FB Power Steering Opinions/Experience
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
FB Power Steering Opinions/Experience
Good day,
I've on my third first generation RX7. My first was back in 92 or so. Last night I was chatting with someone about the steering and that brought up the topic of power steering.
I know power steering was an option, but, in all my years of looking at for sale ads, I've never seen one with the option installed.
Wondering if anyone has experienced an RX7 with power steering and what their thoughts were.
I've on my third first generation RX7. My first was back in 92 or so. Last night I was chatting with someone about the steering and that brought up the topic of power steering.
I know power steering was an option, but, in all my years of looking at for sale ads, I've never seen one with the option installed.
Wondering if anyone has experienced an RX7 with power steering and what their thoughts were.
#2
Out In the Barn
iTrader: (9)
I have/had both power and manual steering on first gens rx-7s. For a stock car it really isn't needed. It was offered on GSL and GSL-SE models.
It would be almost required for any RX-7 that has wide front tires. I drove a wide body rx-7 with 9" front tires and without power steering it would be hard to turn.
If it was a stock rx-7 I'd rather not have power steering but would not sway a purchase if I found the right car.
It would be almost required for any RX-7 that has wide front tires. I drove a wide body rx-7 with 9" front tires and without power steering it would be hard to turn.
If it was a stock rx-7 I'd rather not have power steering but would not sway a purchase if I found the right car.
#3
www.AusRotary.com
I agree. With a stock car, it's fine. However, it is amazing what a difference additional caster makes to the handling of these cars. The only real downside is the effect additional caster has on steering effort. In my experience, 5.5 deg of caster plus 7 inch wide wheels makes the steering exceptionally heavy. With power steering, you could dial in 6-6.5 deg of caster for even better handling without any downside.
Unfortunately, Australian delivered models never got power steering. Our 84-85 models were basically a GSL-SE chassis (bigger brakes, 4x114.3 wheels etc) but with a GSL 12A engine and no power steering.
That said, the biggest problem is not the lack of power steering but the recirculating ball design. Even with power steering, you'd still be left with the dead spot in the centre. I know someone who went to great expense to get power steering from a Japanese Savanna GT (12A turbo model with RHD power steering) and was left very disappointed. It was just as floaty, if not more so, because the power steering tended to make the steering feel light everywhere with a dead spot in the middle.
Unfortunately, Australian delivered models never got power steering. Our 84-85 models were basically a GSL-SE chassis (bigger brakes, 4x114.3 wheels etc) but with a GSL 12A engine and no power steering.
That said, the biggest problem is not the lack of power steering but the recirculating ball design. Even with power steering, you'd still be left with the dead spot in the centre. I know someone who went to great expense to get power steering from a Japanese Savanna GT (12A turbo model with RHD power steering) and was left very disappointed. It was just as floaty, if not more so, because the power steering tended to make the steering feel light everywhere with a dead spot in the middle.
#4
Rotary Enthusiast
WRT managing expectations for the recirc ball box, this is a good, comprehensive thread on adjusting it
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...7-gsl-1114116/
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...7-gsl-1114116/
#5
Full Member
Thread Starter
That said, the biggest problem is not the lack of power steering but the recirculating ball design. Even with power steering, you'd still be left with the dead spot in the centre. I know someone who went to great expense to get power steering from a Japanese Savanna GT (12A turbo model with RHD power steering) and was left very disappointed. It was just as floaty, if not more so, because the power steering tended to make the steering feel light everywhere with a dead spot in the middle.
There was a shop, in Toronto I believe, that came out with a rack and pinion system a few years back. I was tempted to look into it, but money was tight then and is now probably no longer available.
Cheers,
Duane
#6
Full Member
Thread Starter
WRT managing expectations for the recirc ball box, this is a good, comprehensive thread on adjusting it
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...7-gsl-1114116/
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...7-gsl-1114116/
#7
1st-Class Engine Janitor
iTrader: (15)
Haven't investigated the internals of the S2/S3 boxes yet, but the S1 box tends to develop that dead spot in part due to the design of the top adjuster screw wearing in over the years. I have a theory that it could be minimized on older boxes with a little judicious shimming of the adjuster plate that slides into the sector shaft, but haven't pursued it just yet - - haven't found a source of spring-steel shim material of proper thickness that will sell less than a full roll, and I only need about 2". $$$
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#8
Rotary Enthusiast
#9
Old [Sch|F]ool
Power steering was only on '84-85 GSL and GSL-SE as an option. In fact it was the only other option besides leather interior.
Curiously, every power steering GSL that I've seen was a cloth-interior car. GSL-SE could be any combination of leather/cloth and power/non. My gut feeling is that people only bought a GSL because they wanted power steering and didn't want to spend any more money than they had to, while people who bought a GSL-SE ordered whatever they wanted.
Curiously, every power steering GSL that I've seen was a cloth-interior car. GSL-SE could be any combination of leather/cloth and power/non. My gut feeling is that people only bought a GSL because they wanted power steering and didn't want to spend any more money than they had to, while people who bought a GSL-SE ordered whatever they wanted.
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