First off, I've posted a couple of times, but am finally about ready to do SOMETHING....

I have an '87 Rx-7, NA, Automatic, w/ approx 130k miles on it. Its in reasonably good shape & is my daily driver to boot. I have no delusions of turning this into a street fighter, but, I would like to optimize parts I have replaced, with better performing options.

Well, as with any car w/ that many miles on it, there are somethings in need of replacement. On my car, 3 of 4 shocks or audibly shot. So, I figure while they shocks are being replaced, its a good time to have all the bushings refreshed & replace the coil springs as well.

I'm not a gear head. I can turn a wrench just fine, but I know jack squat about parts selection. About all I know is, Racing Beat is spozedly good stuff, but I've heard they're a little stiff, and Eibach makes springs to fit just about anything, but how good can they be, if they make springs to fit anything?

Secondly, it IS a sports car, so I do want to maintain/achieve a more sports car like feel & appearance. So, yea, I want it to handle better than it may have, when it was new, but I don't want to race... I do want to improve the fun factor tho. I'd like to lower the car, no more than an inch..

At some point later one, I'm planning on adding 17" wheels to give more adhession to the road surface, & to fill out the wheel wells...

Engine wise, I'm really only interested in a CAI, & a full exhaust redo... hoping to eek 15-20 more ponies out of it. I'm not all about the boy racer image, but aggressive styling is nice, within reason.

BUT, First things first, I'd like to get the suspension up to snuff. So, I'm looking for advice on spring & shock selection, & any additional info I might need to tell the technician.

 

KYB AGX and eibach Springs.

you will not be disapointed.

And you don't HAVE to go with the AGX you could get the Standard KYB, but for the extra money it's a good selling point, and fun to have adjustable suspension.

 

KYB AGX, Eibach springs, Racing Beat swaybar and rear steer eliminators, and a Hyperflex bushing kit make the 7 into a street and track weapon. Thats what I did anyway

 

So the Eibach springs are really that good? From what I heard they are progressive rate springs so they still ride nice, but get stiffer as they get loaded. My experience with that type of spring is that they are nice, but not track worthy. I noticed they transitioned funny because they aren't linear. You have to make sure the spring is loaded before you enter the corner, it's wierd. So anyway I might get me a set of Eibach's too. Where do you get them at? I want to go down an inch too. I already have Tokico Illumina shocks (5 way adjustable).

 

Check out Tein Coil-Overs. The new Type-Flex have gotton good reviews from both 240 owners and the Miata crowad. However they are going to set you back about $1,500 (far less then say Apexi or HKS). Tein's "Super Drift" set up will only run you around $1,200. Both sets are adjustible and can work with Tein's EDFC unit. You'll also get the JDM-Aproval badge as well if that is your thing.

 

I'd like to point out, that in my original post... I stated I will NOT be racing. So, I dont really care about track performance... That said, coilovers are a bit over the top for what I want to accomplish. I mean, they're $1k a piece, right? I'm hoping to get the refresh completed for around $1k.

 

a good street/track setup that ive had good experiences with are tein type-s springs with tokicko hp shocks and suspension techniques swaybars

 

Uh...... thats $1,400 for the set. (four)

 

I'm hoping I can get all this done, +parts & labor for under significantly less than $1400. Again, I'm not looking to build a race setup. Just a fun on the street, daily driver.

Thx for the suggestions, keep the ideas coming!

 

Eibach, Racing Beat, Tein, or Intax tend to be a choice of many for a street setup. Heads up for tossing your camber out of whack.

For shocks KYB AGX, KYB-GR's Tociko Blues and Illuminas. Whichever is your choice.

Keep in mind alot of people always claim their setup is the best, I say find some reviews and see what others think.

 

If you don't plan on having track time, you probably should not put money into adjustable struts. I have 5-way adjustable Tokicos and Racing Beat springs and like them a lot. I'm sure the Eibach Pros are more comfortable on the street. With the Racing Beat springs I find myself avoiding potholes and manhole covers, but I also have lower profile tires than stock (went from a 60 series to 50 series).

A comparison of spring rates can be found here:
http://www.mazdatrix.com/h4586-92.htm

For comparison I do not find the Racing Beat springs to be that much more harsh than my wife's Mazda 3 with the sport package. My 7's body is much stiffer with its strut tower bars, so the whole body tends to shift more on bad bumps.

 

I have tokico HP (blues) on both of my vehicles (86 GXL Rx-7, and 91 Miata). On the 7 I have Eibach Pro-Kit springs, and on the Miata I have Racing Beat Linear Springs. I wish it was reversed, to be honest. I use the 7 mostly for autocross and spirited driving, and the Miata is my daily driver. the miata is a lot stiffer than the 7 (It also has upgraded swaybars and urethane bushings, which the 7 will get very shortly). It seems a lot more connected in the corners, whereas you are waiting for the eibachs to get to the preloaded point in tight turns. The Miata is VERY tight for the street, though. I don't mind, but my girlfriend doesn't like it Either one I find to be streetable, but here in the pot-hole capitol of the world, I think progressive rate is your better bet, It still allows you to feel the road, but not every single pebble. If it's a straight track car, or you don't mind a harsh ride, or you live in california, linear rate is the only way to go.

 

I've got the KYB AGX/Eibach combo on my NA, and Bilstein coilovers on my T2. You'll find the KYB/Eibach combination noticeably 'stiffer' than stock, particularly if you're used to driving around with 'shot' shocks. Think it lowered the car about 3/4". Nice thing about the AGX's is you can tailor the 'ride' a little bit to something you are comfortable with. The Bilsteins on my T2 are A LOT stiff...way too much for a daily driver. While the T2 suspension is more capable on the track, the NA is more forgiving and actually easier to drive, even on the track. Still can get a fair amount of body roll on the track with the AGX/Eibach combo, but I think thats a swaybar issue. Can't say how these compare with other setups, but I'm fairly happy with the AGX/Eibach setup for street and limited track use. Do urethane bushings at the same time!

Pix is NA with AGX/Eibach at the track.

 

I went pretty much same just rolled with the RB springs instead tho. Did the Energy Suspension kit instead tho.

Should be lethal