How long do these things on an FC RX-7 last:

- Radiator
- Brake booster
- Brake calipers
- Transmission


Has anyone rebuild a transmission?

My cousin used to own an 88 RX-7. He said that the radiator needed to be replaced, transmission needed to be rebuilt, and calipers needed to be swapped out. Is this true?

 

How long these components last is a matter of the care given to the vehicle over its lifetime. Regular coolant changes will prevent corrosion and essentially allow the radiator and coolant system parts other than hoses to last a lifetime.

The brake fluid is corrosive after a couple of years and it will corrode brake system components. If the bore of the calipers is not corroded too badly they can be rebuilt, but if you are not experienced in this area you are better off replacing them with new or rebuilt units from a parts store.

The transmission is noted for having weak synchros, and the shifter bushings wear out easily. The shifter bushings are easy to replace and inexpensive (Mazdatrix has a FAQ on this). The synchros are around 40 bucks each but again you need to be experienced to tackle this problem. There are enough parts cars out there to allow a good trans. to be had for 200 or less.

 

- Radiator
(200K+ miles)
- Brake booster
(replaced mine at 160K)
- Brake calipers
(not sure)
- Transmission
(TII trans still going at 160K, NA trans needed syncro work at 120K).