any suggestions to decrease the understeer

[shadow1]

The CX7 understeers pretty badly at any cornering speeds over 7/10ths pace. I understand that Mazda (as well as most OEMs) does this to maintain safe "at the limit" handling. I don't mind understeer at 9/10ths pace but the CX7's understeer really puts a damper on cornering fun. The suspension and tires are capable of very spirited driving but the suspension needs the understeer tuned out. I prefer not to go with any option which lowers the vehicle. I think a beefed up rear sway bar would be the ticket. Doubtful anyone will make one though.

[Raider]

http://www.streetunit.com/Mazda_CX7_s/214.htm?click=125

Check out the suspension section. There are a few options. The springs only drop it 30 mm for the 2wd, and 40mm for the AWD. Free shipping to the lower 48 in the USA, and good shipping rates elsewhere too.

[Raider]

After my wife and I sell our house and move, we do plan to get the suspension tightened up.

[shadow1]

I have never been a fan of lowering springs. Lowering springs have a higher spring rate. If you reuse the stock struts, the springs will be underdamped. This leads to a very choppy ride and worse handling. Tighter springs require beefier struts. Coilovers are usually the best option to get a fully adjustable and matched spring and dampener set. However, I prefer to not lower my CX7. I want to keep my snow mobility and pothole tolerability. That's why I believe that a beefier rear sway bar will be my best option. It will tighten up the rear suspension and decrease understeer and have minimal impact on ride quality.

[Raider]

We plan to do the strut, frame brace, and rear lower, once we move. Not sure about springs tho.

[shadow1]

I don't think the strut bar will be any more than eye candy. If you look under the hood, there is a factory strut brace already in place - it's the ugly black steel under the cowl plastic.

[erhayes]

I also think sway-bars are the best first approach IF you can't do it with tire pressure. I'd wait until some really good name chassy tuners sort it out and make aftermarket bars. I don't agree with the lowering idea myself. JMO Ed

[Raider]

Well, give us a couple months or so, and we will have most of the Auto Exe on the car. The strut brace is more rigid than the one going to the frame, so it might actually help. My thought is cutting of the plastic will be involved for sure.

[CX7POS]

best option is going with the adjustable struts. with bound and rebound settings. Sway bars should be your last thing on the list if you can't get the ride the way you want it. And from the looks of things. You don't have an option to go thicker rear bars, since no one makes one. At least they have a coil-over kit with adjustable dampers with 12ways.

I don't see how the strut tower brace is going to help. It only keeps the flexing of the frame, and camber angle.

With the bound/rebound, you are able to transfer weight to each corner of the wheel.

Oh, someone please make camber and toe adjuster for the front and rear.

All the brace is probably worth something, but not till you tune the suspension.

[shadow1]

I agree the coilovers is the hands down best tuning option. But also the most expensive. A rear sway bar would decrease understeer with low cost, easy installation. and minimal change in ride quality. Coilovers are a pain to install (particularly the rears), costly, and will likely stiffen the ride quite a bit.

[mikomi]

so the sway bar would be this?
http://www.streetunit.com/AutoExe_Floor_Cross_Bar_Mazda_CX_7_p/mer450.htm
I'm having a little issue with the understeer and was looking to get a sway bar custom made. But the autoexe part, anyone know what the diameter is?

[CX7POS]

Nope, that's another brace.

[CX7POS]

I agree the coilovers is the hands down best tuning option. But also the most expensive. A rear sway bar would decrease understeer with low cost, easy installation. and minimal change in ride quality. Coilovers are a pain to install (particularly the rears), costly, and will likely stiffen the ride quite a bit.

My 1998 E430 had the exact shock/spring layout as the CX-7. It took me 5 hours(front and rear) to do the E430 to put in the H&R cup kit.

Honestly the most expesive part is getting it tuned. You have to take it to a place with a scaler, so that way the pre-load of the springs are set up correctly on each corner. Than its off to the track to set up the dampers.

[JBCX7]

i had a scion tC for a while and there is a curve a block away that i couldnt take over 40mph before i heard some tire squeal. i got the rear sway bar, about twice the thickness of the stock bar, and i was then able to take that curve at 53mph (then the tires squealed a little). if the difference was that drastic on such a small car, granted i understand its severly undertuned for scion pricing etc, we drive cuv's now!! any understeer is caused by all the high weight in the back shifting out and away from the center of the turn. the sway bar will hold it down. until i get mine in im cruisin around with the rear seats folded forward for a lower center of gravity.;) .