GenII MPS3 - Camber & Tyre Wear

[hypersven]

I was informed a few weeks ago by my Mazda dealers' service dept (7 year warranty, blah, blah,blah...) that my original tyres needed replacing after only 27000 kms.
They didn't tell me why. The inside edges were worn out like everyone else's.
It was due to the amount of negative camber dialled into the non-adjustable rear end
I replaced the Dunlops with Kumho KU31's and got adjustable rear upper control arms fitted.
My steering specialist setup the geometry the way HE felt was best for the street.
Here are the before and after settings...

Before
Front toe out (L/R): 0.5mm / 0.5mm
Front camber (L/R): -0.75 deg / -0.75 deg
Rear toe out (L/R): 0.5mm / 0.5mm
Rear camber (L/R): -2.5 deg / -1.5 deg

After
Front toe in (L/R): 0mm / 0mm
Front camber (L/R): -0.75 deg / -0.75 deg
Rear toe in (L/R): 0.5mm / 0.5mm
Rear camber (L/R): -0.5 deg / -0.5 deg

Tyre pressures are set at 42psi

A weekend run to the Blue Mountains shows this to be a better setup than I had before!
The car seems to be creating less tyre noise and seems to roll along better.
It's handling fine too.
I expect the tyres to last longer now that they can wear evenly!

[NQMPS]

Good to see it passed the mandatory legislation on roadworthiness of a vehicle upon sale and transfer of registration...

Yeah the Dealer (In Newcastle) said it was upto me to give the car a final inspection! Dont want to type what I said next to him FFS!.
But the car had done ONLY 22,000klm and the tread on the rest of the tyre was like new.
Took the car in to get new tyres fitted (At the dealers expense, After a big shit fight & threatening to take legal action over the sale of the car) Bob Jane said that just about all the new Mazda 3's that come in have the same problem.
They adjusted AGAINST mazda's factory spec's and 18,000klm later and almost a year later I STILL have 4 near new tyres.

[projectrracing]

Front toe out (L/R): 0.5mm / 0.5mm
Front camber (L/R): -0.75 deg / -0.75 deg
Rear toe out (L/R): 0.5mm / 0.5mm
Rear camber (L/R): -2.5 deg / -1.5 deg

After
Front toe in (L/R): 0mm / 0mm
Front camber (L/R): -0.75 deg / -0.75 deg
Rear toe in (L/R): 0.5mm / 0.5mm
Rear camber (L/R): -0.5 deg / -0.5 deg

Many moons ago I posted some very similar about the camber/toe settings. Not much mention about it. I would've had a little more less toe on the rear and a little more camber, but otherwise the same as I said many moons ago.

Don't think anyone cared back then as not one person commented on what I had to say.

[hypersven]

Hi projectrracing,
yes it was your original post that got me thinking about having the camber checked and sorted, so thank you!
I agree my settings are less aggressive, but that's what my steering guy suggested (btw, my suspension is stock).
I'll take it back to him in 5000kms so he can check the wear on the tyres.
He'll re-adjust it then if he thinks he dialled out too much camber.

I talked with a few suspension places and they all tell the same story about the 3.
If the car comes off the assembly line with anywhere between 0 and 3 degrees of negative camber, it's officially within factory specs.
No Mazda service dept will bring this to your attention because it would admit a fault that would have to be corrected under warranty.
I spoke to the service manager who assured me I will not void my warranty but of course they won't cover the new control arms.

[projectrracing]

factory specs that large is normal for most cars. my 323 is meant to be 49 minutes negetive camber in the rears, but can be plus or minus 1 degree each way. so even up to 11 minutes positive camber is within spec. doesn't mean it is right though.

just come down to people not knowning the facts. i always recommend going to a tyre shops for suspension issues. whether the car is 10 minutes or 10 years old. they know suspensions better most dealership mechanics.

[hypersven]

I completely agree. I'm just disappointed that Mazda didn't bring it to my attention 2 services ago.
I would have had the tyres stripped and refitted on the opposite rim and made them last a little longer.

That's true. I'll be taking it back to my steering & suspension guy for any alignment adjustments required in the future.
He's been setting up suspensions for 25+ years and I trust him to do the right thing by me.

