rev.

 

I have installed S techs on two other members cars, I may have to take a look but I am pretty sure the top 4 coils should not be binding with no load. Either way the suspension is FUBARD in the rear.

 

rev and huis shameless plug for his suspension

 

haha i am actually waiting until yours sell to bump mine

 

rev: I sent a payment request to someone today, they could be sold by tonight.
I'll keep you posted.


9k: I should have taken a pic of mine before taking them off because I'm pretty sure they're not supposed to bind like that but don't S-Techs usually touch towards the top springs? I can't remember

 

I am pretty sure the top one or two will touch but I don't think all four. I am searching for a deal now

 

just get coilovers, debt never felt so good :]

 

damn it, wish I'd have seen this sooner as I just put up my Koni's + S-techs for sale.
sorry 9k.
looks like you just might have to go with coilovers.

avoid apexi, a buddy of mine has them on his 8 and they haven't lasted. at all.

 

I have installed a set of Tanabe Sustec's on tbk's car and they have lasted quite well and they are around $700.00. They don't go as low as he would like but they are fine for me. But then again Basics are always a good option too.