Hadoken

I'm young and don't really know much about bushings and such and thats what I need you guys for. Fortunately my dad is a fairly good mechanic, but he doesn't have a knowledge of RX7s.

I have a 1984 GSL-SE with 73k miles, all suspension and handling components are stock as they came when the car was manufactured late in 1983. Oh, no powersteering either.

I have some play in my steering that was temporarily remidied by tightening the steering, but that didn't last for more than 3 or 4 months and now I'm left with play in the steering, but it's still harder than ever to turn when the car is barely moving.
On a very tight budget, whats the best thing to improve handling and control without compromising something else?
Is it true that 1st gens handle better without the rear sway bar?

RRTEC

iTrader: (13)

I would say a 3 or 4 point strut bar would help out a lot... I like the car better with the rear sway btw.

steve84GS TII

Rx-7s are totally conventional except for the actual engine,so Im sure your dad could help you out with any mods.

Best way to get your car handling good,suspension-wise is a decent set of springs and shocks.Eibach 1" springs and Tokiko Blue shocks are a nice street combination that'll tighten up the ride without gettig too rough.Installation is simple remove and replace,except for compressing the front struts to remove the old springs will require a spring compressor.
A used set can be picked up on Ebay,but a new spring/shock set-up will run you around 400 bucks.

Also,dont underestimate what a good set of tires can do for handling.After all,the rubber on the road is what ultimately determines how the car handles,regardless of what suspension mods you make.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

There is a great write-up on adjusting the steering for the 1st gens somewhere online, just can't seem to find it at the moment. I requires removing the stering sector for adjustment. What you Dad probably adjusted was the screw and nut ont top of the sector and that is the last part to be adjusted. Thats why it didn't last long, it's wearing the parts out faster.

For low speed steering you can increase your tire pressure and caster.

If your Dad is a mechanic, then he should be afraid of the 7. Suspension is suspension.

Check the tie rods, idler arm and bushing, the pitman arm, ball joints and wheel bearings for the wander. If those are good, then it is time to for the steering sector.

The front strut bar and rear sway bar come into play more for at speed handling and won't improve the low speed steering i.e. parking, tire pressure and caster will. On the downside you may no like +caster at speed.

As far as the rear sway bar, I upgraded both the front and rear, along with most everything else, and it handles quite predictably.

Felgar

The sway bars and their bushings are important for things like exit ramps - definately worth replacing the bushings if you're after better handling. I agree with all the other suggestions so far too.

You could also keep your eyes open for a nice cheap set of used aftermarket wheels. A lot of people put on 17" wheels which leaves a very low-profile tire. I personally think that would stiffen it up too much and I would prefer 15" as a good all-round compromise. The SE's have 4x114.3 bolt pattern which is nice because it's quite common. The stock wheels weigh 13 lbs, so definately try to get that down in some aftermarket wheels and you'll gain on the performance end too. A slightly wider, lower profile tire will definately improve cornering capabilities IMO.

NewRXr

The biggest improvement in handling for dollar spent and the first thing you should do is to relocate the battery to the passenger storage bin. I'm a mechanic and I did this for less than $40.

This is the first thing you should do.

Vernon

Hadoken

Trochoid, is this what you were thinking about http://www.mazspeed.com/steeringgear.htm ?

With 73k miles think it's time to consider replacing the bushings or do you think I should start somewhere else?

The tires are Sumitomo Srixon4's, they only had a few hundred miles on them when I got the car, but I have no idea if they're quality tires or not.

TimX-7

front strut tower brace maybe? *shrug*

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Yes, I believe that is the write-up. Nice quick find. I need to put that in my favorites.

Start with the steering sector. It's a pita to get off sometimes. Then check the other parts I listed above.

The sway bar bushings and end links are a cheap fix and will tighten up conering a little bit.

Shocks would be next. You can find Tokico blues for around 200. If you want adjustables, start saving. With the miles on the body, the springs may be ok, but they have probably sagged a bit over the years. Most aftermarket springs will not only lower the car but stiffen it a up. You need to decide what you want out of the car before you do this.

Then check all of your bushings. I spent about 220 to buy all fo mine. I even replaced the upper control arm bushings, which many people say not too. That choice is yours.

I lowered my 2nd gen, I like the way it handles and cormers, but I am displeased with ride quality. Even with the adjustable shocks, it is thumpier than I want the car to be.

My 1st gen. on the other hand. I don't care about the ride quality much. It's my toy car. It's stiff, it's real thumpy and a blast to corner in, even with the still stock tires and wheels. But that was the point for this car. I have a set of autocross tires and wheels (13x8) that I can put on the car and probably go out to the track and pull 1g in the corners. This is a rough guess. so no flames please.

