Hello All! I just picked up the car last Friday. This is my 4th RX7 I have owned (you would think I learned my lesson by now). Sorry but this crappy pic is all I have right now.





It seems to run pretty well, there might be a small miss when cruising but it's not bad at all. I believe there is a bearing going bad in the transmission. When I have the clutch pushed in it doesn’t make any noise but when it’s out and or driving down the road it’s very noticeable bearing noise. I don’t know if these things are bad about a certain part going bad in the tranny or not. Could it be a pilot bearing?

The top probably needs to be replaced. It leaks around the window and where the targa meets the windshield. I would really like to fix this. It has the common bad window switch (probably from water getting on it) and the windshield wiper switch (the last owner put in a toggle switch). I hope somebody has those here that I can replace them with.

The steering rack has a torn boot and there is a noise when I turn the wheel back and forth (I guess dirty water isn’t a good lube). It feels really good and tight though. How big of a PITA is it to replace the rack? I was thinking of repacking it with grease and replacing the boot until I can get another one.

Well that’s the stuff I’m looking to fix right now. I said I wouldn’t mod this thing because I already have a 3000GT that sucks the bank account dry but I’m already wondering what all I need to turbo this thing.

 

The NA transmissions tend to wear out input shaft and cluster shaft bearings. Pilot bearings will only make noise when the clutch is disengaged.

The window switches fail because the contacts burn and corrode. If you are good at soldering, you may be able to fix the wiper switch (check the FAQ).

The rack is not hard to replace but you will need the tie rod tool and the car will need to be aligned.

 

Thanks for the reply.

The car has a little slop in the drivetrain. Would these bearings cause some slack or would this be more of a rear dif/output shaft worn problem?

 

Worn bearings within the transmission won't cause slop in the drivetrain. That would likely be a mount issue. The front diff mount commonly has the rubber separate from the steel, which allows the diff to move up and down. I actually just got done replacing mine. The bushing & rubber mounts on the transmission crossmember can also break down with age.

 

Ah yeah that makes sense. I will check the mounts later.

Nice car btw

 

Be sure you don't tear down/replace the transmission due to a failing throwout bearing in the clutch assembly. Makes growling/rattling noise when clutch pressure not present.Easy to check when at level steady cruise in fifth on highway- depress clutch and hold while allowing engine speed to drop to idle while moving along steady.
if a tranny bearing is failing, noise will be consistent with ground speed. If throwout bearing is failing, noise will drop with engine speed. Good luck."O"

 

The rule of thumb for bearing noises is:

Noise with the clutch pedal down - throwout bearing
Noise with the clutch pedal released - transmission main bearing or pilot bearing

I had to replace the main bearing in my old NA transmission, after it developed a whirling noise with the clutch pedal released. It could only be heard when idling, but it wasn't going to get any better.

 

Are you sure it is the steering rack boot or the driveshaft boot? If is the latter it is an even easier fix.

 

Yeah it does it with the clutch out. Thats what I was thinking.

The guy that had it before mentioned not replacing the pilot bearing and it failed. But now he said it has a new one in it. It does sound like it’s coming from the trans and the sound goes away completely when you push in the clutch.

yeah, it's steering rack.

 

This little miss is starting to get a little bothersome. It happens when I’m just cruising down the road. Like not accelerating or decelerating just holding it steady. It seems to run fine when I get on it. Does anybody know what could be causing this?

 

The miss could simply be old plugs and wires. Did the car receive a complete tuneup when you got it?

 

No not yet. This purchase and Christmas has got me strapped. I don’t think the stuff is old at all but he (previous owner) has been putting a little 2stroke oil in the gas because the engine was just put in. He claimed it was a crate engine but I’m about positive it was used. I'm not sure if it could be enough to foul the plugs or not.

I read something here about a ground strap causing a miss. You have any idea if the symptoms I’m having could be a bad ground?

 

http://www.aaroncake.net/rx-7/grounding.htm

 

thanks!