Rear Vert Shocks Removal Question - 89 Rx7
 

I've searched the forums and I haven't found any detail on how to install new rear struts on a RX7 vert 89.
I have an aftermarket sound system in where the spare tire usually goes so I'm super confused on how to go about getting my struts in.

You remove the two side panels to access the strut top mounting bolts.

If you plan to remove it with the top hat to do it you're not gonna like the answer but here goes. To reach the rear sus you gotta remove the paneling behind the seats, it's all under there. And I mean ALL of it. Keep track of all the screws and do your best to remember where each goes. And remove your seats too. All in all its a pain in the ass, but not impossible.
This is the only way to have full access to the place they mount to. If you go in through the trunk, which I'm not sure is possible, you won't be able to get much leverage or see much.

This sounds like a shop job, really wish it wasn't this labor intensive.
I guess I'm going to spend the rest of the day calling Mazda shops. :P
Thanks for the quick reply!! :)

Don't go entirely on my word though, see what other members and the shops have to say before giving the job over to someone else

Well I went to get a quote and they wont do anything unless I remove my stereo, but I can't really focus on that because my radiator blew on the way back...Fuck. T.T

I just did full suspension on my '88 vert. The rear carpet that's hiding the spare tire came out as well as both seat belt panels. The seat belt panels went from under the kick plates to most of the way to the rear, if I remember correctly. I'm sorry I didn't take pictures, but once those three panels are removed you can see the shock mounts in the corners. There were two small nuts on each side of the car, they're on the smaller side, like 12mm or less. I would assume the '89's aren't too much different. It took me more time to get the interior out and back in than to replace the suspension but I did Bilsteins with a Ground Control coilover kit so I replaced the entire unit at once. It took around two hours I think.

Thank you for the info, I appricate it so much. What PSI do you use for your radiator cap. Mine blows at 9PSI which seems much too low. I'm going to pickup a new cap, I presure tested the radiator and it holds 15PSI. I'm gonna do a flush and refill get a new cap, and work on the speakers in the rear in the morning. I think it's just mainly an issue about moving the aftermarket box in the back of the car out to accsess the rear struts. Wish me luck!

You're between a rock and a hard place here.
Even knowing exactly where all the clips/fasteners are on my plastic panels, I've broken stuff. I'd expect a shop would do worse and I couldn't even blame 'em...the plastic is ancient and the fasteners are stupid.
So, I'd normally recommend you remove any plastic yourself before taking it to a shop but in this case, once the plastic is off you're 90% done and there's not much point in paying a shop to do the easy part.

Since we're unaware of your mechanical expertise, all I can say is that no one is going to care more about the cosmetics than you and that's definitely the hard/risky part of this job.

Edit:
The stock rad cap is 13lbs.

It's a hard knock life for a rotary fan. So I fixed the cap and was flushing my system when I had to shut it off because it's not cooling. I suspect a bad water pump? Man I was so looking foward to taking those hard curves on the road with my new coilovers ):

Which coilovers did you go with?

Did Tein coilovers on my vert about a month ago. It seems like a ton of work, but its not bad if you just take your time and do it right. Two nuts on each side and it slides right out. Going to coils is a two person job on the Vert if you ask me, since you have to have someone outside the car holding the coilover into the holes, and one inside putting the nuts on. Its really an easy job, just have confidence in yourself. Will make you know your car better and it will save you hundreds in labor costs from Mazda.

:icon_tup:

This guy!

i dunno about the aftermarket stereo, but removing the stock interior isn't really hard, there is just a lot of it. i don't recall too many clips either, its just a ton of screws

Godspeed, only because the silver/red paint layout, my calipers and pinion is red, looks so good. but first i must figure out why it's overheating.

I replaced the rear shocks on my 89 vert myself. I'm not mechanically inclined. Without seeing a picture, I'm not sure that the speakers would even be in the way. I did not remove the seats or seatbelts.

They're in the way. Trust me. It sucks because the dealer wouldn't touch my car b/c liablity on the sound system. I'm upset b'c my sound system is worth about half of my car. Two nice amps hooked to crossovers and 4 subs set in a box where the spare tire is.

I traded my spare for bass and fix a flat. #noregrets.