Hey everyone, just got a 85 gs rx-7. took the car to a buddy's shop, to get it on a lift & change oil, rotate tires, check fluids etc. Anyway, after all was said and done, i left on my way back home. Going about 40mph, and over the motor & music, i hear a clunk-clunk-clunk sound. So i pull in to a lot to check for anything that would be rubbing, and theres nothing. Keep driving, and notice it gets faster with the speed of the vehicle, as in wheel speed, not motor. And by the time i arrived back home (total trip of about 2 miles) it was way louder than it had been when i first noticed it. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Landon

 

Pull the wheels off and check for signs of something hitting them, I suggest calipers, sway bar links, brake lines for a start.

 

Check the torque on the lug bolts.

 

THIS IS IT!!!! STOP DRIVING RIGHT NOW JACK UP YOUR CAR AND TIGHTEN THEM. I did this once already. the reason it's louder is they are getting looser.

 

sometimes the easy solutions are over looked. Go to break the lugs just a few minutes ago with a tire iron to get the wheel off & check for anything rubbing, and there hand tight! so either i forgot to go around the pattern a final time with the impact, or the compressor became low on pressure. all is fine now, but a new problem was discovered trying to solve the clunking problem-- My idler arm for the steering has alot of play, and my question is, can it be corrected with just bushings, or do i need the bushings as well as a new idler arm? thanks alot!

 

Unless you are using a torque stick, do not use an impact to seat the lug bolts, they should be torqued, with a torque wrench, to 85 lb/ft.

Idler bushing is a typical wear item, you can replace the bushing only, if the the rest of the arm is not worn. I would replace the entire unit.

 

link to relevant thread

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/steering-idler-bushing-problem-illustrated-513792/