I have an 87 GXL, all stock. I have decided to upgrade/replace the current suspension, particularly the front struts, since they are sagging so low! I want a very stiff suspension, and am considering front and rear anti-sway bars. However, I have no experience in this category, and have no idea what aftermarket parts work and what don't. So if you could recommend me some products or ideas, and tell me what works and what doesn't, I would really appreciate it. Thank to all who read this, your help/interest is much appreciated. I want it to be very stiff, however still streetable for a daily driver.

I also understand that you can't put a front anti-sway bar on the GXLs due to the adjustible suspension, but I don't mind removing that either. Thank you!

I am an aftermarket newbie, so bear with me

 

as for springs and shocks i would go with tokico blues(hp) w/ eibach springs excellent nice tight ride then get enegy supension polyurethane bushings as for sway bars racing beats are awsome i drive a turbo modle so dont know much about what you can and cant do with your car just thought id let you know my opinion
-james

 

Thank you so much for your input, very helpful.

 

Your probably also going to want to replace all your bushings while your at it. I would start with some adjustable shocks and some good springs. The most popular shocks are: KYB AGX, Tokico Illuminas, or Koni Yellow's. The most popular springs are Racing Beat or Eibach, both give about a 1"drop. Any lower and you will need to adjust camber. If your really looking to drop some cash, look into a nice set of coilovers.

Replace the 20 year old rubber bushings with new poly ones along with DTSS (rear steering) eliminators.

As for sway bars, I would do those last. Suspension Techniques, others may as well, has a sway bar set with an adjustable front.
Should be a good starting point. From here you could get get front camber plates, and adjustable rear camber links, strut bars, etc...

 

adjustable shock are not nesisary and the biggest feel difference will be in the bushings and shocks and the dtss bushings are also not really nessisary unless u like whipping the back end out around turns it just makes it more preditible also if youd like to stiffen up the sway bars even more stock or after market mazda trix makes adjustible sway bar endlinks as for all the camber stuff you wont be abled to do with out an alighnment rack on hand also you can purchase front and rear strut bars will make the car even more tight
james

 

Ah great, this is good stuff guys, thanks!

 

Quick question, how do the non-adjustable struts/shocks compare to the adjustable struts/shocks on their highest level?

For example, the Tokico HP compared to the Tokico Illumina ?

HP: http://www.stillen.com/product.asp?id=TOKHP01&c=SU
Illumina: http://www.stillen.com/product.asp?id=TOKILLU01&c=SU

Which are stiffer, one of those two Tokicos, or the KYB AGXs?

AGX: http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...3&autoview=sku

 

I've heard that Racing Beat's shocks are a little too soft compared to Eibach's, is this true?

Also, how do sway bars from Racing Beat, Eibach, and Suspension Techniques compare?

Racing Beat: http://www.racingbeat.com/resultset....rtNumber=14103
http://www.racingbeat.com/resultset....rtNumber=14104

Eibach: http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...2&autoview=sku

Suspension Technique: http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...8&autoview=sku

Lastly, would it help significantly to install a strut tower brace by Racing Beat?

RB Strut Tower Brace: http://www.racingbeat.com/resultset....rtNumber=14035

 

Illumina is a better choice than HP if you have the money. AGX and Illuminas are about equal, so I usually prefer AGX since it is cheaper. HPs aren't that stiff of a shock, but paired with a softer spring (most springs), it is fine. But if you want stiff, Illumina or AGXs are the way to go.

I think Racing Beats are stiffer than Eibachs. Eibachs run progressive rates, which is debatable if you like them or not. I personally do not.

And you said you wanted stiff, which of course, I'm going to recommend RSR Race springs(if you can get your hands on them of course) or Ground Control coilovers. But as I said, if you want stiff, go with the AGX/Illuminas, if your going to run progressives or softer springs, HPs are fine if your on a budget.

 

With the RSR Race Springs, I have found a couple websites saying that they have them for the 88-91 RX7. I am wondering if there is any difference between those and the 87 RX7 GXL N/A.

I found the RSR Race Springs here: http://www.autornd.com/catalog/produ...04acd67cf5f4c2

 

Softness is a matter of preference. I remember being confused by all the options when I asked about my yet-to-be-bought suspension setup. Just make sure you match your springs and shocks (don't buy soft springs and stiff shocks or vis versa). Softer springs and shocks are more comfortable. Stiffer springs and shocks give you better handling. Ditto for sway bars and bushings. I don't want to compromise ride comfort too much so I plan on Racing Beat springs and sway bars plus Tokico shocks.

Some things improve handling without hurting the ride. I may get tower braces, budget allowing. But they don't help handling as much as other things. Replacing worn out shocks and bushings also helps, even if you don't upgrade them to stiffer shocks and bushings. Many people with mild setups comment how both their ride comfort and handling improved, probably because their old stuff was so worn out.

 

I would not get eibachs as they are progressive, linear gives better control although a bit stiffer ride depending on spring rate.
I have heard tanabes are good. I have them on my car but I have yet to really get to try them out. Besides I have not driven a stock suspension rx7 so it would be hard to compare to anything. But I will say the ride is comfortable and the handling feels pretty good (tires wore out so won't know for sure till I get new tires and can push it).

