PSYCOM

My car came lowered and both shocks in the sturts were blown. Someone said you just can't lower the car without changing the shocks. Is that true? I mean with shorter springs is this going to allow the shock part to over travel and pop oil seals?

IanS

iTrader: (4)

Should be fine unless it is lowered considerably. My '01 protege has eibach pros (1.4 and 1.8) and has stock struts. I have had them for almost 2 years. My 7 hasnt had any problems with my RB springs I got which lowers about 1 inch F & R. I've only had them on for about a month though.

PSYCOM

Well you can't see the top of the tire so is that lowered too much?

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Probably. Are these aftermarket springs, or did someone cut the oem ones? Most of the aftermarket lowering springs do not cause the struts to blow out. They are harder on worn out oem ones, and both the springs and struts should be upgraded together.

stilettoman

iTrader: (1)

I have owned a lot of 1st gen RX-7s, and have lowered a couple of them. It made sense when I was trying to turn an old GLC into a sports car, but on an RX-7, in my opinion there is no advantage in lowering it.

I set up a small sedan for autocross years ago, and lowering did help, but I was disappointed with the results on my RX-7s. I reduced the ride height 1.5 inches, and did not have problems with the shocks. But it certainly did not help the handling.

Better to go with stock springs and get some really good shocks.

PSYCOM

Yes these are after market springs... Red ones, don't know manufacturer and Tyckio (sp?) bottom line shocks (65 bucks each) were installed. I had to replace front ones then hit a heck of a pot hole and blew one out. I mean this smashed in the subframe like you put it in a vice! Just missed the control arm and right under engine mount. I swear engine is sitting cockeyed! The engine mounts have been checked and that side is a bit squished. Anyway I replaced that shock and then the otherside went out and I have no idea why either! Rears are the same and haven't had a problem. This is when the last of my steering gear adjustment went to hell. I finally had it perfect and bang!

I heard when the originally put the kit on it was rubbing the tire and they came back and did something. Maybe put the old strut towers back on. Can't think of anything else since it's got the new springs and shocks.

Amd man oh man is this a rough rider! It rides hard and stiff. The guy put allot of money into this so I'm assuming it's meant to be this way. It's got this massive triangler suppourt mounted on top of the engine from strut to strut to the hood latch. And it's a big 2 to 3 inch wide 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick piece of steel. Don't know brand of that either. Any guess?

Maybe it'll be alright once I replace the driverside shock. It olny had maybe a thousand miles on it when it gave in. Perhaps it all happened at the same time and I'm just noticing because I put the car away when it all happened because of the steering play.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

You're supposed to avoid those potholes, they can tear up the stock suspension too. All of the aftermarket springs make the ride quality stiffer and rougher.

If you want the ride quality back, but still maintaning some of the cornering ability, go back to the stock springs,new, and add heavier sway bars. The sway bars control body roll more than shocks and springs.

Manntis

+1

I had stock springs on Pamela, and just adding the RB front swaybar & neoprene bushings made her feel like a whole new car.

PSYCOM

Body roll is one thing I don't have! Avoiding potholes is easier said than done with the car sitting so low you can't see them coming! I've learned where to drive... passing lane away from the sewer line manhole covers which are exactly in line on the curbside lane and the drivers seat. In my case I was changing lanes when I caught it on the passenger side. It hit so hard I cringed and apologized to the car!

Anyway, when the shocks are right you can almost see the top of the tire. The whole RX-7 experience was just something new to get used to. Thankfully I found an 88 GSL for 500 bucks and ran the dog dodo out of it and learned what fun these cars can be. Something I was afraid to do on the 85 with it being such a nice car. The 88 was supposedly blown. 12k miles later I'm still telling them I think they were wrong. And these were the RX guru's of the area!

Thank you for everything. Time to go play with the car and see about that master cylinder.