I recently bought Racing beat springs and kyb gas struts and shocks for my 85 12a and i want to switch it over to my new gslse. I was wondering if there are any differences in the suspension on these 2 cars. Im just going to switch the whole strut with the spring on it. Is this going to work ok?

 

From what i understand,, the -SE's are different. Beefier,
then anything 12a. So you own 2 rx7's too ?? My 84 -SE
rides way different from my 82 GS. My 82 handles like a go-cart, the 84 handles like a rx7.

 

You'd have to pull the cartridges out of the 12A struts to use onthe SE, but they will work just fine, as will the springs and the shocks.

 

Well i just switched the front ones out, so i guess ill find out how it works. I havent driven on them yet though because im waiting on a clutch.

 

The difference in suspension between a GSL-SE and a '81-85 12A car is that the GSL-SE has slightly stiffer shocks/struts, because the GSL-SE came with grippier tires. (Grippier tires mean the transient response is changed, and the dampers control the chassis under transients)

The springs are the same, the swaybars are the same. ('79-80 had a rear bar twice as stiff, if installed)

The only real major difference between GSL-SE and '84-85 12A car is the brakes - bigger and different bolt pattern on the hubs. Suspension's near identical, and after 20 years the dampers will be shot anyway, so effectively in 2004, there is no difference.

The wheel bearing sizes change in '84 front and rear, so you can't swap GSL-SE brakes onto a '83-earlier suspension, but you *can* swap them onto a '84-85 RX-7 suspension. (I *think* the rear axle housing is the same disc and drum for '84-85, unlike the earlier cars) Incidentally, the rear axles on the GSL-SE are longer because of the different wheel offset, so the GSL-SE axles must be used with the GSL-SE brakes.