 

are the Tokico blues/HP's of sufficient damping quality compared to stock T2 shocks? or will the HP's have softer valving than the stock T2 shocks?

 

I like linear rate springs too, so that's why my RX-7 has Eibach ERS springs!

Eibach Pro-Kit and Sportline springs are progressive, while Eibach ERS springs are linear. It's all about personal preference.
http://www.truechoicekoniracingservi...ucts/index.asp

 

Thanks again Evil Aviator. So it sounds like linear springs are the suit for me. Now, which will give me better performance with KYB AGX shocks, Racing Beat springs, Eibach ERS springs, or Tanabe GF210 springs?

 

ERS springs are used with coilover sleeves. Which means it's springs for Ground Controls, notihng more. Using it alone is of course possible. But you wouldn't know what length to and etc. to get and how low it would drop. So unless Ground Controls are in your price range, your choices are now narrowed down to Racing Beat and Tanabes. If it's between those two, I'd say Tanabes since it drops more, is linear, and the price is cheaper.

 

It all depends on what you like. I think that most people would prefer progressive rate springs that normally allow for a cushy ride, but stiffen up under hard cornering. The progressive rate spring kits are designed for a specific vehicle make and model in order to find the best balance between ride quality and performance. Linear rate springs are better for race cars or high-performance street cars in which predictable high-end performance is valued more than a wider but variable performance range. For example, my car has Mazda Comp Koni coil-overs with Eibach ERS 400lb front / 275lb rear springs that you can compare to the Mazdatrix spring rate table: http://www.mazdatrix.com/h4586-92.htm . As you can tell by the numbers, the suspension on my car is pretty darn stiff, and is not very suitable for driving around town with passengers who are faint of heart. Progressive rate springs would drive me nuts, lol. Once again, it all depends on what you like.

Coil-over kits are available for Bilstein, Koni, KYB, Tokico, and many other brands, as well as the stock shocks/struts. Ground Control makes very good products with a lifetime warranty. I am sure they would be willing to discuss suspension options to fit a particular application.
http://www.ground-control-store.com/...hp/II=41/CA=23
Phone: 530-677-8600 9-5 PST
Info: mark@ground-control.com
Support: donfeen@ground-control.com

 

Can anyone recommend me a bushing kit for my 87 GXL, as well as a guide to installation? From what I've researched, I have read it is pretty difficult to install the bushings (for someone who doesn't know where in the world they are).

Also, there doesn't happen to be anyone in the Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside area of Southern California that can recommend a good shop to compress my coils for me (when I get them) so I can slide them onto my shocks/struts and install them myself, is there?

 

my grandama lives in chino.. maybe she could do it for you. lol
the suspension ive been wanting to get are the stance pro coilovers. they look pretty close to the jic fla2s but are only like 1200. but as for spring/shock i would go with the rsr race spring and maybe some adjustable konis to control the spring from bouncing alot

 

My future set up will be KYB AGX's with probably Tanabe linear springs. I'm also going to be replacing all my bushing with poly bushings that we use at work. I love working on rx7 race cars all day. I get free stuff constantly.

 

Hi, I'm interested lowering the car too, any great suggestion that will make my 1990 FC look great. One question, what is the best to keep the car in good maintenance I have a bout 150000 miles on the car, any suggestion about helping the car last for a long time.

 

stance coilovers are the best value if you are going for stiff, its only 1200. If you want stiff, hps wont cut it so get agxs which are about 400, The stiffest springs availible is rsr race at 6kg/mm front 4kg/mm rear and the second stiffest is tanabe gf210 which is 3kg/mm front and 2.5kg/mm rear. They are both stiffer than eibach and racing beat and lower the car the same amount. On a budget hp shocks with tanabe is ok, but with rsr its going to be under dampened. And for a stiff sway, get rb, its the stiffest. I have rb front sway with agxs and tanabe springs, it handles well and rides like stock with shocks set at 1 and 1 and with shocks set at the middle its still easily streetable and will control the spring perfectly. As for the gxl adjustable suspension, ignore that, u get rid of it when u get new shocks so any sway bar is game

 

i have the same car as you with racebeat front and rear sway bars and there great. rb really did there research making them and with hardly any bodyroll it really makes the most of the 50/50 weight

 

i current have KYB AGX 8 way adjustable struts, along with eibach prokit springs. i couldnt ask for anything better. the car handles like its on rails and can externally adjust the shocks whenever u feel the need to. truly a nice set up, and only ran me about $600.

~ mike.

p.s. - also feels like when im entering the turns, instead of my body being forced outwards, i dipps inwards and i have total control, but that also could be help from the stock bucket steats so yea. - 89 GTU

 

Sounds good, I just need to get my hands on some RSR Racing Springs. But sleepyhead, what do you mean the RSR Races with KYB AGXs will be underdampened? Underdampened as in the shocks/struts will be too soft for the RSR Racing springs?