This four-door, four-seat rotary was built in one generation, 2003 to 2012, so picking Mazda RX-8 coilovers is simple. All eleven kits here fit the same car. What matters is which brand and kit suits how you drive. BC Racing kits are shown first.
Call 1-800-460-9106 and tell us if you drive on the street, the track or both.
Rotary four-door
Mazda RX-8
Animated illustration. It shows where coilovers sit on a car, not your exact kit. Depending on the car and the kit, coilovers can lean forward or back or stand straight up, and some cars use a separate spring and shock in the rear. Your ride height depends on the kit and how it is set up.
Pick by how you drive
On the RX-8, choosing coilovers is about the kind of kit you want, not what fits. Every kit here is made for the same car.
What fits
There are eleven kits for the RX-8, and no brand makes separate kits by trim.
Adjustment
BC's one kit comes in four series: BR, DS, ER and ZX.
Factory suspension
Mazda used a double wishbone front and a multi-link rear. Every kit here is made for that setup.
BC Racing coilovers on the rotary
One kit, four BC series
BC Racing makes one Mazda RX-8 kit, for 2004 to 2011, and it comes in four series: BR, DS, ER and ZX. Free shipping on BC Racing kits in the continental US.
BC Racing BR coilovers use one 30-click knob for compression and rebound together.
DS
DS has the same single knob on each coilover, plus a digressive piston for firmer control.
ER and ZX
ER's upright shock has an external oil reservoir, and compression and rebound adjust separately over 30 clicks. BC calls ZX its "most track-tested" build.
Tell us how low you want it, and we will talk height first.
Kits to look at: any of the eleven, since every one fits the RX-8
Track day
Talk to us about height and damping before you order.
Kits to look at: the BC ZX build, or ask us about Öhlins Road & Track
All eleven Mazda RX-8 coilover kits
They are all in one group. Each card shows a short form of the kit's product name.
Every kit for the one RX-8 generation
Code: SE3P (most kit names), SE (KW)
BC Racing kitThe BC Racing coilover kit made for the 2004 to 2011 Mazda RX-8. Photo: BC Racing.
Note: There is one generation and one set of kits. Kit years start at 2003 or 2004 and end at 2011 or 2012 depending on the brand, and no brand has separate kits by trim. Bilstein sells a B12 Pro-Kit and a B14 PSS; TEIN sells Flex Z, Mono Sport and Street Basis Z.
Here is what RX-8 owners report most often on owner forums, in recalls and in service bulletins, and what each point means for your coilover suspension.
Front lower control arm ball joint recalls
2004 model year
Mazda recalled about 27,800 2004 RX-8s in 2005 because improper forging could crack the front lower control arm ball joint socket. In 2017 it recalled about 35,300 2004 cars for the same socket cracking and separating. These arms carry coilover loads, and a cracked socket can cause a loss of steering.
Before you install: On a 2004 car, run the VIN for recall 05V325 and the 2017 ball joint recall, and check the lower ball joints for play with the wheels off.
Front stabilizer links that crack and knock
SE3P, 2004 to 2008
Mazda TSB 02-005-08 covers front noise from a broken front stabilizer link. Mazda says the plastic insert joining the link's ball joint to the link can crack and separate. A front knock may be a failed end link, not the dampers, and lowering changes the link angle.
Before you install: Check both front end links for play or a split insert while the front is apart. Replace them, or fit adjustable links if the car sits much lower.
Alignment cams that slip under hard cornering
SE3P, 2003 to 2012
One parts maker says the RX-8's factory eccentric alignment bolts tend to slip under hard cornering and change the rear alignment. A Miata parts shop sells eccentric locks for the RX-8 and NC Miata, and says slipping cams can ruin a track session. A slipped cam undoes a fresh alignment.
Before you install: For hard driving, plan on eccentric locks or lockout bolts when you do the alignment after the install, and recheck alignment after the first track day.
The RX-8 story
A four-door rotary sports car
Mazda launched the RX-8 in Japan in April 2003 as a "four-door, four-seater sports car with sharp and controlled handling characteristics."
May 2003
On saleJapanese sales began in May 2003.
RENESIS
RotaryThe RENESIS is a lightweight, compact rotary, rated at 250 PS (metric horsepower) in the Japanese Type S.
Doors
Freestyle doorsMazda's name for its center-opening doors, which make it easy to get into the front and rear seats.
Chassis
SuspensionIt has a double wishbone front and a long-link multi-link rear.
There is only one generation, so one set of kits covers every car.
What rotary owners ask about the RX-8
Do RX-8 coilover kits change by year?
No. Every RX-8 kit fits the one generation, with small differences in start and end years by brand.
How many BC series can I choose from on an RX-8?
You can choose from four: BR, DS, ER and ZX, all on the one 2004 to 2011 BC kit.
Which TEIN models suit the RX-8?
TEIN has three: Street Basis Z, Flex Z and Mono Sport, each made for 2004 to 2011.
Bilstein B12 or B14 on an RX-8?
We carry both. The B12 Pro-Kit and the B14 PSS kit are each made for the SE3P. Call us to compare them.
How do I get Swift Springs with the BC RX-8 kit?
Swift Springs for a BC kit are added with our Custom Build for BC Coilovers option.
What warranty does the BC RX-8 kit carry?
BC Racing North America currently lists a two-year limited warranty on full kit orders, subject to its warranty terms. Each of the other seven brands has its own terms.
