ok so i called summit racing to order some kyb strut cartriges for my 85se and they said that kyb doesnt make them for that car just the gsl and lesser models. what is different about the se that front struts wont interchange but the rears will? i know the rotors are bigger but that shouldnt effect the strut should it? has anyone ever used kybs on the front of an se? thanks for any and all help.

 

Mazda does list a different part number for the 12A powered 7's and the GSL-SE. i'm not sure if there is a diameter difference of if the SE's struts or if the Se's struts are firmer to accommodate the heavier engine.

 

kevin, i got mine thru their website and according to the catalog their part #'s r the same for either model.

 

Tokico blues are the same for all 1st gens...should be no difference.

 

thru the KYB site. forgot to include the link
http://showmetheparts.com/kyb/

 

If anything the available strut may be a tad short for the tube. All you do is shim up the bottom of the tube with a thick washer. worked for me...

 

on that site it list the rear shocks for the se but not the front. i have some gas-a-just for the rear already. i wonder how it would handle with those and autozone crap brand on the front? or if i should just get gsl kyb's and see what the difference is?

 

ok i see that now but i'm sure they'll be the same as roondawg posted bout the tokico all being the same. keep in mind that as a production vehicle there might be slight differences in suspension geometry and alignment numbers but i doubt there's any difference in the strut cartridge between the SE and non-SE.

 

that is correct. KYB lists the same strut insert for every 81-85 Rx-7.

however if you look in the Mazda parts fishe, you will find that the GSL-SE is different. the GSL-SE had slightly stiffer struts, and it has a different alignment too, it has 0 camber in the front instead of +1 like a 12A car.

and since i'm thinking about the the really nice old school combo was tokico blues in the front and stock GSL-SE shocks in the rear, it was firmer, without the hard ride

 

which kyb site were you looking at all of them i keep finding says all excluding gsl-se?

 

ok ive done some homework and have found the se strut body is about 5mm longer . so if i put 5 mm spacer at the top of strut body so that it fits in the big nut to hold the strut from moving will it work ok with out bottoming out in the front?

 

yep.