I can hear this creaking noise coming from the rear shocks. I can really only hear it when I am driving through parking lots and such, basically at low speeds. Do I just need to tighten bolts or could one be bad? They are KYB AGX with Suspension Tech springs. I have had them on the car for about a year. Don't know how old they are though(didn't buy them new).

While I am at it...what would the best stabilizer bars be? I am looking at Racing Beat, Suspension Tech, and Mazdaspeed. What would the best bang for my buck be? I like the mazdaspeeds but the price is a bit high.

 

"Best" is usually NOT "cheapest".


-Ted

 

Although it sounded like it, the creaking sound coming from the rear of my '91 Coupe wasn't the shocks - it was the control links. I took 'em both out and swapped the sides they were installed on. Problem gone. Maybe not forever, but it's been 6 years or so.

 

I understand that...which is why I asked. I didn't know if the extra money was worth it for the Mazdaspeeds, or if they were that much better than the RB's.

 

Okay, the question is...which Mazdaspeed's?

Are you talking about the older stuff that is usually painted some off lime green color?
Or are you talking about the reorg'd Mazda Comp that is selling competition components to Mazda racers in the U.S.

If we're talking about the older lime green stuff...here's a hint, it's very tame and made for street use.
This means that they are hardly stiffer than stock, and don't expect big changes in performance from their parts.


-Ted

 

I see, that is what I have heard. Yes that is what I was talking about too. I guess that is good to hear. Now that you helped me with that decision...any bright ideas about my shocks (or other suspension component)?

 

I recommend Tokico HP non-adjustables for street upgrade.

If you're going to race, step up to the KYB AGX's; they are the best bang-for-the-buck adjustable damper (over the Tokico Illuminas) available for the FC3S as a drop-in OEM replacement.

Springs are pretty much all the same to me.
Stock replacement springs are all slightly stiffer than stock, and if you wanna go holy-crap-stiff, coilovers is the only option.
For cheap, I'd go with Racing Beat.


-Ted

 

You must not have understood what I typed. I already have the AGX's on my car. Just wondering why the creaking noise would be coming from the rear. It sounds like it is coming from the shocks. Just trying to get some input. I looked at them today and they didn't look like they were leaking or anything else wrong.

 

mine make a clonking noise when i go up onto my drive way or any drive way @ that... good luck with your problem. you prob just need a new set of bushings.. if you think about it... how old is your rx7...... thats how old your boots and bushings are. try victoria british . a full set is about less then 24 bux i am pritty sure

 

Gee...umm...what else could it be???

Like maybe the control links, perhaps? But that's just silly, isn't it? I mean, how could those stupid like bone shaped things cause a squeak? And hey, it's FOUR nuts and bolts to remove them both too, so it's not like easy or anything.

 

The old trailing arm bushings make a clunk sound with suspension movement, especially after they get warm.

 

The creaking sounds are not the shocks. My 91 Vert made those sounds. I got new springs and shocks and I still have the creaking. I'd give johnnyg's suggestion a try. When I get a chance I will.

 

Guess I'm gonna have to climb underneath and take a look at those control links.

 

Juiceh, the control links actually fail faster on the 'verts due to the extra weight. It was a convertible owner who first put me onto it, actually.

mr0pistons, you can't tell by inspection...just pull 'em out and swap the sides they're on. Certainly no harm can come of it.

 

I see...any aftermarket ones out there?

 

Not that I've ever come across. I believe they are about $60 or so for new ones. Like I said though, simply swapping the sides they're mounted on has given them at least an extra 20,000 miles on my car. I actually swapped sides and flipped them (they're symetrical).

 

Your bushings are bad...

 

What he said,I've had the same problem.Actually you can verify it by getting underneath and pushing/pulling on the rear trailing arm by the camber links and it should replicate the creeking noise.

 

The only reason I question this is that it seems like the sound is coming from higher up than that...like the strut towers. I guess it wouldn't hurt to get new ones though so I'll head to the local auto parts store tomorrow.

 

Control links will almost certainly be a dealer-only part.

 

****.

 

it could also be the upper strut housings, i've seen them creak before depending on how the person who installed the AGX shocks did the job.

 

Would it be something that would happen shortly after the install or further down the road? I don't think there is anything special you have to do to install them, but maybe I messed something up when I put them on. They have been on for about a year now.

 

Reminds me of when I first installed my AGX's. I used KYB's strut boot kit and didn't think I'd need the big fat washer on the top of the rear shocks. I knew something wasn't right after the first drive around the block. When it torn it apart again, I found I came darn close to driving the speakers right out of the strut tower!