Used Mazda RX-8 CV Joints

Yes, the RX-8 is a rear-wheel-drive car but it does have CV joints — they sit on the rear driveshafts, transferring drive from the differential to the rear wheels. Some customers confuse this with a front-wheel-drive layout, but the RX-8 uses CV joints at the rear rather than the front. If you're looking for front driveshaft CV joints, this car doesn't have them in the conventional sense, as the front wheels are not driven.

The RX-8 was produced as a single generation running from 2003 to 2012, with a facelift arriving around 2008 that brought styling and equipment changes. The fundamental rear suspension and drivetrain layout remained consistent across the full production run, so early and late cars are broadly similar in this respect. However, whether a specific driveshaft or CV joint from a pre-facelift car crosses over to a post-2008 facelift car is something you should confirm with the breaker against your registration, as subtle differences can exist across a facelift boundary.

Yes, always specify whether you need the nearside (NS, left-hand side as you sit in the car) or offside (OS, right-hand side) rear CV joint, as the two sides may differ in length. Getting the wrong side means the driveshaft won't reach correctly, so this detail matters and a good breaker will ask you for it. Quote your registration as well so the breaker can pull the correct part from the right donor vehicle.

Trim level does not affect CV joint fitment on the RX-8 — whether you have a base model, a 192, a 231, or a later R3, the rear drivetrain layout is the same. All variants use the same 1.3-litre Wankel rotary engine and rear-wheel-drive setup, so the driveshafts and CV joints serve the same function across the range. You may find the donor car your breaker is pulling from has different interior trim or badging, but that has no bearing on whether the CV joint itself will fit your car.

Used RX-8 CV joints from a reputable breaker can be good value, particularly given that the RX-8 is now out of production and some new parts carry a significant price premium. A breaker sourcing from a low-mileage or recently dismantled car will often supply a joint in sound condition, but always ask about the donor car's mileage and condition before buying. It's worth having a competent mechanic inspect and fit the used part, as a worn or damaged CV joint can cause vibration and handling problems on a rear-wheel-drive car.

A clicking or clunking noise that worsens under acceleration or during turns can indicate a worn CV joint, and this is a known issue on higher-mileage RX-8s as the rubber boots split and allow grease to escape. Because the RX-8 is rear-wheel-drive, the noise is most likely to come from the rear of the car rather than the front. Have the car inspected by a mechanic to confirm the diagnosis before ordering a used part, as other drivetrain components such as the differential or wheel bearings can produce similar symptoms.