maxcooper

Panhard bars are for solid-axle cars. I believe there are a number of suspension setups for first gens (the only RX-7s with solid axles) already.

-Max

maxcooper

Thanks duboisr, I hope someone reads this and makes them available. I know I can't be the only one that had exhaust contact/breakage problems with that support. Just to be clear: the brace I was talking about can be seen in the Mazdaspeed brace picture between the end of the main cat and the rear axle. It is a stock brace made from aluminum that connects the the bottom of the rear of the tunnel. A steel replacement that offered more room for exhaust tubing would be great.

-Max

rynberg

Hmm...how does chassis stiffness effect ride quality? In exactly the opposite way you are thinking. When a chassis is made more rigid, the suspension can be made softer and will still maintain the same quality of handling. When suspension engineers have to deal with a flexible chassis, they have to design the suspension to account for it instead of just handling road deviations and body loading.

So, a stiffer chassis can actually result in a better ride quality for the same handling ability. If you don't believe me, ask any C5 engineer....

wanklin

iTrader: (2)

Well the OEM suspension isn't exactly the softest. Maybe that is for the exact reason that you have stated. My previous remark about chassis stiffness may not be accurate but engineers do compromise to meet cost restraints and the target market. Ask any engineer....

wanklin

iTrader: (2)

Let me just say that I do not claim to know everything about cars or have superhuman driving abilities. I'm just interested in stiffining my chassis because I have heard from several sources that it improves both handling and launching. There are many out there who prefer to stay stock to avoid messing with the OEM engineering and I respect that. It just gets old when people try to step on your nuts everytime you explore new options for your car.

Mazdarules

Wanklin, before you look at doing any chassis work, is you suspension in top form? How old are all of those bushings etc??

iwannarx7

hmm... here's their info

WarpSpeed Performance
PO Box 244
Avoca, AR 72711-0244
USA
toll free 866-801-9338

iwannarx7

yeah, I agree w/ rynberg when making the chasis stiffer, the suspension works better. that said, anyone around the AZ area should give the warpspeed a call and talk to them about the subframes, they have really good quality stuff and the response I've gotten from people is phenomenal. and hey, when they make the subframe connectors, if you FD people can get together and decide what kind of stiff ness you need and what not, they can design the frames w/ that request. and if that doesn't work they'll modify the frames so it does work before selling it in mass quantities. if you guys want, I can call them for you, but I would need an FD that can go there and have the subframes fitted.

wanklin

iTrader: (2)

I see in the Mazaspeed subframe connector picture that the kit is bolted on. I assume that any kit would have to be removable so you could still have access to the belly side components. Perhaps he could design a kit with plates that are welded to the chassis and bars that are prefitted to bolt direct to the plates. Man, I would let you use my car if I lived anywhere near there.

I have not replaced all of the bushings yet. I plan on replacing bushings, toe links, trailing arms and sway bars. The strut tower bars and true coil over setup are in place already. By no means is my suspension anywhere near finished. I'm just doing my research now so I know what to buy later. Any suggestions on what order I should go in? What type of toe links, trailing arms do you guys use? Find any problems with the toe link trail armkits that eliminate the bushings; like the M2 kit? The bushings are the next to be replaced. Any recommendations on where to get them? I know about Labrek's inobtanium bushings but I'm not too excited about purchasing an entire kit if I'm not even going to use them all since I'll be upgrading links and arms. Has anyone made aftermarket differential bushings?

RonKMiller

You guys are going to be going on a long drive to nowhere if you try to find WarpSpeed in ARIZONA.

In your post you typed "Arizona", because you thought AR was the state code for Arizona.

AR stands for "Arkansas"

AZ stands for "Arizona" Like I said, there is no Avoca, Arizona. OK?

You want to go to ARKANSAS.

Whatever.

wanklin

iTrader: (2)

lol

iwannarx7

oups, now I feel like a dumb ***, hehe, hmm.. well I have an excuse, it's the finals week. so if you want me to do Statistical Thermal Dynamics then I can do that, but figuring out which state is which, haha

it's like forgetting multiplication table after learning calculus

man, i'm already forgetting stuff at 22, I can only imagine what will happen when I'm twice that old

RonKMiller

I would reply to this post as well, but damned if I can remember what I was going to say...............

Down here in ARIZONA (j/k) we call that a "Green Valley Moment". (Green Valley is where all the blue hairs live)

Oh ****! In two more years I can join AARP!