Camber kit or New rear springs?

[HIOFFCER]

Hi, I have stock suspension on my 2004 Mazda 3, and I have excessive inside wear on my tires. The tires where installed at the beginning of the summer and the insides are already bald. Alignment shows the camber in the red. Now, what I was wondering will new OEM springs fix this issue, or would it be better to get a camber kit? I am assuming this happened due to the rear sagging. Thanks!

[HIOFFCER]

Rear**

[Hyperion]

If your car is indeed a 2004, the rear springs may very well be worn out. Take it to a mechanic (other people who read this, he's in huntville, don't recommend jimmy) if you can't decide that they are indeed sagging, and they will be able to tell you if they are still good or not. If they are, something else may have snapped. It's unlikely that you will need a camber kit with stock suspension.

[aris]

New oem springs will not fix it... I installed camber kits on my car and set my camber to Zero and no more tire wear.

my brother also installed camber kits on his wife's car and same no issues with tire wear... He's even installed them on a few other Mazda 3.

[HIOFFCER]

It is indeed a 2004, with around 208,000km. I can also almost gurantee it is the original suspension and it is definitely not aftermarket. I have heard the the Mazda 3's tend to sag in the rear thus throwing out my Camber. I know nothing broke or snapped as I am quite mechanically inclined and checked everything over and did this alignment myself when I worked in a shop. I have read that Mazda designed the rear to have nagative camber for better handling. The specs are to be within Min. -0.3, Max. -2.3. I am past the -2.3 on the alignment. I know this is why I am getting the camber wear, but I was wondering with new springs will it be corrected, or will I still get some wear considering Mazda designed the vehicle this way. The OEM spec for rear camber without anyone in the car is -1.2 from factory. Would you get camber wear with -1.2 camber? Thanks!

[Hyperion]

Practically no camber wear at 1.2. I would suggest a camber kit.

[greyseason]

could also be your toe is out
The Wolf was telling somebody about this

[Noisy Crow]

Also possible the car has been in an accident....

[The Wolf]

When you get an alignment you can get the tech to set your toe to zero. That will greatly reduce your tire wear.

[Aitch]

could also be your toe is out
@The Wolf (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/member.php?u=12205) was telling somebody about this

+ Aitch keeps telling people this too :)

[kimchisoup]

It is indeed a 2004, with around 208,000km. I can also almost gurantee it is the original suspension and it is definitely not aftermarket. I have heard the the Mazda 3's tend to sag in the rear thus throwing out my Camber. I know nothing broke or snapped as I am quite mechanically inclined and checked everything over and did this alignment myself when I worked in a shop. I have read that Mazda designed the rear to have nagative camber for better handling. The specs are to be within Min. -0.3, Max. -2.3. I am past the -2.3 on the alignment. I know this is why I am getting the camber wear, but I was wondering with new springs will it be corrected, or will I still get some wear considering Mazda designed the vehicle this way. The OEM spec for rear camber without anyone in the car is -1.2 from factory. Would you get camber wear with -1.2 camber? Thanks!

1. Yes, the Mazda3 suspension "sags". Guys at work with 2005 model have noticeably higher camber.
2. Yes, stock in factory manual is around -1.2 to -1.4 (AC). It increases about 0.1 with full fuel tank. Two heavy guys in the back will add another 0.2.
3. New springs will only marginally correct problem IF they were the cause to begin with. Even with taller springs or added padding, you might only remove 0.3-0.5 and you have no adjustment.
4. The BEST way is camber kit

5. Camber alone will NOT wear a tire faster. But because you're wearing it at an angle, you will hit tread bars on inside sooner. Stock Eagle RS/A had approx 1/32" diff.. worst case 1/32" inside and 3/32" outside on my bad -2.4* rear wheel after over 60 000km (bald and illegal :> )... That's pretty good 5 years for tires with UTOQ of 260 A A... http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Eagle+RS-A