Alright, finally got everything back together after all the shops/stores were closed on Saturday [Christmas]. Got old ball joints pressed out of my control arms, new pressed in with no problem. Got all 4 tires on the ground, tried to go over to a license plate agency, but they were f'ing closed! [I was pretty pissed. I can understand Christmas and Christmas Eve, but DECEMBER 27th?! bleh.]

So, I went ahead and got my car insured, and was going to take my car up to a tire shop to have it realigned (needs it badly, camber is way wacked. And I replaced the tie-rod ends.) But they told me they wouldn't be able to align it until tomorrow morning [won't start anything new after 5.]

Well, I figured I would swap the plate from my Jeep to my RX-7 to make sure my 7 drove alright. The thing is frickin' AWESOME! However, it's got a grinding noise somewhere in the rear (Sounds like right-rear wheel, but I'm not placing any bets on it. Sound travels, ya know.)[Older brother said that it sounded like the driveshaft rubbing on something] It pops whenever making a low-speed right-hand turn. I searched around and have an idea as to what could be the problem. I'm going to take the wheels off tomorrow and check out the wheel bearings. Then I'll check the axle innards [if metal shavings come out of the drain hole, I'm going to be pissed ] But, worst come to worst, I have to yank the axle from beneath the '83 [LSD, baby!] and stick it under my '82. Oh darn

Either way, I'm a happy camper now that I have a 7 that is actually driveable! [To a degree.]

 

As far as the ball joints, those are the aftermarket ones, recommend that you take it to someone that does welding and have them tacked into place, i have seen them come loose before because they were not made to be replaced. Checking wheel bearing noise, if you jerk the wheel suddenly form lef to right and vice verus
and the noise goes away, it's probably a bearing. Bearings do not make a popping noise. A agrinding noise could be rear brakes hanging up, or maybe heatshield underneath rubbing against the driveline. One recommendation for the future, as bad as you want to drive it, you would be better off leaving the expired tags and
correct license plate on, if you get caught with the incorrect plates on the vehicle
you will get free room and board with 3 meals, compliments of the local police dept,
if you catch my drift, lol. rx7doctor

 

heh, yea, I realized the dangers of swapping plates/tags. I was only going to do it because I need to get the front end realigned, but the damn license plate agency's are closed on the first business day after Christmas or something. Decided not to get it realigned as of right now, though, because I don't want to drive around with a possibly-shot rear end.

I'll have to find out what else could be popping. Any suggestions? [I'm going to do a search, don't worry ]

[edit] Oh yea, the ball joints that I got came with snap rings, so I don't think I have to worry about them backing out.

 

congrats!!! i have 4 winter cars now, and not a single one is either running or road worthy at this point. just be happy you have transportation to get from "a" to "b".

nick

 

Luckily I have my Jeep to drive, should anything go wrong. But driving the Jeep just isn't driving the rx-7.

 

if it's the diff then just use the whole 83 rear in it and get the disc brakes too.

 

I may have found the source of the popping noise. The link on the right hand side of the car that keeps the axle from moving side-to-side has been sheared off at the stud. [Not sure what it's called; it's beside the right rear wheel well and has a short bar that attaches to some kind of link that in turn bolts to the axle through a stud.]

Suffice it to say, I'm dissappointed. I was really hoping that after today, I would be able to drive it around. Hell, I even paid $77 to get the title and license plate. But, I guess things don't always go your way. **** happens, eh?

Man, I wish it were summer and that it stayed light longer. Want in one hand, **** in the other, see which one fills up first.

 

I know it feels good. We have been working on the New LE we picked up over thanksgiving, for a few days now and are getting close to have it road worthy. Just need to replace the Wheel cylinder.