Camber still a problem with '08-'09s?

[Katner]

Just was over at my parents and saw that my baby sister's Mazda3 GT has the infamous camber issues that 3's and 5's suffered from at that point. Trouble is after my father bought her the car he never took a second look at it so they never caught the issue before their warranty ran out.

At my recent visit to the service department I overheard their counter-guy on the phone with someone about their Mazda3. He was like "Ya, I guess there are some problems with how your car's tires are wearing so we have some things we'd like to recommend to you to get it fixed."

It occurred to me that people not fixing inherent camber problems during the warranty period could be very lucrative for dealers.

Is this still an issue with the '08 and '09 models and if so how can I make sure it's fixed on Mazda's bill?

 

[coolmazda5]

Is this still an issue with the '08 and '09 models and if so how can I make sure it's fixed on Mazda's bill?

I'm not trying to say that if it has not happened to me it should be fixed but a couple of things based on experience:

1.
My 08 is 10k miles strong and no issues with camber, vibration or tire noise, while the 06 started having some vibration and tire noise at around 5k miles. OEM tires are still crap on snow though, LOL

2.
I've not read recent complaints in the forum, compared to 06-07 owner ones on its own time

3.
Just visually the 08's camber looks less attenuated than the 06's one when seen from the rear angle

 

[brarsandeep]

Is this still an issue with the '08 and '09 models and if so how can I make sure it's fixed on Mazda's bill?

Just drove home my 08 Mazda5 yesterday from Michigan with my bro-in-law in tail in his '06 Mazda3. When we stopped to refuel, he mentioned that the camber problem still seemed to exist on the 5. I looked at the rear tire wear and it seemed to be even...albeit the toyo's on the 5 were almost gone at 12k miles.

I plan on buying a new set of tires in a month or so and will watch the wear.

 

[bulwnkl]

Just to be clear: Camber is not what's chewing up tires. It's toe, and especially toe combined with the huge negative camber. If they've corrected the toe troubles, then the tire wear issues will be gone.

I'm trying yet another alignment spec in the back, but we're on snows and really only my wife drives the thing so I don't have great info yet. The objective is to balance static alignment (toe) against whatever flex there is in the bushings such that dynamic alignment is zero-toe. If that can be accomplished, the tire wear will be completely gone. The huge negative camber on its own won't wear the tires to a noticeable degree.

 

[sensinitas]

I know some companies dial in some negative camber in th rear to promote understeer

 

[Katner]

I'm not trying to say that if it has not happened to me it should be fixed but a couple of things based on experience:

1.
My 08 is 10k miles strong and no issues with camber, vibration or tire noise, while the 06 started having some vibration and tire noise at around 5k miles. OEM tires are still crap on snow though, LOL

2.
I've not read recent complaints in the forum, compared to 06-07 owner ones on its own time

3.
Just visually the 08's camber looks less attenuated than the 06's one when seen from the rear angle

My '08 seems fine atm too. I just hit 30,000km (~18,500miles). I'm going to be watching it though.

Just drove home my 08 Mazda5 yesterday from Michigan with my bro-in-law in tail in his '06 Mazda3. When we stopped to refuel, he mentioned that the camber problem still seemed to exist on the 5. I looked at the rear tire wear and it seemed to be even...albeit the toyo's on the 5 were almost gone at 12k miles.

I plan on buying a new set of tires in a month or so and will watch the wear.

So has he already noticed it on his own 3? Like you my tires seem to be wearing evenly, but a change in camber over time concerns me.

Just to be clear: Camber is not what's chewing up tires. It's toe, and especially toe combined with the huge negative camber. If they've corrected the toe troubles, then the tire wear issues will be gone.

I'm trying yet another alignment spec in the back, but we're on snows and really only my wife drives the thing so I don't have great info yet. The objective is to balance static alignment (toe) against whatever flex there is in the bushings such that dynamic alignment is zero-toe. If that can be accomplished, the tire wear will be completely gone. The huge negative camber on its own won't wear the tires to a noticeable degree.

That makes sense. I'm still concerned though because I swear my sister's '05 Mz3 GT is much worse than when she bought it.

 

[brarsandeep]

Just bought a new set of Kuhmo's online and I am going to have the dealer install them and have them check the toe/camber just to make sure things are good. I swear the rears are pointing in at the top.

..side note, my bro-in-laws '06 Mazda3 seems to be ok. He is not noticing and major toe/camber issues in the rear...then again, he only has 22k miles on it.

 

[Heat]

Just bought a new set of Kuhmo's online and I am going to have the dealer install them and have them check the toe/camber just to make sure things are good. I swear the rears are pointing in at the top...

How much is the dealer charging to install the tires with TPS, and how is the toe/camber?

And with regard to the camber, the camber on the '06/'07 is definately more pronounced than the '08/'09 models so hopefully the problem has been fixed. The question is whether the dealer would fix the camber of an '06/'07 Mazda5 under warranty.

 

[brarsandeep]

How much is the dealer charging to install the tires with TPS, and how is the toe/camber?

And with regard to the camber, the camber on the '06/'07 is definately more pronounced than the '08/'09 models so hopefully the problem has been fixed. The question is whether the dealer would fix the camber of an '06/'07 Mazda5 under warranty.

$80 for all 4 tires. I even asked if it was extra for TPS and they said no. I am not sure how describe how bad...or good compared to 1st gen 5...the camber/toe issue is, but took another...closer...look at my rear tires and the inside wear is definitely worse then the outside.

 

[Katner]

Just bought a new set of Kuhmo's online and I am going to have the dealer install them and have them check the toe/camber just to make sure things are good. I swear the rears are pointing in at the top.

..side note, my bro-in-laws '06 Mazda3 seems to be ok. He is not noticing and major toe/camber issues in the rear...then again, he only has 22k miles on it.

That's almost exactly where I am (was) and haven't noticed any real problems yet.

$80 for all 4 tires. I even asked if it was extra for TPS and they said no. I am not sure how describe how bad...or good compared to 1st gen 5...the camber/toe issue is, but took another...closer...look at my rear tires and the inside wear is definitely worse then the outside.

I was afraid of someone finding this. If it starts to get even more obvious let us know, and what your odo count is.