There are 4 wires coming out of the front struts. Anyone know what they are? I would just like to hook these shocks up to a switch inside the cab. Are the ON/OFF or some sort of variable?

Thanks.

P.S. It's from an '88 GXL

http://www.MisRed.com/pix

 

They're for Sport/Soft settings, and they hardly ever work.

 

yeah all GXL models came with adjustable shocks.

If you want new stock adjustables they are VERY expensive and not any better than some good aftermarket shocks/struts...

 

It's been along time since I looked at the wiring but I believe 2 wires are for the actuating motor and 2 are for position feed back.

Most the guys that DIS the adjustables have never driven a car with working ones =)

 

How can you tell if they are working???

When i switch the button, my voltage drops prob 4-6 volts, rises back to 14, and i can hear a click. Does that mean it works???.

 

Doesn't sound good. I would expect one of the motors (or struts) is stuck (causing the voltage to dip). On way to test would be have the car running then jump up and down on the bumper while someone switches the switch back and forth. Or drive it and zig zag it while switching the button back and forth.

My guess is that if something is wrong with even one part of the system the whole thing will not function (don't one one shock firm and the other side soft).

 

One wire / terminal is a ground. Each of the other three can supply a 12V pulse to the actuator from the AAS computer. In other words there are three possible positions for the acutator - 'normal', 'firm', and 'very firm'.
I don't have service manual handy, so I don't know which colour is which - somebody has a manual posted online if you've got to know. Maybe mazdaperformance.com?

 

Have a friend hit the switch while you are watching the strut top....if it works you'll see it rotate.

 

Mine works from normal I can switch to sport and immediately feel the firmness at steering wheel and cornering....To bad one of shocks is leaking !!! How can replace with original equip.? Is it really worth it..$?

 

Order parts from the dealer and replace them. Worth the $ depends on you and how much your money means to you. I put in the OEMs and don't regret it.

 

Give me coilovers any day

 

The actuators are "stepper motors". the control unit pulses the the motor poles sequentilly to rotate the adjusting screw. My 87 control unit died, so I pulled the connectors and hand set the dampers to get by.

 

Can someone tell me where the control box is (if there is one) and where the switches are located that control the shocks. Having an '87 SE, I don't think I have all the neccessary controls to work the shocks, but I did buy a switch box at the junkyard that came out of a 626 or 323.. couldn't tell what kind of car it was. It has 3 positions on it. Sport-Soft-Normal.

Where does this switch mount in the RX-7?

 

Switch mounts in the center console. The Rx-7 switch only has sport and normal even though there are more settings on the shocks. The computer selects the actual shock setting based on sensors (detecting acceleration, braking, speed etc and the normal, sport switch). sorry I don't know where the control unit is. Never had to mess with it.

 

The controller is right next to the right tail light housing.