I just read in my Mazda RX-7 Performance handbook that a 2nd gen rear sway bar can replace the smaller stock 1st gen bar.

Anyone know how much bigger the 2nd gen swaybar is compared to the 1st gen?

Might have to do a little junk yard shopping if this is a feasible idea.

 

i didnt even think they fit. the FC is wider.

 

Well, it says they will in the low buck build up 1500.00 or less. I quote the book on this " Larger rear sway bars can also be found in junkyards on 2G cars, and can replace the smaller stock 1G bar.

I saw one on ebay for a 2G, said it was like 1/2 inch thick. I have looked at it in non-belief, because it was so thin. So, this might be a good idea to try out.

 

i read that too, rx7 performance handbook...

 

IIRC, Series 1 (79-80) had a thicker diameter rear sway bar. 18mm vs 15mm for 81-85.

 

Maybye they mean series 2, like stil first gen, there is series 1,2,3??

 

If you want a sway bar, on ebay if you search for RX7 there are some >$60 ones that look decent.

 

No, judging by the rest of the articles I'm pretty sure they are saying generation not series. So, anyone have a 2nd gen sway bar laying around that can compare it to a 1st gen?

 

Well, I emailed the author of the book and here is the responce.

That was one of the things in the book that Mike didn't physically verify. A 2nd Gen expert
researched it and claimed it would work, but the way you descripe the bars
it doesn't seem possible. If it were me, I would buy an adjustable bar for
the rear. RX-7s have a tendency to hang out the rear tail, and once you put
on the 2Gen bar, there will be no way to adjust the stiffness. Try Racing
Beat - they are help you with an adjustable bar - it is the best way to go.

Thanks,

Jim

 

He must have used hecka spell check in his book.

 

That is hilarious. He is right about the adjustable rear swaybar from Racing Beat. I picked up the front already and ran out of money for the rear. Though it doesn't really matter since the car isn't driving right now anyway. Don't think he is right about the 2nd gen sway bar working. Looking at racing beat's site the first gen rear adjustable sway bar is .75" OD and the second gen is .65" anyway. The picture of the 2nd gen bar is not that great but you can kind of tell that the links sit to the side rather than striaght up and down like on our cars. Actually just thought about it if you look at the Victoria British catalog it shows how the rear end is setup and you can tell right then it isn't possible.

 

do we need the rear swaybar? i heard you can handle better without it....hopefully sombody else reads this thread.

 

Yeah, I have heard the same. Hmmmm.....

 

Yeah sure it will stick a little better, and if you like the way your dads 66 impala corners then go for it.

I laugh my *** off at people with no rear sway bar, the car just feels like crap, weather your driving or just riding along, it feels like the rear end is missing parts hmmmmm.... then again maybe thats why mazda put it on there in the first place.

I run the eibach bars front and rear, the biggest I could get.

The car corners like its on rails as long as you dont push it past its braking point and let the rear wheels get out.



All in all only remove the rear bar if you autox and only after you drive someones rex with it removed and decide its right for you.

 

oh yeah,

a bigger set of bars is like a stiffer set of springs.

keep that in mind.


if you want to upgrade and have a non-se then just grab some se bars and throw them on.

grab the entire suspension while your at it, the difference is literally night and day, take it from someone who has done the conversion 4 times and wrote 2 articles on it.

 

I don't think so but correct me if I'm wrong.

AFAIK the bars on an SE are the same as any other 1st Gen. I believe, however, that the early SA's had larger rear bars.

 

you are correct inittab, the only difference is the shocks on the gsl-se, the coils are the same as well

-greg

 

It's all a matter of preference. Quick reference.

To add oversteer- stiffen rear suspension/soften front

To add understeer- Stiffen front/ soften rear.

Adding a thicker rear bar will increase oversteer. If you like Starsky and Hutch/Dirt Racer/Drifting style handling, then go for it. And like the roundy round guys say, loose is fast. But only to a point.

 

yep your right,
dont know why I had that in my head?