[slixx]

Since installing my Koni Shock and Eibach Spring and the Bump Steer Correction kit, my tyre wear evenly

My Pirelli PZero Rosso have 34,000kms on them and I'll probably get to 40k without a problem. I do rotate and align every 5000kms so I guess that helps too

My OEM tyres wore all on the inside and I think lasted about 27,000kms


Peter "SLIXX"

[projectrracing]

I was flicking through the Mazda 3 MY06 update training book this morning. And came across changes to the front and rear suspension components to allow more control over toe.

[naasif]

Many moons ago I posted some very similar about the camber/toe settings. Not much mention about it. I would've had a little more less toe on the rear and a little more camber, but otherwise the same as I said many moons ago.

Don't think anyone cared back then as not one person commented on what I had to say.

Hey @projectrracing , I did take note of your recommended settings - see this post - http://www.ozmpsclub.com/forum/handl...tml#post212982

And I'm happy to report after nearly 5000kms (about to get it rotated and balanced next week) that I'm not suffering from the inside wear that I use to have.

I'm running Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 and now that it's warn it the grip is great and wear nice and even with pressures around 36psi front and 35psi back. Higher pressures were very uncomfortable as this is my daily driver.

I'd highly recommend to any new MPS owners to get their wheels/alightment/toe etc checked by someone other than Mazda when they buy the car.

[projectrracing]

Well there you go. Great to hear some peeps getting improvements out of there cars with some changes. Normally I just ramble on with crap. Glad I helped this time.

[imaspy]

Okay, sign me up. I am the latest to have encountered this crap. Took my gen II to get the minor 30k service today (car is at 25,000km), and we found the same deal. insides worn disproportionately. bah.

what shits me though is looking for new tyres. there are 5 or so tyre places within a 5 minute drive of my work. every last one of them told me something different. prices were crap too (comparing to the tyre price thread). it's like you can't get straight advice unless the guy is your own flesh and blood - and even then you have to be wary.

here is some of the info i garnered today, some good, some bad:

"Toyo T1 sports 330/corner"

"Michelin Pilot Sports 3 for 430/corner. Best tyre you can buy. I wouldn't want to sell you anything at or around 300 because tyres at that price point are no different at all to $100 tyres - you're just buying marketing." <-- perhaps unsurprisingly this came from a michelin specialist

"Falken ZE912 275/corner" <-- Could i even find a ZE912 in 225/40/18 on their website? nope

"Man 225s are expensive because they're less common. if i were you i'd run 235s, if it was my car i'd definitely do that"

"Kumho KU31 335/corner"

it's ****ed. i'm over it already. and i've been told my current tyres have between 1 and 3 months before they're cactus. gaaaaaahhh tyres are easily the worst part of the car to replace. so mystifying. any suggestions?

[SP23HO]

KU31's at that price?

Sif....

Oz tyres/Tempe tyres quoted about 500-600 all 4 fitted and balanced.

[imaspy]

KU31's at that price?

Sif....

Oz tyres/Tempe tyres quoted about 500-600 all 4 fitted and balanced.

this is exactly my point. i know most of them a shitty prices. the other half of my battle is knowing which ones are actually a good, reliable tyre. oh well, given it's a novated lease i guess i've already spent the money.

[tims]

Yes you have, but don't forget you get back what you don't spend at the end of your lease.

I miss my novated leases!!

[SarcasticOne]

There is a thread somewhere with pilot super sports for about $1200...

If you want grippy tires, AD08's (imported) and RS3's are in the $1000-1200 price range as well

[imaspy]

There is a thread somewhere with pilot super sports for about $1200...

If you want grippy tires, AD08's (imported) and RS3's are in the $1000-1200 price range as well

jeebus the super sports are 218 a pop on tirerack

in other developments, have a mate at work who is good mates at a tyre place. might see if he can do anything for me. yay networking.

[SarcasticOne]

jeebus the super sports are 218 a pop on tirerack

in other developments, have a mate at work who is good mates at a tyre place. might see if he can do anything for me. yay networking.

+$300 shipping, so it's pretty much the same as buying locally

[o0minime0o]

SO, mine has this same issue, purchased the car Sept. 2010, done 35K's & tyre inners are shagged, so i am looking at selling this now to get a 4x4, not a good additional cost i was hopeing for.

[bd581]

35,000km isn't anything to be too upset about. Thats good for a soft set of tyres.

[SarcasticOne]

35k km... Not sure why you're complaining when people have gone through sets in 15-20k km...

Stock tires aren't hard compound, so 30-35k is about right...