Just bought my '93 "R1" accessorized RX-7 less than 30 days ago. Noticing a loud metal clunk in the upper rear suspension, more on the right , when I hit pot holes. Could it be the chassis/frame bushings are bad?. The car has Koni adjustable shocks and rides on 17" wheels with Yokos. Any one have (had) this problem? What about the solution?. Thanks for you anticipated advise and opinions. One of only two in Corpus.

 

are your wheels hitting the fenders?

 

No. As stated, the loud clunk(sounds metal to metal) only occurs when I run over pot holes or instant change in road elevation, such as man-hole covers. It's sounds and feels as if the rear undercarriage is being hit with a baseball bat (very loud). This even occurs at slow speeds. Drives as quite and smooth as a Benz on level streets (highways). What are the probable problems. Thanks.

 

I really don't think it's the wheel rubbing cause it clunks at pretty slow speeds also. And there's alot of inner and upper tire to fender well clearance. But thanks for your input anyway. Think I'll just take it in and have it diagnosed.

 

There is another link rear-end clunk check it out. Your rear tie rods might be lose..

 

There have been some really good write ups about suspension bushings and the like. Search for "bushings".

I know the fix is quite expensive, and most need new suspension bushings at about 60k miles.

 

Whatever you do, don't take it to a Mazda dealer. Seriously. The closest RX7 specialists that I know of (relatively close to you) is MZM Performance in Austin, Mazmax in Houston, and Rotary Performace or Marvelspeed in Dallas/FW. There are others, but these come to mind at the moment.

After replacing all my bushings in the rear (including the differential busings), my clunking has been eliminated. The majority of my clunk was eliminated with the diff bushings replaced, but it's accepted that the OEM bushings are all crap, so replace all of them while you are in there.

Max has a good writeup on how to do it with hand tools (the suspension bushings anyways), which I did with success:

http://www.maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/...lls/index.html

Also, use the search function, lots of good information here, just need to look for it.

 

Great advise from all. Thanks a bunch guys. Guess I'll have to give-up some Benjamins!!

 

also check to see if the exhaust is bumping against anything. mine was when i bought it and i heard that clunk whenever i hit a bump or manhole cover or something.

 

alberto mg:

That's one I hadn't thought of. Thanks, I'll check that next!.

 

Hey... to bad you just bought it... since I've already moved back to dallas... I only saw 2 there in the entire year!

Try this... buy the 6 bushings that go in the lower control arm... all pillow ball... the inner two have to be pressed to remove and insert them the others use the writeup... its easy. That was the best place to start... there is also another pillow ball on the end of the wishbone... might as well do that one while your at it.
Call Eric Smith in austin for the bushings 5124590009
Tell him Ryker sent you and he will hook you up. See if he will drop the prices a little more since you will be buying them all at once.

 

wonder1and: If you were a woman I'd marry you!! Thanks for the hook-up. Jimmy