The point is, fix what needs fixing first, get the steering right. Then decide what you want the car to do and what you want to do with the car. Doyou want to keep it reasonably stock with minor handling improvements or do you want major handling improvements and much less ride quality. Then replace parts per that decision.

Hadoken

Thats what I was hoping to do, before I start throwing money into a paint job, RB exhuast, etc. I was hoping to get whats there up to snuff.
Handling just seems like the most lacking thing at the moment.

I would like to use Eibach or Racing Beat springs on the car along with some Tokico blues but I have to use this car as a daily driver, so I can't make it into a track beast and expect to drive it every day.

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

The Tokico blues are a very good upgrade over the stock shocks and struts. They will firm up the ride and shouldn't make too hard. There are the other aftermarket replacements out there, Gabriel, Monroes etc. that are cheaper, but not the same quality.

A friend of mine has a GSL-SE that had 240k on it when he bought it. I put a set of blues on it and used stock springs that had 120k on them and he was quite pleased. Did raise the car up a bit though.

Hadoken

Yeah I hear stories all the time of people buying springs that are supposed to lower the car 1 inch and it ends up being higher than before because of sagging springs.

Any way I can find out if my springs need to be replaced?
I've found Tokico HP (Blues) for about $175 before shipping for all four.

Whats the popular opinion on Suspension Techniques springs?

82transam

iTrader: (18)

honestly I think you should replace your bushings, ball joints, and steering linkages (tie rods, idler arm etc) before doing anything else. If you put nice new stiff shocks and springs on those old shitty bushings it will still feel like crap. If I were to do it over again I'd change the front sway bar (to a racing beat one) before I bothered doing springs and shocks. as for sagging springs, lowering springs are most likely gonna raise it up a bit, just the way it is

Hadoken

Thanks for the info guys.


I'm not really looking to lower the car, but I do like an aggressive look. Any certain place you guys recommend ordering bushings and things from?
Any online FAQs on the best way to inspect the bushings, ball joints, and steering linkages to see if they need to be replaced?
Also, I don't really know much about it, but is it a no-no to mix and match different springs? Like, Racing Beat front and Suspension Techniques rears? Or vice-versa, whichever would be best for improved cornering without a harsh ride.
Time to start saving money : )

Hadoken

One bump....

trochoid

iTrader: (6)

Get your steering sorted out first. The more you tighten up the suspension, the more pronounced the worn steering components will show.

I did my entire suspesion, but didn't tighten up the steering sector. I will when the new bridgeport goes in, but I should have done it first.

A couple of weeks after I got the car on the road, I was stopped by the local PD, at 3am. He asked if I was drinking, because the car wanders a bit.

When I first put a set of lowering springs on a 1st gen, I parked it next to another one I had, and measured the height of the wheel wells. Funny thing is, they were all the same on both cars. They were all about 24", but your measuments will vary, depnding on tires etc.

The only way not to get a harsher ride is oem springs. But basing harshness on how the car rides now isn't a valid comparision because the springs are probably fatigued/sagging.

Unless you are setting the suspension for a specific purpose, autocross, roadracing or drag racing, then I would not mix and match springs, without conciderable research. There are variations in the different manufacturers. Eibach, for example, makes several rates and types of springs.

As far as how to's, get a Haynes manual for starters. There are plenty on online manuals that you can find. When I reset the castor/camber on the 1st gen, I Googled for it to get a better understanding of how it all worked and then went to the FSM to set it up.

For a more streetable ride look for a nonlinear spring.

813KR$

First cheapest handling upgrade in my experience would be BF Goodrich 205/60/13

Hadoken

I have a Haynes manual, most everyone on the forum said to get one before I even got the car.

RotaryRevn

I have racing beat springs, tokiko blues, and just put on the racing beat front swaybar this week. Oh what a differance that swaybar makes!

RotaryRevn

Is there a write up on this, or someone that sells a kit?

tjgosurf

I thought the handling was damn good to begin with,

diabolical1

iTrader: (3)

well, everyone else has given you a great start on what to do with car itself, so i'll focus on the other important part of the equation. make the car safe - bushings, steering and brakes should do that - then work on ... YOU.

learn to drive it by improving yourself ... take a driving course or maybe start autocrossing or time trailing.

1

TopGunM2k

I would recommend that you get some polyurethane bushings for your sway bars from Mazdatrix, they aren't too expensive and they are a great upgrade from the rubber ones you have on which should be worn and warpped by now.