RX7 struts in an RX2
 

Ok I have been waiting for a response at vintagerotaries and getting nothing. I know there are a lot of people here that might have some info for me. I have an 84 GSL parts car that I am going to take the front suspension off of. I want to use the struts in my Deuce. To make it work I need a spacer to bolt the strut to the steering arm. I was hoping someone here might have a pic of said spacer? I might be able to figure it out when I get in to tearing apart the cars. but I would like to have it figured out before hand if I can.

I did the same swap into my RX-3. It has coilovers and I put the 7 lower control arms in the car. Some one was asking this question a couple of months ago about an RX-3. I posted photos of my car in that thread, try a search or just look in the older threads in this section.

I have nothing specific on the 2. Thanks anyway.

Use the RX3 steering arms. They bolt directly to the RX7 strut bottom as well as the RX2 ball joint.

Its a nice idea, but I am trying to simplify with more common parts. RX3 parts are just as hard to find as the RX2 parts. Thanks for the suggestion though.

The rx3 ball joint has a different taper than the rx2.

The part you need is a specific year rx4 steering arm. It has the same ball joint taper as the rx2 but the bolt pattern of the rx7 housing. Just as hard to find as well since not all year rx4's had the correct part.

The option listed on vintagerotaries is a "roll center" spacer the has offset holes. Two for mounting to the strut housing and two that mount to the steering arm. The holes were offset so the bolts do not interfere. If offset correctly then you would add camber (and caster if you like).

Another idea is a special lower control arm. We have looked into it and will probably head that route. Reason being is that the king pin inclination of the rx7 is less than the rx2 and rx3. The longer lower control arm will by default add to the static camber angle. So you do not end up with positive camber from the different inclination.

Seems like the best bet is to move away from the stock strut housings since the brakes are small, rotors are hard to find and the shock inserts are even harder.


-billy

How about a billet steering arm that has the rx2 balljoint taper and rx7 strut mounts? Guess you can mod or use the CNC arm from the R&P kit as a starting point for your basic design? What about taper adaptors? A few domestic guys use them on tierods, what can't we use it on the balljoint? http://www.mustangsteve.com/tierodbushings.html
http://www.mustangsteve.com/Adapter_...n_2tierods.JPG
http://www.mustangsteve.com/Adapter_on_6cyl_tierod.JPG
http://www.mustangsteve.com/Adapter_both_smend.JPG

:shocking: Ok, so am I just better off swapping the whole front brake set up from the RX7? Parts are not the issue for me here, I have them. What are the chances that the RX7 brakes are going to fit under a 13 inch wheel?

I know the 12A brakes will fit under a 13" rim, not so sure about GSL-SE units.

I'm just going to punch the hole in the steering arm straight through and use a bolt and rod end. Then I can use spacers for bump steer correction between the arm and rod end.

They should fit. Don't the 84 GXLs come with 13" rims stock?

here are the ones i use.

Rene, where did you get those. I need some for my duece. Front and rear.

It's just a 1-1.5 inch billet slug that goes inside the strut tube. If you use the 7's strut tube housing you will need a camber kit to restore you camber.

Ha ha,shoot me an e-mail.

Looks like you modded some Meagan Racing coilovers to fit those RX2 front spindles.:icon_tup: I like that it's fully adjustable, not just the spring perch.

Oki doki. I think I replied to you on vintagerotaries a while back but maybe they don't have email notification? I have a different user name there. I originally told you I had pics of what I did for my friends RX2, so I just uploaded them for you since I this thread.

1st off, the RX3 steering arms (or steering knuckles) will not work at all. I got poor information from others and found out the hard way. From here and the AUSrotary site. No biggie, tends to happen on the mis-information super highway from time to time.

The RX3 ball joint has a different taper just as Billy said. Plus, where the tie rod would mount to the steering arm is flipped 180 degrees of how it should be for the RX2 steering to move without binding.

Maybe one day I'll find out 1st hand whether or not the RX4 steering arms will work but I just wanted to get my friend's car back on the road so here is what I did:

I made some adapter plates out of 1 3/8" steel and drilled 5 holes. 2 to mount to the RX2 steering arm, 1 to clear the nut on the ball joint, and 2 to mount bolts to the RX7 spindle.

Attachment 704842

Attachment 704843

Attachment 704844

Scott's White Liger after with RX7 front suspension, RX7 vented brakes, RX7 rebuilt calipers, all new bushings, ball joints and lots of swearing by me trying to find stuff out on my own! It drives great now and it's his daily commuter car. ;)

Attachment 704845

It runs a little negative camber with no pulling or crazy wear on the tires and is a HUGE improvement over the old rubbish that was in there. The only thing I don't like about the setup I did is it changed the offset which is okay for guys with high offset wheels but not for me. For my own RX2 coupe I'd like to keep the offset as close stock as possible so I can run the lowest offset possible in the future.

Using the 1st gen RX7 front suspension is GREAT since replacement insterts are easy to come by, better brake pad selection, vented discs, and best of all it's like running a short stroke setup for your RX2. Low ride height with full travel!

RX7 on left, RX2 on right
Attachment 704856


Look at the difference in discs! Not to mention the RX7 has heavier duty wheel bearings that can be sourced if need be.
Attachment 704857

Here you can see a little of the diffence in the steering arms.

Attachment 704858

Billy,

I've spoke to you about a new moddified lower control arm and I'm all for it. Unfortunetely I'm too busy working on other cars lately and haven't touched my Coupe in a while. I'd still be more than happy to get you measurements if you need them but I still think it would be best if you had a test mule on-site.

I already have some new plans for a different design that will alow me to run the RX7 front spindle and keep my offset OEM or reallllly close to it. If you come out with those control arms though I'd get them in a heartbeat!:)

That is perfect, thank you so much. I was hunting around for damper options and saw how much cheaper the RX7 strut inserts are. The fact that they are shorter then the RX2 struts makes is even better for me. The car is already lowered, so a little extra travel will be nice. Thank you again.