Wayward Steering – anyone look at remanufactured parts?
 

My ’85 base model RX7 has the systemic wayward (and unsafe) steering due to a worn out steering box. I have seen great posts about adjusting the manual steering box to remove free play, but was also curious if anyone has replaced the whole assembly? My googling seems to bring up remanufactured Part number: “82-70218 R”. It says Manual Steering Gear Boxes - Remanufactured for Mazda RX7, OEM REF#275109 that fits a 1985 Mazda RX7.

Does anyone know if 82-70218 R is truly a direct OEM match and if it has a good build quality? Also do you know where else to get a replacement part now that you can no longer get it from Mazda? Hopefully a lot cheaper than the $1600 listed on the below webpage

https://www.buyautoparts.com/1/1/949...ef-275109.html

Thanks for the help!

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Current: '85 S 12a Bridgeport. Previous: '83 GSL & '84 GSL-SE

Most steering issues IMO are down to loose wheel bearings and crappy tires.

The wheel bearings loosen up frequently and these cars handle best with 165/80R13 tires on the front. Narrow, high-cross-section tires have long narrow "canoe shaped" contact patches, which have a high degree of self-aligning torque. The wider the tire and the lower the cross section, the lower the self-aligning torque and thus the more the steering will dart and wander.

Hello peejay and Vinny.1985

Thank you for your responses! The Ball Joint and Pitman Arms have been replaced already. Even with those fixes the steering wheel as so much play it is most likely the steering box. I will have to reconfirm the wheel bearnings are ok. .

In terms of the rockauto steering gears I will do a bit of research. These should be able to help!

While stationary,turn steering wheel til you feel resistance and put your index finger on the wheel to mark that spot. Now move wheel opposite way and note how much movement in inches between left tight and right tight,understand?Report back measurements. Have successfully adjusted many FB boxes that had 2+ inches of play down to 1/2" and some less which is still serviceable. While many boxes have been adjusted and improperly which shortens their service life,there are many that have never been adjusted and have lost preload from normal wear. Replacing an FB steering box is a sizeable task+$$,you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by attempting adjustment. Several threads on this site addressing the subject. Of course,check wheelbearings. You make mention of pitman arm(s) . Car has a pitman arm on steering box sector shaft and an idler arm on opposite side of car. Moog makes a beefy replacement idler arm that is superior to oe type. One of these,steering box adjustment,changing box oil and proper alignment does "wonders" for wonder steer issues.

What he said LOL. The alignment will need to be spot on too. For best steering feel in a straight line you want min camber, min caster, and as he said skinny tires (185 or 175). This is contrary to max cornering grip alignment where you rotate the struts for max camber and max caster and throw on wide tires. You can’t have it both ways with these steering boxes.

GSLSEforme and chuyler1. Thanks for the recommendations.

The steering wheel has about 5+ inches of travel between tight left and light right. I know the car needs an alignment as the guy I bought it from said he had yet to do it after the pitman arm / ball joint work. I am not sure if he replaced the idler arm. The car has KENDA 185 /70 tires all the way around. When driving the car it weaves a lot and it is struggle to keep it in the lane. People must think I have been drinking! :-) This is an issue I have to resolve before I can really take it out on the road.

With this much play, I would not be driving the car. Something could let go at any time.

Yeah, 5� is something seriously wrong. The steering box play is usually around 2-3� tops, after that you’re likely have something else going on.

https://free-info-pages.com/rx7-stee...adjustment.htm check this out also my junk yard has an 84 GLS SE we can work out a deal on me getting the Box for you. https://imgur.com/b3hG9ri also lots of other parts for sale

Your best bet is a known good used. Re manufactured ones are likely a resealed, cleaned up and slapped back together loose unit.

Loose steering boxes are a problem that still persist into big trucks today. There is a big reason the rack and pinion fad comes and goes.

Hi all. thanks for the input. I am planning to get the car over to a local shop to look it over to see if there are any mechanical issues.

As for the steering gear I looked at Rockauto per Vinny1985 but it appears that even the one listed for the 1.1L car is for power steering models. I do not see one for manual steering option which I find odd. And as Sommmatt mentioned it could be a crappy rebuild that doesn't really fix the main problem. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...2294&jsn=10397

I had considered used parts, but given this is a common problem with 1st gens I would be concerned the part would also be bad.

Sommatt - I agree and wish putting rack and pinion on the 1st gen was easy. I do know there used to be conversion kit years ago, but that company went out of business and I don't believe is was a great ratio. Some people to FC swaps, which is way out of my league, plus is a problematic swap anyway.

Atkins Rotary. Any comments?

79-85 Rx7 Rebuilt Steering Gear Box & Column (ARE850)

For that kind of money I'd find a junk RX-7 with a good box. Even if I had to drive 6 hours one way to get it.

Ok, Thanks.

Is there a DIY for adjusting the box?

There is a very nice write-up in this section.

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...7-gsl-1114116/

Thank you. I am not having much luck with the “search” function. Much appreciated.

Could always redo everything in the front end for good measure, that's the route I took.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...574f914264.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...0a62348293.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...08773bfe3c.jpg

I am thinking that is the smart thing to do. Did you also adjust or replace the steering box?